Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1889-06-21

was observed coming directly toward us
with most solemn and stately tread and
with eyes fxed and immovabe.
Old Frances-for that was the name Of
this beast---was a most formidable looking
object. We stood our ground for mo-
ment and then retired a little; as this TOW.
ernR presence continued to advance, ap-
parenily as resistless ne fate; we became
wholly demoralized like our horses and
bolted out Of the corral.
A shout Of laughter from one Of the
keepers called halt, and we were inform
Cd that we were in no danger, and that
Ol6 Frances only wanted smoke-which
proved to be- the fact. We we're informed
thai some camels we're very fond Of to-
bacco smoke and would follow any one
about who was smoking.
After we had found out the cause Of Old
frances attention we gave her all tbe
smoke she wanted To place the bowl Of
the pipe in her nostril and blow hard
through the stem seemed to have the best
effect. She would give loud sno.t. and
throwing her head back almost to her
hump, would curl up her lip, close her
eyes and seem lost in an ectsasy of enjoy.
m-nt. Two rounds of this smoking busi.
ness fully satisfied her, and nothing could
induce her to indulge again until after ssy.
eral hours had passed
These cattle were, with one exception,
as gentle as sheep. The children of the
keepers played among ih4m with perfect
safety and often climbed oD the backs oil
the younger ones.
The only vicious one was the huge stall
lion, "Msjor," who was very dangerou;
and was kept securely chained. His chiei
delight was to kill every mule he could
get at. and his method of doing so was
certainly original He would place hi,
breast bone on his victims back. and by
throwing forward his great weight, would
crush the poor brute to the earth and
break his back,
0lly one man dared lead the Major tc
water, and he did not do it unnecessarily
often. This performance was quite a com.
phcated one, for the MAYOR took bis own
time. He would walk few steps then
stop to browse a few moments, and nc
power ON earth could induce him to move
ON till he was ready little farther on
he would, perhaps, rear on hs hind legs
to nip the foliage of a live oak tree, often
reaching to an astonishing height from the
ground. The man in charge could do
nothing but stand meekly by until his
ordshp saw fit to complete the trip.
his watering process gen rally consumed
several hours, and the keeper thanked his
stars when II was over.
The scene in the morning, when the
camels were taken out together, was quite
oriental. Sixty-fye strung out in single
file, old Frances in the lead and the young
ones bringing up the rear. made long
line. One could always tell without look
ing when the camels were out, for every
tethered mule would bray and tug at lis
halter, and every loose animal would
charge around like mad till the camels
were out Of sight.
Orders from Washington finally came to
sell these animals by public auction, and
they were soon disposed of at very low
price-chieay TO circus and menagerie own.
ers-and were dispersed in the United
States and Mexico
Thus ended Uncle Sans experiment
which N my opinion. should never have
been abandoned, FOR as far as tested, it
certainly had proved success.