The Republican journal., 1916-03-30
Mule And Rider.

Some years ago while running mine
in southern Nevada had an opportunity
of trying out an unfamiliar brand of ami
NAL. Our hosting machinery consisted
of one horse whim. We had good
within horse, but the work became too
heavy, so / phoned to town for them to
send out an animal that would work on
within.
They sent him out in the night, and the
men, not knowing that he had come, went
off to the mine before l got up. After
breakfast l went down to the stable and
found in one of the very narrow stalls
very long, and tall mule.
One leg was bound up with an old
bootleg, and only one of the others looked
like business. l had learned years be-
fore that mule would not back under
any conditions and it became problem
with me how to get him out CT that stall.
! had also learned not to get funny with
the rear end of any of the breed. tried
to edge in by his side, but he jammed me
against the side OF the stall till | was
glad to retreat. l then got long rope
went into an adjoining stall, crawled
through into his manger, and tied the
rope around his neck, and nose. Then |
threw the other end of the rope back,
crawled, out and got hold of it and passed
it through the barn window, then pulled
but if he noticed it he gave no hint. |
then rugged up spanish windlass with
pick handle, which is quite simple if you
know how, and started to twist, he soon
began to curl up like coil of rope until
finally he raised his hindermost till it
passed over the top of the stall, and
Strengthened out like wire spring. |
had no difficulty in leading him out OF the
stable, and saddling him. 1t was some
thing of a stunt to climb up into the
saddle, he was so tall, and shortly after |
got we'll seated, trouble commenced. |
felt comfortable for a few moments,
thinking l would not have to walk to the
mine. | have often regretted that did
not walk. When first gently suggested
to him that we were to go, he did not
appear to hear me. | then tapped him
on the rump with my quirt with the same
result
Then | let out genuine teamsters
yell, and jammed my spurs into his ribs
Something was doing right away. He
came up in the rear, nearly sending me
over the end of the jib boom. | landed
UP against his ears ard hung there until
he got on an even keel. | was quite
willing then to get down, but the distance
was too great, so concluded to give him
another chance, knowing he was too
stiff, and lame to try the Mexican
mustang buck.
My next move was to give him both
CURT, and spurs. To look at that mule
you would not believe it possible for him
to sidestep so quick that another inch
would have landed me in the lee scuppers
! Again l wanted to get down and go home
but becoming slightly provoked decided
to stay aboard and tack ship later if ne
cessary. My next attack was aimed at
ais long ears with the quirt. he shook his
head vigorously. and went up by the bow
doubtless with the idea of sliding me off
over the poop deck, grabbed both ears
and hung, on which appeared to rattle his
BRAIN and he started to run. This was
the first move he had yet made towards
getting me up to the mine. He struck
two mile gait for about hundred yards.
Just as l was INDUCING in the happy
thought that we were going to the mine,
that mule stopped SO quick that he nearly
upset me again. He Immediately sat
down exactly like dog, except that he
forgot to leave his tail outside. This
put me in an easy position to dismount,
which l did at once. Seeing that he
showed no signs of righting himself, l
walked around in front to learn what was
the matter. l would have given slick
bit to have had kodac at that moment.
His roman nose bulged out, one ear
was straight out, the.other standing at an
angle of about twenty, his under lip
and if he was not fast asleep it was the
best imitation l ever saw. The picture
reminded me of a scarecroW in a New
| England corn field. did not disturb his
slumbers but went to the phone and told
the owner to send out dray to take him
home, as had worked him to finish.
once told this yarn to professional
teamster and his reply was that it might
interest a tenderfoot but it was very
mild compared with his experience with
the same brand.
In case anyone should demand the name
Of the suthor of this tale, you may say
that he voted in Nevada before it became
State, and that he was the man who
tried to ride that mule, and that the
general appearance of the mule would
justify the belief that he, too, was a pio-
neer, and prob ably his birth dated back
to the territory.
HUMPHREYS
| SKYo. EH