Ellsworth American., 1905-08-09
TRICKS OF THE MULE.
HOW THE OLD sTAGERS WOULD
DODGE CINCHING PROCESS.
THE BELL MARE AND THls WAY SHE
WOULD LEAD THE ioLAN-THE
ANTICS OF A HERD.


1T was then that learned the ingen-
ious tricks of the mule. one of the most
Intelligent animals living. 1t was in
1878 that joined the survey. All con-
nected with the expedition were or
dered to round up Mt the Davis ranch,
twelve miles from Cheyenne, the home
ranch of one of those cattle companies
whose herds then ranged from British
Columbia to Texas. When / arrived /
found a scene that resembled the camp
ing place of an army.
"A little way off on the prairie was
being herded the enormous bunch of
mules that was TO transport the expedi-
ton. The packers were occupied in
agreeing upon and cutting out the
mules to be assigned to each division.
They would ride first one and then an
other to determine the very best sad
dlers. and these they would calmly APP
propriate for themselves. The packer
of those days was very important
parsonage, and the Hayden survey en-
gagged only those Of the highest rank.
The mules employed We're the most de
slrable for packing purposes, the Span
ish mule. weighing 700 or 500 pounds.
sure footed. strong and good travellers
They were yeis intelligent and after
short time became extremely cunning
In avoiding the duties required.
First, as the regular hour for sad
ding approached they would steal
away and hide behind some rock or
elump of bushes. As preparations were
made for cinching, they would watch
cautiously, and at the first tug of the
cinch they would bow their sides in
the direction of the operator, at the
same time inhaling to the fullest ex-
tent. An old mule that had become
really scientific at the business will
keep an inexperienced packer busy
cinching and recinching for two hours
and then only to find that the operation
must be repeated in the first half mile
after leaving camp. The only way to
thwart his purpose is to wait a few
moments till the mule is off his guard
and then quickly gather in the slack or
for the or packer to turn him sud-
denly to the left. destroying his atti-
tude of resistance.
Accompanying each train of mules
is always a horse of some description,
preferably white or gray, wearing 4
COW bell and commonly designated as
the bell mare The mules will follow
this animal as colt follows its moth
er and in cases of peril or distress on
its part will manifest the anguish of a
child over its parents.
"Once on the survey in crossing u
marshy drain the bell mare became
mired A mule near her, discovering it,
Immediately gave the alarm. Instantly
the whole train, with the packs on their
backs, rushed to the rescue. They hud-
died about the bell mare in a circle
and brayed until the very hills re
echoed with their lamentations. The
packers in their attempts to extricate
the mare were nearly trampled under
foot by the excited mules, which in their
efforts to assist rapidly became mired
themselves 1t required the united eff
forts of the whole Hayden survey to
hold them back until the packers could
liberate the mare.
"When turned loose to Craze only the
bell mare needs to be hobbled or pick
eted, thus giving the mules entire free
dom to range for food. 1t is next to I'm
possible to stampede or drive them
away. Their devotion to the bell mare
was touchingly shown at the time Of
the total eclipse of the sun in the sum
mer of 1878.
1--WE were In northern Wyoming and
had made forced march to get TO the
region of totallty, which was 43 north
and 80 west. We had just reached the
point when the eclipse began. Only the
scientists whose business 1t was watch
ed 1t, however. The rest of US We're
busy watching the mules. They were
quietly grazing near camp when sick
~ yellow light began to spread over the
landscape. At this one and another
would raise his head and gaze inquir-
ingly at the mule next to him to ascer-
tain IL he Were up to any mischief
Finding no cause of the phenomenon
there, they all with, one accord turned
and made a survey of each other up
and down the line to discover the prac
tical joker Unable to spot him, they
turned in concert while the light grew
more ghastly and made a prolonged
survey of the horizon.
The hills and mesas now became
covered with Il mottled llght-blUe
green and yellow-like a snakes skin
This was more than they could stand.
With simultaneous impulse they
turned to the old bell mare and hud-
died around her for protection. The
mottled light now passed away and
was succeeded by darkness. This was
all right. They understood darkness
One by one they turned from the bell
mare and by successive and regular
thumps announced that night had
come, and they had thrown themselves
on the ground to sleep. When the dark
ness began to pass away the whole op-
Grafton was reversed until natural day
light arrived, when they all quietly