The Republican journal., 1917-07-12
PERSHINC'S SPRINT
A Foot Race Forced by the Taunt
of a Navajo Indian.
1T HAD A CURIOUS CLIMAX.

nor, but the "Whte Captain" In
Spite of a Sprained Ankle Handicap,
Won the Contest In a "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 Ari-
IONA. In $780, when General Morgan.
then commissioner Of Indian affairs,
visited these Indians, Pershing was in
command of 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 Ma
vahos were wrestling, racing on foot,
racing their ponies and pole vaulting
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
vaho tongue The Navajo interpreter,
Chez, who was with the party, was
asked what the Indian wanted.
"He is challenging Captain Pershing
to wresHe with him." said Chez.
Pershing looked the Indian over and
observing the grease upon his body re-
piled to Chez:
Tell him that he is too dirty to wres-
tie with white man."
When this was interpreted the In
dams who had 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 I'll run a
foot race with him, and If l am too
dirty all he has to do is to keep ahead
of me-"
The Indians now laughed at Pershing,
and Chez explained to him that he
would have to run the foot race or lose
caste with the Indians, who appeared
great to admire him.
Pershing accepted the challenge and
prepare tons were made for the race. A
triangular course was laid out, with
three stakes 100 feet apart. Pershing
stripped to the waist and put on pair
of moccasins so that he could run with
greater ease.
Judges were chosen and toss of a
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 Pershing
afterward explained, he purposely kept
just far enough behind so that the
Navajo could barely see him out Of the
tail Of his eye. This prevented the In.
dian from setting too hard pace and
at the same time enabled Pershing to
use the Indian as pacemaker.
As the two sped toward the first stake
not a foot's difference was discernible
between them. They appeared to be
running almost abreast. Once or twice
the Indian made squirt, but Pershine
always kept up with him and never
undertook to pass him.
They rounded the first stake with
the Indian still on the inside and then
started for the second stake. When
and the Indian, fearing that he meant
to try to pass him at the stake, did
likewise. Just as Pershing expected
the Navajo shot slightly beyond the
stake, and Pershing was enabled tc
come on the inside, thereby gaining an
advantage of several feet on the home
ward run.
Now. Pershing had previously sprain
ed his ankle, and his only concern In
the race was caused by fear that his
ankle might give way. The speed OF
the two men as they ran for the home
stake was tremendous, but Pershine
maintained the lead until the expected
happened.
When within about ten feet of the
home line his ankle turned and he was
seen to fall in heap, and the specta.
tors breathlessly watching the contest
cried out In CONSERVATION. It all hap
pened in moment, it seemed, but
somehow Pershing doubled up like 9
ball and turned complete somersault
and landed across the line several feet
ahead Of the Indian.
Then there was a bedlam Of shout
ing. The Indians unhesitatingly pro
nounced Pershing the victor, and the
citation Of the white men was only ex
ceeded by their solicitude for Per
shing's weakened ankle. The defeated
Indian was jeered and tainted unmer
cifully by the other Navahos.
They had one particular collection OF
Indian unpronounceables which they
applied to him. Pershing and Baker
got Chez to interpret it. Chez explain
ed that the Indian had always been
called the Navajo athlete, but now
his comrades had heightened his name
and were calling him 'the Navajo ath
lete who was beaten in a foot race by
the white captain crawling" New
York Sun.
Ill