The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1902-03-25
LIFE OF THE MINE MULE
QUEER TRAITS - OF THE BURDEN
BEARER OF THE UNDERWORLD.

Ills Marvellous Intelligence and skin in
Avoiding DHnger-An He wants is "A
Clear Iracl<-IIe Has IA Certain Bravo
do About Him Too.
The mine mule, the sturdy burden
bearer of the underworld. has enough
of the abnormal about his makeup
to induce curiosity. If not admiration.
IN the average persons mind. In the
sunless black, the unwcaried night.
this ErebuS of the beasts reigns SUI
preme. His sinewy shoulders. Just
behind the long, Tapping ears. tug
down and up the tunncued cavernS
and there seems something of the mys-
Tic and the magician about him as he
stands immOvable i'm the deep darkness;
OF Il pasasgeway or cut-through The
pit mule. as his years grow, assumes
me indifference to trivial matters.
His life has been so full OF half-averted
tragedies that he has neither the time
nor inclination to bother about the
small things. His dropping ears would
not move an inch il the cage fell five
feet away from him.
But he does not leave his stubborn
ness nor his brains behind him. He
can knock enough front teeth out of
drivers head to spoil his chances
with any girl in the county deep down
IN the dusk of Il heading just as easily
as he would on country road ut high
noon. His accuracy in gauging dis
tances would make an excellent me-
chanic Of him were he not mule
lie has certain bravo about him. too.
which runs into cunning dcviluy
us he grows older. If the lights go
out he is sure to run away with n trip
down grade, and if it does pile uD i'm
Il wreck the mule is almost certain to
be the only thing which escapes I'M
harmed.
Many of the mines in the Connells-
vile coke region of PENNSYLVANIA are
shafts, running from POO to 700 feet
deep. To get the mule on the cage
is not n pleasant duty. As soon as he
smells the warm air from the nit
sometimes accompanied by strealiings
OF steam on account of the difference
OF temperature between the air from
the mine and that outside. the brute
plunges and attempts to escape. He is
usually put upon the cage by sheer
force. Sometimes he is blindfolded be-
fore being dropped to the bottom. The
trembling animal is taken from the
bottom of the shaft to the stables.
These are located at n little distance
from the shaft bottom. and i'm the Con.
nellsville region are lighted with cleo
trlcity, are cool and very much superior
10 many upper world stables.
The mine mule is obliged to keen
mis- head under very trying circum-
stances, ana he is in a short time n
much wiser animal than his brothers
above ground, whose every movement
Is guided by rein and voice There
Is no harness worthy OF the name in a
mine, and never any rein. The mule
Is hitched to II Singletree, which is at
the end of long chain or rope. There
are no hOlding-back straps. The mine
mules business is TO pull when he
Is on an up grade, and TO keep out of
the way on down grade. His won
derful sagacity is shown in his accu-
rate gauge of the speed of the wagons
behind him. He maintains inst Gait
enough TO keep his rope well stretched
and never allows it to become en-
tangled under his heels. nor does he
get his heels caught under the wagon.
Just a bit stOlid one would thinI; tho
mule until a mine wagon gets away.
Then he shows his brains. On he GAL
Tops. sure-fOotcd as a chamois: over
the crossties. over the bitches and
waterways, over the steam pipes he
pounds, with roar like an avalanche
behind him. a clear track is all he
asks.
The agility Of the mine mule was
well demonstrated once IN thc mine
of Leisenring No. in the Connellsyiue
region. \ gang OF worlmcn were put
ting i'm an air line, and had their work
ing truck on one of the main headings
suddenly the laboring men heard low
rumbling up the heading. All the trims
We're being switched off on to another
track while the men were at work.
but this one seemed TO be coming
nearer. 1t grew louder and loudcr
one of the men put his ear to the track
ana realized in a second that the trip
was coming down the blockadcd head
ing. The men ran for their lives. leav.
ing the truck on the track. AS thcv
went they saw there was no light on
the runaway trip showing that II was
without a driver. Only q dim safety
on the edge of the heavy truck showed
where IL stood. Like thunder the run
away wagons rumbled nearer ana
with a crash struck the obstruction
The laboring gang came from their
places OF safety expecting to see the
mule crushed to pieces Instead their
lights flashed ON him quietly standing
upon their side of the truck He had
in one comprehensive glance. taken
TN the situation by the hickcring iigbt
ou the corner of the truck. and had
jumped clear over the obstacle to save
himself. His trip was piled behind
him I'm q crushed heap of debris.
a mule, which had been FIN the Dii
but % short time. once came up tho
main heading at Mammoth slope. lie
had gotten away in the mine anna
started for fresh air. and green pas
turcs lie had to keep ahead of Tine
trip being hauled up by tine hoistng
engines ana Keep Ibis feet free from th.
entaneling ropes of the hamaec way
DE also WAS obliged tO cross from one
track to another when tho d0wu.go.n.
trip passed him lie ealopcd up all
thc long slope and when hc reached