The National tribune., 1904-07-21

ons-with bows, sheets and harness for
six mules in each wagon-had been de-
livered there for me. The harness, how
ever, was in pieces-that is, one package
contained names, another trace chains, an
other brides, another breeding, etc.
The first thing to do was to put the har-
ness together.
In this the Wagon Boss has his hands
full, showing the teamsters-many of whom
are green-how the different parts 60 to-
to the mules by taking up or letting out to
| suit the differentiated animals.
CATCHING OUT"
Then comes the Catching out" A herd
of mules is driven into q pen which opens
into the one where our wagons are by
| means of chute" or narrow gang way,
| through which only one mule can pass at
| a time. When the Chute" is full we climb
on the fence and reaching over tie ropes
| go feet long, around the mules necks,
and then bride them.
The fun incident to this operation may
be family imagined when / say that many
of these mules had never had harness, OF
even bride or rope on before. When
all are roped and bridled the door to the
| chute" is opened and the mules are led
| out. one at time, with two or three men
worked up gradually to the wagons and
securely tied to the wheels. After catching
| out six mules to each wagon in this way
| the Boss has them arranged according tG
size, and color, the largest for wheelers
and all the mules OF q team to be the same
color, as near as practicable.
Then the fun of Harvesting begins. Those
that will not stand to be harnessed peace
ably are '.bucked" to the side of the wagon
by swinging them broadside against the
wagon by means of the rope, and harnesseG
nolens rOlens. And as most Of the mules
are addicted to such playful pranks as kick
ing, rearing and striking with the forefeet
and biting, this is always lively work.
| Mules that give evidence of having beer
worked before are selected for wheeler.
and leaders. the largest at the wheel; but
il no broke" mules are found, wild ones
must be broken in for those places. With
both hind wheels locked, and with two
three or more men to each team, they ar,
finally STRUNG out" the driver mounts hi
saddle mule and they are started.
After executing a variety of acrobati
feats they settle down to something lik
work. and are then made to haul tina
heavy wagon around, with hind wheel
locked, till thoroughly tired. The sam
performance has to be gone through eacl
day for several days before the team be
comes sufficiently, broke" to enable tn
driver to handle them single-handed. Thos
mules that pull too freely are tied back b.
means of coupling straps" attached to tn
bridlebits.
| When the first batch OF teams is suffi
GENTLY "broke," and some more hands hav
been hired, / go to the corral and catch on
more teams, repeating the operation unit
have attained the regulation number O
%. Every day have all the teams hitche
up and drilled.
Wagon-masters and Assistants ar
allowed two riding mules each, so as t
have a change, as they have a great deal 0
riding to do; and having the whole team
to select from usually provide themselve
with good riding stock.
After the teams have been drilled 70
q while the mules are led to the shoein
shop, a few at q time, and shod.
As may be imagined, this is lively work
also. but as the blacksmiths are usually ex
i perts In that line. they claim to be abb
to "shoe anything that wears hair" and
mule is never let 60 out of the shop with
out set Of new shoes, even IL he has to b
thrown and tied. or lifted of the ground il
a sling.
AN EXPEDITION FOB NEW MEXICO.
After getting my train all fitted ND II
good shape, but before the mules wer
fairly broken in. I was ordered to hitch vi