The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-06-07
camels in Arizona.

Did you ever hear about Si Jolly drove of camelsY' asked the barkeeper. Ut was one of the widest schemes that was ever originated when Jolly hit upon the idea of bringing camels to Arizona to be used in travelling across the deserts. In those days there were no railroads and the experiment was thought to be good one, but for some reason 1t never banned out. One or two trips were made and the strange steed attracted a great deal of attention, but the boys did not take to the idea very rapidly and the venture petered out.
 NO one ever did know just what be- came of the camels. It is said that Jolly turned them aloose in the desert and they soon became very wild. Occa- scared out of his wits by strange ani- mals on the plains. but the fate of the camels was shrouded in mystery.
 What I was going on to say, however, was that I heard a story once about those same camels. A COW puncher named Borden got lost one day in the desert and was wandering aimlessly around when he came across a small band of Yaquis Indians camped near a ravine. Borden had been lost for sev- eral days and was half dead, so he was glad enough to find anybody.
 That night as the redskins were gath cred about the fire Borden managed to catch scraps of talk now and then about some strange gods out on the desert of which they seemed to be in mortal dread. He did not understand their lam guage very well and couldn't imagine what they were talking about.
 'The group were speaking In low. gut tera tones when suddenly sevral tall, ungainly objects loomed upon the sky line, coming over a little ridge near by. The Indians prostrated themselves and set up a most unearthly howl. At first Borden was as badly scared as they, but he had heard of the eamels and soon got over his fright. But the Indians-well. they were almost scared to death. Their internal bowling frightened the animals and they scampered off in short order. As soon as the strange gods had dis appeared the Yaquis left in hurry. They didn't even stop to take any bag gage, but left it all behind, and in less time than 1t takes to tell 1t not one was to be seen.
 'Borden kept alive on the provisions the Indians abandoned and after wan
 
 ed his ranch. That was the last time he ever saw the Arizona camels. The In- dians still consider them gods
 A Battle for Health.
 A man who has lived all his life in well known health resort for consump- tives was talking. fThe saddest thing about our town is the great number of consumptives who are constantly arriv- ing in search of health, which they never regain. The poor fellows come here by hundreds thinking they will get well and the desperate struggles some of them make against poverty and misfortune in order to get here are really pitful. AL most daily the papers chronicle deaths from consumption and little tragedies can be read between the lines of nearly every notice.
 Among the many pathetic cases I have met with the one am going to tell about impressed me most
 "The young fellow was a barber who came out here from the east about six months ago. He was in the last stages of consumption when he arrived and was almost helpless. Some charitable ladies took him in charge and gave him light work to do around one of the city hospitals It was not long before they learned his sad story.
 "rhe boy had left behind poverty stricken old mother from whom he re- ceived letters every few days The moth CT and son had seen the approach of the dread disease several years before. By bitter drudgery on the part of the old woman and what little assistance the son could give, enough money had been saved to send him west, but that was all He barely had enough to buy a ticket If he had not fallen Into good 1,o hpcp q
 ",rhe boy wasted away rapidly and in a few months he was dead A collec- lection was taken up among the ladies to save him from the pauper's grave. Four or five letters came from his home before any one got up courage enough to answer. It must have been a sad blow to that old mother when she re- received the news. But this is only one case among hundreds.
 Might Ride in caboose Cellar.
 "Speaking of riding the trucks and of freight cars' said a telegraph operator the other day. q took a even-hour jaunt one night that I don't care to repeat and one that has prob- ably never been duplicated. It happened this way.
 'I landed in Cincinnati one cold night In January and wanted to get to In- as soon as possible. My stake was just about large enough to pay months board bill and I didn't care to spend any of 1t for ticket. SO I decided to work the conductor of freight train for transportation.
 Tt was during a big strike and when I showed him my railroad card it was no go as he thought I was a 'spotter' Things began to look bad for me. put as I started down the side of the train saw the door of the cellar beneath the caboose partly pulled back and an idea struck me. It was about 6 clock in the