The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-07-24
PERSHINC'S SPRINT
A Foot Race Forced by the Taunt
of a Navajo Indian.
IT HAD A CURIOUS CLIMAX.

Tho RedskIn AthIete Was Fleet Run,
ner, but the white Captain" In
Spite Of sprained Ankle Handicap,
Won the Contest In "crawI."
At the time General John ]. Pershing
held the rank Of captain In the army
he on one occasion proved himself su-
perior to the best Navajo athlete In al
foot race.
The story 10 an interesting one.
Pershing was stationed near the Ma
Vaho and Moqui reservations in Ari-
zona. In 1890, 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
q council Of the tribes He was &c.
companied by Captain Chauncey Ba
ker, who had been his classmate ct
West Point.
While waiting for the council to be
gin they sat on large stone watching
the Indians at their games. The Ma
vahos were wrestling, racing on foot,
racing their ponies and pole vaulting.
1t was a holiday occasion, and 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
vaho tongue. The Navajo interpreter,
Chez, 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 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
q shout Of derision az 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 IL 1 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
greatly to admire him.
Pershing accepted the challenge and
preparations 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 q pair
Of moccasins 90 that he could run with
greater ease.
Judges were chosen and a tess of a
coin gave the Indian the inside track,
30 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 Pershing
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
half way Persh1ng increased his speed
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 tho
stake, and Pershing was enabled to
come on the inside, thereby gaining an
advantage Of several feet on the home
ward run.
Now, Pershing had previously sprain-
cd his ankle, and his only concern in
the race was caused by fear that hts
ankle might give way. The speed of
the two men as they ran for the homo
stake was tremendous, but Pershing
maintained the lead until the expected
happened.
When within about ten feet Of the
home line bis ankle turned and he was
seen to fall in heap, and the specta-
tors breathlessly watching the contest
cried out In CONSERVATION. 1t all hap
pened In a moment, 1t seemed, but
somehow Pershing doubled up like
ball and turned complete somersault
and landed across the line several feet
ahead Of the Indian.
Then there was 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-
cifuliy 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 at,l-
Iete who was beaten in foot race Ly
the white captain crawling" - New