Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 November 1883 — American Camels. [ARTICLE]

American Camels.

The Tombstone Epitaph says that the camels running wild in Arizona were bought by the United States Government in Asia Minor. There were seventy-six camels in the first “colony.” They were first employed in packing between Fort Tejon and Albuquerque, in some instances carrying 100 gallons of water to the animal, and going nine days without water themselves. Tiring of the camels, the Government condemned them, and they were sold at Benecia to two Frenchmen, who took them to Reese river, where they were used in packing salt to Virginia City. Afterward the animals were brought back to Arizona, and were for some jtime engaged in packing ore from the ’Silver King to Yuma; But through some cause or other the Frenchmen became disgusted, there being no market for camels just then, and turned the camels loose upon the desert,near Maricopa wells, and to-day they and their decendants are roaming through the Gila valley, increasing and multiplying and getting fat upon succulent sage-brush and greasewood, with which that country abounds. *