Evening star., 1902-05-06
MULES SHoD BY MACHINERY.
New Invention Tried With Success in
ST. Louis Shop.

dispatch from St. Louis SAYS: Shoe
| ing fractions mules by aid of machinery
| has just been tried here with success 1t
was mule versus machine in a shop at 10th
ana Walnut streets a few days ago and
the machine won, to the utter humiliation
| or two mules. They were genuine obstinate,
cross-grained Missouri mules, that for gen.
eral "cussedness' had earned more than a
| local reputation.
Heretofore it had required force of at
| least dozen men to shoe them. OF the
dozen 1t was a strange thing if more than
three came out of the battle unscathed, and
horseshoers considered themselves lucky to
get on with less than a broken arm.
With the machines aid the mules were
shod yesterday without casualties, and they
came forth from the experience meek and
chastened animals. Old Crow and Dynamite
are the names of the mules. They haul a
sprinking cart and have demolished several
heavy sprinkling wagons, to say nothing of
pinking, at different times with hind leg
uppercuts, the drivers upon the high seats
of the carts
The apparatus is a combination of tackle,
beams, ropes, heavy canvas belt and a
sliding lever, with device at it's bottom
1or grasping the animals hoofs.
When Old Crow was led out he looked at
the invention askance. He held one long
ear very straight and perked the other far
back. Then he poked both ears forward and
then Wagged both wisely, as if so say, Nc
you don't"
There was crowd of men standing about
-horseshoers from surrounding towns and
others who wanted to see the fun Old
Crow was induced to take his stand at
what seemed an innocent distance from the
beams.
Then, in, an instant, the beams were
swung around toward him, and he found
himself buekled between them. Ropes were
attached to his halter SO he could not move
his head in any direction, and an effort was
made to fasten the canvas belt under him.
linen Old Crow understood that the mat
ter was serious. He commenced kicking
with all four legs at once fIe made the
floor shake and the beams creek and the
bystanders sought out the high places but
1t was unnecessary. In another moment
strap was passed around his hind legs
above the knee, and his chief kicking gear
was under control The belt was put In
place and the hoofs were seixed In 20 min
utes he had a new set of shoes, vet he was
not In the least proud of them. He realized
that he had been beaten, that the traditions
of muledom had been transgressed. and
such woebegone animal as was Old Crow
when he was released from his shackles
could not be Ina agined.
Dynamite, with slight variations was mt
through the same program.
he found kicking to no purpose though
he temporarily delayed the adjustment of
the belt. Then he simply sat down on his
hauncheS and resisted for a time every in
ducement to return to all fours He looked
like an immense dog in this position and il
seemed as If he was to battle his torment
ors.
But one Of the men seized his tall and
gave 1t mighty tug. Dynamite rose with
a jump, and his hind feet shot back and
around like a spring gun. But the man
was out OF range, and soon Dynamite was
as contrlte in spirit as was his teammate