THE MULE.

Temuka Leader, Issue 224, 15 January 1880, Page 3

THE MULE.

Recently a couple of miners were i seated on a boulder alongside of the road to Sutro, discussing the kicking powers ; <"of the mule. One' had just returned - \ from Sutro, and the other was on the -'• and, having met near the -: : roek, khey «»t down for, a talk. r .. " Have you-.qniet,-.over- tiher-e^/'said. - M'tho Diie-wjio was eastward bound.- -■-, •-, .'--."iY-fs/-' - - ■■ ■ - - > - • •'■ ,<• Why?'* -•- •• r:-" 1 _, *■ • u Mules." t "'Praid of.Vnr ? " " You b'-t. I saw one yesterday, alongside an old Irtiihr. kickin* off the rivet-headsoneby one. Never missed one. 1 was just going on shift, and when 1 h»w that -nub 1 , and hoard t.iere was more oi 'em i..*ide, I weakened, and threw «]• nvrjob. Tvt-got a wifr and

fhreechildren dependin' on me, and 1 don't' take chances.''

"' The worst u,u> t ever saw," said the other <• was ii. .Pioche some years™ ago. it was one; I owned. One day it. rubbed against some nails sticking out and it turned square around and drave those nails iii one by one, using a single blow of the hoof with the iron shoe' on for eacn nail'.' .Xt.never nussed;its lick, and always' drove 'em just in to the head ■. Then he saw a feW tacks on the post,'a. little lower down, which wore only half driven m, and he drove them in too with, light taps of the hoof, just as gentle and easy as could bo. Oile day a man came along and set out a can of nitroglycerine- and paintpowder. He wanted to get the mule to kick it ..and get killed. I saw him about ibp corral with the can and knew what was up. At first, was going to stop him, and then j thought he was any king of a mule at all he could take care of himself. So I just watched. :-sje]Ll.., UheJmulfi, saw the can.- and walking up snie'i t "of if, and. then squared ' himself :. ; for ■'the;:^du.c•k■J;.■tile;'^^^li' ! '■''vfaß•■ justs?.the..mute was r of Lth'e'felley,^h^-/bhahg^d'' :; -hts' position - ;so, that ••his his .tail was' towards ■•" the'man:. lifted "his.'tail' just like' lie 'aim,'find leifly Ill's.fighth'pof ;"'.the' fcan wefit flying:thro*gh the -air ...and hit ,the man. square thevresr-jUst.'fts be,>ss " gettin' avsf a'Tenctfabout'a hundred feet away.;^v.the^thiiig 1 exploded,* a'nd. l - never "b&W\ themaii "' again/but next mornings >Pat ; Holland ."'came"; up; in 'the Record ; and said that.tha/town had..beeri visited ! 'by a shower of b'oodi" r .

"Mules are they git roused." . '•:,'''' '• ■'■ : ■■■"' : .'