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Mine Mules by Harry W. Short, Engineering Geologist Early on, horses were used to pull barges loaded with coal in canals to market. On hot days, the horses would jump into the canals to cool off. The drovers would drown if they were dragged under by the horses. Mine owners switched to mules when it was discovered mules didn’t care for canal water. Treated with kindness and proper care by the mule skin- ner, the mules were better workers than horses. Open-pit and underground mines evolved and mules were the first choice to be put to work there. The mules were low- ered underground via the mine shaft. The mules faced the same hazards as the min- ers from dust, bad air, and methane gas to falling into shafts and roof collapses. After about three years underground without lights the mules went blind. The mules had their own work ethics. They bit and kicked any mule skinner who mistreated them, and many miners met their death this way. Another mule trick was to squeeze the miner into the drift wall, killing him to get even for mistreatment. Many mules refused to work for certain miners. Some were just lazy, but could be enticed to work with treats such as apples, candy, and chewing tobacco. Management recognized the mules’ idiosyncrasies and assigned them to miners with whom they were compatible. There were mules that would only pull a certain number of ore carts. One would lie down in the drift and go to sleep until the extra carts were removed from her train. Another pulled the same stunt until given a chaw of tobacco. Each animal had a name which they responded to when called by the mule skinner. A mule named Babe was addicted to tobacco smoke and inhaled the miner’s noon pipe. Sharkey set the switches off on his level and refused to move until they were reset. The mines employed men to work underground tending the mules to see they were properly nourished, had drinking water, their underground stables were well lit, and cleaned of manure. The mules’ hooves were given careful attention since they were susceptible to disease caused by dampness and moisture below- ground. Any miners caught abusing the mules were fired since mules were company property and considered employees. It seems inappropriate to cal l mine mules stupid, don’t you agree? Harry In memory of Harry Short. His articles will continue posthumously. Contact: michele@worldwidedrillingresource.com Descendants of the mules that worked the Gold Road Mine roam the streets of Oatman, Arizona, seeking treats from tourists. Michele, I would like to thank the magazine for continuing with Harry’s articles. He was always my first read and he will be missed. Again thanks, Rich Bacon Geologist &% ! "" * "(%$ ))) (" $( ' & $ %# # " (" $( $ ( " !" !! ! &% ! % ! (" $( & $ $ $ " ! $ $ ! ! $ ! $ # $ $ $ 68 SEPTEMBER 2016 WorldWide Drilling Resource ®