Keeping Food For The Panama Mules .

[George Gunn]

How many of you guys were duped into keeping left/overs to feed the mules your first time through the canal ?? I was !!!

[Tony Taylor]

How many of you guys were duped into keeping left/overs to feed the mules your first time through the canal ?? I was !!!

I did see one galley boy who was told to hump a sack of carrots up to the bridge. I was told first hand that the canal pilot just about fell off his chair laughing.

[Des Jenkins]

Hi George.
I was lucky I was on my third trip before I went through the Panama, but our galley boy did keep all the scraps for a few days , felt sorry for him when he found out. but he took it in good humor when he saw and was amazed by the Mules.
Des

[happy daze john in oz]

Sorry for the bloods who were told to keep their left over dinner rolls for the mules.
Not amused I can ashore you

[John Arton]

Used to bunker in Cristobal before going through the canal on our way up to B.C so always had a good run ashore before transit, so during transit I was suffering from a horrendous hangover. As cadet I was mainly employed taking cold drinks to the forward pilots as we were entering the locks.
Rgds
J.A

[Des Jenkins]

Hi John
No doubt taking a few sips along th way to try an alleviate that headache.
Des

[happy daze john in oz]

But of course, in hot weather one must stay hydrated.

[Joe Earl]

THE PANAMA CANAL MULES


There was many a lad on a tanker, a liner or tramp of the sea,
That saved up bread for the `mules`, and one of those lads was me,
Informed by the crew it was routine, and nice to be such a pal,
By hoarding grub for old Dobbin, working the long canal.

For weeks while crossing the ocean, earning a Deck boy’s pay
I stored all scraps and loaves there, plenty every day,
Later on, arriving, you could `knock me down with a feather`,
For it weren’t the type of mule, with legs and reins of leather.

These beasts had ruddy big engines - a locomotive wide,
The game was up I knew it - I’d been taken for a ride,
Quick as a flash, in a hurry, I dumped my donkey stores,
Not acting like a lubber or a stranger to these shores.

I pretended I wasn’t so stupid but wise to their childish game,
Patting myself on the back, for avoiding terrible shame,
But Galley boys and Peggy’s that fell for the seamen’s ruse,
Will never forget those mules - and bread they didn’t use.
Joe Earl
R680857