Harry Martin's Twin Palomino Mules

Harry's Mules

The aged clipping, left, includes a photo taken by a wire-press photographer in 1950 at the farm of Harry Martin, rural Jefferson County, Kansas, and was sooner after published in newspapers all over the United States. The caption for the photo reads:

"Twin colts, especially twin Palomino colts, are regarded as a rarity in the animal world. Twin male colts, born alive, are ever rarer, veterinarians say. All this explains why Harry A. Martin, of Topeka,
Kansas, was more than a little surprised when his Palomino riding mare gave birth to twin mule colts. Each has pronounced Palomino cast to its coat.

Page 8 -— June 18, 1950 The Detroit News Pictorial"

Choose a photo to see the larger version.

This photo of the riding mare, left, and her twin mules is shared by Harry's son, Don Martin. Don and his sister, Peggy, seem to remember that the mare's name was also Peggy.

This photo is of Don Martin and the twin Palomino mules. Don remembers that this photo was taken sometime later than when the press photographer took his photo.

Harry recieved letters from readers all over the United States. He kept the mail, which survives him. Harry died April 6, 1986.

Harry's son, Mike Martin, now has these letters from around the nation.

Harry's daughter, Peggy, writes: "we were all just kids so memories are pretty sketchy."

Don remembers: "I don't remember a lot about the mules. What was more unique about them than their color was that they had glass eyes. Anyone that doesn't know what glass eyes are, it may be a little hard to explain—the eye around the pupil is white or almost white. (You can kinda see it in the picture). Dad sold them to a farmer over by Oskaloosa. I dont know his name or how long he kept them."

   Through an interesting set of circumstances Jack Martin was given the Detroit copy of the famous photo of his brother, Harry Martin, and his Palomino mule twins. The clipping arrived in the mail from his veteran buddy, Loyal Brusse, who had served on shipboard with Jack during WWII. Loyal had an aunt who lived in Topeka and he visited his aunt at some time shortly after the war. He also stopped by to see Jack.
   Jack and Loyal lost touch with each other over the years.
   The aunt was visiting in Michigan in the summer of 1950, came across Harry's photo in The Detroit News Pictorial, June 18, 1950, clipped it remembering Loyal's connection with the Martins, and sent it to her nephew—who saved it over 50 years.
   In December 2003, Jack contacted the veterans' group of his WWII navel ship and shared news about himself and contact information. An article about Jack appeared in CHIPS, the veterans' newsletter for WWII's aircraft carrier U.S.S. Block Island. Soon after, Jack received a letter from Loyal, written from his home in Minnesota, and so Loyal passed the clipping back to Harry's brother to share with his family.

Martins should enjoy seeing this photo and these supplimental materials provided by the family of Harry Martin.

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