The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-23
4 MEMORIAL TO "DEERFOOT."
Body OF the Noted Indian Runner to lie
Removed to Buffalo.


A movement hns been set on foot ~ Joseph
Keppler. the wel-known wrestler OF the New
York A. C.. to raise a fund among his club.
mates and sportsmcn generally for hendstoue
20 mark the grave OF the Indian. "Dcertoot"
the pioneer long-dlstauce runner Of America
who died few years ago and is buried on
the reservation OF his tribe In this state.
Keppler, who Il Seneca Indian by
adoption. visited the reservation lately and
noticed that the great runners grave was
simple mound unmarked bv even
slab 81 wood or stone. Old Indians. who
remember "Deerfoot" IN the zenith OF his
fame. occasionally place wild flowers on the
grave. but there il nothing TO indicate the last
resting place OF the man who. in the early six
ties. defeated the flower Of England's pro.
fessionals and esta blished n record Of I ] miles.
8Io yards In an hour. that remained rs a
record for twenty-five years.
wrote TO Mrs. Converse. who hy ndopti"n. IL a
sister 70 Deerioot." and also to the Buffalo
.,,%rcS nr nS 10 s"T hS GGdy could no,
the society NJ Forest lawn Cemetery. Buffalo.
This has been agreed to. md Kcrpler has
promised that the society shall he put to no
expense by the removal or erection Of n suit
able mcm"rln, lthns been suggested that the
mar snbscription from those Interested in ath-
lctics and thn, each donation he limited to 81:
ri, aDcsr.Goh,'s" psriormInnc"s are matter 81
Bennett. or. in N" language Of his tribe. Hot
tyo-so-do. no. which means He pccks In tho
door "" was horn on the Spneca Resarvn-
tion in lSbO. He belonged TO noted Seneca
family. His paternal grandfather. Noah Two
Guns. served In the war OF 1912. 'Deerfoot"
made his nrst appearance on the racetrack In
1850 nj n fair held In Frcdonia where he ran
i've miles In twenty-five minutes for n purse of
$50 His next rncc was IN buffalo ami he de-
fcntch twelve Indians and one white man IN n
ten-milc rnce IN llf'y-eight minutes. In 1901
he went tn England.
His Greatcst and historic achievement. which
was ht London. April 3. 1919 He stepped on
his mark clad in the attire NJ his people His
strong loins were decorated with his native
Kilt OF light cloth. ornamental with porcupine
quill work and hcnds. Circling hrs Jet black
flowing hair sat nilet OF silver adorned with
one eagle feather. the symbol o. victory and
over his feet gave pav 70, to tho .wcll:-dc
he awaited the word. As he started
he CAV" quick, defiant glance at the spectn-
tors lift,ng his bend, ani then shot out into
the track with the s'eady flight Of nh Indian
arrow. Mile after mile he strobe around the
track will H." unswrrving rcrsistcncy of his
on he SPED. un!isturhed BY the cheering mp
plause ~ the multitude. whose enthusiasm
was unCovernnhle until he left the record ho-
hind him. Mt eleven miles. and continued an
other mile Mt the snme unappronchable speed.
D"crfoots figures WERE "a follows Eleven
II miles In I hour, minutes p, seconds;
In he exact hour he covered II miles a7O
yards. and this record was not broken until
1897. when r. T.. Bacon ran l miles 243
Yards In the hour. and this year Harry Wat
kins ran IL miles .2s8 Yards In the hour.