Post by cinemo on Aug 22, 2013 14:13:18 GMT -5
In 1849, Randolph Barnes Marcy, as a captain in the U.S. Fifth Infantry, commanded a military escort for an emigrant wagon train bound for the California goldfields from Fort Smith, Arkansas.
While en route, Marcy met with a very large band of Comanches, commanded by a venerable old chief, called Is-sa-keep ( Wolf`s Shoulder ) The chief wished to hold a council with the captain.
After the council was held, there was a request for a horse racing by Lieutenant John Buford, at that time in the command of Marcy. Just previous to the departure from Arkansas, Buford received from his uncle in Kentucky a present of one of the finest of his large stud of thorough-bred Horses, and he had taken great pains to keep him up in good running condition during the trip. Buford had heard of the inveterate propensity of the Comanches for horse racing and expected they might be disposed to try the speed of some of their own animals with his. As Marcy`s men were all anxious to witness the comparative racing qualities of the full-blooded stock and the Indian horses, the men required of the chief if he was inclined to enter any of his horses against that of the lieutenant. Wolf`s Shoulder said, he was very fond of the sport, but that, unfortunately all of their fleetest horses were then absent on a buffalo hunt; but if, on Marcy`s return, they still wished to try the experiment, he would willingly bet as many horses as we chose to risk upon the result, provided they would consent to run fourteen miles. The race dit not, therefore, come off at that time.
In Marcy`s command was Black Beaver, the famous Delaware scout. The scout was convinced, if the race had taken place, Buford`s thoroughbred would have been beaten. Afterwards Black Beaver told an interest and partially humorous story.
A few years ago, Black Beaver accompanied a party of Kickapoos, who had purchased a very fleet race-horse from a white man in Missouri, and took him a long distance out into the Plains for the express purpose of running him against the Comanche horses. They conducted him very carefully, packing grain for him for the entire distance, and took with them a large number of other horses, to wager with Comanches, and they all expected confidently to make a good speculation. They arrived at the Comanche camp, and made bets at all their horses and their blankets, and the preliminaries of the contest were satisfactorily arranged for all parties. Black Beaver, who was the guest of the principal chief, felt the most perfect confidence, and was disposed to venture every thing he possessed, but his host endeavored to dissuade him from betting on the race at all, telling him he would be certain lose his property. Black Beaver persisted, however and the chief took all his bets.The race was run, to the astonishment and discomfiture of the Kickapoos, their horse was badly beaten. The magnanimous chief then told Black Beaver to take back his horses, and never again to venture in a speculation, the successs of which depended upon beating the Comanches in horse-racing. The vanquished sportsmen, with the single exception of Black Beaver, returned home on foot, partially deprived of their clothing.
Unfortunately, Black Beaver then had not mentioned the name of that generous Comanche chief.
Source:
The story was reported by R. B. Marcy in his book : Thirty Years of Army Life on the Border
cinemo
While en route, Marcy met with a very large band of Comanches, commanded by a venerable old chief, called Is-sa-keep ( Wolf`s Shoulder ) The chief wished to hold a council with the captain.
After the council was held, there was a request for a horse racing by Lieutenant John Buford, at that time in the command of Marcy. Just previous to the departure from Arkansas, Buford received from his uncle in Kentucky a present of one of the finest of his large stud of thorough-bred Horses, and he had taken great pains to keep him up in good running condition during the trip. Buford had heard of the inveterate propensity of the Comanches for horse racing and expected they might be disposed to try the speed of some of their own animals with his. As Marcy`s men were all anxious to witness the comparative racing qualities of the full-blooded stock and the Indian horses, the men required of the chief if he was inclined to enter any of his horses against that of the lieutenant. Wolf`s Shoulder said, he was very fond of the sport, but that, unfortunately all of their fleetest horses were then absent on a buffalo hunt; but if, on Marcy`s return, they still wished to try the experiment, he would willingly bet as many horses as we chose to risk upon the result, provided they would consent to run fourteen miles. The race dit not, therefore, come off at that time.
In Marcy`s command was Black Beaver, the famous Delaware scout. The scout was convinced, if the race had taken place, Buford`s thoroughbred would have been beaten. Afterwards Black Beaver told an interest and partially humorous story.
A few years ago, Black Beaver accompanied a party of Kickapoos, who had purchased a very fleet race-horse from a white man in Missouri, and took him a long distance out into the Plains for the express purpose of running him against the Comanche horses. They conducted him very carefully, packing grain for him for the entire distance, and took with them a large number of other horses, to wager with Comanches, and they all expected confidently to make a good speculation. They arrived at the Comanche camp, and made bets at all their horses and their blankets, and the preliminaries of the contest were satisfactorily arranged for all parties. Black Beaver, who was the guest of the principal chief, felt the most perfect confidence, and was disposed to venture every thing he possessed, but his host endeavored to dissuade him from betting on the race at all, telling him he would be certain lose his property. Black Beaver persisted, however and the chief took all his bets.The race was run, to the astonishment and discomfiture of the Kickapoos, their horse was badly beaten. The magnanimous chief then told Black Beaver to take back his horses, and never again to venture in a speculation, the successs of which depended upon beating the Comanches in horse-racing. The vanquished sportsmen, with the single exception of Black Beaver, returned home on foot, partially deprived of their clothing.
Unfortunately, Black Beaver then had not mentioned the name of that generous Comanche chief.
Source:
The story was reported by R. B. Marcy in his book : Thirty Years of Army Life on the Border
cinemo