Democratic Sentinel, Volume 20, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 March 1896 — DEERFOOT'S RECORD. [ARTICLE]

DEERFOOT'S RECORD.

Famous Indian Runner, Who Held the World's Record. The last Indian has not gone to the "happy hunting grounds,” but ok] Deerfoot has. Deerfoot. the most famous Indian of the last quartea of a century: rightly nanus! aud famed because of his wonderful work as a ruuner. In American history there have been s<-oivs of noted chieftain, none of them so well known, however, as Deerfoot was from the Ix-giiming of the sixties, when lie toured England and established himself as the champion pace-maker of the world. He was sixty-eight years of age. and had Ixa-n a public figure ever since lie was twenty-two. Up to a mouth ago he was In capital condition, and remarked to a Buffalo friend at that time,--as he came In. glowiug and hearty from a walk of twelve miles: “Me sixty-eight years old. but me well and can run yet." lie bad been living at Irving* n village not far from Buffalo. Two sous survive him. He was liorti on the Uattamitgus Reservation, and in boyhood was an extraordinary runner. In short races and lacrosse lie was the wonder of liis tribe, the Senecas. In tile intertribal races in Western New York forty years ago, lie was always first. He got Ills name, according to Indian tradition, because lie lmd, on one occasion ui least, outrun a deer. Western New York was wild at that time, and big game abounded on every band. His real name was Louis Beunett, but by the world lie will always be remembered as Deerfoot. Though the figures are not official, it Is said on excellent authority that he has run tlie mile In four minute*. What is kuown as the "world's record,” as the present time. Is -1 four minutes and l’_* : Vi seconds, accomplished iu 1881! by W. *G. George, of England, and never since surpassed. At t’liicago at onetime Deerfoot beat a horse running a tulle at full till. Deerfoot was ti feet In height, straight as an arrow, aud of superb physical proportions. There was not an ounce of fat about him from top to toe. Ills weight wasabout 175 pounds, aud It was all firm muscle. In Ids time lie must have made a good deal of money, though Ills estate will not amount to more tlmu .f.IMMiu. He was enormously successful at exhibitions and on tours. At twenty-two he toured Hit' country as a runner, appearing In exhibition races. New York World.