The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-27

one wanted anything TO do with the mis-
shapen beast. The teamsters when trans
formed into cames drivers deserted. and the
troopers when detailed for such purpose
fell back upon their reserved rights and de-
clared there was nothing in army rules and
regulations that could compel American
soldiers 10 become Arabian camel drivers.
So because there was no one to load and
navigate these ships of the desert their
voyages became less and less frequent, I'M
til finally they ceased altogether; and the
desert ships were anchored at the different
forts in the Southwest
1t became evident TO the army officers
that the camel experiment was a failure
Every attempt to organize a caravan re-
suited in an incipient mutiny among the
troopers and teamsters. No attempt so
far as 1 know, was ever made to utilize
the camel for the purpose that Davis
imported him-that of chasing the Apache
to his stronghold and shooting the Indian
full of holes from light artillery strapped
on the back of a camel Instead of the
camel hunting the Indian, the Indian
hunted the camel. In some way poor Los
untutored appetite had learned to love
camel steaks and stews So, whenever an
camels; but the camel soon learned TO hate
and avoid the Indian, as all living things
learn to do. Some allowed die of
neglect by their drivers; others were sur
reptitiously shot by the troopers sent to
hunt them up when they strayed away
the trooper claiming to have mistaken the
woolly tufts thetop of the twin humps
OF the camel as they bobbed up and down in
Indian, and in self-defense to have sent
bullet crashing. not into an Indian. but
into the anatomy of a camel.
FEW STILL LINGER.
At the breaking out of the civil war. some
thirty-five or forty of the camel band were
herded at the United States forts-Verde.
Ell Paso, Yuma and some Of the smaller
posts in Texas. When the Eastern forts
were abandoned by the government. the
camels were turned loose to take care of
themselves. Those at Yuma and Fort TETON
were taken to Benicia, condemned and sold
at auction to the highest bidder They were
bought by two Frenchmen, who took them
to Reese river, Nevada, where they were
used in packing salt to Virginia City. After
ward they were taken TO Arizona and for
some time trey were used in packing ore
from the Silver King mine down the ella
TO Yuma. But even the Frenchmen pa
thence gave out at last. Disguised with
their hunch-backed burden bearers. they
turned the whole herd loose on the desert
near Marcopa wells.
Free now to go where they pleased in
stead of straying away beyond the reach OF
cruel man, the camels seemed possessed 10
llnger near the haunts of men. They stayed
near the line of overland travel and did
mischief The apparatiOn Of one OF these
ungainly beasts suddenly looming up before
the vision OF team OF mules frightened the
long-eared quadrupeds out of al their sens
es; so they ran away. scattering freight and
drivers over the plains. The mule drivers,
out OF revenge, shot the cames whenever
they could get in range OF them. In 1SS2
several wild camels were caught in Arizona
and sold TO a menagerie. but a few have
survived all enemies and still roam at large
and Sonora, Mexico. The international
Boundary Commission that recently sur
veyed the line between the United States
and Mexico reported seeing wild camels on
the alkali plains amid sage brush and cac-
tus. These are probably descendants OF the
imported ones. as those seen appeared 10 be
in their prime. Occa sionally the soldiers In
catch sight of a few wild canfels on the al
kali plains. All reports agree that the cam
els have grown white with age Their
hides have assumed a hard, leathery ap-
pearance and they are reported 10 have
hard prong hoOfs. unlike the cusioned feet
OF the well-kept camel. Whether these are
some OF the survivors OF the original ifnnor-
years ago, or whether their descendants are
gradually being evolved to meet the condi-
lions with which they are surrounded 1 do
not know.