successfully brought his 10 camels to San Francisco. Captain Muggenborg was not so successful, and 24 of his 44 camels died in the crossing. This meant a considerable financial loss for Esche and his partners. Esche sued Captain Muggenborg and won a settlement of $260 for each camel lost, a total of $6,240. Esche still had a considerable investment in camels in California. While he was at sea, one of his partners, Julius Bandmann, took nine camels to Virginia City and the Washoe Mines in Nevada. Taking the Big Trees route over Ebbetts Pass, the caravan showed that the Bactrians could make the trek over the 8,730-foot pass. Bandmann began shipping salt from the Columbus Salt Marsh in west-central Nevada to Virginia City, making a profit of more than $200 on each trip. Bandmann then sold the camels he had and returned to San Francisco. There he found 10 more waiting for him, and began to get them into shape for use, eventually incorporating the surviving 20 from the Dollart as well. Esche, who had also been injured during the voyage on the Dollart, was happy with the $2,000 Bandmann had from the sale of the first nine camels. Bandmann became the man to know to get camels in San Francisco. John Callbreath, who worked for Frank Laumeister in Victoria, British Columbia, eventually bought 23 of the 30. These camels were transported to Canada and used in an express company headed by Laumeister. After the sale, Esche faded from the scene. Laumeister’s camels were used in the British Columbia’s Fraser River mines from 1862 until 1865. After that, many of them were moved to the territories of Montana, Idaho and Washington, where Laumeister ran his Dromedary Express until 1867, when they were moved to Nevada and let loose to fend for themselves.
area. A March 14, 1863 article in the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise read:
Camels on the loose One of the reasons camels were useful was their ability to thrive on plants no other pack animal would eat. When the first government camels were offloaded in Texas, a lack of wood forced the building of a cactus corral, which the camels proceeded to eat. Because of this ability, as camel ventures were dissolved, the animals were let loose in the desert to fend for themselves. The camels found this to their liking and slowly multiplied, becoming a known sight to prospectors and others who frequented the deserts. The original nine camels sold by Bandmann in Virginia City continued to haul supplies in Nevada. As early as 1863, they were bringing salt into the mines in the Walker River
The Senate devoted a large portion of the morning session to a little fun over the Assembly bill to prohibit camels from traveling public roads and highways in this state. A motion was made for its reference to the Committee on Public Morals, to which an amendment was offered that it be to the Committee on Indian Affairs. A discussion ensued, in which some jokes were cracked about humps in general, and, finally a substitute that the bill be referred to the Lyon and Churchill delegation.
THE CAMELS: The ‘ships of the desert’ just arrived from the Walker River marshes, with a cargo of salt for the Central Mill, held a levee in this place and were visited by many curious and wondering bipeds. The venerable patriarch of the band did not seem to relish much the close attention of his visitors, and gave vent to his indignation and contempt by spitting at all who ventured near him. A coquettish old female who reclined at full length on the ground, screamed pettishly when some forward youngster attempted to toy with her shaggy locks. Other newspaper accounts often noted their ability to carry huge loads and their effect on other animals. Camels were said to scare horses and mules. They smelled bad, and had a tendency to force others off of public roads. Men who worked with camels claimed that camels were not the problem, but they did have a bad reputation. By the 1870s, Frank Laumeister was running camels into Elko and as far south as Pioche. In 1872, he led a train south through what was then Lincoln County, to Alamo and then along the Old Spanish Trail past the Las Vegas Ranch, where he headed south. There were opportunities in the Arizona mines, and he was ready to take advantage of them. Laumeister’s were not the only camels in Nevada. Two Frenchmen, brothers named Chevalier, had rounded up 30 camels and ran their own caravans. Between the two groups, the effect of camels on teamster-led pack animals were well-known — and not liked. In fact, by 1875, the Nevada State Legislature took on the thorny problem. A letter in the Feb. 4, 1875 Reece River Reveille read:
In spite of the revelry noted in the letter, the following law was passed on Feb. 9, 1875: An act to prohibit camels and dromedaries from running at large on or about the public
Hear the precious sounds of the All of us at Desert Valley Audiology want to wish you and your family a wonderful Holiday Season. We want to express our gratitude to our many valued patients who have made this a great year. If your hearing is not letting you capture the precious sounds of the holidays, please let us help. Call (702) 605-9133 today to schedule a hearing screening and evaluation.
Tim Hunsaker, Au.D. Doctor of Audiology
Las Vegas 501 S. Rancho Drive, Suite A6 Las Vegas, Nevada 89106
Henderson 1701 N. Green Valley Parkway Building 8, Suite B Henderson, Nevada 89074
702-605-9133 phone 702-678-6159 fax
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