The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1904-10-16
CAUGHT A WILD CAMEL,
Hut as Soon as He Did So Miller OF Arizona
Was Sorry.

GILA CITY, Ariz., Oct. l5.-The report
that an expedition is being organized to
round up the wild camels Of this region
was read here with much interest.
Them Eastern fellers can round up all
the camels they want to, but don't want
no more Of 1t in uline,' said Glenn Miller who
has a ranch down near the Mexican border
between ella City and Yuma Il wouldn't
mind being off ut safe distance when
the roundup takes place, but excuse me
from participatin' in it.
Maybe they do use camels on the SALARY
Desert, but they must be different breed
from these Arizony animals, When
started my ranch few years ago thought
it would be good idea to rope few OF
them and use them for freighting. and
tried to carry out the idea.
"One morning, four years ago, ! set out
with three Of my cowboys to round up
bunch of camels My cowboys were experts
with the rope Two Of them were Texans
and the other a Mexican named Manuel
1T was nigh on to noon when we
caught sight OF a drove Of camels. There
were five Of the animals feedin' on some
desert plants near one OF the big sand dunes
about seventeen miles north OF my ranch.
They were probably half a mile away from
us when they first saw US.
They raised their heads and seemed to
sniff the air few times and then leisurely
disappeared behind the sand dunes. |
divided my party into two sections. Manuel
and l started around the sand dune one
way and the two Texans went around the
other side.
we were to slip up on the cames and
rope as many as we could. This plan
worked all right as far as 1t went.
Manuel and | crept around the big pile
Of sand on our horses 30 carefully that we
got within few yards Of three of the camels
before we saw them or they saw us. They
were standing in nook OF the sand dune.
1.-THE surprise was mutual, but recovered
from the shock before the oarnels and let
go my coil Of rope with my old time speed
and accuracy. The loop settled down far
over the neck and chest OF the animal before
the oew Peny fully settle. ssi'h back on his
ha unches, but to my surprise, the camel
walked right of with him. Then fol-
lowed such a race as l never before wit
messed.
but I'll be blamed II 1t didn't carry my
pony along at what seemed to me to be
the speed of a locomotive. My pony sat
down on his launches for a short distance
but the dragging effects were too disagree
able and he managed to get up, and the
vellous.
"The pony simply had to run or be dragged
to death. The rope was looped around
the pommel OF my saddle, and was drawn 30
tight that it was impossible for me to loosen
1t. felt in my pockets for my knife, 1t
being my intention to cut the rope. but Is
wasn't there.
There was only one thing for me to do,
and that was to get of that COW pony and
leave him to his fate. II seemed to me that
he was being pulled along by. that camel at
the rate OF a mile minute when dropped
Off into the sand.
"The fall shook me up considerable but
I was thankful got out Of il alive. sat
up and watched the camel and pony disap-
pear in the far distance. / looked back and
saw my three cowboys coming toward y.s
None OF the other camels v as in sight
"One Of the Texans told me that he had
roped a camel and was being carried of
in the same way az I. when he saved his
pony by cutting the rope with his knife.
We rode back TO the ranch without any
camels, and / have never had any desire
to domesticate desert animals since then
Two years ago a man stopped over one
night at my ranch and told me that he had
seen a camel dragging the skeleton OF
some big animal tieu TO rope around In the
desert north Of here II was the skeleton
Of my COW pony. You see. camels can