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Show t AMERICAN CAMELSw fncreasins Despite the Fact That They Aw Butchered and Sold as Beef. jI. F. Campbell, who has been foi nomo time at tho famous Gnnsight mine, near the lino of southern Arizona, says tho camels of fho desert are increasing very rapidly, and that thero aro now be fcween 300 and 400 of them. This is sur prising, ho says, considering the large number that nave been killed and palmed palm-ed off for beef in tho past fow years ant the inroads made upon tho bands by passing showmen. Mr. Campbell gavt lome interesting details of these tawny denizens of tho wasto places, introduced so many years ago by Ben Butterwortb and now grown wild. "These hulking animals," ho said, "roam mainly between tho Gila and Colorado rivers, in a stretch of the low Eagle Tail mountains and the desert adjoining. ad-joining. There is very fine bunch grass In thac region, and the camels keep in good condition. I have several times Eeon as many as eight or ten in a band, and most of them aro very large. "Different persons havo been there from time to time catching them for tb; circuses. That is the source of supply -now for all tho shows. Tho hunters go out in bands of half a dozen on mules, as horses would bo of no account Tho camels, cumbersomo as they look, run very fast, and only mules aro enduring enough in that tough country to wear them out. Tho hnnters stretch out, surround sur-round a baud, and out of ton or a dozen manage to cut out and stay by a couple, wearing thorn out and catching them finally with lassos. Tho camels are very wild at first, but spoodily tamo down, and tho showmen can'do anything thej pleaso with them. "I was for neany two yoars there mining, and myself and men wero furnished fur-nished with camel meat right along and thought it very good Wo paid 25 cents a pound for a good deal of it, and wo thought it as good beef as wo had usually eaten. Tho old prospectors, whe had turned to peddling meat, never said a word to ue, but took their pay regularly regu-larly to go away and come back again. At tho last we found out it was nothing but the camel's meat Which thoy were furnishing us. Then wo began to draw tho line. "If tho meatsollors and circus people would lot tho camels alone for awhile, they would iucreaso much faster. The animals are interesting to soo on the desert and do no harm." San Francisco Francis-co Examiner. |