Louisiana capitolian., 1880-01-03
oURAYs HORSE RACE.

Five 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 racing, 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 Ute pony behind when climb
ing rough and rugged mountain trails or
holding out for long Journeys, they are
not fast runners on level ground. So,
however mortifying the confession was,
after week Of daily races the Utes
were obliged to acknowledge that their
horses were inferior to those of the Nay
ajoes; but by the time they were con-
vinced of this fact the whole tribe were
nearly bankrnpted.
The Navajoes gathered up their spoils
and departed for their tents, while the
Utes went to Ouray with their tale of
woe. Sapenaro, Shavino and Cojoe were
all heavy losers, but at the Council that
Ouray called, could suggest no plan to
retrieve their losses except to follow tho
victorious Navajoes and by force deprive
them of their booty. TO this proposition
Ouray would not assent, saying that
such deep would stain the name of
their tribe, and dismissed the council,
telling the Utes to challange the Nava-
joes to another series of races two months
from that time, September, 1874, and he
would attend to the rest. Through II.
+. Bond, tho agent, Ouray having raised
fifteen hundred dollars by the sale of
some Of his stock, sent to st. Louis and
purchased Mambrino racer, bay, and
had him brought to his house. At the
expiration Of the two months the Nava-
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
pony from Utah to contest the races and
the Navajoes were on the tip-toc of ex-
pectation as he was brought forth. When
the blankets with which he was covered
from head to foot) were removed, and
painted all over to present the appear
ance Of u half.starved pony, the bay ap-
peared, shout of derision rent the air
from the throats of the Navajoes, and
they began to bet odds {tlirce blankets
to one, and the like) against his win
ming. The Utes said nothing, but, in
structed by Ouray, took every bet that
was offered, even if they riskcd their
last blanket. The Curse used by them
was about three miles long, level masa.
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 groan as they crossed the
line.
But they did not give up. The close
race made them think the defeat of the
Wachita was due to the bad riding of
her owner. In the twinkling of an eye
he was pulled of the horse by q dozen
hands and Math-o-kan, q sub-chief of
the Navaioes, put on the back of Wa
chita. This time tho betting was hcav-
ier than at first, the Utes betting eager
ly and the Navajoes desperately. Sapa-
vanaro's boy gave the bay his head and
he came across the line nearly quarter
of a milo ahead of Wachita. The Nava-
joes were "busted," and the Utes rich.
They had not only recovered what they
had lost, but their tapees were filled
with blankets and buffalo robes, while
each Navajo was the poorer by poney.
So completely "broke" were they that
the Utes tell with glcc how they went
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.