The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-09-14
MERCURY
WAS NOT FLEETER OF FOOT
THAN THE TARAHUMARA IND
dams OF cHIcHUAHUA,
MEXICO.
Race Course ITO Miles Long Over the
Mountains.-Little Is Known About
the Tribe, Who Have Learned
None of the White Mans Vices.

BoCOYNA, STATE OF CHICHNA-
HUA, Mexico, September 1O.-The
Tarahumara Indians of this place are
the most interesting tribe of savages
in the world in some respects. The
recent building of a railroad to Bo- |
coyna has placed the town in touch
with civilization, but the Tarahumaras
have lost none of their peculiar traits
as a result of this precursor of en-
lightenment and industrial develop
ment.
In point of endurance the members
of the Tarahumara tribe are probably
not exceeded by any people OF Mexico.
The Seri Indians, who inhabit Thu
ron Island, in the Gulf of California,
are noted as long-distance runners, but
it is doubtful if they are equal
in this particular to the Tarahum-
aras,-
The American railroad contractors
and engineers who have been brought
to this mountain town by the build
| ing of the new railroad have been get
ting some amusement by wagering
considerable sums of money on long
distance races of the Tarahumaras.
The favorite race course is from Bo-
cowna to the town of Minaca and re-
turn, distance of 10 miles for the
round trip. The road over the noun
tains is exceedingly rough in places.
At a recent race the Americans here
who are interested in the novel sport
made up a purse of 500, to be award
ed the winner of the long-distance
race The Indians became greatly in
terested in the sport, and at council
of members of the tribe two of the fast
est runners and men Of the greatest
endurance were selected to compete
for the prize. To these Indians 500 is
fabulous sum of money.
A Mountain Race.
The Americans inspected the two
contestants and picked their favorites,
wagering large sums of money among
themselves on the result of the race.
The two runners set off from Bocoyna
at slow speed. The winner made the
Iround trip of 40 miles in 16 hours,
and was apparently as fresh when
here as when he started.
The Tarahumaras indulge in annual
races at the town of Sisoquiche in
November of each year. They have
race track there, which consists
of eight laps and covers total dis
lance of 140 miles. At the races held
there last November number OF run
ners covered the 140 miles in 80
hours. There were four runners on
side. and each runner was handi-
capped by having to take with him
wooden ball, which had to be kicked
along the ground in front of him for
the whole distance without once being
touched with the hands.
Before the building of the railroad
it was nothing unusual for Tara
humara to leave Bocoyna for Chihua
hua. 1876 miles distant by way OF the
most direct trail over the mountains
one morning and return next morning
II hardly seems probable that this 27(
miles could be covered by man in "a
hours or a. little over, but it has been
done time and time again by hardy
men belonging to this wonderful tribe
of Indians. They seem to be possessed
of greater lung capacity than any
known race of people. They eat yer!
little when making these long jour
tineys. They adopt their movements il
a long-gaited trot that seems slow II
the casual observer. They have tn'
faculty of recouping their strength
quickly.
| Dispatch Bearers Trip.
II A few years ago the commander o
| the Mexican soldiers in this distric
I desired an important report which n
had made to be delivered to the Wa
| lDepartment at the earliest possible
Iimoment The nearest telegraph poin
Twas Chichuahua. He intrusted tn
message to q Tarahumpara runner runner
| and it was delivered to the Fedora
| telegraph operator at Chichuahua min
| hours later. The runner was back i
| Bocoyna in IL more hours. He slep
for three hours, and was then sen
off to deliver another message to tn
military commander at Parral, 20
miles distant He was three day
making the second round trip, but wa
1 annarentlv none the worse for TN