Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1901-07-31
DEADLY DAYS FOR MULES.
Fate of the Beasts Sent to the
British Army In Africa.


By stroke Of the pen declaring live
stock contraband Of war this govern
ment could have added, at a moderate
estimate, year to the war in South
Africa. American horses and mules
have mounted and remounted the Brit
ish cavalry, supplied and resupplied
the muscle to move the artillery and
furnished and refurnished pack trains
Texas has been drained Of mules, and
Kansas, Wyoming, Missouri and other
stock-raising states Of the west have
been so nearly depleted that the $40
animals Of 1899 bring $50 today. More
than half as many mules and horses
as men have gone to the English army.
One hundred and one thousand have
been shipped from this country alone.
And still transport a week with 1000
or more head leaves New Orleans.
This Is by far the largest expectation
Of live stock for military purposes the
world has ever known. Along with the
purchases of live stock, millions Of dol
lars have been spent for fodder and
lumber for equipping large stockyards,
having an army Of laborers, veterina-
rians carpenters and machinists, and
maintaining an official staff here.
General Samuel Pearson, Of the Boer
army, has been in this country since
November last working diligently to
put an end to this mule supply. His
suit in the Federal court at New Or
leans to stop the shipments, Judge
Parlange decided, was not matter the
court could pass upon; it was for the
cabinet to decide. General Pearson
was unsuccessful in his efforts at
Washington. But he is still at work,
and is about to reopen the case at New
Orleans on new grounds.
Two months before the hostilities be-
gan England had officers in Austria
Portugal, Canada and the United
States purchasing animals. All these
stations were opened that no delay
should be suffered, but the cost Of the
stock being from so to 100 per cent.
higher in the other countries and the
quality much inferior, they were soon
abandoned and entire reliance placed
upon the United States.
The first shipment sailed from just
above New Orleans October 10, 1899,
two days before war was declared.
The Pran carried out that day 671
mules-a small load. Subsequent
shipments all ran higher, the City Of
Manchester, which sailed November 21,'
carrying the largest cargo Of stock
that ever sailed-2,080 mules and
horses. Mules formed by far the
larger part Of all shipments.
Regular cattle ships could not be Sc
cured. But the prices offered were:
sufficient to make the owners Of a num-;
ber Of cotton carriers then awaiting
cargoes. turn them into transports.
The animals are packed closely side by
side. There Is standing room only. A
loss Of 10 per cent. on some trips in the
summer Is considered small. There Is
veterinary surgeon aboard each boat,
and from rs to 100 muleteers. The lat.
ter, after feeding and watering the
stock each day, have to give hand In
dosing the sick, binding the bruised
sufferers from the ships rolling, and
singing up those too weak to stand
longer.
There Is another task-that Of hoist
ing over the dead. The transports
seem to be known among, and spotted
by, the great fishes. Porpoises, sharks
and the like follow them for days, for
they are sure Of at least three good
meals Of mule every day.
The swiftest vessels of the fleet make
the distance to Cape Town in 2s days.
BY this time many Of the poor crea-
lures, from standing still 80 long, with
out room to turn around, are too stiff
to move and have to be lifted out Of
the stalls. They soon recover-those
not too far gone-and when they real
ize that they are again on terra firma
they jump and buck with joy beyond
control. But it is simply giving them
another taste Of life before the slaugh-
ter; for fever insects and bullets make
short work Of them.
Occasionally storms are encountered
that toss the ships about so that many
of the beasts are manned and crippled
beyond recovery or killed outright.
The Corinthia encountered gale that
blew her upon a reef off Hayti in jan
uary, 1900. After five days work In at
tempting to float her she was given
up. More than 1000 mules were taken
up on deck, and after their noses had
been pointed toward land so that they
might see and scent 1t, they were low
cred overheard. Four hundred swan
the distance. The others were either
unequal to the effort after being penned
up so long, or spent their strength In
vain efforts to get aboard the ship and
the tug boats about her.
OF late the percentage of loss among
the animals has been growing less. At
first any mule from 13 to IA hands high
or horse from IA to 16, sound Of limb
and in good condition, after three days
rest to recover from the railroad jour-
ney to New Orleans, was loaded for
Cape Town. Now only an animal with
a tried constitution Is sent. In Kan
sas City, St. Louis, Dallas. Houston,
corrals for collection are maintained.
To these recruiting stations candidates
are brought. Any that pass are retain
ed until the number has grown large
enough to warrant the chartering Of
train. Then they are shipped to New