The Topeka state journal., 1903-04-29
FEW ARIZONA CAMELS.
Struggling Remnant of the Herd Still
Roams the Deserts.

Miles City Mont. April 29.-E4i Jolly.
famous the world over as the man who
introduced camels from Arabia into the
arid deserts of Arizona and New Mexico
for freight carrying purposes, died at
Quartzsite. Yuma county a short time
ago, after one of the most picturesque
careers in the history of the west.
With the death of Hi Jolly an old
question has been raised-are there
camels in Arizona today? Among old
mining men. the prospectors who know
the inneTmost recesses of the territory,
the question IS answered in the afflrma-
tive They claim that a small herd of
camels still lives on the alkah deserts
of the southern part of Arizona, known
to but few and serving no purpose but
to be objects of superstltious reverence
to ignorant Indians.
THAT there are eamels in Arizona at
the present time is fact known to
few said Mr.. Horace Winters of this
city. Il myself confirmed the fact about
three years ago, and while 1 was not
fortunate enough to see the ships of the
desert myself, although 1 searched long
for them. 1 discovered unmistak ka BILE
proof of their presence in the territory.
THE only importation of camels into
the United States for utilitarian pur-
poses, so far as I know, was made, as
l recall it. in 1872, and 1 was then in
Arizona, engaged IN the mining busi-
ness, and located at Yuma, perhaps the
hottest place on the globe.
THE question of transportation in
Arizona in those early days was an i'm
portant one, so important that It cost
a small fortune to ship a box of cigars
from San Francisco to Fort Yuma All
supplies came from the former place by
vessel to the mouth of the Colorado
river, and thence by river steamer to
Yuma. Fort Yuma was one of the
most important military posts in the
southwest, and thousands of tons of
/ every year. All freight carriers made
/ barrels of money, and the carrying
/ charges of the Colorado River Steam
boat company were appalling. Bulk,
and not weight, counted
Thus government wagon was
charged for on the former basis, obtain
ed by measuring from the tip of the
+ tongue to the extreme rear of the bed.
TO obtain the height of the vehicle the
+ steamboat people would elevate the
tongue and that height went and had
to be paid for. The tariff sheet was
modelled in proportion, and as all
F charges had to be paid in gold the
steamboats, had a regular mine of
/ wealth.
L was in Yuma in the summer of
1872. 1t was frying hot. The sole topic
/ of conversation was the expected ar
rival of a herd of camels which, ac-
cording to rumor, was being imported
from Arabia. ] shall never forget the
day they landed. They came off the
steamboat early in the morning, about
fifty camels with Hi jolly at their
head. and then began the strangest
procession that ever set foot on Ari-
zOna soil.
sThe main street of the scorching lit
tie town was lined with Mexicans, min
ers. cowboys, Indians, gamblers, dance
hall girls, as picturesque a crowd OF
people as was ever brought together.
with great solemnity jolly led the
way, with the troop of camels sinking
sheepishiy in the rear. They were not
in good condition, and their humps
were fiabby. To the ignorant Indians
and Mexicans they were supernatural
and regarded with awe. The beasts
were put in a corral outside of town.
For days nothing was discussed but
camels. To the men in Yuma the freak
of Hi Jolly came as a wholesome diver
sion, and no circus with its red and
gilt wagons ever created half the SEN
sation the Arabian beasts of burden
did Jolly believed they would solve the
transportation question in the arid des-
erts, and there were many who shared
the opinion But the camels We're not a
success.
..They were utilized at times. expert
mented with. but their use was never
put on a paying basis.
1T was found that camel required
more food than a horse. I don't know
how the camel does in Arabia, but IN
Arizona he was a rank failure. The
clumsy animals were used around
Yuma for some time, but with 1nditfer-
ent success
Il came to know Hi Jolly and found
him one of the most eccentric charac-
ters have ever met. He was unique
No other man would have conceived
the idea of importing camels to Arl-
zona After I left Yuma Hi one day, II
disgust, opened his corral and drove tht
camels out to shift for themselves.
EEAp TnAITANC