Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1894-02-10

During the administration OF
James Buchanan, in the fall OF 1857,
the train OF thirty Bactrian camels
purchased by the government, in
charge OF Captain Beale, United
States army. on their way from the
Gull Of Mexico 10 California. crossed
the plains to III Paso and halted at
Fort Bliss for several days.
These eamels were intended
as a pack train TO carry
army supplies across the great
American desert. distance OF over
hundred miles, which is termed by
| the Mexicans. fla Jornada del
Muerto. or Valley Of Death " The
desert is a long. narrow. deep de-
preston in the earth, having the APP
pearance OF furnace that has just
begun TO cool of after the fire had
been removed; the hot winds giving
out metallic heat that almost suf-
locates one, perhaps already burning
with thirst, and not drop OF water
that even an animal could swallow
under the most desperate circnm-
stances. The final disposition OF
those camcls is we'll known. il hah-
ing been found by experience that
/ they could not be utilized for the
purpose Intended, they were dis
banded on the plains OF Mexico TO
shift for themselves
After a rest of several 6ays, the
camel train moved out from Fort
Lancaster ia good order and felt
quite secure under the protection OF
Captain Beaie's small band. rs / was
confident that a sight OF those cam
els was sufficient 70 put TO flight
those Mild IN sn of the desert as we'll
as ferocious beasts, says the Phila-
delphia Times
We had made good speed ON our
Journey for two days without any
disturbance worthy OF note. and with
In some forty miles OF Fort Davis We
went into camp at a large spring, or
water hole near the narrow chute
I leading from the canyon This Is
narrow chute between PERCEPTIONS
bluffs Of near 100 feet in height for
the most part and is some fifteen
miles long. and so narrow that only
a single wagon can pass any point at
u time. the bluffs on either side shut
ting out the sun TO such AN extent
that il Is so dark il Is necessary TO
use torch TO see the way.
This spring &C which we had
pitched our tents for the night was
known TO be a great resort for the
Indians
We had been in camp some two
hours when one OF the men noticed
in the distance. filing out from the
foot mills TO our left, what might be
nerd Of antelope, supposed 20 ne on
their way 10 water. az that water hole
was the only one known TO exist for
over thirty miles around They were
watched with interest until they
assumed the shape Of human beings
ever and anon being screened by the
undulations Of tho valley. In the
meantime our party was not idle,
but was discussing every expedient
for defense and acting with the
energy tho occasion demanded
BY the time twilight had set in
our arrangements were perfected for
desperate defense. should our
hrcastwork OF camels prove un4atis-
factory. We had managed TO hide
ourselves so completely that nothing
but the camels could be seen. just
inside the lines we lay prone on the
ground behind small knoll covered
with a shaggy growth OF cactus and
dead grass to watch the approach OF
the hostiles
They approached within hum
dred yards OF the camcls. their Curl
osity being aroused to such degree
that they seemed spell bound
step forward, then hesitating until
one OF the young bucks let his won
der bump get the better of him and
unconsciously made slight excla-
nation like unto the scream Of
hungry panther, causing the entire
herd Of camels to raise their heads
and crane their long neclSs in that
direction, This was the signal for
the most precipitous stampede OF
about twenty Indians had ever wit
messed.
While still lying quietly Cor as
quietly as was possible under the
circumstances between laughsl,
"Curly Jake" whose risibles only
need wink to set them at boiling
point, who noticed a slight commo.
tion among tho cames, and saw
what he supposed TO be an Indian
creeping up on all-fours, could not
hold in any longer, but burst out be-
fore the Indian could run, as he sup
posed he would do as before, but the
camols took fright instead, and It
was with some difficulty that we cor
raled them in the cave with the
mules,
We now discovered that we had an
enemy to cope with that we had not
rockoned on with whose tactics we
were wholly unacquainted. The
bear, a huge monster, weighing at
least eight hundred pounds, did not
halt in his attack only long enough
to take curious glance about his
environments, but pursued us with