Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1899-02-17
AMERICAS LAST CAMEL.
he Went TO Feed the Indians After \
Long and Honorable Career.

ne Went TO Feed the Indians After y
Long and Honorable Career.
The last wild camel in America was
killed and eaten by the Indians in Yu-
ma few days ago. The venerable beast
was one Of the herd Of camels brought
from Asia Minor many years ago to
carry ore from the Comstock mines. So
ends the greatest attempt at acclimat-
ing foreign animals ever made in the
United States. 1t seems sad that the
noble beast, the last Of his tribe, should
have such an inglOriOus end. And yet
some sympathy must be given the poor
Indians, for they must have been awful
hungry 20 DO able to masticate the
tough, 75-year-old camel Besides, the
poor camel would most likely have died
Of slow starvation in a short time, for
when last seen alive by white men it
was very feeble.
Just who the man was who thought
Of bringing camels to this country
seems to be a matter Of some doubt
Several men are credited with having
done so. but even the old timers them
selves seem to be a little tangled up on
this bit of western history. P. T. Bar
ton of Prescott, A. T., who was in the
Comstock at the time, said he was posi-
tive that the late Adolph Sutro was
largely instrumental in bringing the
camels here. This, however, has been
strenuOusly denied Dozens Of similar
stories are told about other prominent
Californians, but little credence can be
given 10 any Of them.
But the fact remains that the camels
were brought here. On all the points
connected with this part of the story
the old timers agree.
1t was in the old days when the
COmstOck was in its glory, the days be-
fore the railroad. when Virginia City
was almost az important a town as San
Francisco 1t so happened that a GER
tain group of mines about % or 30
miles out Of Virginia City was panning
out piles of Tich ore. 1t was impossible
to put up a mill close to the mines on
account Of lack Of water.
Mules were put TO the work. and
during the winter months did fairly
well, although to feed and care for them
was terrorizing expense. 1t must be
understood that as dry, rocky and bar
rem a desert rs there is on the face Of
the earth lay between Virginia City
and the mines. To use a vehicle Of any
kind was out Of the question. and so the
ore was carried in bags slung over the
backs Of the animals
From the first il was apparent that
the mule plan was not success. In the
summer it took about two mules TO
carry water for the one that carried ore.
And all the while the animals kept dy-
ing The intense heat and dry. sandy
air were too much for them, and they
fell by the wayside 30 fast that new
band was required almost weekly But
the ore had to be carried to the mill.
for there was millions in it. "
At this juncture some genius suggest
ed that the miners buy camels for the
work So the csmels were bought at
great expense. Some Of them were OBJ
tanned from the veteran Snowman, p
T. Barnum. and about 90 came direct
from Asia Minor under the care Of an
agent dispatched from Virginia City.
From the first the camels did all that
was expected Of them. Each morning
they would eat meager breakfast Of
any old weed that happened in their
way, drink few gallons of water. and
were ready for business Two bags Of
ore each containing between 200 and
800 pounds. were strapped to the back
over the hump Of each camel
When the train was ready. all start ,
ed off at once. striking good swinging
gait that was kept up until the mill
was reached. The drivers had nothing
10 do but follow the train; no stopping
for water. no urging, no beatings. The
faithful beasts did their work Willingly.
Denver Republican. - --.