The National tribune., 1904-07-21
No. Of
Pieces.
r. NJ. PECK,
Wagon master.
(Signed)

One copy of this bill of Iading is for
warded by mail to the destination of the
freight, one is retained by the officer from
| whom received, and one copy is given to me-
| After reaching Fort Riley / found that
the order for the expedition to New Mexico
had been countermanded, and was ordered
to turn in my load to the Commissary Off
Ger 1T Fort Riley and return with empty
| train to Fort Leavenworth, the receiving
officer indorsins my bill Of lading in
| foregoing freight In due time and good
! condition" $50 r
On arriving at Fort Leavenworth / re-
turned my Endorsed bill to the Commissary
officer. and again reported for duty to
| Levy Wilson, Master of Transportation.
He gave me couple of days to have my
| wagons repaired, some shoes put on my
| mules, etc, and then ordered me to load
up with commissaries and go to Humboldt,
in southern Kansas. near the Indian Ter
| regiments of Cherokees, Creeks and Semi
noles-had just been organized.
"sTRING OUT" "RoLL OUT" AND go
AHEAD"
When travelling, the Boss or Assistant
| sees that the "skinners" are called in the
morning in time to feed, get breakfast,
harness up and be ready to start ON the
road in good season, the start from camp
being made generally about sunrise.
| After breakfast the Wagon-master gives
! the command, "String out !" when each
teamster bitches his mules in their proper
places in team, leaders first, swings next
ready for moving. When all are STRUNG
OUT the Boss commands, Roll OUT" and
the lead teamster drives out into the road,
followed in succession by the others.
On the road the Wagon-master rides q
little in advance of the head of his train,
20 InnIy h. hnx,k 49,
and to guide the outfit through all difficult
places. The Assistant is near the rear and
sees that the teams are kept closed up; and
in case of any accident necessitating a halt,
the call is passed from rear to front, Hold
on - the train halts, and the Boss gallops
back to see what is the cause of delay and
to hurry the repairs. When all is ready
again the word is passed to the lead team
ster, Go ahead" and the long procession
of teams is soon In motion again.
Trotting Of teams is forbidden. Team
sters are not allowed to lag back and then
trot their teams to regain their places, but
if they unavoidably lose distance it must
be regained by a brisker walk.
Before fording stream, If the Boss
thinks that the mules need water, he gives
stops his team, dismounts, and unreins his
J mules, SO that they can reach the water to
drink when crossing. No halt is made at
noon, generally, and when a sufficient days
. drive has been made-usually 10 to 20
miles, according to watering places and
grass-the Boss rides on ahead far enough
to select his campground by the time the
teams begin to arrive, and after locating
his mess wagon where he desires it-con-
) veniently in rear of where the train is to
be placed-proceeds to park the teams az
they arrive, in the double rank. open-order
style before mentioned. (See diagram.)
| IN WINTER.
when hay Is procurable and there is no
grass for picketing on, the wagons are
parked closer together and the mules are
left tied to the fore wheels and tongue,
with hay packed under the tongue end
front end of the wagon. But if no hay is
even on bare ground, after giving them
their grain, else, for want Of "roughness, !"
they will gnaw the tongue, wagon box,
sheets, or anything else in reach
AS soon as the teams halt in their places
for camp-and even before-the tired and
hungry mules set up a great braying. for
they know by the manuvers that their days
work is done, and they will soon be
watered, fed and picketed out. The bray
ing Of mules is one Of the most familiar
minds me Of wartime scenes.
Each teamster as he swings into line
Idismounts from his saddle mule. locks a
hind wheel. and goes to unhitching and un-
and halters, and lays them convenient to
the front of the wagon then unhitches his
wheelers. halters and ties them back to
the fore wheels, quickly. strips the harness
off. hanging it on the hind wheels putting
collars and brides under the wagon. Then
the swings and leaders are brought back,
tied to the tongue, and each harness, as it
is removed, is hung. one set on top of
another. on the hind wheels. 1t is not
always possible to keep the harness dry in
wet weather. and little or no effort is
made to do SO. but the collars must not
be allowed to get wet, for a wet collar will
l-'v,n gall q mules shoulders.
After embarrassing the teamster leads
his mules to water, usually two or three,
and sometimes the whole six, at time
and as they are generally reluctant to leave