Perhaps, Locally, the most exciting event in 1913

Roosevelt

John Lorenzo Hubbell and Theodore Roosevelt (center) are surrounded by host of Anglo spectators at the Hopi Snake Dance. Hopi Snake Dancer- 1907 by Fredrick Monsen.

By Martin Link

In August of 1913, former President Theodore Roosevelt was invited by John Lorenzo Hubbell, of Ganado, Arizona to visit the area and view the Hopi Snake Dance. Roosevelt accepted the invitation, and brought two of his sons, Archibald and Quentin, along for the experience.

Roosevelt and his party had been on a hunting trip in southern Utah just prior to their arrival in Ganado, where they pitched a tent in Hubbell’s front yard rather than take up so many rooms in his home. For a couple of days Hubbell and Roosevelt just relaxed on the front porch, but constantly engaged each other in politics. Hubbell, a staunch Republican, was upset over Roosevelt’s “traitorous” break with the Republican Party and his alliance with the new Bull Moose Progressive Party. One of the Hubbell grandsons recalled the pair’s political arguments, which made him, as a child, think that they “were going to kill each other!”

In all probability, Roosevelt didn’t take the arguments seriously but realized that they were good therapy for Hubbell, whose wife Lina had just died on July 13.

They soon left for the Hopi (the term "Moqui” was more commonly used then) country, to the First Mesa village of Walpi, where that year’s Snake Dance was to be held. With both cars and wagons, they set up camp at the Keams Canyon Hopi Agency and then rode horseback to First Mesa. On August 18 the Antelope Priest, who was in charge of the overall ceremony, invited Roosevelt down into the kiva (the underground ceremonial chamber) to witness the washing of the snakes. Almost a hundred snakes had been rounded up for the ceremony, most of them rattlers and bull snakes.

While the Hopis busied themselves with final preparations on the 19th, Hubbell and Roosevelt visited the other two villages on First Mesa. Sammie Day, Jr. who had been hired to drive one of the cars, took Archibald and Quentin on a quick trip to see Canyon de Chelly.

The Snake Dance itself took place on August 20. Word had spread that Roosevelt was going to be present and, as a result, there were hundreds of onlookers in the audience, most of them sitting on the pueblo’s rooftops. Joining the Roosevelt party that day were Dr. Harold Colton and his wife Mary from Flagstaff (who were in the process of establishing the Museum of Northern Arizona), and Fr. Anselm Weber from St. Michaels Mission.

After the dance, the whole entourage returned to Keams Canyon. The next day the Roosevelt party made it back to Ganado and spent two nights again as the guests of Hubbell. In the early morning of August 23, Hubbell escorted Roosevelt, his sons and the rest of his party to St. Michaels Mission, where Sam Day, Sr. and his family were preparing a reception in Roosevelt’s honor.

When they arrived, Hubbell thought he would have some fun at the elder Day's expense, and introduced him by saying, “Your Honor, Mr. President, I wish to present to you the High Sheriff of Hell!” And Samuel Day smiled and replied, “Well, Mr. President, I am pleased to see you again, and I see you have already met the Devil himself!” After some hearty handshakes, it was revealed that Roosevelt and Day had been schoolmates in New Jersey College in the late 1860s.

One of Roosevelt's aides produced a John Lorenzo Hubbell (upper left with beret and bow tie) hosted former president Theodore Roosevelt (upper center, with glasses) and his sons to a visit to Walpi (First Mesa) to watch the annual Hopi Snake Dance.

Members of the Snake Clan gather at the kist or a structure made of branches which contains a number of snakes. As each dancer is given a snake, he partners with a member of the Antelope Clan, whos task is to keep the snake calm. Fredrick Monsen.

copy of the 13" x 16" photo of Roosevelt taken by Edward S. Curtis in 1904, which Roosevelt used to present on special occasions. He inscribed the photo, “To Samuel E. Day, with all good wishes from his friend Theodore Roosevelt, August 23d, 1913.”

The Roosevelts continued to Gallup where they were the guests of C. C. Manning. The next morning a crowd of well-wishers gathered at the railroad station, where Roosevelt and his two sons boarded the train for New York City, and his home at Oyster Bay.

Drug Enforcement in McKinley County In September of 2020 I relaunched our Narcotic Enforcement and Highway Interdiction Program. The objective being three-fold: - Stopping drugs from being trafficked into and through our County by catching it on the

Interstate before it makes it to it’s destination. - Catching and prosecuting local drug dealers that are selling to our community members. - Working with treatment centers and programs to rehabilitate those in our community addicted to drugs. Since relaunch the Sheriff’s Office has confiscated 3,600lbs of Marijuana, 4,500 fentanyl pills and 5.5lbs of fentanyl powder, 7lbs of heroin, 100lbs of meth, $200k in currency connected to criminal enterprise, recovered 4 stolen vehicles, and 20 firearms either stolen or used in the commission of a crime. We have 3 instructors, including myself, currently teaching opioid overdose intervention and the use of naloxone (NARCAN) for community members, law enforcement and treatment centers.

Active Shooter Response Classes Since 2017 I have been teaching active shooter response in both Gallup McKinley County Schools and Bureau of Indian Education schools all around the county. This summer I taught, remotely or in-person, 7 BIE schools and this semester alone I have taught for 18 GMCS schools reaching over 500 teachers and staff. I have also provided this class to government workers, churches, care centers, community groups and court employees. We have 3 instructors, including myself, that also teach Stop the Bleed techniques and tourniquet use, free of charge, to our community members, government workers and school staff.

It has been my honor to serve the community in these ways and I look forward to continuing.

McKinley County resident for over 30 years Currently Undersheriff of McKinley County 21 years of law enforcement experience

Fully endorsed by current Sherrif, Ron Silversmith

Presents:

Valentine’s Craft Fair

Saturday, February 12th Inside the Grand Gallup Ballroom 9:00AM to 4:00PM VENDORS WELCOME! $40.00 per table Please contact Eian Tsosie at (505) 722-9600

1530 West Maloney Avenue, Gallup, New Mexico

Hors d’oeuvre

Creamy Artichoke Dip with Homemade Pita Chips -orWarm Goat Cheese Dip with Toasted Baguette SWEETHEART SALAD

Baby Field Greens with Crumbled Feta Cheese, Blueberries, Chopped Apple, Dried Cranberries & Spicy Walnuts with Poppyseed Dressing ENTRÉE

Filet Mignon wrapped in Bacon, Fresh Asparagus Spears with Pistachio Butter & Baked Potato -orSautéed Jumbo Shrimp Piccata over Asiago Angel Hair Pasta with Ciabatta Rolls & Butter BUBBLES

Strawberry Champagne -orSparking Apple Cider GRAND FINALE

Triple Layer Chocolate Mousse Cake -orNew York Cheesecake with Fresh Strawberries