Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-10-14

CATION is well punched. especially in
| going around the first quarter, but
thereafter they begin to straggle out.
two or three keeping pretty even on
the home stretch. AS the winners
are of SO little general interest. We
did not undertake to get them.
Next on the programme was a
squaw race. There were an even
bakers dozen contesting. The same
kind OF start was had as the previous
one. The squaws were up to date,
in that they sat astride with as much
grace as the latter-day woman
Around the first curve they sped and
in the mix-up one of the dusky maid
ems was dumped to the ground She
rolled over, and some OF the horses
must have passed over her body, and
it is wonder that she was not tramp
ed upon. but after the racers passed
on she got up and rubbing one arm,
returned to the starting point, while
the horse went around the course.
Just the same. Around the last curve
and home stretch flew half a dozen
of the fieetest horses and two passed
under the wire almost neck and neck.
The second squaw and buck races
were repetitions of the first.
The chicken-pulling contest, social
ed, was the most exciting. The sport
derives the name from the fact that it
is of Mexican origin. The body of
the chicken is buried in the ground.
with the head of the chicken stick
ing out, and the Indian who pulls it
out and retains it for certain length
of time receives the prize. 1t is bru-
tai sport, however, as the chicken is
often torn to pieces, In humane COM
munities sack is substituted. The
sack is filled with gravel, and prob
ably weighs pound or two. 1t is
buried in the ground with from two to
three inches of the top above ground.
Riders are supposed to canter at
fair gallop, and as they pass lean over
and pull it out, and after the feat is
accomplished he must retain possess
ion around the track. There were
three such contests yesterday The
Indian making the successful dive was
overtaken around the first curve and
scramble commenced. The riders
punched and pulled for possession of
the sack, and the first time it is safe
TO say it changed hands several times,
and just before reaching the wire the
aggregation came almost to "a dead
standstill, when muscular, rough
visaged Navajo snatched the trophy
and passed under the wire, securing
the $35 purse. The second pulling
lrpo of
and coming down the stretch it looked
like a Ute would win the money. but
the aforesaid Navajo pounced down
upon his neighboring brother and
grabbed the sack, and then another
took it away from him just as they
passed under the wire and, the judges
being in doubt. divided the purse.
Then there was an extra purse made
up for another contest, and Dick
Simpson stood near by with a whip
and made the slow-goers pass a lit
tie livlier. But, judging from re-
suits, two of the Navajos got onto
the American custom and went into ca
hoots. as one grabbed the bag, and,
being on lively nag made the first
half OF the mile, when he was over
taken by his partner, who took the
bag and passed on. winning by some
distance.
Then there was a 200-yard foot
race for bucks, with dozen entries,
and 100-yard foot race for squaws,
with about the same number of con
testants.
In the horse events the Utes won
first and second moneys. the Navajos
failing to have as fast nags. The
Utes also won the foot race money,
but when it came TO the chicken pull
ing contests the Navajos distanced
the Utes. the latter failing to win
either of the three purses.
So greatly was the crowd pleased
with the afternoon that the directory
concluded to add buck and squaw
race for tomorrow afternoon, and will
probably have chicken purse.
1t was early when the programme
was completed. and for an hour the
various buildings proved attractive
to most people.