Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-02-21
GREAT FEMALE FoOT-RACE.
One Hundred and Nine Miles In
srl Thirteen Hours.

chihuahua (Mexico) Cor. of N. Y. Hersld.l
Among the Tarahumares footracing
is favorite diversion, and even the
women compete in the lists At times
great rivalry springs up between the ad'
Joining towns Of some districts as to the
respective merits of the contestants.
Within a month a riyalry of this kind
between the two villages OF Baconia and
Sesoguiche gave rise to the most famous
foot race on record. Four of the fastest
women from each town were selected,
and, accompanied to an intermediate
point between the towns, where there
was an oblong mountain three Mexican
leagues around it by measurement OF
the road around this it was stipulated
that the race was to take place, the prize
to be conceded to those who made the
quickest time in running round the
mountain fourteen times-a distance, at
the very least, of one hundred English
miles. At fixed points within the cir.
cumferencc of the mountain guards were
stationed, who were to see that the race
was conducted with fairness. The
whole population of the surrounding
country bad assembled, with whatever
they could collect Of value, that they
might have the opportunity OF betting
something upon the result which was to
bring shame or honor to the rival vii
lages. They were also sufficiently civil
lized to have large quantity OF the in
toxicating drink-the Tezuina
AS the eight athletic creatures took
their places at the starting point the ex'
citement ran high; they were, like the
old Roman athletes, stripped for the
contest, the only garment worn being q
short petticoat, which reached within six
inches of the knee. Our informant who
,topped his travels for day to witness
his novel race, was struck with the mag
ni6cent development of muscle displayed
by a swarthy looking belle, whose petit
coat was a little shorter than the rest,
and he forthwith bet his pile on Seso
guicho. There were otEer finely devel-
oned creatures in the list, but none whose
br;obt ewes, clean limbs, hard looking
Aesb and apparent gutta percha elasticity
of motion drew so vividly upon bis mag
ination, and so powerfully upon his
purse
The whole bevy were off at the word
oo amid the widest excitement, and the
Set,ing commenced. The time was six
o'clocR and thirty.fve minutes in the
morning. The first, second, third, fourth
ond even the fifth turn was completed
without any great advantage on either
s;de. but during the next five turns 1t
VAS evident that, with the exception OF
,ha fair belle above mentioned, Seso.
guiche was losing ground. She, how
ever. kept breast AID breast with the
w;rv creatures from Baconia, At the
tweifb turn of the mountain all but the
three here mentioned dropped from the
,rack The multitude was now pretty
well soaked with Tezunia, and the bet
t;ng ran TO the widest extremes every
one who had anything of value staked It
ON the race-hoes, plows, and other agri-
cultural implements, horses, cattle,
sheen. pips, goats, cats, dogs, and what.
sver else there was Of value changed
hands The men bet their clothes and
| the women pitched in and bet their petn'
coats. All was wild uproar, and the
Derby sweepstakes we're nowhere.
The thirteenth turn was made; but It
vas evident that the Sesoguiche belle
was getting out of wind, and after ell had
NOT 40 much bottom as the wiry contest
ants from Baconia. But abe was not far
behind, and although Baconia took the
prize il was not matter for much boast
ing.
were received with the loudest shouts Of
low byItheir townspeople. They had nm
isSed the race at eight o'clock in the
evening. making the whole distance, Of
one hundred miles, in thirteen hours and
twsn,y five minutes by the watch OF our
informant One Of the two Baconls
women Who Won the race had given birth
10 a child ten days before, and prepared
herself for the contest hy bandag'ng her
breasts. The only stops made during
tbe time by the contestants for the priAes
were either to take little water, or eat
frueally Of pfHolf-a simple gruei MADE
of marched corn, ground and sWeetened
T;,h wgar By the time the race was
concluded nsarlF sYerT Indian on the
| cronnd vas drunk.