Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-06-14
WILD CAMELS.
Descendants of Herd That Were
Imported from Africa.

Basin region, 1t was thought that
camels might be proftaUly used about
the mines, particularly in packing
across the surrounding deserts, and
twelve "ships OF the desert" were &C.
cordingly purchased and brought TO
Virginia City. They were wanted for
use In packing salt from the Hot
I Springs salt marsh TO the Comstock re-
duction works. This salt deposit lies
far out in desert region, and to reach
1t many waterloss stretches OF sand and
alkali had to be traversed
The camels were able TO cross all the
deserts in perfect comfort carrying
heavy loads of salt and finding 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. The 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 Mexicans, who used them
for 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 mule-up mercifully They soon
killed three Of the wrotchcd beasts and
would have killed the remainder had
not Frenchman, who owned 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 tho French colony, where
he had developed an affection for the
camel-probably owed the animal a
debt of gratitude for having saved his
life on some occasion. lie had no use
for the beasts, therefore turned them
out to roam the desert plains at will.
The animals, left to shift for them
selves, soon waxed fat, and increased
and multiplied. In n few years from
nine the herd had increased TO thirty
six, old and young. The Frenchman
then sold the whole lot to be taken
down TO Arizona to be used in packing
ore down off big mountain range 1t
was said there was good smooth tra>,
but the animals found all the rocks and
] soon lOOlsOTf anu hStlthS, when
all were turned adrift TO shift for them
selves They have regained the in
stincts of the original wild state of
their species and are very wary and
swift They fly into watcrlcss wastes
impenetrablc to man when approached.
Some of the old animals, however, oc-
casiOnally appear in the vicinity Of the
scttlemc hts OF late it is reported that
the cattlemen have been shooting them
for some reason perhaps because they
brighten and stampede their horses,
No one knows how many camcls are
now running ut large in the wilds of
the ella country, but there must be n
great number One is occasionally
caught. -Four years ago one was cap
tured near to ella Bend that measured
over nine feet in height 1t appeared
to be u stray from one OF the herds in
that region.
With the herd OF camcls when IL was
owned by the Frenchman ON the Car
son river was huge old bull camel
known as "Old Keenan," because of his
fighting procllvitics. lie was giant,
and the patriarch Of the herd. lie had
hair on parts OF his body that was II
foot or eighteen inches in Length. The
animals ranged down the valley OF the
Carson nearly TO old Fort Churchill At
Sam Buckland's ranch, Il mile above
the fort, several Mexican vaqucrus
were employed These men had seen
the big camel, and looked with cnvious
eyes upon the long, sillen hair that
hung from the huge frame. They
thought this hair might be spun into
beautiful riatas, bride reins and orna-
ments for brides.
One fine Sunday morning In spring
two Of the observation-disclosures and Ge-
donio - equipped themselves with a
lasso and n pair of sheep shears and set
out to catch and shear Old lleenan. Ge-
donio found the big animal easy of APP
proach. The old fellow stood stock
still lie was dreamily chewing lis
cud with half-closed eyes. The lasso
swished through the air, and in a IN o
ment was about the big animals neck.
Then, as the patriarch felt tho rope
tighten about his throat, the fun be-
gan.
Alongside the giant beast the Next
can looked u mere pigmy When Old
Heenan realized that the small two.
legged creature W us actually trying to
gather him In his little eyes turned
green with rage, Kissing like red
hot locomotive he cha rged Gedonio.
The little Mexican held to the rope for
a time, hoping to choke the camel
down, but found the animal apparent
ly able to subsist as long without
"wind" as without water Besides,
Heenan made for him so rapidly that
he could get no pull on the old fellow.
At last Gedonio was so hard pressed
that he was obliged to drop the lasso
and take to his heels
by this time Old Ileenan was wild
with rage. The Mexican tried TO dodge
the irate beast among the punches OF
CROSSWORD, but these being only two
or three feet high, afforded poor cover.
lie then struck for the river, intending
TO climb one Of the cottonwoods on its
banks, but Ileenan was too close upon
his heels. There was no time for
climbing, and he was obliged 10 plunge
: into the river. Not being able TO swim,
Gedouio was constrained TO halt when
! the water came up to his chin, Ileenan
Z charged down to the waters edge and
, there stood on guard. Though the old
fellow would not enter the water YET
he made Gedonio very unhappy by spit
ting show crs of acrid saliva into his
face and eyes.
Meanwhile Antonio who had wit
: messed his partners inglorious retreat
] and almost grlit lig ytuIpiro In LAUGH