The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-04-12
EARLY. INDIAN ATHLETES.
Their Fayorite Games Were Bowling.
Puuping WRESTLING &c

Their FaYorite Games Were Bowling,
Running, Wrestling, &c.
The American Indians were great bow
slers. Alleys of greater length than any
in use to-day were built In the open feds.
Balls hewn out of stone were rolled by
genuine Indian muscle. In fact, there IS
scarcely a popular kind of game played in
this country to-day but that ITS coun-
terpart can be found in the age OF the
red men. They were gamblers. too, even
to forfeiting the clothes upon their
backs. their wives or their liberty. Strange
to say, the average school history has
abounded in a description of the Indian in
nearly every point except the details OF
the games The played.
Relics of the Indian bowling alley are
rare except in a few sections of the coun-
try, thus showing that the game was
not a universal one, and of all the games
which the Indian played bowling is I'M
doubleday the most remote. The West
ern Reserve Of Ohio was one of the CEN
tres for the Indian bowlers. In several
parts OF Ashtabula county some OF the
older residents have these relics preserved.
which they have picked up themselves
E in their early farming, usually in the
open field.
The balls used, instead of being large
wooden ones like those in use to-day.
were made of lig'ilt-colored stone. and
range in size from an ordinary league
ball down to the common small toy rub
Der ball. The alleys were built of wood
carved out to make a reasonably smooth
surface. The game was more to see how
far one could roll rather than accuracy
in striking the ten pins at the opposite
end of the alley The alleys were built
SO long that it is alleged it was hard
matter to roll one of these stone balls so
that it would reach the end. The In
dians, too. kept a score. and, like in all
other games. they gambled.
The Indians were inveterate lai1 players
and excellent "rooters." their game
lasted usually from o'clock in the morn
ing until shutdown. 1t was participant ted in
by from 800 to 1000 young men, divided
into two sides. and the games were Wit
messed by from 5000 to 500 men. women
and children, who formed an immense
ring around the entire field. The enthu-
siastic Indian yells were not altogether
unlike the noises of the modern ball park
There was scarcely an intermlssion d. tive
minutes during the entire day.
The game however. resembled our foot
ball rather than baseball. When the ball
was Il the air there were kicks and strug-
giles, manned limbs and bruised bodies.
A prescribed line divided the 'rooters
of the two sides, and across this line the
gambling took place. Old men were Sc
lScleO as IElplFtS. w Oiltii OIL DUti
brought the crude household goods of the
family to the ball park to be staked in the
game. Stockholders guarded the goods
The scene resembled two distinct camps.
although there was not necessarily more
than one tribe engaged in the game.
There was feature of the Indian game
which will be new to the ball players of
the year 1900. Several medicine men
among the Choctaws sat all night on the
spot where the ball was to be started next
day and smoked to the Great Spirit, who
was to witness the game The night be-
fore there also occurred what was known
as the ball play dance
Prior to the game each Indian was pro-
vided with two instruments which re-
sembled our tennis rackets of to-day.
The judges threw the ball in the air,
and Immediately hundreds of Indians
started after it. One finally succeeded
in catching it between the large ends of
the two tennis racket" and threw it
"home' or between two poles. the limit
of one side or the other. This would
count one point toward the game. and
the side getting 100 points first Won
Often in the terrible struggle for the ball
difficulties would arise between two
slightly injured contestants and the
game would stop until they settled the
dispute The women also played ball
When the men were tired they would
announce a game between the women.
and prizes would be awarded to their
winning wives.
Among the popular amlsements dear
to the lighter side of the American. 4
parallel for which has been found among.
the Indians, are the following: Bowling,
ball playing, horse racing, foot racing,
dancing, wrestling. checkers. dominoes.
quoits, sham fights.
Many things which some OF us to-day
Is,1ia 1,~a w
Will! the age in which we live by re-
search may be found to have existed in
the everyday life of the American In
diam PolySamy was practiced by GER
tain Indian tribes long before Joseph
Smith founded the Mormon belief. Vapor
baths were enjoyed by the Indian before
the White man came to disturb his hunt
inp und-New York SIM