Vincennes Posted September 27, 2010 #1 Posted September 27, 2010 I was at the Ft. Sill, OK Artillery Museum last week (worth seeing) and came across this display of a 1880's mule gun. Text on exhibit sign: "Experimental Mule Gun ca. 1880 This 1-lb. rifled muzzle-loading gun was intended to be fired off the back of a mule. Unfortunately, the reaction of the mule to having a small cannon fired off its back was not fully considered. According to tradition, when the piece was tested, the mule broke loose, began to whirl around, scattering the alarmed witnesses, then the mule stepped on the lanyard and fired the piece itself. The force of the recoil is said to have knocked the mule "rump over teakettle" into a nearby river. Army Mule ca. 1930 One of the last Army mules in regular service, Wind River, was sent to a taxidermist after his death. Normally, taxidermists only mount big game or trophy animals so there was no form available for a mule. The taxidermist used what he thought was the closest animal, a zebra. The is why Wind River looks so unusual." A fun item. Paul
LtRGFRANK Posted September 30, 2010 #2 Posted September 30, 2010 :laughing1: :laughing1: If only they had video of thet :pinch: Robert
tsakers85 Posted September 30, 2010 #3 Posted September 30, 2010 I'll have to check this out! I'm headed to Fort Sill in a few weeks for a living history event and to tour the post.
BOLO Posted October 8, 2010 #4 Posted October 8, 2010 thats an interesting story about the mule gun, I wish I was close enough to go to the museum
1SG_1st_Cav Posted April 11, 2013 #5 Posted April 11, 2013 Yes, that is an interesting piece and you do have to check out the whole FA Museum. There are a lot of interesting pieces in that museum. Danny
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