The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-08
MEXICAN INDIANS RACE.
strange Contest ~ speed Among Men OF
the TarRmaharas.

FTOm Ue WuHNtngtOW fOb.
The most wonderful race ! ,ver saw. in
which an Indian ran iS miles in sixteen
hours. took place recently in the State OF
Chihuahua. Mexico" remarked Theron c.
Crawford Of London.
The mar who won this race" continued
Mr.. Crawford. had the benefit Of training
Through his ancestors for hundreds OF
years. He 10 ono Of a tribe OF native Indians
the Taramaharas-the members OF which
carried messages for the MOntezumas. Pres
colt tells us that this mans ancestors carried
FISH to the table Of the king subdued by COrtsz
from a lake go miles away. and did IL In
one day. II they were developed to that
endurance as runners in that day. how many
centuries did IL take their fathers 20 achieve
such perfection?
These T~aramaharas in the province Of
Chihuahua to-day are the direct descend
ants Of those who ran with messages and
carried fish for the Montczumss. In reoOg-
milton Of their efficiency the Mexican GOvSyn-
ment 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 wonderful power.
and their entire bodies rive evidence OF the
physical training they have received. They
are monoRamists. They live in rude log huts.
quite different from the Mexican adobe.
This race was between twenty Of the
swiHtest runners Of the tribe. Those who par
ticipated 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 tribesmen often
exchange spouses. The Indians and the
Mexicans for miles around were wrought
to a high pitch. Each Of the runners was
attended by his wife and q friend or two.
The course was laid out in q circular track
In a great divide in the mountains.
When the Indians. their bronzed bodies
shining in the sun. lined up for the start
az n o'clock in the morning there was q great
crowd to see them. At the signal each kicked
a ball about the size OF one OF our baseballs.
made Of feathers and lined with leather.
This each had to keep kicking all the way
along the course Of los miles. And each
was accompanied by a mounted guard to
see that no trickery was resOrted to.
An day they ran. the interest Of the crowds
OF watchers along the course never abeting.
When il grew dark the Mounted guards
accompanying the runners 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 a high hill
at one lime during the race. 10 was an in
spring and beautiful sight. Though I was
keeping late hours. my interest never ceased.
] stayed up until the finish.
AT last. at . O'Clock in the morning. ao-
companied by his guards and many friends.
Felicio Cruz finished the last lap in the race.
All the others a dropped out. he had
won thirty goats and about all the blankets
10 the tribe and kept his wife. The natives
gave him a great ovation. ! was satisfied
with the purchase OF the blanket he wore
Q part Of the time ne ran.
What effect did the gruellinR contest
have on FeliciO? Apparently none what
ever. He did not go to bed. in fact did
not sleep for Ave days. During all that
time he sat on a rude bench outside tho door
Of his hut. He ate but little. At the end
OF the five days he was as fresh as ever. He
10 q wonderful man."