Come - Desert Magazine of the Southwest
Come - Desert Magazine of the Southwest
Come - Desert Magazine of the Southwest
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Clyde Forsy<strong>the</strong>'s Famous . . .<br />
Bold Strike<br />
Series<br />
34<br />
Four Mining Camp Scenes<br />
All In 4-Color<br />
Each 14"xl7" with white margins<br />
on high quality paper suitable for<br />
framing.<br />
ONLY<br />
No lettering or folds.<br />
85.00<br />
A SET<br />
Postage & Tax included<br />
Send Check or Money Order ro<br />
<strong>Desert</strong> <strong>Magazine</strong> Book Shop,<br />
P.O. Box 1318<br />
Palm <strong>Desert</strong>, California92260<br />
WALK IN SAFETY- DAY OR MI6HT<br />
ROTECT YOURSELF<br />
WITH THIS<br />
LIGHT ELECTRIC<br />
Sara. relialMe and efrictive afaiiaV<br />
attack by man or animal; Just pusa<br />
button on handla and transistorind<br />
circuit converts tiny current<br />
(supplied liy standard flashlight<br />
batteries) into sate but HUGE voltage—a<br />
full 4000 wits! Ideal tor<br />
strap or tavern owners, waitresses,<br />
anyona needing protection.<br />
IBLUE STAR ELECTRIC<br />
J Dept G Box 3042<br />
Rosedale, Kansas 66103<br />
IShock Rotj, 12" s v<br />
'(Shock Rod, 22" JI100<br />
We Pay Post3ge'<br />
Enlisted mens<br />
barracks No. Onerestored.<br />
Mannequins<br />
in colorful uniforms<br />
are effectively<br />
displayed in each<br />
room, showing <strong>the</strong><br />
busy, varied lives<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Dragoons.<br />
The peculiar, strong odor <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
dromedaries evoked a violent reaction<br />
from horses and mules along <strong>the</strong> road.<br />
At one point 25 government teams<br />
hitched to wagons broke <strong>the</strong>ir te<strong>the</strong>rs<br />
and fled in terror. To avoid total chaos<br />
when <strong>the</strong> camels approached settlements,<br />
a rider was sent ahead on horseback<br />
shouting to teamsters and farmers,<br />
"Get <strong>of</strong>f <strong>the</strong> road: camels are coming!"<br />
Carrying heavy burdens <strong>of</strong> corn, oats<br />
and water, <strong>the</strong> caravan forged ahead<br />
across <strong>the</strong> arid southwest towards Fort<br />
Defiance. Made to kneel for loading each<br />
morning, <strong>the</strong> camels emitted a chorus <strong>of</strong><br />
heart-rending groans and growls. If <strong>the</strong>y<br />
felt that <strong>the</strong>y were overloaded, <strong>the</strong>y spit<br />
at <strong>the</strong>ir "tormentors" and when infuriated<br />
tried to bite <strong>of</strong>f, with <strong>the</strong>ir sharp incisors,<br />
<strong>the</strong>ir handlers' arm or, more frequently,<br />
his kneecap. Camels always remember<br />
those who mistreat <strong>the</strong>m and<br />
wait to even <strong>the</strong> score. Watching patiently<br />
for a chance, <strong>the</strong>y can knock a<br />
man down and crush him with <strong>the</strong>ir great<br />
weight.<br />
Remarkably, after covering 18 to 21<br />
miles in a day, as <strong>the</strong> mules and horse<br />
bolted towards <strong>the</strong> water holes, <strong>the</strong><br />
camels waited serenely munching <strong>the</strong>ir<br />
cud. When <strong>the</strong> cargo <strong>of</strong> 800 to 1,000<br />
pounds was unloaded, <strong>the</strong>y disdained<br />
<strong>the</strong> oats and corn carried for <strong>the</strong> ravenous<br />
mules and chose to forage in <strong>the</strong><br />
desert for <strong>the</strong> coarse, bitter mesquite<br />
beans, cactus leaves and greesewood.<br />
As <strong>the</strong> expedition passed, one crusty old<br />
resident drawled, " — and <strong>the</strong>y seemed<br />
to have a hankerin' for well ropes and<br />
wheelbarrow handles, too."<br />
Crossing <strong>the</strong> Colorado River promised<br />
to be difficult. Major Wayne had<br />
been told that camels could not swim.<br />
Approaching <strong>the</strong> sandy bank, he instructed<br />
<strong>the</strong> handlers to tie <strong>the</strong>m saddle<br />
to saddle in groups <strong>of</strong> five.<br />
"All <strong>the</strong> camels landed safely on <strong>the</strong><br />
west bank," <strong>the</strong> Major noted tersely in<br />
his log, "but two horses and ten mules<br />
drowned. The Indians ate <strong>the</strong> drowned<br />
ones."<br />
Once across, it was decided that <strong>the</strong><br />
caravan would be split; one half with<br />
Major Wayne to travel direct to Fort<br />
Tejon and one half with Captain Edward<br />
Beale over <strong>the</strong> stagecoach road to Los<br />
Angeles — "to surprise <strong>the</strong> dusty little<br />
town." Great excitement followed <strong>the</strong><br />
arrival <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 16-camel caravan in Los<br />
Angeles. Te<strong>the</strong>red in <strong>the</strong> central plaza<br />
surrounded by its cluster <strong>of</strong> one-story<br />
adobe houses, <strong>the</strong> strange beasts intrigued<br />
<strong>the</strong> curious natives, mostly Mexicans,<br />
Indians and Mestizos. As <strong>the</strong> camels<br />
were exercised, throngs <strong>of</strong> men and<br />
boys followed begging for a ride. After<br />
two days <strong>of</strong> chaotic disruption <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
tranquil little pueblo, <strong>the</strong> drivers set <strong>of</strong>f<br />
along El Camino Real to San Fernando<br />
Mission, Saugus and ascended <strong>the</strong> 3,500<br />
<strong>Desert</strong>/April 1979