Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-10-04
SAN GERONIMO FEAST.
How the Taos PueblOs Observe the
OccasiOn-Braves to Go to
Denver.

Messrs. @. E. Ward and j. Frank
Adams, of Denver, we're among the spec
tators who witnessed ths celebration Of
the feast of San Geronimo at Taos pueblo
on Wednesday last. They came as the
representatives of Denver and engaged
the Taosonians and also a delegation oil
Santa Clara Indians to appear in the fes.
tival of Mountain and Plain, which opens
at Denver on the 18th inst. Speaking OF
the unique character of the annual cele.
bration at Taos, Mr.. Ward ssid to the
Denver Times: +.
"The festival starts early in the day at
the little adobe church at Taos. This
church is one of the oldest in New Mexico
1t has small belfrey and an old-fash-
Toned bell, and near this, on the day of
the festival, was stationed an Indian with
two rocks in his hands, while surround
ing the church are six Indians with rifles.
Within the church are images of San Gs-
ronimo and his mother. When the mass
starts the Indian in the belfrey strikes
once on the bell, and then twice. He is
answered by salute from one of the
guns. Then two Indians fire a salute,
then three, and so on until all six fire. At
the conclusion of the affairs in the church
the images are borne in state, under a
canopy, to an arbor adjoining the race
track, and here the mute figures look
solemnly on at the sports of the day.
"For the races, which are the chief
events, track about $50 yards long is
provided. The significance of the main
race will be understood when it is stated
that it is run for the governorship, or
head officer of the tribe, the victor being
appointed to that important position.
The town of Taos is cut in twain by the
Pueblo river and tho residents of either
side select thirty men to represent them
in the contest. The contestants, having
been decided upon, retire to the estufa,
sort of cavern where the sacred fires OF
Montezuma are still supposed to burn,
and here they decorate themselves in
fantastic manner. They then 60 to the
racing course. Along the lines are vari-
GUS old men, bearing switches, whose
duty it is to urge the runners on. Each
runner goes swiftly down the track, get
ting sharp cut now and then from the
switch holders, who cry soma pa" and
hasten them on their journey.
Gas soon rs one runner gets to the end
of the course another takes his place and
runs back, the other going to his orig inal
starting place. Thus the runners 20 but
one way each, although they cover the
course four times. Of course the contest
naturally narrows down until it lies be-
tween the strongest and swiftest. On the
last race at Taos the faction on the op-
posite side of the river from that which
has held the chiefship won the honors, and
there was great rel oioing."
"Another SPORT" continued Mr.. Ward,
land one in which the. Mexicans are al
lowed to participate, is the chicken race.
A chicken is buried in the ground with
nothing hut it's head visible, and sports
mounted on horses, run by the impris-
oned fowl and endeavor to snatch IL ont
of the hole. The one that succeeds has
to protect it from the charges of others
who try to snatch 1t away from him, and
the whole circus ends by the chicken be-
ing practically torn to pieces.
"The Chifonettes, o sort of secret 80
ciety, are responsible for the harvest fea-
ture of the days entertainment. A thirty.
foot pole is erected, on which newly
butchered sheep is hung, surrounded by
grain, vegetables and tokens of the har-
vest. The Chifonettes surround the pole
and endeavor to shoot the stuff down
with arrows. In this they fail and then
throw rocks, failing again. Then they
mount on one another's shoulders to the
height of the pole and take the sheep
and grain down. In the evening there
are the tribe dances, the dancers being
Enthusiastically arrayed and going through
al sorts OF odd motions. This is a fea.
lure Denver will have chance to see."