New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-08
AMERICAS LAST CAMEL.
HE WENT TO FEED THE INDIANS AFTER LoNo
,,s o.. AND HONORABLE CAREER
From The Denver Republican.


From The Denver Republican.
The last Wild camel in America was Killed and
eaten by the Indians in Yuma few days ago;
The venerable beast was one or the nero Oh
camels brought from Asia Minor many years
ago to carry ore from the Comstock mines %
ends the greatest attempt at accllmatng tor-
eign animals made in the United States:
II seems sad that the noble beast, the last OF
his tribe. should have such an inglorious end.
And vet some sympathy must be given the poor
Indians for they must have been awful hungry
to be able to masticate the tough, seventy-hVe-
year-od 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 il was very feeble
Just who the man was who thought OF prlns-
ing calnels to this country seems to be a matter
of some doubt. Several men are credited WIKI
having done so. but even the od-uners them,
selves seem to be a little tangled up on TINS bn
OF Western history. p T. Barton. OF Prescott
Ariz who was in the COmstOck at the tlmI-
said he vas positive that the late Adolph Sptro
was largely Instrumental In bringing the camels
here. This, however, has been strenuously de-
MED Dozens OF similar stories told about
other prominent Californans, but little credence
can be given to 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 before the railroad
when Virginia City almost as important
town as San Francisco. 1t so happened that
certain group OF mines about twenty-five OF
thirty miles out or virginia lily was PdHliiii6
out piles OF rich ore. 1t was impossible to put
I'D a mill close to the mines on account OF lack
of water. 80,
Mules were put to the work. and during the
winter months did fairly well, although to feed
and care for them was terroriZing expense:
II must be understood that as dry, rocky ana
barren n desert as there Is on the face or the
earth lay between Virginia City and the mines
TO use a vehicle OF any kind was out or the
question and so the was carried In bags
slung over the backs OF the animals.
From the first ii was apparent that the mule
pIan was not a success In the summer 1t took
about two mules TO carry water Tor the one
that carried ore And all the while the animals
we're too much for them, and they fell by the
waysjde so fast that a new band was required
almost. weekly But the ore had to be carried
TO the mill for there millions in it,
At this juncture some genius suggested tlat
the miners buy camels for the work 80 the
camels were bought at great expense some OK
them were obtained from the veteran Snowman,
p T. Barnum and about twenty came direct
from Asia Minor. under the care OF an agent
dispatched from Virginia City. -
From the first the camels did all that was
apected of them. Each morning they would
eat a meagre breakfast Of any old weed that
.happened- in their way. drink a few gallons or
water and were ready for business. Two bags
of ore each containing between two hundred
and three hundred pounds, were strapped to the
hack over the hump Of each camel.
When the train was ready all started on at
once striking a good swinging gait that was
kent up until the mill was reached. The drivers
had nothing to do bat follow the train. No
stopping for water no urging, no beatlngs. Tna
faithful beasts did their work willingly.