Copied from the Ogden Standard Examiner article, “He Laughs Best Who Laughs Last,” June 28, 1936.

By Edwin A. Bingham

A clay-bank on the Ogden river furnished great opportunity for the children of both races to enjoy themselves at moulding, building and picture carving. The Indian boys had still another use for the clay, which they eagerly showed us and then challenged us to their game of skill.

The clay was moulded into hard pellets. Long springy limbs were cut from the green willows growing along the river bed, and the balls of clay were stuck onto the small end of these. Then by twirling the stick at a rapid rate and suddenly giving it a backward jerk, the ball went spinning off, swift as a bullet. Practice had made the boys expert in this craft.

We were reluctant to go into sham battles with them using these weapons, for nearly always they could beat us at their own game.

My old opponent [from this incident] did all in his power to urge us into conflict. Each day that we were together he teased and dared us and finally our pride and their taunts made us accept the challenge.

After they had gone to their encampment that day, we practiced until nightfall.

Early next day the Indian boys arrived, eager to go to battle. Many of the young braves and maidens, and even some of the older ones, came along to witness our defeat. Our own parents and brothers and sisters went out too, when we told them about the exploit.

The young Indians stripped off their blankets and formed in line wearing only their breechclout. We were none too gay as we faced them.

CLAY BATTLE IS ON

At the signal there was a war-whoop and the battle was on. Thick and fast the clay balls flew from side to side, and one after another of the boys was eliminated from the contest, by their cutting blows. Many fell from the enemies ranks.

Those dusky boys could take their punishment, but it soon became apparent that their side was diminishing too rapidly, as one after another stopped to nurse a rising welt on his hide.

The entire assembly seemed to sense the reason for our successes all at once. Then they started to laugh because we had all overlooked the great advantage to our side. The usually quick-witted and wary redskin had failed to consider the fact that our clothes would serve as a protection in such a game while their own nudity allowed great suffering from our every shot.

They went home with bowed heads, plainly suffering the chagrin that they had planned for us.