Obstinate Mules.

Manawatu Herald, 9 November 1899, Page 3

Obstinate Mules.

In the course of a stirring description of the storming of the Darghai Heights, Captain Sleesorin Macmillan's Magazine, gives an odd instance of the intelligent despair to which baggage animals sometimes abandon themselves. During the five hours' fighting a message was flashed down, " More ammunition for the Dorsets," and soon three animals, heavily laded, commenced the steep climb. " The leading mule took a very bad bit of path, did not like the look of it, jibbed, backed, got his hind legs over the edge, made frantic efforts to recover his footing, was dragged down by the weight of the ammunition-boxes, and rolled over and over down out of sight. The second mule promptly followed his example, deliberately and without any fuss, nearly dragging a driver down with him. Transport officers, and others familiar with the ways of the mule, will tell you that instances are not uncommon when mules, weary of carrying heavy loads over frightful tracks, grow sick of life, and purposely committ suicide over the nearest precipice. This looked remarkably like an instance of it. The third beast let itself be coaxed along a little further, then took fright, reared up close to the edge, fell backwards, and went down head over heels after the mules, with the last of the Dorset's reserve ammunition."