The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1917-07-13
PERSHINC'S SPRINT
A Foot Race Forced by the Taunt
of a Navajo Indian.
lT HAD A CURIOUS CLIMAX.
The Redskin Athlete Was q Fleet Run
nsr, but the white Captain" In
Spite of Sprained Ankle Handicap,
Won the Contest In Crawl"

ner, but the "White Captain" In
Spite of sprained Ankle Handicap,
Won the Contest In Crawl"
At the time General John j. Pershing
held the rank of captain In the army
he on one occasion proved himself SUI
perior to the best Navajo athlete In
foot race.
The story is an interesting one.
Pershing was stationed near the Ma
vaho and Moqui reservations in Art
zona In 1890, when General Morgan,
then commissioner or Indian affairs,
visited these Indians, Pershing was In
command Of a small escort which went
with him TO Keams canyon to attend
a council OF the tribes He was ac-
companied by Captain Chauncey Ba
ker, who had been his classmate at
West Point.
While waiting for the council to be
gin they sat on a large stone watching
| the Indians at their games The Na
| yahos were wrestling, racing on foot
racing their ponies and pole yaulting
1t was a holiday occasion, aud the In
dams were enjoying themselves hugely
One finely formed Indian saw Perish
! ing sitting on the stone and, approach
ing, said something to him in the Ma
gaho tongue. The Navajo interpreter.
| Chee, who was with the party. was
asked what the Indian wanted.
He is challenging Captain Pershing
| to wrestle with him" said Chez.
Pershing looked the Indian over and
observing the grease upon his body re-
piled to Chee:
Tell him that he Is too dirty to wres-
/ tie with white man"
When this was interpreted the In
dlans who bad gathered around sent up
a shout Of derision at the expense OF
the Navajo athlete The latter was not
slow to reply. saying
Tell the white captain III run a
foot race with him, and If l am too
dirty ali he has to do is to keep ahead
Of me
The Indians now laughed al Pershing
and Chez explained to him that he
would have to run the foot race or lose
caste with the Indians who appeared
greatly to admire him
Pershing accepted the challenge and
preparations were made for the race. a
triangular course was laid out, witt
three stakes l0O feet apart Pershinl
stripped TO thf waist and put on a pair
OF moccaslns so that he could run WITT
greater ease
Judpes we're chosen and n floss Of i
coin gave the Indian the inside track
so that he had few feet the advantage
in clearing the stakes Both men start
ed In lively fashion, but, as Pershine
afterward explained he purposeiy kept
just far enough behind so that the
Navajo could barely see him out Of tht
tail of his eye. This prevented the In
dian from setting too hard q pace ane
at the same time enabled Pershing L
use the Indian as pacenakri
As the two sped toward the first stake
not foot's difference was GiS"eruibl'
between them They appeared 10 b'
running almost abreast once or twic'
the Indian made a squirt but Pershinl
always kept up with him and neYe
AbhGl topN " bt'''' iiAiA4
They rounded the first stake witt
the Indian still on the inside and thel
started for The second stake. Whei
half way Pershlng Increased his speel
and the Indian fearing that he mean
10 try 10 pass him at the stake, dit
likewise Just as Pershing expected
the Navajo shot slightly beyond th'
stake, aud Pershing was enabled Z
come on the inside thereby sain&g al
advantage OF several feet on the home
ward run.
Now, Pershing had previously sprain
ed his ankle. and his only concern il
the race was caused by fear that hi
ankle might give way. The speed o
the two men as they ran for the hom
stake was tremendous, but Pershinj
l maintained the lead until the expecte'
happened
When within about ten feet Of tn
| home line his ankle turned ana he wa
e tors breathlessly watching the contes
cried out IN CONSERVATION. 1t all hal
| f& ~,