The Athena press. [volume] (Athena, Umatilla County, Or.) 18??-1942, 1895-05-31
INDIANS AS HoRsE-RAcERs,
How Old Winnomsnoot Beat the Cit.
zens of Pendleton.

How Old Winnomsnoot Beat the Citi-
zens of Pendleton.
Indians are, as a rule, expert
Judges Of horse flesh. On his judg-
ment Of q racer an Indian. will
stake every possession he has on
earth and indeed the instances are
rare where his confidence in his
horse has been misplaced. In the
present age on our home reserva-
ton the siwashes' love for racing
horses is only eclipsed by his ar
dent cravings for liquor. Every
summer bands OF horses pass
through Athena driven by Indians
from the North. They belong to-
the tribes Of Nez Perce, Yakimas
and Snakes and represent their
strings Of flyers and betting stock
on the way to the famous track Of
the Umatilla's which is laid out
near the agency. Their feats and
horseracing are INDUCED in for
days, the dusky denizens Of the
North piling their blankets and
holding white-eyed cayuses-the
property they wager on some fay-
orite-on one side of the track, and
their opponents, the Umatillas,
Cayuses and Wallas on the other.
All faces are as solid and void OF
expression as the brown rocks on
the surrounding hill-sides. The
horses appear on the lower end Of
the track, the word is given and
like an arrow shot from an Indian
bow, theflying steeds come speeding
down the well-beaten track. The
riders with their long black hair
streaming in the wind, have weird
and demonic appearance.
All is excitement now. The In
| dians who form the inner lines are
provided with "quirts" and throngs
AS the horses pass they are struck
singing blows, which are laid on
thick and fast to the aecompani-
ment Of glutteral shouts. An In
dian always strikes his favorite
horse, and it is done to force him
to his utmost capacities.
Perhaps there was never q more
successful Indian with race horses
than Winnomsnoot, the old chief 0
the Umatillas, and father of Peo
their present chief.
Bishop Wells, who held the frs
church services ever held in Pend.
Teton, was present at the exercises
OF the anniversary OF laying th'
corner stone Of the church Of th'
Redeemer in that city last Friday
and among the many incidents
which the Bishop related was th'
following, and it was told only al
the Bishop could tell it.
| In 1871, he came to PendletoI
and found that there had nevel
beed held a religious service in tn
place, then of 100 or 200 inhabit
ants. He found one lady who wal
a communicant, and when the
Sunday school had been organized
| not a man was discovered whl
would connect himself with it o.
superintendent. Consequently
lady was placed at the head Of tn
| school.
1.-THE first service was held" -e
lated the bishop in the evening a
the reception at the rectory, "ol
Sunday, the court house being used
II arrived from Walla Walla ol
Saturday afternoon. The motto
had been general, and SO depu
tation Of citizens waited on me an
said that, though not chnrchmer
they were interested in the frs
service that was to be held in tn
town. The gentlemen explaine
that all the men had to 60 to th
reservation the next day-Sunday
and see the great annual horserace
They had great expectations
winning large amounts of money 0
the races and on Monday eyenin
conld do something handsome b
way Of offerings.
ssl held the service on Sunda.
however, and 13 women and chils
rem attended. Another service WI