The National tribune., 1904-08-11
TRIBUNE:

ter had been receiving few contraband or
captured mules, but these also were rather
scrawny: as usual. somebody else had got
away with the good ones, and only the
scrubs were turned in to Uncle Sam.
There was one fne-looking mule. how
ever. among the contrabands that had been
turned in to Capt. Thomas. and on ex-
pressing my surprise that such an animal
had not been gobbied up before it reached
| the probable reason was the mule was
| found to be such a vicious devil that no
one could handle him. He had been
| ChriStened Jim Lane" after our Kansas
| Senator. as Capt. Thomas explained. be
cause he was so tricky.
l decided to try Jim Lane" for riding
| mule, and OH ordering one of the team
sters to lead him down to my tent and
| tie him to the wheel Of my mess wagon
so that l could saddle him up and ride
him. | was amused at the surprise and con
sternation manifested among the skinners
at the idea of my riding Jim Lane.
There were number OF good riders among
them. but none. it seemed, had cared to
tackle this wicked devil" as they callej
| him. | knew that my riding that mule
| would convince them that | possessed still
another enviable accomplishment. in the
eyes of the average skinner-anOther con
| frmation of my abilities as Wagon Boss
me from the undertaking. declar ring that
would certainly get hurt. and may be
killed. Whether they really thought so
or were only trying to scare me out of the
| notion. it only made me more determined
! TO show them that | could ride that mule
/ had an excellent .saddle-a Mexican
| tree-and had tested its adaptability and
strength in many a tussle with wild mules
and bronchos After "bucking" Jim Lane
to the side of the wagon. process fami
liar to mule whackers. and making ready
to saddle him, old Isaac Marshall, an ole
darky with bad record-one of the so
called bad men of the train-came up to
add his encouragement to those already
volunteered by the group of skinners who
stood around.
what. boys" he exclaimed in appar
ent establishment. directing his remarks
TO the bystanders. "He shOrely aim
a-gwyin' ter try ter ride that fghtin' devil
Did you tell him what bad mule he is ?
'Yes. We done toll him." one fellow an
swered, "but don't make a bit o. differ nee
He won't lis'en to U.S."
| After a pause, as / seemed TO pay M
attention to these remarks. old Isaac ven
| tured to advise me:
''Say. Boss. is you got any family? Kas.
if you is. you'd better leave word with
Mr.. Simpson. or somebody. where to write
| to 'em, to let 'em know what come Of
you"
Without making any reply to such
"Joshing | went on saddling the mule
and with Simpsons assistance soon hat
him brided and cinched up in good shape
In riding a wild animal | always uset
a good. strong crupper to my saddle. This
is especially useful on a mule, as they
are so low in front that without a crup
per to hold the saddle back to its place
they will often "buck'' it onto their with
ers. and thus easily throw the rider ove
their heads.
After getting him saddled, [ released
the Honorable Jim from the Wagon
wheel. and let him play around at the EN-
of the lariat until he seemed satisfied tina
he couldn't buck the saddle off, and ther
drew him up to me gently, got two men II
coiled up the lariat and tied it to tn,
horn of the saddle, unbuckled my belt ant
handed my pistol to Simpson. mounted
and gave the word. Turn him loose! :"
And such circus as I had then in TIL
next few minutes? That mule tried al
the tactics he was master of-bucking
kicking. trying to reach my legs with hi.
teeth, kicking at my feet. and fnall,
crowding up to wagon and trying tt
| rake me off.
At this stage of the game put the spur.
to him. and let him out down the road
toward Tahlequah. and kept him goins
pretty lively for several miles. When h,
l
behave like I thought a Senator's name
sake should, turned him around and rod
back to camp. He was tired enough to b.
very docile just then, but not yet entirel,
subdued, and l had a similar circus will
him every day for some time before coult
say that he was "broke."
During the time that [ had been will
the Cd Indian train, before I had got th,
job of running Capt. Thomas's train.
had amused myself by riding some wilt
contraband mules, to gentle them littl
for Richmond, the Wagon Master of tina
outfit
Shortly afterward Col. "Shorty" hat
occasion to send out a mounted scoutin,
party of his Indians, and having no horse
to mount them on, he ordered Richmon,
to bring him some mules that would do TO
his soldiers to ride. Richmond brough
up, among the lot. some Of the contraband
that l had ridden, and as they SCENE,
rather skittish "Shorty" asked,
wagon Master, have these mules eve
been ridden?"
Yes, SIR, said Richmond, "Peck use'
20. thunder! that won't do" exclaime,
Shorty" Don't bring me mules tina
nobody but Peck has ridden. I know tina
Peck. He'd ride the devil If he could ge
a rope on him. Bring me mules that an.
one can ride"
Ito be continued.)