CHAPTER XX.
THE TWO FAMOUS ATHLETES.
THE Indians play a game that is similar to the white man’s football game, with the exception that the Indians use sticks and the white man a ball, therefore this game has been termed in English as the “stick game”, the Indian name for it is oh-wetlth-per. They select the giants, or the greatest athletes of the tribe to make up the two teams. In this contest one division of the tribe will offer a challenge to the surrounding tribes, and the challenge is contested by any division, who think they are capable and strong enough to make the meet. The Klamath tribe usually played games with the upper division of the tribe and often plays against the Hoopa Indians, and sometimes the Smith Rivers. Each side would put up large sums of money and valuable articles for their chosen team, which would cause much excitement in betting and gambling upon the games. The side of the victorious team would win large sums of Indian money, which would add to the wealth of their division and make them more powerful. Therefore, each division would be very careful in selecting their giant athletes. The tallest, quickest, strongest and the most splendid physiques of men were chosen.
The Indians selected a level piece of ground, upon which to play the game. There is one of these famous play grounds but a few yards from the Wah-tec village. This game is very ancient as the Indians say that it goes far back into the ages, and through the memory of evolution they have carried it forward down to the present day, where it will soon be lost forever unless the advent of the new race revives the old spirit of the game again. Upon the play ground they draw a very large circle withlines across it, then stepping to the center of this circle they make a small round hole which is about ten inches across at the surface, and from this hole they draw several other lines out to the large circle, thus mapping out the different points of the game, as on a tennis court. They take two little sticks, about three inches in length and carve out a nob at each end, then they fasten these two sticks together with a strong buck skin string and spread the untied ends apart about two inches, then they place the two tied sticks in the holes in the center of the court. Each team consists of twelve men, and they have an umpire to give the signal to start the game, and to see that no foul or unfair means are taken by either side of the team. The men in each team have round sticks about twenty inches in length and are straight with the exception that a hook is made or carved on one end, which is used for the purpose of hooking the tied sticks and tossing them about. There are twelve points to be played in this game.
When the two teams are lined up on the court, the umpire gives the signal for them to start, and the game is on. The leaders of the teams are watched from both sides, and scramble to see which side hooks the tied stick first from the middle of the court with his stick, and toss it as far as he can over his opponent’s side of the court. Both teams now make a wild scramble, and pile up on one another in their effort to hook the sticks again with their sticks, and toss them back into their opponent’s territory. If one of the teams can manage to toss the tied sticks out over the large circle of the court, on their opponent’s side, they are the ones who win the point in the game. The team that can win the largest score in the number of points played in the game, are the winners. The champion team is applauded and praised loudly by the immense crowds that gather to witness these interesting games. The players in their wild enthusiasm for the glorious laurels of victory usually clash together so roughly in their efforts to rescue the sticks from the other players, that occasionally some of their number get hurt, and often crippled for life. There are some instances where a player has been killed outright upon the court, in his desperate struggles against the on-rushing crowd.
In olden time when this game was played so much, there lived a young Indian by the name of Su-me-ah-chene, who becameone of the greatest athletes that the tribe ever had. He became so skilled in the game that he would never lose a single point. His dwelling place was on top of a high mountain that rose up in it majestic grandeur from the north-east banks of the Klamath River, and this place was over a distance of five miles from the village of Ca-neck, and this mountain was named in honor of the great champion and still bears his name to this day, being known among the Indians as the mountain of Su-me. Su-me-ah-chene became very proud of his accomplishments in this favorite game, and issued a challenge to all the young men of the surrounding tribes, as he was anxious to match himself against any of their champions. His challenge was finally taken up by a young man who lived back of Trinidad and whose dwelling place was also located on a high mountain, east of Trinidad, toward Redwood Creek. The grandeur of this mountain can be seen many miles away, up and down the coast and from many places far back on the surrounding mountains. This mountain is covered with a huge growth of pine and redwood timber, and is known among the Indians as Cay-way-ett mountain, being named after the famous athlete who lived upon its summit. Su-me-ah-chene, hearing of Cay-way-ett’s intentions of taking up the challenge, sent him word that he was ready to play. Cay-way-ett at once accepted the challenge, and they made arrangements to play the game on the Klamath River, at the village of Ca-neck. The court was selected at the lower end of the high river bar, which made an ideal place to play the game. The two youthful giants both belonged to the lower divisions of the Klamath tribe. Together they made arrangements for the day when the big meet should be held. They had now won the distinction of being the two leading athletes of the tribes, and they sent their invitations far and near, to all the people of the tribes to come and witness the great feat for the championship. Inspired with a great enthusiasm the people assembled around the play ground, in a vast multitude, that was eager, restless and talking, as the two giants appeared upon the court with their teams. Striding upon the court with the spring and step of the greatest of athletes, they represented two handsome figures as were ever seen among the tribes. They proudly met as superb beings in stately birth and tawny muscles, and many a maiden’s heart was thrilled with emotion, when they beheld these champions, thehandsomest of men. The two champions had as yet been proof against the arrows of matrimony, and all the pretty and wealthy maidens of the tribes had assembled to behold the everlasting courage and endurance of these two strong youths.
As the umpire gave the signal for the game to start, the crowds watched with keen interest. Su-me-ah-chene and his team played hard and furious as their opponents were close upon them and after a long and desperate struggle he and his team succeeded in tossing the tied sticks over the outer circle of the court, and won the first point amid the applauding and shouting of the spectators. An intermission for rest is always held after each point, and Su-me-ah-chene glowing in the first triumphs left the court, and walked among the maidens to make their acquaintance and hear their words of praise. As he spoke to many he lingered in a crowd of up river girls, where his attention was attracted to three dark eyed beauties, who had come from Cah-ah-man or known to the white people as Orleans Bar, he at once made their acquaintance and lingered, talking with them until it was time for him to join his team and play for the second point. Renewed with strange emotions, something akin to love, the gallant champion played furious and won point after point, until the game was finished. He had not lost a single point in the game. During the intermission of each point, he would seek out the three pretty maidens, and linger in their company until he fancied himself desperately in love with one of them. Laureled with fame and wealth, at the close of the game he proceeded at once to the girls, and walked with them as they mingled with the departing crowds. Walking at the side of the maiden he was loath to part with her at all, as he extended to the three girls a hearty invitation for them to come and visit his home, in the village of Su-me. They eagerly accepted his invitation as they were highly honored to get the opportunity to visit him, and they inquired of him how they would find his house from the rest of the houses in the village. He assured them that they would make no mistake in finding the house, as he described to them that there was a large pine tree standing just in front of his home. There were no green branches on this tree as it had died a long time ago, and the small sap-suckers had bored into the trunk of the tree and built their homes there as they could be seen flying about the tree. He gave them such a vivid descriptionof the tree, that he assured them they could not possibly miss his house. The girls were delighted with him and departed with bright anticipations in visiting the champion in his home. Say-gap, or the Coyote who lived in his home at the lower western end of the Su-me village, was near the happy group and over heard Su-me-ah-chene’s invitation and description of the dead pine tree, so he planned to entertain the girls himself, that they may not go to visit Su-me-ah-chene in his home.
The day that the girls had planned to visit Su-me-ah-chene, Mr. Coyote moved the pine tree down in front of his house, and when the girls arrived at the village of Su-me, they began at once to look for the tree Su-me-ah-chene had described to them. After they had looked about for a short time, one of them pointed down the hill to the lower western end of the village, to the tree, and said that must be the place they were looking for, delighted upon seeing the tree, they rushed down the hill to Say-gap’s house. Say-gap met them at the door with a cordial welcome, and asked them in, they all entered the house and seated themselves while he was planning how he could best entertain the girls and make himself appear very attractive to them. He summoned his grandmother and asked her to spread a banquet for the young ladies, and told her she must prepare the very best of food-stuffs they had in the house for the evening meal. The grandmother began to move about in the adjoining room in the rear of the house, as if she was preparing the food for supper. She had a large basket of acorn mush already cooked and hid away, so her nephew (he was her nephew instead of her grandchild) would not eat it all himself, as he would always eat up everything that was good and let her go hungry. This acorn mush she kept hid and did not bring it out for Say-gap and his guests to feast upon. She pretended to look among the shelves for awhile and fumbled through them, when she at last brought out a large Indian plate of shrimps, or some sort of worm, that looked very much like shrimps. She came into the room where Say-gap was entertaining the girls and began to roast the worms on the coals. The worms would twist about on the coals, pop and fly all over the house. The girls looked at one another in dismay, and wondered if this was the best food that his house could afford, they became very angry and said that they had been deceived. Rising from the seats they told their host that they now did not believe him to be Su-me-ah-chene,but he was an imposter. They fled from the house in a rage and returned to their homes at Orleans Bar. Say-gap followed them home and kept pleading, saying he was Su-me-ah-chene, their much admired champion of the “stick game.” This made the girls more peeved than ever, so they made a resolution among themselves, that they would not accept Su-me-ah-chene’s attentions or consider any excuses that he might offer, if they chanced to meet him again.
After a few days the girls received word that Su-me-ah-chene was going to play again at another big meet, so they all agreed to go and see it as before. At the meet Su-me-ah-chene in his usual good spirits was animated with glory upon winning the first point, so during the intermission he resolved to find the three girls and inquire why they did not keep their promise to visit him, as he felt very much disappointed. Upon finding the girls he greeted them in his usual good humor, but they drew themselves up haughtily and refused to speak to him, as they believed that he was making light of them and having a lot of amusement among his friends at their expense. As before he won all the points, and during the intermissions he would return to the girls, thinking perhaps he could find out what was wrong and win their friendship again. The girls as before treated him very coldly, and were so haughty that they would not listen to any of his excuses. Toward the closing of the game the three girls moved over on Cry-way-ett’s side of the court, which provoked Su-me-ah-chene. When the crowds started for their homes after the game, Su-me-ah-chene said he would go down to the mouth of the river, at Reck-woy village to visit for a few days, as he had been turned down by the three girls. Upon reaching the village, a host of pretty girls were glad to meet the much talked of champion, and all greeted him with a royal welcome. When his visit ended, he announced to the girls his intentions of playing another game at Ca-neck with the Cay-way-ett team, and gave them all an invitation to come.
Again another game was being held at Ca-neck, for the championship between Su-me-ah-chene and Cay-way-ett. All the Reck-woy girls were to be present, and were highly honored to think that Su-me-ah-chene himself had invited them. Su-me-ah-chene and his team as usual won the first point and during the intermission for rest he went among the Reck-woy girls to visitwith them. They were all pleased to be honored with his company and marveled over his great athletic feats, and he soon fancied that he was falling in love again. This time with one of the pretty little Reck-woy girls.
Su-me-ah-chene won every point as he had in the previous games, and after receiving the cheering congratulations of the Reck-woy girls, together with the maiden of his choice, he invited some of them to come and visit him at his home. The girls were pleased over the invitation to visit him, and promised to visit him in a few days. He described to them the dead pine tree, where the sap-sucker would be flying about, so they could easily find the house, which was located near the center of the village. Four of the girls came to visit the champion as they had promised, they crossed the river and climbed the hill to Su-me village, where following his directions closely they easily found the tree and the house. They found him home, and entered, he appearing handsomer than ever, as he greeted them with a hearty welcome, and said he was glad they had kept their promise. He entertained them so nicely that the time went by quickly, and he was loath to have them depart so soon. They were having such a splendid time that he suggested they spend the night at his home, to which the girls readily agreed. The next morning the girls returned to their homes at Reck-woy, very tired and happy after being so pleasantly entertained by the young champion. A few days after the departure of the girls Su-me-ah-chene decided he would go to Reck-woy and return the visit, and during this visit a romance developed into matrimony, as he wooed for his bride the pretty maiden of his choice. After the wedding the proud little bride accompanied her husband to his home, where she began housekeeping in an elegant fashion. Meanwhile his rival Cay-way-ett and the maid of Orleans Bar had married.
After the wedding of the giants, they were very happy with their brides only for a short time, and they challenged each other for another game, to which they both agreed. The multitudes of people had assembled to witness the big meet as usual, to applaud and praise their favorite champion. While the two giants were engaged upon the court with their powerful teams, the wife of Cay-way-ett stole away from the crowd to the home of Su-me-ah-chene, upon reaching it she entered, and selected one of the beautiful dresses of Mrs. Su-me-ah-chene and gowned herself in it.She dolled herself up very handsomely in the dress and ornaments and seated herself in the seat of honor, as being the lady of the household. Su-me-ah-chene approached Mrs. Cay-way-ett believing her to be his wife, as she assured him that she was his Reck-woy wife instead of the bride from Orleans. Mrs. Su-me-ah-chene saw her husband, to her great indignation, caress the other woman and at once believed him to be unfaithful to her. She at once recognized the beautiful dress that Mrs. Cay-way-ett wore to be her own, and all this leading her to believe stronger than ever that this strange woman had stolen the affection of her husband, and that he had allowed her to usurp her of her household. Believing this all to be true, Mrs. Su-me-ah-chene assailed her husband to his great surprise, with a hot torrent of angry words, and fled from him, back to her home in Reck-woy. The truth dawned upon the broken hearted champion that Mrs. Cay-way-ett had deceived him in making him believe that she was his wife, and at once sought his girl bride at Reck-woy, and pleaded at her feet to return with him to their home at Su-me. But her pride had been wounded beyond endurance, and she haughtily turned from the greatest of champions, and the greatest of men, and left his stately form bowed down with grief, a sense of a deep loss, and the sorrowing presence of loneliness. Thus the true sweet bride of his affections had been ruthlessly borne by the wings of fate, away from the love of his mighty manhood. Grieved and hurt by this great blow, he refused the attentions of Mrs. Cay-way-ett. This treacherous woman had sought revenge, as she believed that Su-me-ah-chene had deceived her for his own amusement, when she first visited him at Su-me, and the Say-gap had followed her to her home at Orleans Bar. As the wife of the other giant, Cay-way-ett, she became enamored with the mightiest of athletes, Su-me-ah-chene, as she remembered he was once her lover. Having lost his love after he became the champion, she was thrilled with passions for his great victories, and determined to deceive him. She falsely declared to her husband that she was going on a visit to her people at Orleans Bar, and he readily consented to her going. For a time he believed that his wife was visiting her people, but to his great disappointment he found her to be unfaithful to the marriage vows, as she was attempting to win the love and admiration of Su-me-ah-chene. Thus the greatest of men were robbed of theaffections of their young brides, the cheer and comfort in their homes of fame and wealth, and the love of a glorious womanhood had faded. The moral of this story is to impress the fact upon the mind of a young bride that if she is fickle with the love of a great man, and plans to deceive him, in the belief that she will win a greater man, and a greater love, she will most likely to her great sorrow lose them both. Far better to love the truly great, who love you in return, than to lose that love in plotting and planning, for the greatest who love you not.