In 1859, the famous Comstock lode was struck near present day Reno, Nevada. Otto Esche chartered a ship and sailed to Russia in search of camels. When he returned he sold the camels to a merchant. The merchant Bandmann sold the camels he got from Esche to Marius and Louis Chevalier, who did a brisk trade hauling salt to the Carson River mines. Salt was a necessary ingredient in separating silver from ore. Camels also took salt to the mines near Austin, Nevada.
In 1861, Dr. J.R.N. Owen was appointed to lead the expedition to survey the southwest boundary between Nevada and California. Three camels would be used to carry supplies. The camels showed no ill effects from the march. Some mules suffered sickness from drinking bad water, while the camels were fine because they had refused to drink it. Also the mules had trouble because their feet sank in the soft sand. The camels broad padded feet acted like snow shoes and they easily plodded ahead.
After that the government auctioned off all of its camels. A man named Samuel McLeneghan bought all 37. He sold 3 to a circus and several to Beale. He used several others to haul salt to Virginia City mines. Frank Laumeister bought some to work gold mines in Washington territory. Camels were also used to haul supplies to Alder Gulch (Virginia City) mines in Montana.
All the camels at Camp Verde were sold too, 66 in all. Bethel F. Coopwood bought them all for $31 each. He used them in a mail and freight business between Laredo and Mexico City. This didn't last long though because the camel train was frequently robbed. Eventually he sold all his camels to a circus. Wild camels were still spotted in Texas, Arizona, and throughout the southwest for several decades.
