In the summer of 2016, the
Pastor of our church retired and our other priest was transferred to a
different parish. We welcomed a new Pastor and another priest and looked
forward to getting to know them. During their sermons, each priest will sometimes
mention something from their childhood or personal experience to tie into the
day’s Gospel. One such Sunday, one of them began talking about mules living in coal
mines. My first thought was comical, and my second thought was this would make
for a great blog. I’ve never heard of a mule living in a coal mine and wrote a
quick note to research.
Maryland Consolidation Coal Company |
Throughout civilization horses
and mules have been used to help man with lifting or hauling something heavy.
This practice was carried over in Montana when it came to working in a coal
mine. Pulling carts laden with ore was hard labor for man, so mules were
brought down into the mines to help. Horses couldn’t be used, as the cages used
to get to the bottom of the mine were small. A typical cage proved difficult
trying to cram in six men, but could hold one mule. To get the mule onto the
cage and to the bottom required a few days planning. The initial step involved not
feeding the mule or giving him water for three days because there was a risk
the mule would succumb to a ruptured bladder or suffocation while being
lowered. Before being led into the cage, the mule was blindfolded so he wouldn’t
spook and his legs were bound in a leather truss to keep him still. The mule
was placed inside the cage on his rear and lowered to the bottom. Sometimes, he
tried to kick, but usually he settled down to the quiet of the mine and rode
the cage just fine.
Stables inside the mine |
Once down at the bottom,
mules were put to work pulling the ore carts. They worked their eight-hour
shift and then were taken to a lit stable inside the mine for food and rest.
Muleskinners cared for the animals, and along with their food, made sure the
mule had a tub of ice water to drink each night. The muleskinner also scrubbed
the mule’s hooves with soap and water to rid him of the deadly copper water he
plodded through during the day. The copper was capable of eating away at the
hoof and if this happened, the mule would end up useless.
Mules adjusted well to the mines,
with many knowing the mine better than the minors. Tales abound of many a mule
saving miners from fires and other dangers. One such tale involved a miner who
made a hole through a wall the size of his head to see what was on the other
side. He discovered a lake but thought nothing of it until the next day. His
mule began acting strange, and cutting him free from his job, the mule took off
for higher ground. Knowing a mule’s instinct was good, the minor and his
coworkers were able to escape quickly when, at the same moment the mule dashed
off, the hole the miner had made crashed open, with water gushing toward them from
the lake.
Though a mule labored
beneath the ground, he wasn’t left there his entire life. If a mule was injured
or sick, he was brought above ground immediately. The same applied to the
duration of the mine shutting down for vacation or the miners going on strike. And
mules weren’t treated cruelly. Miners and mule skinners learned early on to
care for the mule. If treated poorly, the mule usually got even with either
kicking a man in the ribs or head, or squeezing him against the wall. Trained
mules were valuable, worth as much as $200, and always received medical
treatment and rubdowns when needed.
The use of mules in
mines pulling ore carts came to an end in December of 1965. An Act of
Legislature outlawed the underground stable, making it illegal to house animals
in mines.
4 comments:
I always feel so sorry for the mules when I read about them being used in the mines. Great post, Julie!
Thank you. Shanna. I never could have worked in one. I won't even go in one today, and we have a few near me that are open and do tours. Not my cup of tea.
Thank you for sharing this post, Julie. I'm interested in doing a children's story as a writing project. Growing up I had horses and learned much of what I knew from a great man who grew up in the mines and became a muleskinner. He often shared just tidbits of this past but as a kid I didn't think much about it. I think of him now as an adult and I wish I had asked him more about this part of his life. He was an amazing horseman and worked with mules and horses his entire life. I learned so much from him but I will always remember that the horses needs came before mine. - Chris Miller
Hi Chris. Glad you enjoyed the blog. I found mules working in coal mines quite fascinating.
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