The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1894-05-26


too slow. The camel may be fast
enough for IN Arab. but lac Is too slow
for an American.
When the occupation of the camels
as packers of salt was gone they were
sold 70 some Mcxicans, who used them
for time in packing wood down out Of
the mountaina The Mcxicans took
them mp rocky trails into the rugged
hills aud used them the same as they
use mule--un mercifully They soon
killed three of tho wrotchcd beasts and
woull have killed the remainder had
not n Frenchman. who owned n 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 Lceu in
Algeria with the French colony, where
he had developed an affection for the
ca>icl--probably owed tho animal a
debt Of gratitude for having saved his
life on some occasion. He had no use
for the beasts, therefore turned them
out TO roam the desert plains IT will.
The animals. left TO shift for thcm-
selves, soon waxel fat, aud increased
end multiplied In n few ycar3 from
nine the herd had increased 10 thirty
six. old and young. The Frenchman
then sold the whole lot To be taken
down 10 Arizona 10 be used in packing
orc down off big mountain range 1t
was said there was good smooth trail,
but the animals found all the rocks and
soon became footsore AID useless, when
-. 4 IL. a..
selves They have rcgaincd tho in
stincts OF the original wild state of
their species and are very wary and
swift They fly into waterless wastes
impenetrablc TO man when approached.
Some OF the old animals, however. oc-
casionally appear in the vicinity OF the
settlements OF late II Is reported that
the cattlemen have been shooting them
for somo reaso n, perhaps because they
brighten and stampede their horses.
No one knows how many camcls arc
now running at large in the wilds of
the ella country, but there must bc
great number. Ono is occasionally
caught Four years AFRO one was cap
turcd near TO ella lend that measured
over ninc feet in height 1t appeared
TO be n stray from ono OF the herds in
that region.
With the herd OF camels whom IL was
owned by tho Frcnehman on the Car
son river was huge old hull camel
known as "0ld IIecnan." because OF his
lighting proclivitic3. IIo was n giant.
and the patriarch OF the herd. lie had
hair on parts OF his body that was
foot or eighteen inches in lcngA. Tho
animals ranged down the valley OF tho
Carson nearly TO old Fort Churchill At
Sam Buclsland's ranch. n mile above
the fort. several Mexican vaqueros
were employed. Thcsa men had seen
the big camel. aud looked with cnvious
eyes upon the loly, sillssn hair that
hung from thu hugs frame. Thoy
thought this hair might be spun into
beautiful riatas, bride rcins and orna-
ncnts for brides.
One fine Sunday morning In spring
two Of the Mc%icans-Antonio and Gc-
donio equipped themselves with
lasso aud pair OF shscp IN ara All set
out 10 catch and shear Old llcenan. Gc-
donio found ths big animal easy OF mp
proach. The old fellow stood stock
1T H. He was dreamily chewing his
cul with half-close1 cycs The lasso
swishcd through the air, and in IN
mcnt was about the big animals neck
Then, as tho patriarch felt the rope
tighten about his throat. the fun be-
gan.
Alongside the giant beast tho Mcxi-
can looked mere pigIny. When Old
lleenan realized that tho email two
legged creature W as actually trying TO
gather him In his little eyes turned
green with rage. Kissing like red
hot locomotive nc charged Gcdonio.
The little Mexican held 10 tho rope for
time, hoping 10 choke tho camel
down, but found the animal apparent
ly able 10 subsist as long without
wind as without water Besides,
Ilccnan made for him so ropidiy that
he could get no pull on the old fellow.
At last Gcdonio was SO hard pressed
that he was obliged TO drop the lasso
and take TO his heels
by this timo Old IIecnan was wild
with rage Tho Mexican tried 20 dodge
the irate beast among tho lunches OF
or three feet high. afforded poor cover.
lie then struck for the river, intending
to climb one OF tho cottonwoods on it,
banks, but Ilcenan was too close upon
his heels There was no time for
climbing, and he was obliged TO plunge
into the river. Not being able to swim,
Gedonio was constrained TO halt when
the water came up 10 his chin. Heenan
charged down 10 the waters edge and
thero stood on guard. Though the old
fellow would not enter the water yet
he mndc Gcdonio very unhappy by spit
ting show crs OF ncrid saliva into his
face and eyes
Meanwhile Antonio. who had wit.
messed his partners InglorioGs retreat
and almost split his windpipe in laugh
Ing thcreat. became uneasy. IIo began
co fear that Gedonio was either
drowned or killed, as he could see
neither man nor camel after they
had plunged down over the bank OF
the river. Leading the mustangs he