Democratic Sentinel, Volume 22, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 July 1898 — EQUIPPING THE ARMY MULE. [ARTICLE]

EQUIPPING THE ARMY MULE.

Packing la a Science and an Expert at It Slakes Money. The mules of Uncle Sam are equipped with the Mexican aparejo for the carrying of their loads, says a correspondent. This consists first of two or more thick felt blankets, folded large enough to nearly cover the mule from shoulder to tail. Over this is placed a huge pair of leather bags united by a broad band of the same material, the cavities stuffed with soft hay. This is girthed to the mule by a cinch nearly a foot in width, which is drawn as tightly as possible by a strong man, pulling with both hands and with a foot against the animal’s ribs to give him a greater purchase. On each side of the spine the articles to be carried are placed and lohed by a rope about fifty feet in length, which has at one end a broad webbing belt to pass under the body, as was done with the others. Another “squeezing” is given and the rope is crossed in different'directions over the load, tightened at every crossing, and finally fastened In a knot loosed by one pull. “Packing” is a science, and as such commands good wages. I have known a “chief packer” to be paid a salary of $l6O per month on the frontier, and his services were worth the money paid. The duty is taught to cavalrymen as part of their drill, and many of the soldiers become very expert in it. At a pack drill of the Ninth Cavalry a few days before it left Montana one company packed its mule in one minute and fifty-four seconds, and others were but little slower. Thirty mules generally constitute a “train,” and are managed by three men. They are trained to follow a bell, worn by a horse, white preferred, as being more readily seen. They are not confined in any way except when first put into the train; then any straying from it is punished very severely, and Mr. Mule soon learns his place and that it is best to keep it.