Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-09-25

FIRST DAY OF THE FAIR.

nay was perfect as to weather, and a
large crowd turned out. the grand
stand being fairly well filed.
About 2: 80 the first race, which was
a free-ior-all running race. was called.
The purse was Sl35, the distance rs
of a mile. The horses entered were
Brown Dick, Billy the Kid. Aaron and
Posey. The animals got good start
but Posey soon shot ahead and kept
the lead until she reached the goal.
| With Aaron as a close second. The
| time was 80 30. There was a good
| deal of betting, especially in favor OF
| Posey. this horse being known from
last spring, when she won a prize
| Fred Ortiz was the recipient of roth
| irst and second money in this race,
Posey bringing him 500. and Aaron
S35.
| The second event was half mile
running Indian race. The purse was
S35, first money S25. second $40. A
| large number of bucks entered this
race. getting an excellent start. But
two horses soon shot ahead of the rest
and FOR the remainder of the distance
the race was between the gray horse
and the brown one. AS they dashed
toward the starting place, it was hard
| ly possible to tell which was ahead.
but the gray won the prize by a few
| inches. The winner is owned by Sc
vero and was ridden by Negrito. Sc
vero was very proud and happy to re-
| ceive the purse of $25. Jim Weasel
skin, who owned the brown horse.
| received so.
For the third event, there was to
have been n free-for-all running race
of three-quarters OF mile. with a
purse of Sl35, but owing to the delay
in getting the horses here. this race
was not made. In its place Bert Gar
tin rode the motor cycle against time
making a mile in 2:45.
The squaw race, which was sched
uled as the fourth event went off in
good shape. Five Indian women an
swered the summons to start. and ap-
peared as cool and Indifferent over
the matter as if races were everyday
affairs with them. There was some
little difficulty in quieting two of the
horses but the squaws sat unmoved
on the restive beasts while the bucks
got them into line. A fine start was
at last secured. but, in less time than
it takes to tell it, Tawacket, Ute,
on her fine brown horse. Sitting Bull
shot ahead of her companions and
had the race to herself for the rest
of the way, coming in far in advance
of the others. The second was Tabea.
also Ute. 1t was a half mile run.
uing race with a purse of $35. Ia
wacket, whose horse was a Cheyenne
racer taken in trade, received S25, and
Tabea got $40. The time was 5S 3-5.
The race was most interesting from
start to finish.
The excitement over the squaws had
not subsided when the parachute
balloon, which had been preparing
all the while. began to rise. Grandly
it ascended, travelling toward the
southwest with its red-robed aero
naut dangling in the air The crowd
rushed to the end of the grand stand
and the grounds below to watch him
as he finally broke loose from the
balloon and began to descend. 1t was
the opinion of many that the air
traveller might have to try his skill
at swimming, as he descended at a
spot apparently close to the river but
in due time he returned. dry-shCd
to the grounds to receive the applause
of his admirers.
The fifth event was as scheduled
1t was a free-for-all running race of
one-fourth mile, with purse of S110.
The horses entered were Posey,
Brown Dick, Aaron. Billy the Kid and
George Landers. Again there was a
good deal of betting, Posey being the
favorte Before the horses started.
Brown Dick was drawn out of the
race. 1t was a little while before a
good start was made, and then George
| this order, they finished the race.
George Landers, the property of Bud
Milton, taking the first money, $75,
and Fred Ortiz Posey the second
| money, $50. The time was "a 2-5.
This last race ended the amusements
| sor the day, but there was plenty more
interest the people,
bOOllS, containing games Oh all
sorts. We're scattered around the
grounds and attracted much atten-
| ion. But the Indians drew the
| crowds. In their tents, the Apaches
We're weaving baskets. the Pueblos
making pottery, the Navajos busily
weaving blankets, and the Utes en-
gagged in bear work. The, squaws who
were not thus busily employed were
either tending their pappooses and
little children or beginning to pre-.
| pare the evening meal, all squaJted
upon the ground in or around their
tents. The Navajo silversmiths, with
their forges and busy hammers, at
tracted very much attention. There
was considerable buying, especially OF
bead work, and the Indian women
knew how to put good prices on theii
wares. AS the sun sank low, shed
ding its slanting rays over the scene
it was a truly pretty sight. reminding
one of the days when the Redmer
owned the country from ocean tc
ocean. and had learned nothing o.
the customs and habits of the whit.
man. Some of the Indians dress al
most entirely in American costume