A NORTHERN TRAIL EXTRA;-))))))) Howdy, Almost hanky time:-), as our 49er Reuben Cole SHAW recalls a rather touching experience: "For several days before leaving our camp at Independence[1849], there was noticed amoung our animals a MULE which was supposed to be about a year old, but very small for that age. Where he came from or how he happened to be with us no one seemed to know. On leaving the frontier he followed us and soon became a general favorite with the boys, for besides his gentle and playful ways, it was found that he could run faster, jump farther and climb higher than any other animal in our outfit. "Owing to his diminutive size, he was named TOM THUMB, which was soon abbreviated to TOM. When on the march he formed a habit of stopping by the wayside and appropriating to himself such verdure as suited his taste, after which at his best speed he would rush to the head of the column and take his favorite place near the General's[guide] bell-horse. "When crossing the Wind River Mountains he sometimes had trouble in working his way around the pack-mules which had passed him while grazing. On one occasion early in the day, we were carefully making our way along a very dangerous trail on a steep, rocky hillside, TOM, in his hurry to pass a number of pack-mules at a point which was barely wide enough for one mule to pass at a time, was crowded over a mass of rocks 6 or 8 feet high alighting on a smooth ledge which sloped at an angle of 60 or 70 degress, and in a twinkling shot down the incline into a small canyon through which a mountain stream was flowing. "To approach the canyon at that point was out of the question, and, had that been possible, we dare not leave the mules we were leading, consequently Tom received no attention, but we supposed it to be the last of him, and during the dinner hour many regrets were expressed over the untimely death of our PET. Judge of our surprise when, after going into camp for the night, Tom came limping in looking for the bell-horse. He was bruised and bleeding from many wounds, and with one ear torn half way off and hanging down over a badly swollen eye, he looked the picture of despair. His wounds were dressed and he was kindly cared for, yet he never fully recovered from the effects of the adventure, but (limping along) managed to accompany the bell-horse to the end of the race."(From Shaw's "Across the Plains in '49"). NOTE: Just for fun, I checked out a possible Tom Thumb anachronism. Don't think so. In 1842, P.T. BARNUM set up his American Museum in NYC with Tom Thumb(the guy:-), bearded lady, &c. Then in 1850, along came.Jenny Lind. As you probably guessed, both J and C loved this one:-)), Bob Norris in Dallas <BNorris166aol.com>