The morning call., 1893-05-21

sugges ted, but at last il was decided to
turn them loose. and IL anybody wanted
them to let them help themselves. But
nobody cared for camels, and from that
day to this they have roamed over the
deserts of Nevada, Utah and Arizona.
They bred to a great extent. but as many
have been killed In various ways there is
just about the same mum Der now as When
they were turned loose many years ago.
They are very shy and keep out of sigh,
OF man as much as possible. No case is
known where anybody has used them
since they were set at liberty, but many
hunters have met them and some curious
tales are. told about the mysterious crea-
lures. The latesI of these is a hunter who
says his life was saved by one of them.
The mans name is Martin Fairchi lid and
there are not many places in the world he
has not visited. He is not over 35 years of
age and is Yale man. but ssince he left
college has put in a large mart Of his time
'tramping the wilderness" looking for ex-
element. He had a Cood taste of 1t with
the English army in Egypt and the French
in China and has also had little expert
ence fighting Indians. He has also been
in many tight places where 1t looked as f
he was going 10 feed wild beasts. Out of
all these. eXceot the last. he escaped by his
own efforts, but this time he would have
been "a goner," had IL not been for the
arrival of the camel.
Fairchild was hunting in the Harqua-
hala Mountains in Arizona short time
ago and did not have the least idea that
there were any camel3 in the Territory.
He had been out with a rarty of friends
for several weeks and had found splendid
sport, which was made the best of. His
friends, howcver, had tired and gone back
10 their homes in different parts OF the
country. but Fairchild. having nothing
better to do. decided to remain awhile
q lpO a 10 hal
out.
He was left alone. but did not mind it In
the least. In fact he even thought it mo-
n0tonous compared with some days he
had spent IN the jungles of India with
tigers all around him. or course it was
lonesome. particularly when he sat by the
campfire at night. but aside from that he
was con,ented, and the howls of wild
beasts around him were like music to his
ears
Fairchild had been alone for a week
without oven meeting Mexican or Indian
to speak to, and, as the game seemed to
have left his part Of the country he
thought he would go also. He made up
bis mind to 90 early the following morn
ing and got as many things as he could
into such shape that they would be very
little trouble TO put on his pack-horse at
about day break.
He did get away the folio wing morning,
Uut not I'D In6 way ne I'D tenQe0.
TO keep his horse where he could put his
hand on him when he wanted him he tied
him to cactus near the tent. He then
put on big fire and went inside to sleep.
II must have been after midnight when
he was awakened by the whinny of his
horse. The animal seemed to be in terror,
and Fairchild jumped to his feet and looked
outside. He could not see very much by
the faint light of the dying fire. but there
was enough radiation for him to make out
several forms moving around his horse.
He could not tell what they were and, in
deed, he did not care very much, but turned
back into the tent and got his rife. AT
the first shot there was a dramatic chorus
of wild howls that he recognized as the
voice of the gray wolf, which in that coun-
try will often attain n length of six feet.
1t was a most serious state of affairs,
and Fairchild commenced pumping lead
into the pack as fast as he could work the
lever of his rifle. The animals did not
seem to notice him, but continued to at
tack the horse, and in n few moments the
poor brute was borne to the ground. He
mOaned in agony few times, hut in min-
ute or two was torn to pieces by the hun
cry beasts.
So far the animals had paid no attention
to Fairchlld, although each shot meant one
less OF their number. But when the horse
was finished they made rush for tLe tent
1t took Fairchild but moment to realize
his great danger aud also to put himself in
the safest place-near the FIRE. That was
burned low. but there were plenty of large
embers. and seiZing one of these he waved
it above his head and soon had it In a
flame, at the same time kicking the others
into pile so that they would burn. This
move was all that saved Fairchild's life,
for the beasts tore the tent to piecrs in a
few minutes. and had he remained inside
he would nave been Gevoured.
l.
the fire, but they did not leave the locality.
Instead they stayed near and giared at
him, apparently waiting for something tn
happen that would permit them to get
their teeth into him.
1t Was an awful night Fairchild spent