Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-23

Mr. r. q. vaniderstine's Experiment.
He Imports Thirteen Camels for
Breeding PurpOses-LiveIy Scenes in
Camden-ThFee Men Hurt and q
ShOW.windOW Smashed.


ShOw.windOw Smashed.
From the Phfa Times
drove Of thirteen camels belonging to
Theodore 8. Vaniderstine, who bought them for
breeding purposes, injured three men and
wrecked the show-window Of Martindale's
drug store in Camden yesterday. Two months
ago Mr.. Vaniderstine, an eccentric gentleman,
who made fortune by brewing weiss beer,
ordered Carl Hagenbeck, the famous European
dealer in wild animals. to purchase fifteen cam
els for him. Two died crossing the ocean. The
remaining thirteen reached New York last
Thursday and arrived in Camden late on .Satur-
dav night. They cost Mr.. vaniderstine $4,000.
exclusive OF the doctor bills of their victims
and Druggist Martindale's window account
Around the neck of each camel is circle Of
Wire holding tin tag bearing the name of the
animal to which it is attached. Before they were
unloaded yesterday their owner said that Mr..
Hagenbeck had assured him by letter that they
were Thoroughly domesticated." A few hours
later Mr.. Vaniderstine was wondering how an I'M
tanned camel would behave upon being released
from railroad car. At daybreak Charles
Mellon, Joel Y. Prentiss, Arnold McDevitt and
two or three other men made preparations to
take the camels out of the stock car. The first
camel came out without much trouble and slid
sprawling down the gang-plank to the ground.
Juliet" the second. was stubborn. and refused
to bulge. While Mellon thunped her ribs with
hoop poll his assistants poked her ribs and
legs.
Mr.. PRESTIss' SENSATIONAL ACT.
Finally she squared around at Mellon, and
when she prayed he jumped out of the car.
Prentiss took advantage of the change in "Ju-
LETS" position and pushed her stoutly from be-
hind. In an instant one of outlets" hind legs
stretched out horizontally until it looked like
telegraph pole.
Mr.. Vaniderstine yelled: eli! Look ont
there
The warning, however. came too late.
"Juliet's" foot struck Prentiss in the breast and
ne was sent flying against the side of the car.
Prentss was so close to Juliet" that he was
not seriously hurt and he managed to get out
while she was kicking wildly at her mates. None
of the men could be induced to enter the car
after Prentss' adventure. Then the men hid,
leaving the car door open. "Juliet" scrambled
down the run to the ground and the others fol-
lowed her. The forces Of Mr.. Vanderstine came
from their places of cOncealment and endeavOred
to corral the ships Of the desert in corner
One careened against McDevitt, knocking him
down. and halfa dozen other rOmped over his
body. One tramped on his left shoulder and
bruised 1t severely.
in an hour all of the camels except Outlet"
had been captured and tied to fence. "Juliet"
ran up and down the yard. kicking viciously at
space. While Mr.. Vaniderstines men were eau
tiOusly pursuing her, her captive companions
that were mOored to the fence stampeded, pull
ing section OF it down. By this time crowd
of spectators gathered and from a distance en-
joyed the hunt. Juliet" was caught at last and
was with the others tied to rope when they
were wheeled into single file and the procession
started for the livery stable of Joseph Franklin,
on I'd street. below Market After learning of
the dangerously frisky behavior of the brutes
when they got out of the car Mr.. Franklin con-
Guided that it would not be safe 20 keep them
over night Mr.. Vaniderstine decided TO take
them to his own stable. on West Cooper street,
near CoOper's creek.
PROCESSION OF CAMELs.
Tied as they were to the long rope the camels
strung out like circus parade. Mellon led the
first beast and the others followed meekly
enough for the first square or two. Mellon. how
ever was nervous and kept one eye over his
shoulder. fearing. no doubt that the camels
would suddenly charge on him.
AT the corner Of Sth street Juliet let out
again and as no human beings were in the way
her heels struck the nose of the next camel in
the procession. few minutes later the camels
were scared by passing wagon.
big camel, marked Hannibal, broke his hal
ter strap and rushed straight at Martindale's
drug store. When his head went through the
show window big bottle filed with red water
was smashed to bits. The clerk :scuttled down
cellar and a man who was drinking hot soda at
the fountain yelled 'Shoo.' and threw tum-
bier at the giraffe" as he called Hannibal The
camel. after crippling Mellon by stepping on his
foot. was again tied in line and the drove
reached the stable without further trouble They
were driven into the barn and fed
The owner of the heard that arrived in Cam
den believes that the camel. not the horse,
should be mans chief beast of burden and he
predicts that within a few years they will be in
general use all over this country. Mr.. vanid
erstene declares that the camel is harder
brute than people generally suppose. and when
his attention was called to the way they shivered
yesterday when the chilly wind blew of tufts of
their ragged coats, he said 'Oh they'll get used to
that, and when once acclimated they will stand
more severe weather as mustang or an
Arabian horse" This morning the camels will
be removed to Mr.. Vaniderstine's farm in Ocean
county, part Of which the owner admits is las
sandy and de. late as any spot in the Desert of
sahara. Eve men, under command Of Jack
Douglass, an animal-keeper belonging to John
OBrien,s circus winter quarters, have been
engaged to take the animals to Ocean county
CAMELs ON JERSEY HIGHWAYS
The camels will be broken to harness, but will
not be expected to do much work. as their
owner has imported them specially for breeding
purposes. Two genuine dromedary saddles came
with the beasts, and Mr.. Vaniderstine declares
that he will be seated in one on the back OF q
gallOping camel before the week is out. Mr..
Vaniderstine is the New Jersey gentleman who
few years ago talked of raising Ostriches for
their feathers. He imported two birds as
an experiment, but they died within a week
after he got them. He still has faith in ostrich
raising, however and says he was swindled in
the birds he imported they having been raised
in an artifcially -heated apartment of Euro
pean geological garden. Had they been ..accus-
toned to cold" he says, Il would have EN-
now; but camels are stouter, and I'll raise
enough Of 'em to stock Jersey-if have good
luck"