The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-12-22
OF
ANCIENT MEXICO
Tribe of Indians Who Perform
Wonderful FeatS in Long
Distance Running.

The most wonderful race l ever saw,
IN which an Indian ran 105 miles in six
teen hours, took place recently in the
state of Chihuahua. Mexico" remarked
Tneron c. Crawford of London to the
Washington Post
The man who won this race" contin-
ued Mr.. Crawford. had the benefit of
training Through his ancestors for hun
dreds of years. He is one of tribe of
native Indians-the Tarama haraS-the
members OF which carried messages for
the Montezumas Prescott tells us that
this mans ancestors carried fish to the
table of the king subdued by Cortez from
a lake 20 miles away, and did it in one
day. If they were developed to that
duTance as runners in that day. how
many centuries did it take their fathers
to achieve such perfection.
These Taramaharas in the province of
Chihuahua today are the direct descend
ants of those who ran with messages and
carried fish for the MOntezumas. In rec
Ognition Of their efficiency the Mexican
government made them the carriers of its
messages. They are simple people. live
almost entirely nude and in the open air
The chests of the men are developed to
a wonderful power. and their entire
ing they have received. They are monog-
amists. They live in rude log huts, quite
different from the Mexican adobe
Twenty Runners Start.
This race was between twenty of the
sWiftest runners of the tribe. Those who
participated wagered almost everything
they had Their fellow tribesmen bet on
their respective favorites FeliciO Cruz.
the winner, bet his wife against thirty
goats. This was not particularly strange.
FOR the Indians and the MeXicans for
miles around were wrought to a high
pitch Each of the runners was attend
ed by his wife and a friend or two. The
course was laid out in a circular track in
a great divide in the mountains.
when the Indians their bronzed bodies
shining in the sun. lined up for the start
at II o'clock in the morning there was a
great crowd TO see them. At the signal
each kicked a ball about the size of one
of our seballs, made of feathers and
lined with leather This each had to keep
kicking all the way along the course of
lO5 miles. And each was accompanied
by mounted guard to see that no trick
cry was resorted to.
Run Way into the Night.
'All day they ran, the interest of the
crowds of watchers along the course
never abaUng. dWhen il grew dark the
mounted guards accompanying the run
ners carried great torches so that each
contestant might see the ball he was
kicking. saw the horses. their mounts
and the runners themselves outlined
against the twilight on high hill at one
time during the race. 1t was an inspiring
and beautiful sight. Though l was keep
ing late hours. my interest never ceased.
] stayed up until the finish.
AT last, at O'Clock in the morning,
accompanied by his guards and many
friends. Felicio Cruz finished the last lap
in the race All the others had dropped
out. He had won thirty goats and about
all the blankets i'm the tribe and kept his
wife. The natives gave him a great ova-
ton. / was satisfied with the purchase of
the blanket he wore part of the time he
ran
What effect did the grueIing cont No.
have on Felicio? Apparently none what
ever He did not go TO bed; in fact did
not sleep for five days During all that
time he sat on d rude bench outside the
door of his hut. He ate but little At
the end Of the five days he was as fresh
as ever. He is 2 wonderful man."