Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-02-03

of seal brown Missouri mules we're at
tached to each Of their delivery We
hicles. The majority of these animals
lived true to mule tradition. They were
stubborn, vicious and unruly NO ordin-
cry teamster would suffice TO drive
these contrary beasts. Mule SINNERS
are not easily trained, they must be
born to the tradition
Imported SINNERS
/ The Jewel Tea company imported
theirs direct from Missouri Tough, to-
/ bacco-chewing thin and angular, they
I took to the guiding of the mules as
/ the proverbial duck to water Meager
but vitrolic was the vocabulary of these
( SINNERS. They wasted very little per-
suasion on the mules. In their opinion
! the healthy end Of a stout hickory pick
handle properly applied to the more
vulnerable portions of the mules anat-
omy conveyed far more meaning and
understanding to a mule than any
amount of cajoling or coaXing on their
part
January g. 1906. was a cold blustery
day The thermometer was hitting the
low spots. A mean day for man or
beast and poor day indeed for a
stubborn mule to choose to go native"
and perform mulish antics on the
busiest corner of the Butte business
district.
Mules being what they are, however, !
this was the very time that a cleaning
span Of the tea firms animals chose (
to go on both a standstill and Shutdown
strike
In difference to the scurTying crowds {
the harraSsed skinner did not make (
use Of his entire vocabulary. HurTiedly /
Swimming over the most choice but .
eenSorable epithets, he used those deal 4
ing merely with the questionable an
ceStors OF this particular span of
mules. He came down from his drivers
perch, cold meaning CLEAN in his
eye. Direct to the wagon box he picked
his way and the hickory pick handle
made its appearance.
Mules Meet Master
From there the skinner methodically
went to work. With the finesse of an
accomplished boxer he worked the now
terrified mules over, both fore and aft
Each reSounding whack of the polished
shelalah brought a frantic scream from
the mules. They had met their master
IN the hardwood pick handle and were
ready to resume their days labor with
put further ado
At this precise moment a brethren
Of the Cloth, in clerical raiment, APP
0eared on the scene. Indignant at the
display of brutality recently exercised
1y the irate Missouri skinner, he
'hided the now passive teamster in
words as vehement as became q thor !
)ughly aroused member of his calling.
Physical violence on dumb and de- I
enseleSs animals was to be abhorred. 4
Kindness would succeed in calming the !
most vicious of animals. Suiting the
ction TO the word, the kindly reverend
approached the trembling mules from Q
he rear and gently placed his hand Y
pom the quivering rump of one of the =
v
A flash as of lightning bolt and y
he mule dashed out with both hind q
eet. A direct hit Considerable and
indy paSsers-by carried the uncon- 2
ciouS clergyman to a nearby physi- q
ian's office. A crushed chest, concus- Z
lon Of the brain and numerous con- 2
lsionS and abrasions were listed on v
ne chart that graced the foot of the q
lergymans bed at a local hospital.
here the kindly man passed the bet
r portion of eight weeks recovering a
ON the effects Of his Good Samari- d
IN act Of
The skinner reflectively bit off a st
esh chew of plug cut, fondled his pick Oh
andle and smiled knowingly. News IL
apers carried the story on next days p;
ont pages. vi