08-14-2006, 05:34 PM
The Wild West (and military transport) used lots of mules to pull wagons. The 20+ mule teams per wagon in the west were not unusual. (One of my ancestors was a mule skinner). Long story short... Mule skinners were so skilled with their whip, they could kill a 'horse-fly' on a mules rump without touching the mule's skin. They were skilled enough so they could "skin' a mule that was being bad, even several yards away from the driver's box. (Yes, there were some gruesome duels fought with mule whips in the streets of mining towns (but they don't seem to make movies about that)).
My ancestor was carrying a load of borax from the mine to the railhead. His 3 wagons were pulled by more than 30 mules, all in one hitch, so you only needed one driver. On his way home a blizzard came up suddenly and he was forced to wrap himself up and lay in the wagon under furs. The mules just went ahead and went on back to the mine, without any active human supervision. He survived because his mules saved his life.
My father was in the 10th Mountain Division in WW2 (US Army). He was a "ski trooper" but when the Division was using mule transport, any of the 'country boys' who could work with mules suddenly found themselves with a new extra duty,...'mule skinner'. History repeats itself.... maybe I should buy a couple of mules, The neighbor across the street here has a couple for sale...... already trained to pull a wagon or buggy..... like I need another hobby. :roll:
My ancestor was carrying a load of borax from the mine to the railhead. His 3 wagons were pulled by more than 30 mules, all in one hitch, so you only needed one driver. On his way home a blizzard came up suddenly and he was forced to wrap himself up and lay in the wagon under furs. The mules just went ahead and went on back to the mine, without any active human supervision. He survived because his mules saved his life.
My father was in the 10th Mountain Division in WW2 (US Army). He was a "ski trooper" but when the Division was using mule transport, any of the 'country boys' who could work with mules suddenly found themselves with a new extra duty,...'mule skinner'. History repeats itself.... maybe I should buy a couple of mules, The neighbor across the street here has a couple for sale...... already trained to pull a wagon or buggy..... like I need another hobby. :roll:
Caius Fabius Maior
Charles Foxtrot
moderator, Roman Army Talk
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Charles Foxtrot
moderator, Roman Army Talk
link to the rules for posting
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