The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1894-05-19
ARIZONA'S Wild CAMELs.
Descendants Of a Herd That Were
Imported from Africa.

NN1Lb SA1 VI IllxlN,
Descendants Of a Herd That Were
Imported from Africa.
The camels now running wild in Ari-
iona are the descendants of a small
herd originally imported for use in the
state of Nevada: says the San Fran
cisco Chronicle. In the early DAYS of
mining on the Comstock, long before
there were any railroads in the Great
Basin region, 1t was thought that
camels might be protitably used about
the mines, particularly in packing
across the surrounding deserts, and
twelve ships of the desert" were ac-
cordingly purchased and brought to
Virginia City. They were wanted for
use i'll packing salt from the Hot
Springs salt marsh to the Comstock re-
duction works. This salt deposit lies
far ont in a desert region, aud to reach
1t many watcrlcss stretches of sand and
alkali had to be rravcrsed.
The camels were able to cross all the
deserts in perfect comfort, CARRYING
NdN lhhNN w SAT- anu HIullR means
of subsistence in the prickly and bitter
plants and shrubs everywhere to be
found in abundance. In short, the
animals did as good work here in our
deserts as they are able TO do in any
country in the world. but they were
too slow. Tho camel may be fast
enough for an Arab. but he is too slow
for an American
When the occupation of the camels
as packers of salt was gone they were
sold to some M~exicans, who used them
for a time in packing wood down out of
the mountains. The Mexicans took
them up rocky trails into the rugged
hills and used them the same as they
use a fundamentally. They o
killed three of the wretched beasts and
would have killed the remainder had
not a ~Frenchman, who owned a big
ranch on the Carson river, below Day
ton, taken pity on the poor, abused
creatures and bought the whole of
them. This Frenchman had been in
Algeria with the French colony, where
he had developed an affection for the
camel-probably owed the animal Il
debt of gratitude for having saved his
life on some occasion. He had no use
for the beasts, therefore turned them
out to the desert plains at will.
The animals, left TO shift for them
selves, suon waxei fat. and increased
and multiplied In a few years from
nine the herd had increased to thirty
six, old and young. The Frcnchman
Hl., .A1T II. I'LL l..
down to Arizona To be used in packing
ore down off 4 big mountain range. 1t
said there wasa good smooth trail,
but TN. animals found all the rocks and
soon became footsore and useless, when
were turned adrift to shift for them
They have regained the in
of the original wild state of
their species and are very wary and
swift They 1y into waterlcss wastes
to man when approached.
Some of the old animals, however, oc-
casiUnally appear in the vicinity of the
settlements. of late it is reported that
cattlemcn have been shooting them
for some reason, perhaps because they
and stampede their horses.
No one knows how many camels are
running at large in the wilds of
the ella country, but there must be a !
great number. One is occasionally
caught. -Four years z one was cap
tured near to ella Bend that measured ,
over nine feet in height. 1t appeared
to be a stray from one of the herds in
that region. l
With the herd of camels when il was
owned by the Frenchman on the Car
river WIS a huge old bull camel
as "Old Keenan," because of his ;
fighting proclIvities. lie was a giant, !
and the patriarch of the herd. lie had :
hair on parts of his body that was a :
foot or eighteen inches in Length. The :
animals ranged down the valley of the =
Carson nearly to old Fort Churchill. At l
Buckland's ranch, a mile above '
he fort, several Mexican vaqueros =,
we're employed. These men had seen
he big camel, and looked with e%nvious =
Eyes upon the long, silken hair that u
lung from the huge frame. They
this hair might be spun into "
beautiful ~riatas, bride reins and orna- y
nents for brides. !
One fine Sunday morning in spring -
of the Observation-Disclosures and tie -
equipped themselves with a 4
asso and Il pair of sheep shears and set !
to catch and shear Old Heeuan. &c -
,Onio found the big animal easy of APP :,
The old fellow stood stock =
till lie was dreamily chewing his :
with half-clo>cd eyes. The lasso
through the air. and in a m
lent was about the big animals neck. :
hen, as the patriarch felt the rope
about his throat, the fun be- :,
/.
Alongside the giant beast the Next I;
an looked a mere pigmy. When Old r.
lcenan realized that the small two -
,gged creature rs actually trying TO -
ather him in his little eyes turned
rccn with rage. Kissing like a red -;
OF locomotive he charged Gedonio. :.
he little Mexican held to the rope for -
time, hoping to choke the camel -,
but found the animal apparent
: able to subsist as long without
wind" as without water. Besides, -,
.ccnan made for him 50 rapidly that
t could get no pull on the old fellow.
t last don WAS s hard pressed mr.
nat he was obliged to drop the lasso in
nd take to mis- heels a.
by this time Old lIeenan was wild m,
it'll rage. The Mexican tried to dodge
lie irate beast among the lunches of oh
-asswood. but these being only two ga
three feet high, afforded poor cover. in,
e Their struck for the river. intending an
pIipnh ono nf tho ont fan ,x.,nl.. -, -. d
INKS, but ~ileenan was too close upon an
5 heels. There was no time for tn
and he was obliged to plunge tn
10 the river. Not being able to- swim.
was constrained to malt when pi,
t water came up to his chin. Heenan at
arCed down to the Mnter'S ,.drn and ~