The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-09-26
WHEN THE CAMELS CAM
A Caravan Brought Supplies to
Montana Miners.
HUGH M'QUAID'S STORY
A Dispatch Puts the Colonel Into a
reminiscent Mood, and He
Talks Interestingly of
Long Ago.

Col Hugh McQuaid, who used to be
editor of the Helena Independent, AMI
who made a fortune around Bald
Butte in gold, was induced the other
day to talk of how the camel caravan
brought provisions to Montana in 1866.
The following is from the Spokesman
Review:
"A dispatch in an evening paper yes
terday from Fort Worth, stating that
the old Arizona herd of camels had
been seen lately, put Hugh McQuaid
into a reminiscent mood. Colonel Nc
Quaid is one of the oldest of old-timers
of Montana, having come across the
plains in 1864. He remembers distinct
ly when the original aravan of camels
came from Salt Lake to Blackfoot City.
This is the story as he tells it:
II think il was in 1866 that the cam
els were brought to Montana. They
were in charge of an irascible French
man, who brought in a large quantity
of miners supplies from the South.
Rocky roads ruined their feet, and
when they reached the end of the jour
ney it was necessary for the owner to
give them a long period of rest in or
der that their bruised hoofs might heal.
They were herded in the neighborhood
of Blackfoot City, then a lively min
ing camp, and II was here that one of
them met an untimely end through the
mistaken enthusiasm of a tenderfoot
sportsman.
TON McNear was a late arrival
from Iowa, and as fresh meat was
somewhat scarce, he started out in
search of game, for he was a good shot
in spite of lack of western experience.
He had heard great stories of moose
in the woods. and his hopes were high
that he might bring down one of those
rather rare animals. 1t should be ex-
planned also that McNear had never
seen a moose. neither had he ever
formed the acquaintance of any mem
Der of the camel family. He had not
proceeded far when he saw through
the trees and underground the head of
one of the camels. The beast was ly-
ing down and only its head was visible
to the hunter. It's a moose thought
he, and slipping carefully through the
woods until he could get a good shot,
he let the game have II between the
eyes. His aim was good and the camel
fell dead.
THE Frenchman who owned the
herd had been doing under the trees
n his lamentations over the loss of
his camel were loud and emphatic. Nc
Near thought he had run across a
crazy man and as the other camels
in view, he yelled to the frantic
Frenchman: Keep still, you id fool.
and I'll get the rest of the herd Not
until the Frenchman had cooled suffi-
GENTLY to explain the nature of the
case in broken English to the aston
hunter. did dcNear get the idea
into his head that he had made a blum
der. The Frenchman claimed $500 for
the dead camel, but finally compro-
missed for 5000, which was raised by
popular subscription. McNear did not
hear the last Of his moose hunt for
many a day and il cost him many an
other dollar for drinks to quiet the
The Frenchman lost no time
In taking his bumped pack animals out
Of the country.
The camels were used successfully
In Nevada as pack animals. where the
country was sandy, but the greatest
objection to them was that they fright
horses, and a horse could not be
urged past a camel if they met on a
narrow trail.
The United States governmen in
reduced the first camels on western
rails. 1t was in the late SOS that an
agent was sent to the Amoor river
purchased a number Of these ami
nails for service i'm transporting sup
)lies over the desert between Fort
una and Fort Fillmore and other
'osts in Arizona and New Mexico. Ma
i've drivers came with them. The VEN
ure was not successful and they were
iA' Jul bI ire tplDIadO desert.
where they multiplied rapid in a wild
tate.
Finally the Frenchman. of whom
spoke, secured Is Of them and load
ne them with cargoes of from 200 to
900 pounds, started for Virginia CITY.
Sev., going by way of Death valley.
rs almost the entire route lay through
and and alkali deserts, the trip was
made in good time and without loss.
were later used to pack salt from
he salt marshes TO Virginia City, maxi {
ng the trip of so miles in a day. The
rine soon made their backs sore, and ]
hey had To lay off for a long time
D recuperate. Later they were put on :
he Reese river route and became prof- {
able ships of the desert. The mining :
of "a caused the animals to Quit !
trail n they were turned out TO {
row rat on sage brush until the Mon c
ana trip was taken two years later. {
'Can7els, Hk goats, will live on the Y
OF food and sage brush was /
heir favorite diet in Nevada. They \
an easily make 80 10 so miles per dav h
no In a country where climate and =
her conditions are favorable they a
be used proftably. They are do a
lie when kindly treated. but when \
Oused they will strike back. | remem- Q
Pr seeing a driver prodding a camel r
it'll an iron CAD at Austin. Nevada. Q
he beast seized him by the arm and 2
ave him just such a shaking as a dos a
ould give a rat" n
n Ladies. (