Search the Encyclopedia Mavericana:   ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ

Brimmer,[1] Henry[2]

Poker player[1] and traveling showman in New Mexico Territory in 1878. (April 4, 1826 – February 12, 1913)[2]

While touring Washoe County, Nevada in 1870, Brimmer bought a Bactrian camel, Fatima, at auction. The camel had been brought to California from Siberia to work as a pack animal in the mining industry. But Brimmer intended to exhibit her in his traveling show and charge money to see and ride her, so he billed her as a "relic of Fort Tejon," one of the last brought from Arabia by the U. S. Army to serve in its experimental "camel corps."[2]

In July of 1878,[2] Brimmer sat in a poker game with Bret Maverick. He found himself tapped out when it came to meeting Bret's raise of $100. In order to cover his bet, Brimmer offered to sell Bret a full-blooded, imported Arabian mount for $200 to which Bret agreed. After the game, Brimmer introduced Bret to his new purchase. But to Bret's chagrin, the "Arabian mount" turned out to be Fatima. Bret tried to decline the camel and pardon Brimmer's $200 ruse but Brimmer refused, happy to finally be rid of the animal.[1]

See: Relic of Fort Tejon