The Hawaiian gazette., 1909-01-08
By A. H. Ford.

Alaska and Lower California, who hope
that Hawaii will hold Polynesian
Olympia to which they may send their
trained athletes to compete for the
prizes.
And why not1 Australia has prom.
ised to send her aboriginal teams;
Japan has already sent a baseball
team to Honolulu, And certainly
Pan-Pacific athletic and sportsmen
meet on the Island of Oahu could be
made to revive the old Polynesian
games and pastimes in a manner that
would compel the attention of the
world and bring tourists a-plenty to
the great event. l am certain that the
Outrigger Club is now strong enough
TO handle the proposition.
At Chemawa, Oregon, there are 700
I, Indian youths and maidens. Many of
the young men are sons of famous In
dian chiefs and inherit the oldtime en-
durance and strength. 1t is an Indian
youth of Chemawa who holds the Pa
: ciic Coast running record. 1t is the
Chemawa relay team that has even
held the relay race record on the Pa
cific Coast. and this team Of ten will
gladly come to Polynesian Olympia
: to compete for the Pan-Pacifc record
| in running events, baseball, basketball
and "anoeing-for some of them have
Travelled thousands of miles IN Alaskan
waters, both inland and on the ocean,
in the frailest kinds of barks in the
I toughest sorts of seas. They will come
with their tepees and native wigwams
of skin huts and camp out while they
adjust themselves to the climate and
j. train for the great events Some may
, even contest with Solomon Islanders
!, and Fijians in spear-throwing, or with
the famous archers of Japan. These
: boys think nothing of entering the
l bear.pit at Chemawa and wrestling
, with the big brown bears, so even in
this they may well meet the Japanese
. and others. OF course, Roller would
be with us; he expects to come back
; to Hawaii, anyway, to live, and would
gladly aid in engineering a Polynesian
Olympia in Hawaii to success So let's
: get together and see what can be done
for, say, the summer of 1910, or even
1911. The Samoans are the most en-
y thusiastic cricketers in the world, eX-
e cepting only, perhaps. the Fiiians.
n Both viii come, as well as the Ton
e gaps, the Maoris and other South Sea
e Islanders, bringing their best canoes
lie and their best men in all kinds OF
ID sports known to the Pacific.
,r But, to return to Chemawa. This
L. training school for Indians is recruited
from Alaska, Oregon, Washington
California; and even Idaho, Montana
n. and Arizona contribute some of theil
best young Indian blood. Annually the
"a Indians of Chemawa issue challenge
~ for any team to meet them in relay
| - &c
- tance of fifty-one miles, or in singl,
~ racing contest. The Governor of Ore
No gon prepares message to the Mayo
.. of Portland, and on the suspicious da,
:, it is he who starts the race-it is
40 State affair and general holiday. rrh
~. course is lined for many miles wit
&C cheering crowds. Last year and til
at year before it was the Portland Y. n
C. A. that provided the contestin
team. Schools and colleges had prom
ised to enter, but when the Indian boy
began to go into training, they one b
IS one dropped out.
NV The boys at Chemawa begin thre
n, months before the event. Seventy q
the best runners are selected and pT
. in training; then month later thel
nd is a trial race, and the fifteen leade,
he are retained, these being thinned dow
nd to the ten best before the final COZ
Sc. test On the great day, the relay DO,
be are placed five miles apart all alon
e. the route, a Y. NJ. c. A. and Oh
c. mawa at each station. The Govern'
f.; delivers the message at Salem, and Il
race begins The boys at the secor
station run, perhaps, a hundred var,
:. TO meet the bearers OF the message
~ and then run beside them, so that n
a moment may be lost in the exehang
I. The Indian youth then settles down
- the pace that never tires a redski
* and he never alters it for the full fl
of miles of his run. Last year, at h
,ill end of the run, the Indian boy wi
nm. bore the message for the last sage a
les cepted the challenge of a fresh rum
at the end of his station, for mi
he sprint, and beat him.
,ur The boys listened with glowing g
ia. thusiasm as / told them of the mar
kinds of trails we have in Hawaj
er. mountain and plain. They were kee
ad to meet all-comers in Hawaii, both
in Marathon race and in relay wor
,od How their eyes glistened rs / spoke
ma. the steep, sheer precipices down al
ng up which the old trained messenge
mn. of the chiefs made their way with i
ON climax of the story of messeng
Ia who broke record across the IslaI
Of Oahu, 10 fall dead at the feet
ey, his chief with the FISH he had be,
an sent for. Montana boy sprung I
ali with a demand for the "time'' m
Der distance. He had me, So / invited hi
pa to come and set a pace over the sci
same trail-if he can find it.
me The boys of Chemawa look forwaI
ay eagerly to visit TO Hawaii, whei
he they hope and expect to cover then
selves with glory. We must go q
tin with that Polynesian Olympia nov
be and give the real I" Young America
US. chance to show the Pacific world .
least that he can lead-but ! have
ac. dire suspicion that all the honors wi
he not leave Hawaii. tf
Dm The American Indians have a gam
pc of lacrosse, with small sticks and ba
ia, baskets that just fit a lacrosse ball.
s. have seen these play against the q