Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-10-17
USE OF CAMELs pROYEs
FAILURE ON u. S. DESERTS
Skeleton in National Museum Last
Relic of Two Shiploads Sent
Here in 1850.

ton of camel which stands in case
ut the National Museum here. con
stitnies the sole relic OF two ship
loads of camels brought from the Far
East in the "iiftics." while jefferson
Davis was Secretary Of War: i'll an
effort to solve the problem OF trans
tered across the Western deserts.
Hostility of native mule drivers to
the ships Of the desert" and the be,
ginning of the Civil War. are assigned
| by government authorities rs the rca-
son for the failure of the effort tn
utilize camels as burden carriers over
| the Western plains
DR.. Charles c. Carroll. Of the De-
partment of Agriculture. has written
an official history OF the importation
OF camels. He says the idea OF trans
planting the beasts 10 America origi-
| mated with the Spanish after the con :
quest OF South America and toward
the end of the sixteenth century they
els were not looked upon with favor
by the ruling officials, however. ana
they dwindled away. Some camels
also were transported t2 Nirgi nia
authentic record of the enterprise eN-
cept that 1t failed
Advocated Use I'm Florida.
TRANSPORTATION troubles during the
caused Major Georg. II. Crosman 10
advocate the use OF the desert beasts
Tor military purposes. but nothing
came OF the plan.
Some years later Major Henry c.
wayne suggested to the War Depart
ment and to members of Congress Z
plan FOR government importation. His
IDEAS were indorsed by jefferson
Davis, then chairman of the Senate
Military Committee. and after Mr.
Davis became Secretary OF War under
ject. Finally in December 1854. Con-
gross approved an amendment by
Senator Shiels. OF Illinois. TO the an
i nnn. asmy appropriation PIN. pro
the direction OF the War Department.
In the purchase and, importation of
camels and dromcdar!cs TO be en-
ployed for military purposes"
Secretary Davis at once sent Major
Wayne to tho l.evant To round up tho
camels. the Secretary of the Navy
placing at the disposal of Mr.. Davis
the storeship SUPPLY; with her crew,
David IL. Porter (aftcrward Admiral
Porte). 1t was ordered that the
snip land AZ 4 Texas port as it was
more resemble that of the Far East.
Major Wayne and Lieutenant
Porter bought their first animal in
Tunis in August. and upon applying
for a permit 10 bring the camel away
the Bey of Tunis presented to the
United states two other animals. one
of which finally became the veteran
OF the American nerd.
Sultnn's Oncr Is Declined
The ship then went to Constan-
tinonlc, where the officers declined
an offer OF the Sultan of Turkey to
present. four camels to the United
States because it was found the ami
mails would have to be brought from
Asia, and the officers did not want to
wait wait for them: The Supply went
from Constantinople TO Alexandria.
Egypt, where it was proposed to pur-
chase ten dromedaries and thirty
camcls, but red tape" so disguised
the Americans that they loaded three
dromedarieS and made ready to sail.
secured six fairly good beasts. The
ship sailed with nine dromedaries and
the camel presented by the Bey OF
runis. the two others obtained in
,runis having been sold to Il Turkish
found to have signs Of itch.
Gwyn IL. Heap was sent on ahead
to Smyrna, and when the supply ar
rived at that point the remaining
Geamels, were found assembled. Mr..
Heap had purchased them at prices
ranging from $500 to $500.
= the voyage home was begun on
animals. nine. dromedaries. or run
mes, twentythrce camels OF burden,
and one calf six Arabs were en-
gagged to 30 along with the animals
ms J. was though, they would prove
useful in their management. y Turk
was employed as n camel NJ. D."
but his medical services were dis
pensed with after II was found that
his cure for Il cold was Il piece OF
cheese. for swcilcd legs. tea mixed
with gunpowdcr. and for trining
complaints. tickling the animals nose
with Il chamclcon's tail.
Tho cargo WAS landed ut lndi-
anoia. Texas. May II, 1886. and the
beasts were taken by easy stages to
san Antonio. I2o miles away, where
Major Wayne planned 10 establish a
breeding Of the animals, but Secrc-
out whether the animals were adapted
TO military uses.
Animals Highly Satisfactory.
Major Wayne found the animals
highly satisfactory for the purposes
for which they were secured and as
something over $4,000 of the origi-
nal appropriation remained, Lieu
tenant Porter was sent for another
ship load. The Sultin of Turkey gave
SIX droIncdarlcs which were included
IL the lot of forty-onc animals land
ed at lndianola, February 10, 1857.
The ca:nclS were taken to Camp
Verde. which had been established
as the camel station. Five of the
FIRST herd had died. one 1t was said
from blows received from mule
driver.
The Senate in February, 1857, di-
rccted the Secretary Of War TO max e
report on the camel experiment,