The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1920-11-13
NEVADA CAMEL YARN
IN AUTHENTIC FOOM
Continued from Page Two)

tOOittiiuto 4 d6C 4 WV
placing at the disposal of Mr.. Davis
the shoreship Supply. with her crew,
under the command of Lieutenant d.
II. Porter (afterward Admiral Porter.
1t was ordered that the ship land at
q Texas port, as ii was supposed the
climate there would more resemble
that of the Far East.
Major Wayne and Lieutenant Por-
ter bought their first animal in Tunis
In August, and upon applying for a
hey of Tunis presented to the United
States two other animals. one of
which finally became the veteran Of
the American herd.
The ship then went to Constanti-
nople , where the officers declined an
offer of the sultan of Turkey to pre-
semi four camels to the United States,
because 1t was found the animals
would have to be brought from Asia
and the officers did not want to wait
for them. The Supply went from Con-
stantinople to Alexandria, Egypt,
where it was proposed to purchase
ten dromedaries and thirty camels;
but red tape" so Disguised the Amer
leans that they loaded three drome-
daries and made ready to sail. Be
fore leaving. however, they secured
six fairly good beasts. She ship
sailed with the nine dromedaries and
the camel presented by the hey Of
Tunis, the two others obtained in Tu-
mis- having been sold to a Turkish
butcher after they were found to have
signs of itch.
Gwyn Ii. Heap was sent on ahead
to Smyrna and when the Supply ar
rived at that point the remaining
camels were found assembled. Mr..
heap had purchased them at prices
ranging from 500 to $500.
The voyage home was begun on
February 10. 1856. with ~thirty-three
animals. nine dromedaries or runners
twenty-three. camels of burden, and
one calf. Six Arabs were engaged 10
go along with the animals, as it was
thought they would prove useful in
AACAA hlaiidEShiNh n Iuih VII
ployed as a camel Nd" but his
medical services were dispensed with
after II was found that his cure for a
cold was a piece of cheese; for swol-
len legs, tea mixed with gunpowder,
and for trining complaints tickling
the animals nose with a chameleon's
tail.
The cargo was landed at ~1ndianola,
Texas. May IA. 1856. and the beasts
were taken by easy stages to San
Antonio. 120 miles away, where Major
Wayne planned TO establish a camel
ranch and to attempt the breeding of
the animals; but Secretary Davis IN
structed him to find IN whether the
aninlals were adapted to military
uses.
Major Wayne found the animals
highly satisfactory for the purposes
for which they were secured, and as
something over 500, 900 of the original
appropri ton remained. Lieutenant
Porter was SEN for another shipload.
The sultan of Turkey gave six dronae-
caries, which were included in the lof
of forty-one animals landed at India
nola, February 10. 1857. The camels
were taken to Camp Verde. which had
been e tab'ished as the camel sta
ton. Five Of the first herd had died
and It was said from blows received
from a mule driver.
The Senate, in February, 1857, d.
rocted The secretary of war to make
a report on the camel experiment
which was done, and John b. FLOYD
who became secretary of war under
President buchanan, continued tc
urge buying of more camels. saying
in his annual report of 1858:
1.-The experiments thus far made
and they are pretty full. demonstrate
that camels constitute a most usefu
and economic means of transportation
for men and supplies through tn
great deserts and barren portions o
- Ia 1.f.~