The Encyclopedia Americana (1920)/Deerfoot

DEERFOOT, famous runner: b. Cattaraugus reservation, Buffalo, 1828; d. there, 18 Jan. 1897. A half-breed Seneca Indian, he was taken to England in 1861 and matched against the best long-distance runners, defeating nearly all of them. He lost a six-mile race against Mills in September 1861, but defeated White in a four-mile contest a few days later, and directly after outran both of those experts in a 10-mile championship. He beat Levett and Mills (12 miles) at Dublin for $500 in 65 minutes, and Howitt — the “American Deer,” in London (four miles). He made a record of 11 miles 720 yards in one hour {London, October 1862), and 11½ miles in one hour less six seconds (February 1863); another record was 11 miles and 12 miles in 57 minutes and 62 minutes respectively.