The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-08-18


 "HE United States governments first
 and only venture into the use of
 \ camels as army transports on the southwestern frontier was sanctioned py Congress through the efforts of Jefferson Davis, then a member of the military commission and later Secretary of War Davis had commanded troops in the southwest in the Mexican war and knew what it was to march for days over dry barren country in scorching heat with nothing to drink but hot, dry air and nothing to greet the eye except cac- tus and rattlesnakes.
 The rapid development of California after the gold strike of 1S4s, made nec- essary provision for the transportation or troops and supplies to the new country over a desert trail, which was task that set patriotism at premium. Jeffer- son Davis asked for camels, and Congress finally authorized an expedition to the orient to buy them.
 The expedition brought back nearly 100 animals, which were added to from time to time till the number grew to 12S. They were SIaIlOneQ dt T dSo, oAAAe~f ~ANN~'s San Antonio and other points on the l frontier.
 Tho return trip across the ocean with the camels is recorded in amusing detail I by Lieut. D. D. Porter, who was In charge. Each animal was provided with competent chauffeur. who was care- taker, interpreter and baggagemaster in one. Most of the animals got seasick, and SO did the drivers. and both com plained bitterly of the arrangements. The camels wished they hadn't come and showed it by kicking and biting pieces from Various officers, who were not to blame.
 1 After landing in Texas the camels did not improve perceptibly in their natures Their particular aversion was the army mules. Even the younger, inexperienced camels learned quickly to kill mule with one blow of the hind foot and in dulged in that pastime frequently. Their taste for army officers remained undi- minished. and the chaufeurs got the blame every time a captain lost some oi
 his anatomy
 1 The soldiers took to the camel with re-
 ciprocal affection. In the first place they didn't like his looks, contendins that the soft, faraway look in the camel $ eye indicated that his mind was not on
 his business Then the soldiers couldn't get used to the odor radiated by the ori' enta beast-circuses not being in vogue
 and many of them said that Kipline was perfectly correct in his opinion that a camel smelled most awful vile. Kipline hadn't said it yet. but soldiers are far.
 seeing and knew he was going to say t Besides, the camel was no good to ride the soldiers agreed. His ambling, rapiC
 stride made them seasick and they want ed no animal which it took 10 minutes to awaken when the Indians attacked them in the night. No American hat lived up to that period who could tie 2 lcargo on one of the beasts SC 1t would stay on. The camel is not constructed flat on top. it Is remembered. and onll a clever Arab chauffeur could load ont to travel any distance without losing th supplies
 The high record in dead mules wa
 made, it Is said, by camel in San An tonic whose name was Major. Majo kicked seven valuables mules into eter nity, and one day sone soldiers, friend of the late mules took Major off 'lp oi I a high cliff and came back and sai'
 he had fallen off accidentally No ex