Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1880-02-06
= OURAY'S HORSEBACK.


~. rsv % 10 Into BANKRUPTCY.
from the Denver Tribune1 49,.
some years ago, when the Utes and
Navajoes were not warning with each
other or employed in Investigating the
firmness with which the white mans
scalp was attached, they devoted them
selves to horse races, betting blankets,
ponies and their squaws even upon the
results Of the contests. Now, although
there is no horse flesh in the world that
can leave o Ute pony behind when
cilmblng rough and rugged mountain
trails or holding out for long journeys
Is concerned, they are not fast runners
on level ground. So, however mortify-
ing the confession was, after q week of
daily races the Utes were obliged to
acknowledge that their horses were in
terror to those of the Navajoes; but by
the time they were convinced of this fact
the e, whole tribe were nearly bankrupted.
me Navajoes gathered up their spoils
and departed for their tents, while the
otes went to Ouray with their tale of
WOO. Sapenaro, Shavino and Cojoe
were all heavy losers, but at the council
winch Ouray called could suggest no
plan to retrieve their losses except to
follow the victorious Navajoes and by
force deprive them of their booty. TO
this proposition Ouray would not assent,
saying that such deed would stain the
name OF their tribe, and dismissed the
council, telling the Utes to challenge
the Eavajoes to another series of races
two months from that time, September,
1874, and he would attend to the rest,
Through Il. F. Bond, the Agent, 0uray,
having raised 81, 500 by the sale of some
OF his stock, sent to st. Louis and pur-
chased Mambrino racer, a bav. and
had him brought to his house. At the
expiration of the two months the Naya-
joes came down, bringing with them their
best racer, one who had won eight races
IN the former contests, and called
Wachita by the Navajoes. Ouray caused
it to be given out that he had brought a
pony from Utah to contest the races,
and the Navajoes were on the tip-toe of
expectation as he WAS brought forth.
When the blankets-with which he was
covered from head to foot-were re-
moved, and, painted all over to present
the appearance of half-starved pony,
the bay appeared, shout of derision
rent the air from the throats of the
Navajoes, and they began to bet odds
three blankets against one, and the like
against his winning. The Utes said
nothing, but, instructed by Ouray, took
every bet that was offered. even If they
risked their last blanket. The course
used by them was about three miles
long, level mesa. Wachita was ridden
by his owner and the bay by the son of
Sapavanaro. The word was given, and
the horses started amid an anticipating
shout of victory from the Navajoes,
which quavered away into a groan as
they saw their favorite beaten by neck
as they crossed the line. But they did
not give up. The close race made them
think the defeat of Wachita was due to
the bad riding of his owner. In the
twinkling of an eye he was pulled off
the horse by dozen hands, and Math-
okan, sub-chief of the Navaioes, put
on the back of Wachita. This time the
betting was heavier than at first, the Utes
betting eagerly and the Navajoes des-
perately. Sapavanaro's boy gave the
bay his head and he came across the
line nearly quarter mile ahead of
Wachita. The Navajoes were "busted"
and the Utes rich. They had not only
recovered what they had before lost, but
their tepees were filed with blankets
and buffalo robes, while each Nava1oe was
the poorer by pony. So completely
broke" were they that the Utes tell
with giee how they rode to their homes,
some riding double and others walking.
This incident greatly increased Ouray's
influence over his tribe, and caused all
of them to look up to him as a wise man.