H
eld every Patriot’s Day, the Bos- ton Marathon commemorates the Battle of Lexington and Con- cord, which began the American Revolution. The original route
retraced the Ride of Paul Revere. Since the terrorist bombing at the finish line in 2013, it has become even more of a national symbol of defiance and resilience. To residents of the Boston metropolitan area as well as to runners from all over the world, the route, in the words of Boston Marathon historian Paul Clerici, is “sacred and cherished pavement.” It also has historic meaning for Northeast-
ern Indian runners, some of whom came to national prominence in the Boston Marathon and left an indelible mark on its route. For Indian Country, the race is a continuation of the great indigenous tradition of long- distance running.
EARLY INDIGENOUS STARS
Five Natives from New England and Eastern Canada have medaled since the beginning of the 20th
century, starting with Bill Davis
(Mohawk). From the Grand River Territory of the Six Nations at Ohsweken, Ont., “Mohawk Bill” finished second in 1901, to J.J. Caffrey of Hamilton, Ont., a world-class runner who had also won the event the year before. Davis is better known as the mentor and trainer of Tom Longboat (Onondaga), also from the Grand River Territory. Longboat, popularly known as the “Bronze Mercury,” won the 1908 Boston Marathon, overcoming an early spring snow squall and a freight train that crossed the path of the runners. Even so, he smashed the meet record by 20 minutes! For the next six
Ellison Brown (Narragansett) winning the 1939 Boston Marathon. He also won the marathon in 1936. Leslie Jones (1886-1967), photographer; 1939
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 41 E
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