Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1939-12-02
Arny's Effort to Use Camel
Pack Trains Proved Flop

NhOntAANs Al AA~tg tAS 0NSAS6S pa
son would Immediately say, at
can't happen here"-but it did.
In 1855 the United States congress
passed an appropriation OF $4,000 for
the purchase Of camels to be used by
the army In western operations.
During the 185Os roads had not been
built in most Of the western territory
and there were none of any Importance
loaded their supplies on packtratns OF
mules or bUrroS and plodded along on
foot over the mountains and plains.
These packtrains could go almost any
place a man could walk.
The army officers decided that
camelS would be a vast improvement
over the mules and btrroS because q
camel could carry greater burdens
than the other animals. Furthermore
a camel would forage for himself. The
packer would not have to worry about
carrying grain or other fodder. A
camel could Craze off the willow shoots
found along the streams and the low
shrubs and tree leaves higher up In
the mountains. Besides this fodder,
there were always the grassy pastures
that supplied the mules and burroS.
But the big thing was that a camel
would live off of fodder that a mule
OI W bDQCAAs
Solved Water Problem
Another important consideration was
that of water. In some places In the
west, especially the more arid sections,
water holes were few and far between.
A packtrain of mules and burroe had
to have water with almost the same
frequency as human beings else they
would die. On the other hand, camels
could go for days without water. This
was considered very important matter
In traversing the desert regions of Ne
vada, Arizona and sections Of Califor--
mia. Consequently, the purchase OF
BILE, but, in fact, a brilliant idea.
1t was a brilliant idea until 1t was
put into action. The camels came lum-
bering over the mountain trails from
Nevada into Montana and the trouble
started. Every place they went they
were greeted With CONSERVATION that
later turned to derision and from de-
rision to hatred.
Camels are VIGOROUSLY known as
surly, unpleasant beasts. II Is prac;-
tically impossible to make friends with
a camel. The animals are disagreeable
to work with and seem to carry O. per-
petllal crouch. This was major factor
IN arouSing the hatred Of the Amer1-
can pioneers who became camel train
drivers. These men were used to the
companionShip of horses, mules and
burros In their lonely mountain tricks.
Frequently a packtrain driver became
more attached to the mules or burros
n his train than he was to his human
companions. Consequently the surly at
5itude of the camelS was q sore spot
with these drivers. Besides this the
camels were unruly.
The Indians were astonished when
they first saw the camels and most of
the whites were equally nonpulsed.
Many of the camels were killed by IN
dams and others died from natural
causes when they reached the higher
attitudes in the mountains. Several
amusing stories are told Of white hunt
srs mistaking the beasts for deformed
moose.
Killed for Moose
A story is told OF a MiSsomian who
spotted a camel where it had been
burned loose to Craze. He carefully
Stalked the animal and finally OBJ
aimed a good shot. Highly elated he
ragged the moose" into camp. When
The camel train boss discovered the
A6issourian and his moose" he went
40 into the air. F1Iriously he told the
6issourian what was what and de-
handed payment for the dead beast.
The elated hunter was much chagrtned
when he had to pay with his rifle, am
watch and gold chain. There
are q number of similar stories OF
hunters killing the "deformed moose"
hat have been handed down as sort
1f Montana legend.
Added to these hardships, the camels
suffered from sore feet as result OF
5raverSing rocky trails In Montana.
They were used ON the Mulian road,
Quilt by Capt John MulIan IN 1B59-60.
Besides this, the Montana packers did
nO& know how to load the animals.
There was no place TO throw q diamond
hitch on the camels' backs and the
Montana packers knew no other meth
II Of loading. They had not had the
advantage Of Arabian training.
According TO legend, the final straw
hat broke the camels' backs came
wnen they stampeded q mule train
carrying whisky TO the gold miners IN
IaaE Chance gulch. Mules and horses
we're always afraid and usually staxn-
sad@d @a soon as they SxneIled the
Skrmnge beasts. The whisky was a1l
0mne6 when the canels came round
1 hag3d Ia the trail. The mules wenk
via. nuckfng off thear kegs OF whisky |
srad sgsalling q large amount. That was
90 uauch for tins Montana ps0ns@xw. |
when their whisky waa Loaf they DE-