Hi Jolly Monument

Quartzsite, Arizona

In the Quartzsite Cemetery stands a monument to one of the most bizarre episodes in the history of the desert Southwest. This colorful rock pyramid is the final resting place of the camel driver known as Hi Jolly. The plaque on the face of the pyramid summarizes his journey through life:

And nearby stands a sign with the history of the U.S. Army's camel experiment:

The famous camel herd with which the name of Hi Jolly is linked constitutes an interesting sidelight of Arizona history ... Jefferson Davis (afterward President of the Southern Confederacy), as Secretary of War, approved a plan to experiment with camels for freighting and communication in the arid Southwest ... Major Henry C. Wayne of the U.S. Army and Lt. D. D. Porter (later a distinguished admiral in the Civil War) visited the levant with the storeship "Supply" and procured 33 camels which were landed at Indianola, Texas, February 10, 1856. 41 were added on a second voyage ... With the first camels came, as caretaker, Haiji Ali whose Arabic name was promptly changed to "Hi Jolly" by the soldiers, and by this name he became universally known. His Greek (?) name was Philip Tedro ... On the Beale Expedition in 1857 to open a wagon road across Arizona from Fort Defiance to California, the camels under Hi Jolly's charge proved their worth. Nevertheless, the War Department abandoned the experiment and the camels were left on the Arizona desert to shift for themselves. Chiefly roaming this particular section, they survived for many years creating interest and excitement ... Officially the camel experiment was a failure, but both Lt. Beale and Major Wayne were enthusiastic in praise of the animals. A fair trial might have resulted in complete success.

Directions: From Interstate 10, take Exit 17. On the north side of the freeway, go 0.3 miles east on Main Street, then turn left on a dirt road that leads through the flea market one block to the cemetery (there is a sign on Main Street, but only for westbound traffic).

Last visited: March 2008.

Standard disclaimer: Sites are described for entertainment purposes only, as they were at the time of my last visit. I can not vouch for the current condition of the site or its accessibility.