Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-30
WILD AM MAILS
Strange Beasts in the Desert That Give
Rise to Sensational Stories
Remnant Of Herds Once introduced
Dromedaries Not q Success Here.

From time to time reports have come of
strange beasts having been seen in the
great desert Of Arizona, and 1t has usually
transpired that these beasts, upon closer
description and examination, proved to have
been camels. OF late years only occasional
reports have been received of the presence
Of these foreign-built "ships Of the desert
upon American soil. According to a state
ment received last July by Mr.. Gustave
Bender Of this city from resident of Ari-
IONA, 1t is believed that the camels are
rapidly becoming extict.
A probable explanation of the presence of
camels on the American desert is made by
Mr.. Bender, who has examined the subject.
In conversation with Star reporter Mr..
Bender said:
THE Introduction Of the camel to be en-
ployed as a beast Of burden in those por-
tons of the western hemisphere where
there are broad prairies and elevated plains,
nearly destitute of water, and furnishing
but scanty supply of heritage of an in
different quality, has long been viewed as a
matter of much national Importance. par
ticularly since the establishment of the
overland routes. requiring mingled noun
tain and desert travel between the Atlantic
states and the Pacific slope. Several drom-
edaries and camels have been introduced
lTOH llIilc " tiHc, Dul, OWlIlS 10 d Whit VI
a proper knowledge of the habits and man
ners of the animals, the attempt has proven
unsuccessful. Camels were brought from
Guinea to Virginia In 1101, and the enter
troduced in the West Indies and various
parts of South America, and have been en-
ployed with partial success.
Purchased by Order Of Congress.
I'm 1855 Congress appropriated $4,000 to
be expended in the purchase of dromedaries
and camels. to be employed for military
purposes. In accordance with that act
Jefferson Davis, then Secretary of War,
assigned Maj. Henry c. Wayne, United
States army, for that duty, and instructed
him to visit Asia and other eastern coun-
tries. The United States store ship Supply
was placed at his disposal, under command
of Lieut.. David d. Porter. Maj. Wayne
left New York on the 10th Of May. 1855. for
the orient and sailed from Smyrna. in
Asia Minor, on the 18th of February, 1856,
with thirty-three camels, Of which one died;
six were born on the passage. Of which four
died He arrived on the 18th Of May. 1855.
at 1ndianola. Tex, with thirty-four camels
1.-The camels were sent to Camp Verde,
about sixty miles from San Antonio, Tex.
The object was to use the burden animals
in transporting supplies from San Antonio
to the camp. The dromedaries were to be
used a means of rapid transit for mes
for scouting parties instead OF mules. 1t
was thought t"at possibly the dromedaries
might be mounted with a small gun throw
ing shrapnel
second shinm~ut.
'Tn the meantime Lieut.. Porter set out
for the second expedition. taking along an
agent at a salary of $1,000 per year. He
purchased lot Of beautiful animals, all
young, and on November Is. 1885, sailed
from Smyrna with forty-four camels and
dromedaries of different breeds, six OF
which were presented by the sultan. After
most fearful voyage and experiencing the
severest gales and hurricanes the second
camel expedition arrived at the mouth of
the Mississippi January 3d. 1857. Forty-one
camels In good order were landed at In
dianola and transported to the others al
the camp After several years trial IT was
claimed that the animals wer not adapted
for military transportation in this country,
and the entire lot was sold at auction the
highest price being 81 per head.
so far 1 have not been able to ascertain
what fate these animals shared but I'M
doubtedy the camels found in southern
Arizona today are the remnants and off
spring of those imported about thirtv-seven
years ago into the state of Texas ! am In
correspondence with the governor of Ari-
IONA, and shall communicate with the
proper authorities In this city. with the
object OF saving the camels from destruc-
ton and removing them to some govern
lent reserva ton. probablv the Yellowstone
National Pork and securing a few for the
Geological Park of this city"