Geronimo's story of his life

J4<A14i ti 4j4j

GERONIMO'S STORY OF HIS LIFE

' .-

Ge RON I MO

Geronimo's

■

Story of His Life

Taken Down and Edited by

S. M. BARRETT

Superintendent of Education^ Lawton, Oklahoma

NEW YORK
DUFFIELD & COMPANY

1907

Copyright, 1905, by
S. M. Barrett

Copyright, 1906, by

DUFFIEI.D & COMPANY

Published September, 1906

a » • ••• • • ■ * ' * "

• «,.* •.*•*»• •••••■ •

DEDICATORY

Because he has given me permission to tell
my story ; because he has read that story and
knows I try to speak the truth; because I
believe that he is fair-minded and will cause
my people to receive justice in the future;
and because he is chief of a great people, I
dedicate this story of my life to Theodore
Roosevelt, President of the United States.

Geronimo.

in

281640

PREFACE

The initial idea of the compilation of
this work was to give the reading public
an authentic record of the private life of the
Apache Indians, and to extend to Geronimo
as a prisoner of war the courtesy due any-
captive, L e., the right to state the causes
which impelled him in his opposition to our
civilization and laws.

If the Indians' cause has been properly
presented, the captives' defense clearly
stated, and the general store of informa-
tion regarding vanishing types increased, I
shall be satisfied.

I desire to acknowledge valuable sug-
gestions from Maj. Charles Taylor, Fort
Sill, Oklahoma; Dr. J. M. Greenwood,
Kansas City, Missouri, and President David
R. Boyd, of the University of Oklahoma.

PREFACE

I especially desire in this connection to
say that without the kindly advice and as-
sistance of President Theodore Roosevelt
this book could not have been written.

Respectfully,

S. M. Barrett.

Lawton, Oklahoma.
August 14, 1906.

VI

X
c

=
W

W

o
o

>

>

0

\

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

Introductory xi

PART I
The Apaches

I. Origin of the Apache Indians ... 3

II. Subdivisions of the Apache Tribe . . 12

III. Early Life 17

IV. Tribal Amusements, Manners, and

Customs 26

V. The Family 35

PART II

The Mexicans

VI. Kas-Ki-Yeh 43

VII. Fighting under Difficulties ... 55

VIII. Raids that were Successful ... 69

IX. Varying Fortunes 79

X. Other Raids 86

XI. Heavy Fighting 98

XII. Geronimo's Mightiest Battle . . . 105

vii

CONTENTS

PART III

The White Men N

CHAPTER PAGE

XIII. Coming of the White Men . . . 113

XIV. Greatest of Wrongs 116

XV. Removals 126

XVI. In Prison and on the Warpath . . 131

XVII. The Final Struggle 139

XVIII. Surrender of Geronimo . . . . 148

XIX. A Prisoner of War 177

PART IV

The Old and the New

XX. Unwritten Laws of the Apaches . 185

XXI. At the World's Fair 197

XXII. Religion 207

XXIII. Hopes for the Future 213

Vlll

I

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Geronimo ...... Frontispiece

How the book was made . . Facing page vi

Dressed as in days of old ... 8

Naiche (Natches), son of Cochise, heredi-
tary chief of the Chiricahua Apaches.
Naiche was Geronimo's lieutenant during
the protracted wars in Arizona . . 14

Last of the Bedonkohe Apache Tribe, Tuk-
lonnen, Nadeste, Mah-ta-neal, Porico

I (White Horse) 18

Work stock in Apache corral . • . 22

The conquered weapon .... SO

Apache princess, daughter of Naiche, chief

of the Chiricahua Apaches . . . 38

Geronimo, Chihuahua, Nanne, Loco, Ozonne . 46

Naiche, his mother, his two wives and his

children ...... 50

Asa Deklugie, wife and children . . 66

Apache scouts — Naiche, Goody, John Loco,
Porico, Chatto, Asa Deklugie, Jason, James,
Allen, Captain Seyers .... 70

Three Apache chieftains — Naiche, son of
Cochise ; Asa, son of Whoa ; Charlie, son
of Victoria . . . . . . . 80

be

x LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Apache camp .... Facing page 86

Apache mission — Valley of Medicine Creek,

Fort Sill Military Reservation . . 96*

Asa Deklugie (official interpreter for Geron-
imo, son of Whoa, chief of the Nedni
Apaches, chief elect to succeed Geronimo
at the latter's death)
Geronimo, Apache war chief . . . 100

Lone Wolfe, chief of Kiowas

Geronimo, Apache war chief . . . 108

Quanah Parker, chief of Comanche Indians 1 1 8

Gotebo, war chief, Kiowa Indians . . 144

Kaytah and Mahteen, Apache scouts who

were with General Lawton . . 152

Emma Tuklonnen . . . . . 162

W. F. Melton, at whose camp in Skeleton

Canon Geronimo surrendered . . 172

Chihuahua and family . . . . 190

Mrs. Asa Deklugie, niece of Geronimo and
daughter of Chihuahua, a famous Apache
chieftain ...... 200

Eva Geronimo, Geronimo's youngest daugh-
ter, 16 years old ..... 200

Ready for church . • • • .. 210

INTRODUCTORY

I first met Geronimo in the summer of
1904, when I acted for him as interpreter of
English into Spanish, and vice versa, in sell-
ing a war bonnet. After that he always had
a pleasant word for me when we met, but
never entered into a general conversation
with me until he learned that I had once
been wounded by c Mexican. As soon as
he was told of this, he came to see me and
expressed freely his opinion of the average
Mexican, and his aversion to all Mexicans in
general.

I invited him to visit me again, which he
did, and upon his invitation, I visited him at
his tepee in the Fort Sill Military res-
ervation.

In the summer of 1905 Dr. J. M. Green-
wood, superintendent of schools at Kansas

xi

INTRODUCTORY

City, Missouri, visited me, and I took him
to see the chief. Geronimo was quite
formal and reserved until Dr. Greenwood
said, " I am a friend of General Howard,
whom I have heard speak of you."
" Come," said Geronimo, and led the way
to a shade, had seats brought for us, put
on his war bonnet, and served watermelon
a V Apache (cut in big chunks), while he
talked freely and cheerfully. When we left
he gave us a pressing invitation to visit him
again.

In a few days the old chief came to see
me and asked about " my father." I said
" you mean the old gentleman from Kansas
City — he has returned to his home." " He
is you father?" said Geronimo. "No," I
said, "my father died twenty-five years
ago, Dr. Greenwood is only my friend."
After a moment's silence the old Indian
spoke again, this time in a tone of voice in-
tended to carry conviction, or at least to
allow no further discussion. " Your natural

• •
XII

INTRODUCTORY

father is dead, this man has been your friend
and adviser from youth. By adoption he is
your father. Tell him he is welcome to
come to my home at any time." It was of
no use to explain any more, for the old man
had determined not to understand my rela-
tion to Dr. Greenwood except in accordance
with Indian customs, and I let the matter
drop.

In the latter part of that summer I asked
the old chief to allow me to publish some of
the things he had told me, but he objected,
saying, however, that if I would pay him,
and if the officers in charge did not object,
he would tell me the whole story of his life.
I immediately called at the fort (Fort Sill)
and asked the officer in charge, Lieutenant
Purington, for permission to write the life
of Geronimo. I was promptly informed
that the privilege would not be granted.
Lieutenant Purington explained to me the
many depredations committed by Geronimo
and his warriors, and the enormous cost of

• • •
Xlll

\

INTRODUCTORY

subduing the Apaches, adding that the old
Apache deserved to be hanged rather than
spoiled by so much attention from civilians.
A suggestion from me that our government
had paid many soldiers and officers to go
to Arizona and kill Geronimo and the
Apaches, and that they did not seem to know
how to do it, did not prove very gratifying
to the pride of the regular army officer, and
I decided to seek elsewhereTor permission.
Accordingly I wrote to President Roosevelt
that here was an old Indian who had been
held a prisoner of war for twenty years and
had never been given a chance to tell his side
of the story, and asked that Geronimo be
granted permission to tell for publication, in
his own way, the story of his life, and that
he be guaranteed that the publication of his
story would not affect unfavorably the
Apache prisoners of war. By return mail
I received word that the authority had been
granted. In a few days I received word
from Fort Sill that the President had

xiv

INTRODUCTORY

ordered the officer in charge to grant per-
mission as requested. An interview was re-
quested that I might receive the instructions
of the War Department. When I went to
Fort Sill the officer in command handed me
the following brief, which constituted my
instructions :

Lawton, Oklahoma, Aug. 12th, 1905.

Geronimo, — Apache Chief —

S. M. Barrett, Supt. Schools.

Letter to the President stating that above-men-
tioned desires to tell his life story that it may be pub-
lished, and requests permission to tell it in his own
way, and also desires assurance that what he has to
say will in no way work a hardship for the Apache
tribe.

1st Endorsement.

War Dapartment,
The Military Secretary's Office,
Washington, August 25th, 1905.
Respectfully referred, by direction of the Acting
Chief of Staff, through headquarters, Department of

xv

INTRODUCTORY

Texas, to the Officer In Charge of the Apache pris-
oners of war at Fort Sill, Oklahoma Territory, for
remark and recommendation.

(Signed) E. F. Ladd,
Military Secretary.

2d Endorsement.

Headquarters Department of Texas,

Military Secretary's Office,
San Antonio, August 29th, 1905.
Respectfully transmitted to 1st Lieut. George A.
Purington, 8th Cavalry, In Charge of Apache pris-
oners. (Thro' Commanding Officer, Fort Sill, O. T.)
By Command of Brigadier General Lee.

(Signed) C. D. Roberts,
Captain, 7th Infantry,
Acting Military Secretary.

3d Endorsement.

Fort Sill, O. T., Aug. 31st, 1905.
Respectfully referred to 1st Lieut. G. A. Puring-
tion, 8th Cavalry, Officer in Charge of Apache pris-
oners of war, for remark and recommendation.
By Order of Captain Dade.

(Signed) James Lonostreet,
1st. Lieut. & Sqdn. Adjt., 13th Cavalry. Adjutant.

xvi

INTRODUCTORY

Jf.th Endorsement,

Fort Sill, O. T., Sept. 2d, 1905.
Respectfully returned to the Adjutant, Fort Sill,
O. T. I can see no objection to Geronimo telling the
story of his past life, providing he tells the truth. I
would recommend that Mr. S. M. Barrett be held
responsible for what is written and published.

(Signed) Geo. A. Purington,

1st. Lieut. 8th Cavalry,
In Charge of Apache prisoners of war.

5th Endorsement.

Fort Sill, O. T., Sept. 4th, 1905.
Respectfully returned to the Military Secretary,
Dept. of Texas, San Antonio, Texas, inviting atten-
tion to 4th endorsement hereon. It is recommended
that the manuscript be submitted before publication
to Lieut. Purington, who can pass upon the truth of
the story.

(Signed) A. L. Dade,
Captain, 13th Cavalry, Commanding.

6th Endorsement.
Headquarters Dept. of Texas,
San Antonio, September 8th, 1905.
Respectfully returned to the Military Secretary,

xvii

INTRODUCTORY

War Department, Washington, D. C, inviting at-
tention to the preceding endorsement hereon, which
is concurred in.

(Signed) J. M. Lee,
Brigadier General, Commanding.

7th Endorsement.

War Department,
Office of the Chief of Staff,
Washington, September 13th, 1905.
Respectfully submitted to the Honorable the Sec-
retary of War, inviting attention to the foregoing
endorsements.

(Signed) J. C. Bates,
Major General, Acting Chief of Staff.

8th Endorsement.

War Department,
September 15th, 1905.
Respectfully returned to the Acting Chief of Staff
to grant the necessary authority in this matter,
through official channels, with the express understand-
ing that the manuscript of the book shall be submitted
to him before publication. Upon receipt of such
manuscript the Chief of Staff will submit it to such
person as he may select as competent to make a

xviii

INTRODUCTORY

proper and critical inspection of the proposed pub-
lication.

(Signed) Robert Shaw Oliver,

Acting Secretary of War.

9th Endorsement.

War Department,
The Military Secretary's Office,
Washington, September 18th, 1905.
Respectfully returned, by direction of the Acting
Chief of Staff, to the Commanding General, Dept. of
Texas, who will give the necessary instructions for
carrying out the directions of the Acting Secretary
of War, contained in the 8th endorsement. It is
desired that Mr. Barrett be advised accordingly.

(Signed) Henry P. McCain,

Military Secretary.

10th Endorsement.

Headquarters Dept. of Texas,
Military Secretary's Office,
San Antonio, September 23, 1905.
Respectfully referred to the Commanding Officer,
Fort Sill, Oklahoma Territory, who will give the
necessary instructions for carrying out the direction
of the Acting Secretary of War contained in the 8th
endorsement hereon.

six

INTRODUCTORY

This paper will be shown and fully explained to
Mr. Barrett, and then returned to these headquarters.
By order of Colonel Hughes.

(Signed) Geo. Van Horn Moseley,
1st. Lieut. 1st Cavalry, Aide-de-Camp,

Acting Military Secretary.

Early in October I secured the services of
an educated Indian, Asa Deklugie, son of
Whoa, chief of the Nedni Apaches, as in-
terpreter, and the work of compiling the
book began.

Geronimo refused to talk when a stenog-
rapher was present, or to wait for correc-
tions or questions when telling the story.
Each day he had in mind what he would tell
and told it in a very clear, brief manner.
He might prefer to talk at his own tepee, at
Asa Deklugie's house, in some mountain
dell, or as he rode in a swinging gallop across
the prairie; wherever his fancy led him,
there he told whatever he wished to tell and
no more. On the day that he first gave any
portion of his autobiography he would not

XX

INTRODUCTORY

be questioned about any details, nor would
he add another word, but simply said,
" Write what I have spoken," and left us
to remember and write the story without one
bit of assistance. He would agree, however,
to come on another day to my study, or any
place designated by me, and listen to the
reproduction (in Apache) of what had been
told, and at such times would answer all
questions or add information wherever he
could be convinced that it was necessary.

He soon became so tired of book making
that he would have abandoned the task but
for the fact that he had agreed to tell the
complete story. When he once gives his
word, nothing will turn him from fulfilling
his promise. A very striking illustration of
this was furnished by him early in January,
1906. He had agreed to come to my study
on a certain date, but at the appointed hour
the interpreter came alone, and said that
Geronimo was very sick with cold and fever.
He had come to tell me that we must ap-

xxi

INTRODUCTORY

point another date, as he feared the old war-
rior had an attack of pneumonia. It was a
cold day and the interpreter drew a chair up
to the grate to warm himself after the ex-
posure of the long ride. Just as he was
seating himself he looked out of the window,
then rose quickly, and without speaking
pointed to a rapidly moving object coming
our way. In a moment I recognized the old
chief riding furiously (evidently trying to
arrive as soon as the interpreter did), his
horse flecked with foam and reeling from
exhaustion. Dismounting he came in and
said in a hoarse whisper, " I promised to
come. I am here."

I explained to him that I had not ex-
pected him to come on such a stormy day,
and that in his physical condition he must
not try to work. He stood for some time,
and then without speaking left the room, re-
mounted his tired pony, and with bowed
head faced ten long miles of cold north wind
— he had kept his promise.

xxii

INTRODUCTORY

When he had finished his story I sub-
mitted the manuscript to Major Charles W.
Taylor, Eighteenth Cavalry, commandant,
Fort Sill, Oklahoma, who gave me some val-
uable suggestions as to additional related
information which I asked Geronimo to
give. In most cases the old chief gave the
desired information, but in some instances
he refused, stating his reasons for so doing.

When the added information had been in-
corporated I submitted the manuscript to
President Roosevelt, from whose letter I
quote: " This is a very interesting volume
which you have in manuscript, but I would
advise that you disclaim responsibility in all
cases where the reputation of an individual
is assailed."

In accordance with that suggestion, I
have appended notes throughout the book
disclaiming responsibility for adverse criti-
cisms of any persons mentioned by Ge-
ronimo.

On JTune 2d, 1906, I transmitted the

xxiii

INTRODUCTORY

complete manuscript to the War Depart-
ment. The following quotation is from the
letter of transmission :

" In accordance with endorsement number eight of
the ' Brief ' submitted to me by the commanding
officer of Fort Sill, which endorsement constituted the
instructions of the Department, I submit herewith
manuscript of the Autobiography of Geronimo.

" The manuscript has been submitted to the Presi-
dent, and at his suggestion I have disclaimed any
responsibility for the criticisms (made by Geronimo)
of individuals mentioned."

Six weeks after the manuscript was for-
warded, Thomas C. Barry, Brigadier Gen-
eral, Assistant to the Chief of Staff , sent to
the President the following:

" Memorandum for the Secretary of War.
" Subject: Manuscript of the Autobiography of
Geronimo. The paper herewith, which was referred
to this office on July 6th, with instructions to report
as to whether there is anything objectionable in it, is
returned.

" The manuscript is an interesting autobiography
of a notable Indian, made by himself. There are a

xxiv

INTRODUCTORY

number of passages which, from the departmental
point of view, are decidedly objectionable. These are
found on pages 73, 74, 90, 91, and 97, and are indi-
cated by marginal lines in red. The entire manu-
script appears in a way important as showing the
Indian side of a prolonged controversy, but it is
believed that the document, either in whole or in part,
should not receive the approval of the War De-
partment."

The memorandum is published that the
objections of the War Department may be
made known to the public.

The objection is raised to the mention on
pages seventy-three and seventy- four of the
manuscript of an attack upon Indians in a
tent at Apache Pass or Bowie, by U. S.
soldiers. The statement of Geronimo is,
however, substantially confirmed by L. C.
Hughes, editor of The, Star, Tucson,
Arizona.

On pages ninety and ninety-one of the
manuscript, Geronimo criticised General
Crook. This criticism is simply Geronimo's
private opinion of General Crook. We

XXV

INTRODUCTORY

deem it a personal matter and leave it with-
out comment, as it in no way concerns the
history of the Apaches.

On page ninety-seven of the manuscript
Geronimo accuses General Miles of bad
faith. Of course, General Miles made the
treaty with the Apaches, but we know very
well that he is not responsible for the way
the Government subsequently treated the
prisoners of war. However, Geronimo can-
not understand this and fixes upon General
Miles the blame for what he calls unjust
treatment.

One could not expect the Department of
War to approve adverse criticisms of its
own acts, but it is especially gratifying that
such a liberal view has been taken of these
criticisms, and also that such a frank state-
ment of the merits of the Autobiography is
submitted in the memorandum. Of course
neither the President nor the War Depart-
ment is in any way responsible for what
Geronimo says ; he has simply been granted

xxvi

INTRODUCTORY

the opportunity to state his own case as he
sees it.

The fact that Geronimo has told the story
in his own way is doubtless the only excuse
necessary to offer for the many unconven-
tional features of this work.

xxvu

» ■ "» » • I

» » » V ! • • . •.* .

, , . t • » • •

• • • » »••».». » •. ». • •

t f ■ • *

• • • >

... A :..:rv :•%!'•! :.-■

PART I
THE APACHES

> .»

GERONIMO

CHAPTER I

ORIGIN OF THE APACHE INDIANS

IN the beginning the world was covered
with darkness. There was no sun, no
day. The perpetual night had no moon or
stars.

There were, however, all manner of beasts
and birds. Among the beasts were many
hideous, nameless monsters, as well as
dragons, lions, tigers, wolves, foxes, beavers,
rabbits, squirrels, rats, mice, and all manner
of creeping things such as lizards and ser-
pents. Mankind could not prosper under
such conditions, for the beasts and serpents
destroyed all human offspring.

All creatures had the power of speech and
were gifted with reason.

There were two tribes of creatures: the
birds or the feathered tribe and the beasts.

3

GERONIMO

The former were organized under their
chief, the eagle.

These tribes often held councils, and the
birds wanted light admitted. This the beasts
repeatedly refused to do. Finally the birds
made war against the beasts.

The beasts were armed with clubs, but the
eagle had taught his tribe to use bows and
arrows. The serpents were so wise that they
could not all be killed. One took refuge in
a perpendicular cliff of a mountain in Ari-
zona, and his eye (changed into a brilliant
stone) may be seen in that rock to this day.
The bears, when killed, would each be
changed into several other bears, so that the
more bears the feathered tribe killed, the
more there were. The dragon could not be
killed, either, for he was covered with
four coats of horny scales, and the arrows
would not penetrate these. One of the
most hideous, vile monsters (nameless) was
proof against arrows, so the eagle flew
high up in the air with a round, white

4

ORIGIN OF THE APACHE

stone, and let it fall on this monster's
head, killing him instantly. This was such
a good service that the stone was called
sacred. (A symbol of this stone is used in
the tribal game of Kah.1) They fought
for many days, but at last the birds won the
victory.

After this war was over, although some
evil beasts remained, the birds were able to
control the councils, and light was admitted.
Then mankind could live and prosper. The
eagle was chief in this good fight: therefore,
his feathers were worn by man as emblems
of wisdom, justice, and power.

Among the few human beings that were
yet alive was a woman who had been blessed
with many children, but these had always
been destroyed by the beasts. If by any
means she succeeded in eluding the others,
the dragon, who was very wise and very evil,
would come himself and eat her babes.

After many years a son of the rainstorm

i See Chapter IV.
5

GERONIMO

was born to her and she dug for him a deep
cave. The entrance to this cave she closed
and over the spot built a camp fire.. This
concealed the babe's hiding place and kept
him warm. Every day she would remove
the fire and descend into the cave, where the
child's bed was, to nurse him; then she
would return and rebuild the camp fire.

Frequently the dragon would come and
question her, but she would say, " I have no
more children; you have eaten all of them."

When the child was larger he would not
always stay in the cave, for he sometimes
wanted to run and play. Once the dragon
saw his tracks. Now this perplexed and en-
raged the old dragon, for he could not find
the hiding place of the boy; but he said that
he would destroy the mother if she did not
reveal the child's hiding place. The poor
mother was very much troubled; she could
not give up her child, but she knew the
power and cunning of the dragon, therefore

she lived in constant fear.

6

ORIGIN OF THE APACHE

Soon after this the boy said that he
wished to go hunting. The mother would
not give her consent. She told him of the
dragon, the wolves, and the serpents; but he
said, " To-morrow I go."

At the boy's request his uncle (who was
the only man then living) made a little bow
and some arrows for him, and the two went
hunting the next day. They trailed the deer
far up the mountain and finally the boy
killed a buck. His uncle showed him how to
dress the deer and broil the meat. They
broiled two hind quarters, one for the child
and one for his uncle. When the meat was
done they placed it on some bushes to cool.
Just then the huge form of the dragon ap-
peared. The child was not afraid, but his
uncle was so dumb with fright that he did
not speak or move.

The dragon took the boy's parcel of meat
and went aside with it. He placed the meat
on another bush and seated himself beside
it. Then he said, " This is the child I have

7

GERONIMO

been seeking. Boy, you are nice and fat,
so when I have eaten this venison I shall eat
you." The boy said, " No, you shall not eat
me, and you shall not eat that meat." So he
walked over to where the dragon sat and
took the meat back to his own seat. The
dragon said, " I like your courage, but you
are foolish; what do you think you could
do?" "Well," said the boy, "I can do
enough to protect myself, as you may find
out." Then the dragon took the meat again,
and then the boy retook it. Four times in
all the dragon took the meat, and after the
fourth time the boy replaced the meat he
said, "Dragon, will you fight me?" The
dragon said, " Yes, in whatever way you
like." The boy said, " I will stand one hun-
dred paces distant from you and you may
have four shots at me with your bow and
arrows, provided that you will then ex-
change places with me and give me four
shots." " Good," said the dragon. " Stand
up.

8

Dressed as ix Days of Old

'F

\ ORIGIN OF THE APACHE

Then the dragon took his bow, which was
made of a large pine tree. He took four ar-
rows from his quiver; they were made of
young pine tree saplings, and each arrow
was twenty feet in length. He took delib-
erate aim, but just as the arrow left the bow
the boy made a peculiar sound and leaped
into the air. Immediately the arrow was
shivered into a thousand splinters, and the
boy was seen standing on the top of a bright
rainbow over the spot where the dragon's
aim had been directed. Soon the rainbow was
gone and the boy was standing on the ground
again. Four times this was repeated, then
the boy said, "Dragon, stand here; it is my
time to shoot." The dragon said, "All
right; your little arrows cannot pierce my
first coat of horn, and I have three other
coats — -shoot away." The boy shot an ar-
row, striking the dragon just over the heart,
and one coat of the great horny scales fell
to f e ground. The next shot another coat,
ana then another, and the dragon's heart was

9

GERONIMO

exposed. Then the dragon trembled, but
could not move. Before the fourth arrow
was shot the boy said, "Uncle, you are
dumb with fear; you have not moved; come
here or the dragon will fall on you." His
uncle ran toward him. Then he sped the
fourth arrow with true aim, and it pierced
the dragon's heart. With a tremendous
roar the dragon rolled down the mountain
side — down four precipices into a canon
below.

Immediately storm clouds swept the moun-
tains, lightning flashed, thunder rolled, and
the rain poured. When the rainstorm had
passed, far down in the canon below, they
could see fragments of the huge body of the
dragon lying among the rocks, and the bones
of this dragon may still be found there.

This boy's name was Apache. Usen2
taught him how to prepare herbs for medi-

2 Usen is the Apache word for God. It is used here be-
cause it implies the attributes of deity that are held in
their primitive religion. " Apache " means " Enemy."

10

ORIGIN OF THE APACHE

cine, how to hunt, and how to fight. He was
the first chief of the Indians and wore the
eagle's feathers as the sign of justice, wis-
dom, and power. To him, and to his people,
as they were created, Usen gave homes in the
land of the west.

11

CHAPTER II

SUBDIVISIONS OF THE APACHE TRIBE

THE Apache Indians are divided into
six sub-tribes. To one of these, the
Be-don-ko-he, I belong.

Our tribe inhabited that region of moun-
tainous country which lies west from the east
line of Arizona, and south from the head-
waters of the Gila River.

East of us lived the Chi-hen-ne (Ojo
Caliente), (Hot Springs) Apaches. Our
tribe never had any difficulty with them.
Victoria, their chief, was always a friend to
me. He always helped our tribe when we
asked him for help. He lost his life in the
defense of the rights of his people. He was
a good man and a brave warrior. His son
Charlie now lives here in this reservation
with us.

12

THE APACHE TRIBE

North of us lived the White Mountain
Apaches. They were not always on the best
of terms with our tribe, yet we seldom had
any war -with them. I knew their chief,
Hash-ka-ai-la, personally, and I considered
him a good warrior. Their range was next
to that of the Navajo Indians, who were not
of the same blood as the Apaches. We held
councils with all Apache tribes, but never
with the Navajo Indians. However, we
traded with them and sometimes visited
them.

To the west of our country ranged the
Chi-e-ajien Apaches. They had two chiefs
within my time, Co-si-to and Co-da-hoo-yah.
They were friendly, but not intimate with
our tribe.

South of us lived the Cho-kon-en ( Chiri-
cahua) Apaches, whose chief in the old days
was Co-chise, and later his son, Naiche. This
tribe was always on the most friendly terms
with us. We were often in camp and on
the trail together. Naiche, who was my

13

GERONIMO

companion in arms, is now my companion
in bondage.

To the south and west of us lived the
Ned-ni Apaches. Their chief was Whoa,
called by the Mexicans Capitan Whoa.
They were our firm friends. The land of
this tribe lies partly in Old Mexico and
partly in Arizona.1 Whoa and I often
camped and fought side by side as brothers.
My enemies were his enemies, my friends his
friends. He is dead now, but his son Asa is
interpreting this story for me.

Still the four tribes (Bedonkohe, Cho-
konen, Chihenne, and Nedni) , who were fast
friends in the days of freedom, cling to-
gether as they decrease in number. Only the
destruction of all our people would dissolve
our bonds of friendship.

i The boundary lines established at different times be-
tween Mexico and the United States did not conform to
the boundary lines of these Apache tribes, of course, and
the Indians soon saw and took advantage of the inter-
national questions arising from the conflicting interests of
the two governments.

14

Naiche (Natches), son of Cohise. Hereditary chief of the

Chiricahua Apaches. Naiche was Geronimo's lieutenant

during the protracted wars in Arizona

THE APACHE TRIBE

We are vanishing from the earth, yet I
cannot think we are useless or Usen would
not have created us. He created all tribes
of men and certainly had a righteous pur-
pose in creating each.

For each tribe of men Usen created He
also made a home. In the land created for
any particular tribe He placed whatever
would be best for the welfare of that
tribe.

When Usen created the Apaches He also
created their homes in the West. He gave
to them such grain, fruits, and game as they
needed to eat. To restore their health when
disease attacked them He made many differ-
ent herbs to grow. He taught them where to
find these herbs, and how to prepare them
for medicine. He gave them a pleasant cli-
mate and all they needed for clothing and
shelter was at hand.

Thus it was in the beginning: the Apaches
and their homes each created for the other
by Usen himself. When they are taken

15

GERONIMO

from these homes they sicken and die. How
long 2 will it be until it is said, there are no
Apaches?

2 The Apache Indians held prisoners of war are greatly
decreasing in numbers. There seems to be no particular
cause, but nevertheless their numbers grow smaller.

16

CHAPTER III

EARLY LIFE

1WAS born in No-doyohn Canon, Ari-
zona, June, 1829.
In that country which lies around the
headwaters of the Gila River I was reared.
This range was our fatherland; among these
mountains our wigwams were hidden; the
scattered valleys contained our fields; the
boundless prairies, stretching away on every
side, were our pastures; the rocky caverns
were our burying places.

I was fourth * in a family of eight chil-

i Four is a magic number with the Bedonkohe Apaches.
The dragon had four coats of scales; he took little Apache's
meat four times; they (the dragon and Apache) exchanged
four shots — the dragon rolled down four precipices. There
are four moccasins used in the tribal game of Kah, and
only four plays that can be made. A boy must accom-
pany the warriors four times on the warpath before he
can be admitted to the council.

Geronimo is the fourth of a family of four boys and

17

GERONIMO

dren — four boys and four girls. Of that
family, only myself, my brother, Porico
(White Horse), and my sister, Nah-da-ste,
are yet alive. We are held as prisoners of
war in this Military Reservation (Fort
Sill).

As a babe I rolled on the dirt floor of my
father's tepee, hung in my tsoch (Apache
name for cradle) at my mother's back, or
suspended from the bough of a tree. I was
warmed by the sun, rocked by the winds,
and sheltered by the trees as other Indian
babes.

When a child my mother taught me the
legends of our people ; taught me of the sun
and sky* the moon and stars, the clouds and

four girls. He has hart four wives that were full-blood
Bedonkohe Apaches, and four that were part Bedonkohe
Apache and part other Apache blood. Four of his children
have been killed by Mexicans and four have been held in
bondage by the U. S. Government. He firmly believes in
destiny and in the magic of the number four. Besides
Geronimo, only four full-blood Bedonkohe Apaches are now
living. They are Porico (White Horse), Nah-de-ste, Mah-
ta-neal, and To-klon-nen.

18

,; *

HBHHB

EARLY LIFE

storms. She also taught me to kneel and
pray to Usen for strength, health, wisdom,
and protection. We never prayed against
any person, but if we had aught against any
individual we ourselves took vengeance. We
were taught that Usen does not care for the
petty quarrels of men.

My father had often told me of the brave
deeds of our warriors, of the pleasures of
the chase, and the glories of the warpath.

With my brothers and sisters I played
about my father's home. Sometimes we
played at hide-and-seek among the rocks and
pines ; sometimes we loitered in the shade of
the cottonwood trees or sought the shudock
(a kind of wild cherry) while our parents
worked in the field. Sometimes we played
that we were warriors. We would practice
stealing upon some object that represented
an enemy, and in our childish imitation often
perform the feats of war. Sometimes we
would hide away from our mother to see if
she could find us, and often when thus con-

19

GERONIMO

cealed go to sleep and perhaps remain hid-
den for many hours.

When we were old enough to be of real
service we went to the field with our parents :
not to play, but to toil. When the crops
were to be planted we broke the ground
with wooden hoes. We planted the corn in
straight rows, the beans among the corn, and
the melons and pumpkins in irregular order
over the field. We cultivated these crops as
there was need.

Our field usually contained about two
acres of ground. The fields were never
fenced. It was common for many families
to cultivate land in the same valley and share
the burden of protecting the growing crops
from destruction by the ponies of the tribe,
or by deer and other wild animals.

Melons were gathered as they were con-
sumed. In the autumn pumpkins and beans
were gathered and placed in bags or baskets ;
ears of corn were tied together by the husks,
and then the harvest was carried on the backs

20

EARLY LIFE

of ponies up to our homes. Here the corn
was shelled, and all the harvest stored away
in caves or other secluded places to be used
in winter.

We never fed corn to our ponies, but if
we kept them up in the winter time we gave
them fodder to eat. We had no cattle or
other domestic animals except our dogs and
ponies.

We did not cultivate tobacco, but found
it growing wild. This we cut and cured in
autumn, but if the supply ran out the leaves
from the stalks left standing served our pur-
pose. All Indians smoked2 — men and
women. No boy was allowed to smoke until
he had hunted alone and killed large game —
wolves and bears. Unmarried women were
not prohibited from smoking, but were con-
sidered immodest if they did so. Nearly all
matrons smoked.

2 The Apaches did not smoke the peace pipe, unless it
was proposed by some other Indians. They had no large
pipes; in fact, they usually smoked cigarettes made by
rolling the tobacco in wrappers of oak leaves.

21

GERONIMO

Besides grinding the corn (by hand with
stone mortars and pestles) for bread, we
sometimes crushed it and soaked it, and after
it had fermented made from this juice a
" tis-win," which had the power of intoxica-
tion, and was very highly prized by the In-
dians. This work was done by the squaws
and children. When berries or nuts were to
be gathered the small children and the
squaws would go in parties to hunt them,
and sometimes stay all day. When they
went any great distance from camp they
took ponies to carry the baskets.

I frequently went with these parties, and

upon one of these excursions a woman

named Cho-ko-le got lost from the party

and was riding her pony through a thicket

in search of her friends. Her little dog was

following as she slowly made her way

through the thick underbrush and pine trees.

All at once a grizzly bear rose in her path

and attacked the pony. She jumped off

and her pony escaped, but the bear at-

22

■s :

o

3

O

c

*5

>

a*
o

o

?8

EARLY LIFE

•

tacked her, so she fought him the best
she could with her knife. Her little dog, by-
snapping at the bear's heels and detracting
his attention from the woman, enabled her
for some time to keep pretty well out of his
reach. Finally the grizzly struck her over
the head, tearing off almost her whole scalp.
She fell, but did not lose consciousness, and
while prostrate struck him four good licks
with her knife, and he retreated. After he
had gone she replaced her torn scalp and
bound it up as best she could, then she turned
deathly sick and had to lie down. That night
her pony came into camp with his load of
nuts and berries, but no rider. The Indians
hunted for her, but did not find her until the
second day. They carried her home, and un-
der the treatment of their medicine men all
her wounds were healed.

The Indians knew what herbs to use for
medicine, how to prepare them, and how to
give the medicine. This they had been
taught by Usen in the beginning, and each

23

GERONIMO

succeeding generation had men who were
skilled in the art of healing.

In gathering the herbs, in preparing them,
and in administering the medicine, as much
faith was held in prayer as in the actual ef-
fect of the medicine. Usually about eight
persons worked together in making medicine,
and there were forms of prayer and incanta-
tions to attend each stage of the process.
Four attended to the incantations and four
to the preparation of the herbs.

Some of the Indians were skilled in cut-
ting out bullets, arrow heads, and other mis-
siles with which warriors were wounded. I
myself have done much of this, using a com-
mon dirk or butcher knife.3

Small children wore very little clothing in
winter and none in the summer. Women
usually wore a primitive skirt, which con-
sisted of a piece of cotton cloth fastened
about the waist, and extending to the knees.

s The only foundation for the statement, frequently made$
that Geronimo was a medicine man.

24

EARLY LIFE

Men wore breech cloths and moccasins. In
winter they had shirts and leggings in addi-
tion.

Frequently when the tribe was in camp
a number of boys and girls, by agreement,
would steal away and meet at a place several
miles distant, where they could play all day
free from tasks. They were never punished
for these frolics; but if their hiding places
were discovered they were ridiculed.

25

CHAPTER IV

TRIBAL AMUSEMENTS, MANNERS, AND

CUSTOMS

TO celebrate each noted event a feast
and dance would be given. Perhaps
only our own people, perhaps neighboring
tribes would be invited. These festivities
usually lasted for about four days. By day
we feasted, by night under the direction of
some chief we danced. The music for our
dance was singing led by the warriors, and
accompanied by beating the esadadedne
(buckskin-on-a-hoop) . No words were sung
— only the tones. When the feasting and
dancing were over we would have horse
races, foot races, wrestling, jumping, and
all sorts of games (gambling).

Among these games the most noted was
the tribal game of Kah (foot) . It is played
as follows : Four moccasins are placed about

26

TRIBAL CUSTOMS

four feet apart in holes in the ground, dug
in a row on one side of the camp, and on
the opposite side a similar parallel row. At
night a camp fire is started between these
two rows of moccasins, and the players are
arranged on sides, one or any number on
each side. The score is kept by a bundle of
sticks, from which each side takes a stick for
every point won. First one side takes the
bone (a symbol of the white rock used by the
eagle in slaying the nameless monster — see
Chapter I), puts up blankets between the
four moccasins and the fire so that the op-
posing team cannot observe their move-
ments, and then begin to sing the legends of
creation. The side having the bone repre-
sents the feathered tribe, the opposite side
represents the beasts. The players repre-
senting the birds do all the singing, and
while singing hide the bone in one of the
moccasins, then the blankets are thrown
down. They continue to sing, but as soon
as the blankets are thrown down the chosen

27

GERONIMO

player from the opposing team, armed with
a war club, comes to their side of the camp
fire and with his club strikes the moccasin
in which he thinks the bone is hidden. If he
strikes the right moccasin, his side gets the
bone, and in turn represents the birds, while
the opposing team must keep quiet and
guess in turn. There are only four plays;
three that lose and one that wins. When all
the sticks are gone from the bundle the side
having the largest number of sticks is
counted winner.

This game is seldom played except as a
gambling game, but for that purpose it is
the most popular game known to the tribe.
Usually the game lasts four or five hours.
It is never played in daytime.

After the games are all finished the vis-
itors say, " We are satisfied," and the camp
is broken up. I was always glad when the
dances and feasts were announced. So were
all the other young people.

Our life also had a religious side. We

28

TRIBAL CUSTOMS

had no churches, no religious organizations^
no sabbath day, no holidays, and yet we wor-
shiped. Sometimes the whole tribe would
assemble to sing and pray; sometimes a
smaller number, perhaps only two or three.
The songs had a few words, but were not
formal. The singer would occasionally put
in such words as he wished instead of the
usual tone sound. Sometimes we prayed in
silence; sometimes each one prayed aloud;
sometimes an aged person prayed for all of
us. At other times one would rise and speak
to us of our duties 1 to each other and to
Usen. Our services were short.

When disease or pestilence abounded we
were assembled and questioned by our lead-
ers to ascertain what evil we had done, and
how Usen could be satisfied. Sometimes

1 The Apaches recognized no duties to any man outside
their tribe. It was no sin to kill enemies or to rob them.
However, if they accepted any favor from a stranger, op
allowed him to share their comforts in any way, he became
(by adoption) related to the tribe and they must recognize
their duty to him.

29

GERONIMO

sacrifice was deemed necessary. Sometimes
the offending one was punished.

If an Apache had allowed his aged par-
ents to suffer for food or shelter, if he had
neglected or abused the sick, if he had pro-
faned our religion, or had been unfaithful,
he might be banished from the tribe.

The Apaches had no prisons as white men
have. Instead of sending their criminals
into prison they sent them out of their tribe.
These faithless, cruel, lazy, or cowardly
members of the tribe were excluded in such
a manner that they could not join any other
tribe. Neither could they have any protec-
tion from our unwritten tribal laws. Fre-
quently these outlaw Indians banded to-
gether and committed depredations which
were charged against the regular tribe.
However, the life of an outlaw Indian was
a hard lot, and their bands never became
very large; besides, these bands frequently
provoked the wrath of the tribe and secured

their own destruction.

so

.

The Conquered Weapon

TRIBAL CUSTOMS

When I was about eight or ten years old
I began to follow the chase, and to me this
was never work.

Out on the prairies, which ran up to our
mountain homes, wandered herds of deer,
antelope, elk, and buffalo, to be slaughtered
when we needed them.

Usually we hunted buffalo on horseback,
killing them with arrows and spears. Their
skins were used to make tepees and bedding ;
their flesh, to eat.

It required more skill to hunt the deer
than any other animal. We never tried to
approach a deer except against the wind.
Frequently we would spend hours in steal-
ing upon grazing deer. If they were in the
open we would crawl long distances on the
ground, keeping a weed or brush before us,
so that our approach would not be noticed.
Often we could kill several out of one herd
before the others would run away. Their
flesh was dried and packed in vessels, and

would keep in this condition for many

si

GERONIMO

months. The hide of the deer was soaked in
water and ashes and the hair removed, and
then the process of tanning continued until
the buckskin was soft and pliable. Perhaps
no other animal was more valuable to us than
the deer.

In the forests and along the streams were
many wild turkeys. These we would drive
to the plains, then slowly ride up toward
them until they were almost tired out.
When they began to drop and hide we would
ride in upon them and by swinging from the
side of our horses, catch them. If one
started to fly we would ride swiftly under
him and kill him with a short stick, or hunt-
ing club. In this way we could usually get
as many wild turkeys as we could carry home
on a horse.

There were many rabbits in our range,
and we also hunted them on horseback. Our
horses were trained to follow the rabbit at
full speed, and as they approached them we
would swing from one side of the horse and

32

TRIBAL CUSTOMS

strike the rabbit with our hunting club. If
he was too far away we would throw the
stick and kill him. This was great sport when
we were boys, but as warriors we seldom
hunted small game.

There were many fish in the streams, but
as we did not eat them, we did not try to
catch or kill them. Small boys sometimes
threw stones at them or shot at them for
practice with their bows and arrows. Usen
did not intend snakes, frogs, or fishes to be
eaten. I have never eaten of them.

There were many eagles in the mountains.
These we hunted for their feathers. It re-
quired great skill to steal upon an eagle, for
besides having sharp eyes, he is wise and
never stops at any place where he does not
have a good view of the surrounding
country.

I have killed many bears with a spear, but
was never injured in a fight with one. I
have killed several mountain lions with ar-
rows, and one with a spear. Both bears and

33

GERONIMO

mountain lions are good for food and valu-
able for their skin. When we killed them
we carried them home on our horses. We
often made quivers for our arrows from the
skin of the mountain lion. These were very
pretty and very durable.

During my minority we had never seen a
missionary or a priest. We had never
seen a white man. Thus quietly lived the
Be-don-ko-he Apaches.

S4

CHAPTER V

THE FAMILY

MY grandfather, Maco, had heen our
chief. I never saw him, but my
father often told me of the great size,
strength, and sagacity of this old warrior.
Their principal wars had been with the Mex-
icans. They had some wars with other tribes
of Indians also, but were seldom at peace
for any great length of time with the Mex-
ican towns.

Maco died when my father was but a
young warrior, and Mangus-Colorado * be-
came chief of the Bedonkohe Apaches.

l Maco was chief of the Nedni Apaches. His son (Geron-
imo's father) had married a Bedonkohe Apache (Geron-
imo's mother) and joined her tribe, thereby losing his
right to rule by heredity. By this it will be seen Geronimo
could not become chief by hereditary right, although his
grandfather was a chieftain. It is also shown that Geron-
lmo's father could not be chief, hence the accession of
Mangus-Colorado.

35

GERONIMO

When I was but a small boy my father died,
after having been sick for some time. When
he passed away, carefully the watchers closed
his eyes, then they arrayed him in his best
clothes, painted his face afresh, wrapped a
rich blanket around him, saddled his favor-
ite horse, bore his arms in front of him, and
led his horse behind, repeating in wailing
tones his deeds of valor as they carried his
body to a cave in the mountain. Then they
slew his horses, and we gave away all of his
other property,2 as was customary in our
tribe, after which his body was deposited in
the cave, his arms beside him. His grave is
hidden by piles of stone. Wrapped in splen-
dor he lies in seclusion, and the winds in the
pines sing a low requiem over the dead
warrior.

After my father's death I assumed the

2 The Apaches will not keep any of the property of a
deceased relative. Their unwritten tribal laws forbid it,
because they think that otherwise the children or other
relatives of one who had much property might be glad
when their father or relatives died.

36

THE FAMILY

care of my mother. She never married
again, although according to the customs of
our tribe she might have done so immedi-
ately after his death. Usually, however, the
widow who has children remains single after
her husband's death for two or three years ;
but the widow without children marries again
immediately. After a warrior's death his
widow returns to her people and may be
given away or sold by her father or brothers.
My mother chose to live with me, and she
never desired to marry again. We lived
near our old home and I supported her.

In 1846, being seventeen years of age, I
was admitted to the council of the warriors.
Then I was very happy, for I could go
wherever I wanted and do whatever I liked.
I had not been under the control of any
individual, but the customs of our tribe pro-
hibited me from sharing the glories of the
warpath until the council admitted me.
When opportunity offered, after this, I
could go on the warpath with my tribe. This

37

GERONIMO

would be glorious. I hoped soon to serve
my people in battle. I had long desired to
fight with our warriors.

Perhaps the greatest joy to me was that
now I could marry the fair Alope, daughter
of No-po-so. She was a slender, delicate
girl, but we had been lovers for a long time.
So, as soon as the council granted me these
privileges I went to see her father concern-
ing our marriage. Perhaps our love was of
no interest to him; perhaps he wanted to
keep Alope with him, for she was a dutiful
daughter; at any rate he asked many ponies
for her. I made no reply, but in a few days
appeared before his wigwam with the herd
of ponies and took with me Alope. This
was all the marriage ceremony necessary in
our tribe.

Not far from my mother's tepee I had
made for us a new home. The tepee was
made of buffalo hides and in it were many
bear robes, lion hides, and other trophies of
the chase, as well as my spears, bows, and

38

I

Al'U III l'lllM I ■

Daughter of Naiche, chief of the Chiricahua Apaches

THE FAMILY

arrows. Alope had made many little deco-
rations of beads 3 and drawn work on buck-
skin, which she placed in our tepee. She also
drew many pictures on the walls of our
home. She was a good wife, but she was
never strong. We followed the traditions
of our fathers and were happy. Three chil-
dren came to us — children that played, loi-
tered, and worked as I had done.

3 Beads were obtained from the Mexicans. The Apaches
also got money from the Mexicans, but deemed it of no
value, and either gave it to their children to play with or
threw it away.

39

PART II

THE MEXICANS

CHAPTER VI

KAS-KI-YEH

Part I — The Massacre

IN the summer of 1858, being at peace
with the Mexican towns as well as with
all the neighboring Indian tribes, we went
south into Old Mexico to trade. Our whole
tribe (Bedonkohe Apaches) went through
Sonora toward Casa Grande, our destina-
tion, but just before reaching that place we
stopped at another Mexican town called by
the Indians " Kas-ki-yeh." Here we stayed
for several days, camping just outside the
city. Every day we would go into town to
trade, leaving our camp under the protec-
tion of a small guard so that our arms, sup-
plies, and women and children would not be
disturbed during our absence.

Late one afternoon when returning from
town we were met by a few women and chil-
dren who told us that Mexican troops from

43

GERONIMO

some other town had attacked our camp,
killed all the warriors of the guard, captured
all our ponies, secured our arms, destroyed
our supplies, and killed many of our women
and children. Quickly we separated, con-
cealing ourselves as best we could until
nightfall, when we assembled at our ap-
pointed place of rendezvous — a thicket by
the river. Silently we stole in one by one:
sentinels were placed, and, when all were
counted, I found that my aged mother, my
young wife, and my three small children
were among the slain. There were no lights
in camp, so without being noticed I silently
turned away and stood by the river. How
long I stood there I do not know, but when
I saw the warriors arranging for a council
I took my place.

That night I did not give my vote for or
against any measure ; but it was decided that
as there were only eighty warriors left, and
as we were without arms or supplies, and
were furthermore surrounded by the Mex-

44

KAS-KI-YEH

icans far inside their own territory, we could
not hope to fight successfully. So our chief,
Mangus- Colorado, gave the order to start at
once in perfect silence for our homes in Ari-
zona, leaving the dead upon the field.

I stood until all had passed, hardly know-
ing what I would do — I had no weapon, nor
did I hardly wish to fight, neither did I con-
template recovering the bodies of my loved
ones, for that was forbidden. I did not
pray, nor did I resolve to do anything in par-
ticular, for I had no purpose left. I finally
followed the tribe silently, keeping just
within hearing distance of the soft noise of
the feet of the retreating Apaches.

The next morning some of the Indians
killed a small amount of game and we halted
long enough for the tribe to cook and eat,
when the march was resumed. I had killed
no game, and did not eat. During the first
march as well as while we were camped at
this place I spoke to no one and no one spoke
to me — there was nothing to say.

45

GERONIMO

For two days and three nights we were
on forced marches, stopping only for meals,
then we made a camp near the Mexican bor-
der, where we rested two days. Here I took
some food and talked with the other Indians
who had lost in the massacre, but none had
lost as I had, for I had lost all.

Within a few days we arrived at our own
settlement. There were the decorations that
Alope had made — and there were the play-
things of our little ones. I burned 1 them
all, even our tepee. I also burned my moth-
er's tepee and destroyed all her property.

I was never again contented in our quiet
home. True, I could visit my father's grave,
but I had vowed vengeance upon the Mex-
ican troopers who had wronged me, and
whenever I came near his grave or saw any-
thing to remind me of former happy days
my heart would ache for revenge upon
Mexico.

i According to custom he should not have kept the prop-
erty of his deceased relatives, but he was not compelled to
destroy his own tepee or the playthings of his children.

46

o

H

W

o

2!

§

O

>

n

a

o

O

N
O

w

lPart II — Revenge

As soon as we had again collected some
arms and supplies Mangus- Colorado, our
chief, called a council and found that all our
warriors were willing to take the warpath
against Mexico. I was appointed to solicit
the aid of other tribes in this war.

When I went to the Chokonen (Chiri-
cahua) Apaches, Cochise, their chief, called
a council at early dawn. Silently the war-
riors assembled at an open place in a moun-
tain dell and took their seats on the ground,
arranged in rows according to their ranks.
Silently they sat smoking. At a signal
from the chief I arose and presented my
cause as follows:

" Kinsman, you have heard what the Mex-
icans have recently done without cause.
You are my relatives — uncles, cousins,
brothers. We are men the same as the Mex-

47

GERONIMO

icans are — we can do to them what they have
done to us. Let us go forward and trail
them — I will lead you to their city — we will
attack them in their homes. I will fight in
the front of the battle — I only ask you to
follow me to avenge this wrong done by
these Mexicans — will you come? It is well
— you will all come.

" Remember the rule in war — men may
return or they may be killed. If any of
these young men are killed I want no blame
from their kinsmen, for they themselves
have chosen to go. If I am killed no one
need mourn for me. My people have all
been killed in that country, and I, too, will
die if need be."

I returned to my own settlement, reported
this success to my chieftain, and immediately
departed to the southward into the land of
the Nedni Apaches. Their chief, Whoa,
heard me without comment, but he im-
mediately issued orders for a council, and
when all were ready gave a sign that I

48

■-."

KAS-KI-YEH

might speak. I addressed them as I had
addressed the Chokonen tribe, and they also
promised to help us.

It was in the summer of 1859, almost a
year i'rom the date of the massacre of Kas-
kiyeh, that these three tribes were assembled
on the Mexican border to go upon the war-
path. Their faces were painted, the war
bands2 fastened upon their brows, their
long scalp-locks3 ready for the hand and
knife of the warrior who could overcome
them. Their families had been hidden away
in a mountain rendezvous near the Mexican
border. With these families a guard was
posted, and a number of places of rendez-
vous designated in case the camp should be
disturbed.

When all were ready the chieftains gave

2 Strips of buckskin about two inches wide fastened
around the head.

3 At this time the Mexican Government offered a reward
in gold for Apache scalps — one hundred dollars for war-
rior's scalp, fifty dollars for squaw's scalp, and twenty-five
dollars for child's scalp.

49

GERONIMO

command to go forward. None of us were
mounted and each warrior wore moccasins
and also a cloth wrapped about his loins.
This cloth could be spread over him when he
slept, and when on the march would be ample
protection as clothing. In battle, if the
fight was hard, we did not wish much cloth-
ing. Each warrior carried three days' ra-
tions, but as we often killed game while on
the march, we seldom were without food.

We traveled in three divisions : the Bedon-
kohe Apaches led by Mangus-Colorado, the
Chokonen Apaches by Cochise, and the
Nedni Apaches by Whoa; however, there
was no regular order inside the separate
tribes. We usually marched about fourteen
hours per day, making three stops for meals,
and traveling forty to forty-five miles a
day.

I acted as guide into Mexico, and we fol-
lowed the river courses and mountain ranges
because we could better thereby keep our
movements concealed. We entered Sonora

50

2

>

—

n
8

rt

X

CO

O
H

«

B

H
o

w

>

O

O

X

r
3

M
3

KAS-KI-YEH

and went southward past Quitaco, Nacozari,
and many smaller settlements.

When we were almost at Arispe we
camped, and eight men rode out from the
city to parley with us. These we captured,
killed, and scalped. This was to draw the
troops from the city, and the next day they
came. The skirmishing lasted all day with-
out a general engagement, but just at night
we captured their supply train, so we had
plenty of provisions and some more guns.

That night we posted sentinels and did
not move our camp, but rested quietly all
night, for we expected heavy work the next
day. Early the next morning the warriors
were assembled to pray — not for help, but
that they might have health and avoid am-
bush or deceptions by the enemy.

As we had anticipated, about ten o'clock
in the morning the whole Mexican force
came out. There were two companies of
cavalry and two of infantry. I recognized
the cavalry as the soldiers who had killed my

51

GERONIMO

people at Kaskiyeh. This I told to the
chieftains, and they said that I might direct
the battle.

I was no chief and never had been, but
because I had been more deeply wronged
than others, this honor was conferred upon
me, and I resolved to prove worthy of the
trust. I arranged the Indians in a hollow
circle near the river, and the Mexicans drew
their infantry up in two lines, with the cav-
alry in reserve. We were in the timber, and
they advanced until within about four hun-
dred yards, when they halted and opened fire.
Soon I led a charge against them, at the
same time sending some braves to attack
their rear. In all the battle I thought of my
murdered mother, wife, and babies — of my
father's grave and my vow of vengeance,
and I fought with fury. Many fell by my
hand, and constantly I led the advance.
Many braves were killed. The battle lasted
about two hours.

At the last four Indians were alone in the

52

KAS-KI-YEH

center of the field — myself and three other
warriors. Our arrows were all gone, our
spears broken off in the bodies of dead ene-
mies. We had only our hands and knives
with which to fight, but all who had stood
against us were dead. Then two armed sol-
diers came upon us from another part of
the field. They shot down two of our men
and we, the remaining two, fled toward our
own warriors. My companion was struck
down by a saber, but I reached our warriors,
seized a spear, and turned. The one who
pursued me missed his aim and fell by my
spear. With his saber I met the trooper who
had killed my companion and we grappled
and fell. I killed him with my knife and
quickly rose over his body, brandishing his
saber, seeking for other troopers to kill.
There were none. But the Apaches had
seen. Over the bloody field, covered with
the bodies of Mexicans, rang the fierce
Apache war-whoop.

Still covered with the blood of my en-

53

u

GERONIMO

emies, still holding my conquering weapon,
still hot with the joy of battle, victory, and
vengeance, I was surrounded by the Apache
braves and made war chief of all the
Apaches. Then I gave orders for scalping
the slain.4

I could not call back my loved ones, I
could not bring back the dead Apaches, but
I could rejoice in this revenge. The
Apaches had avenged the massacre of
" Kas-ki-yeh."

* From the moment the command for war is given with
the Apaches everything assumes a religious guise. The
manner of camping, cooking, etc., are exactly prescribed.
Every object appertaining to war is called by its sacred
name; as if, for instance, in English, one should say not
horse, but war-horse or charger; not arrow, but missile of
death. The Indian is not called by his ordinary name, but
by a sacred name to which is subjoined "brave" or "chief*
as the case may be. Geronimo's Indian name was Go khla
yeh, but the Mexicans at this battle called him Geronimo,
a name he has borne ever since both among the Indians and
white men.

54

CHAPTER VII

FIGHTING UNDER DIFFICULTIES

ALL the other Apaches were satisfied
L after the battle of " Kaskiyeh," but I
still desired more revenge. For several
months we were busy with the chase and
other peaceful pursuits. Finally I suc-
ceeded in persuading two others warriors,
Ah-koch-ne and Ko-deh-ne, to go with me
to invade the Mexican country.

We left our 1 families with the tribe and
went on the warpath. We were on foot and
carried three days' rations. We entered
Mexico on the north line of Sonora and fol-
lowed the Sierra de Antunez Mountains to
the south end of the range. Here we de-
cided to attack a small village. (I do not
know the name of this village.) At day-
light we approached from the mountains.

i Geronimo had married again.
55

GERONIMO

Five horses were hitched outside. We ad-
vanced cautiously, but just before we
reached the horses the Mexicans opened fire
from the houses. My two companions were
killed. Mexicans swarmed on every side;
some were mounted ; some were on foot, and
all seemed to be armed. Three times that
day I was surrounded, but I kept fighting,
dodging, and hiding. Several times during
the day while in concealment I had a chance
to take deliberate aim at some Mexican, who,
gun in hand, was looking for me. I do not
think I missed my aim either time. With
the gathering darkness I found more time
to retreat toward Arizona. But the Mex-
icans did not quit the chase. Several times
the next day mounted Mexicans tried to
head me off; many times they fired on me,
but I had no more arrows; so I depended
upon running and hiding, although I was
very tired. I had not eaten since the chase
began, nor had I dared to stop for rest. The
second night I got clear of my pursuers, but

56

UNDER DIFFICULTIES

I never slackened my pace until I reached
our home in Arizona. I came into our camp
without booty, without my companions, ex-
hausted, but not discouraged.

The wives and children of my two dead
companions were cared for by their people.
Some of the Apaches blamed me for the evil
result of the expedition, but I said nothing.
Having failed, it was only proper that I
should remain silent. But my feelings to-
ward the Mexicans did not change — I still
hated them and longed for revenge. I never
ceased to plan for their punishment, but it
was hard to get the other warriors to listen
to my proposed raids.

In a few months after this last adventure
I persuaded two other warriors to join me in
raiding the Mexican frontier. On our for-
mer raid we had gone through the Nedni
Apaches' range into Sonora. This time we
went through the country of the Cho-
kon-en and entered the Sierra Madre
Mountains. We traveled south, secured

57

GERONIMO

more rations, and prepared to begin our
raids. We had selected a village near the
mountains which we intended to attack at
daylight. While asleep that night Mexican
scouts discovered our camp and fired on us,
killing one warrior. In the morning we ob-
served a company of Mexican troops com-
ing from the south. They were mounted
and carried supplies for a long journey.
We followed their trail until we were sure
that they were headed for our range in Ari-
zona; then we hurried past them and in
three days reached our own settlement.
We arrived at noon, and that afternoon,
about three o'clock, these Mexican troops
attacked our settlement. Their first volley
killed three small boys. Many of the war-
riors of our tribe were away from home, but
the few of us who were in camp were able
to drive the troops out of the mountains be-
fore night. We killed eight Mexicans and
lost five — two warriors and three boys. The
Mexicans rode due south in full retreat.

58

UNDER DIFFICULTIES

Four warriors were detailed to follow them,
and in three days these trailers returned, say-
ing that the Mexican cavalry had left Ari-
zona, going southward. We were quite sure
they would not return soon.

Soon after this (in the summer of 1860)
I was again able to take the warpath against
the Mexicans, this time with twenty-five
warriors. We followed the trail of the
Mexican troops last mentioned and entered
the Sierra de Sahuaripa Mountains. The
second day in these mountains our scouts
discovered mounted Mexican troops. There
was only one company of cavalry in this
command, and I thought that by properly
surprising them we could defeat them. We
ambushed the trail over which they were to
come. This was at a place where the whole
company must pass through a mountain de-
file. We reserved fire until all of the troops
had passed through; then the signal was
given. The Mexican troopers, seemingly
without a word of command, dismounted,

59

GERONIMO

and placing their horses on the outside of
the company, for breastworks, made a good
fight against us. I saw that we could not
dislodge them without using all our ammuni-
tion, so I led a charge. The warriors sud-
denly pressed in from all sides and we
fought hand to hand. During this encoun-
ter I raised my spear to kill a Mexican sol-
dier just as he leveled his gun at me; I was
advancing rapidly, and my foot slipping in
a pool of blood, I fell under the Mexican
trooper. He struck me over the head with
the butt of his gun, knocking me senseless.
Just at that instant a warrior who followed
in my footsteps killed the Mexican with a
spear. In a few minutes not a Mexican
soldier was left alive. When the Apache
war-cry had died away, and their enemies
had been scalped, they began to care for
their dead and wounded. I was found lying
unconscious where I had fallen. They
bathed my head in cold water and restored

me to consciousness. Then they bound up

60

UNDER DIFFICULTIES

my wound and the next morning, although
weak from loss of blood and suffering from
a severe headache, I was able to march on
the return to Arizona. I did not fully re-
cover for months, and I still wear the scar
given me by that musketeer. In this fight
we had lost so heavily that there really was
no glory in our victory, and we returned to
Arizona. No one seemed to want to go on
the warpath again that year.

In the summer (1861) with twelve war-
riors I again went into Mexico. We entered
Chihuahua and followed south on the east
side of the Sierra Madre Mountains four
days' journey ; then crossed over to the Sierra
de Sahuaripa range, not far east of Casa
Grande. Here we rested one day, and sent
out scouts to reconnoiter. They reported
pack trains camped five miles west of us.
The next morning just at daybreak, as these
drivers were starting with their mule pack
train, we attacked them. They rode away
for their lives, leaving us the booty. The

61

GERONIMO

mules were loaded with provisions, most of
which we took home. Two mules were
loaded with side-meat or bacon;2 this we
threw away. We started to take these pack
trains home, going northward through So-
nora, but when near Casita, Mexican troops
overtook us. It was at daybreak and we
were just finishing our breakfast. We had
no idea that we had been pursued or that our
enemies were near until they opened fire.
At the first volley a bullet struck me a glanc-
ing lick just at the lower corner of the left
eye and I fell unconscious. All the other
Indians fled to cover. The Mexicans, think-
ing me dead, started in pursuit of the fleeing
Indians. In a few moments I regained con-
sciousness and had started at full speed for
the woods when another company coming
up opened fire on me. Then the soldiers
who had been chasing the other Indians

2 They had never eaten bacon and did not learn to do so
for a long time. Even now they will not eat bacon or
pork if they can get other meat. Geronimo positively re-
fuses to eat bacon or pork.

62

I UNDER DIFFICULTIES

turned, and I stood between two hostile com-
panies, but I did not stand long. Bullets
whistled in every direction and at close range
to me. One inflicted a slight flesh wound
on my side, but I kept running, dodging,
and fighting, until I got clear of my pur-
suers. I climbed up a steep canon, where the
cavalry could not follow. The troopers saw
me, but did not dismount and try to follow.
I think they were wise not to come on.

It had been understood that in case of sur-
prise with this booty, our place of rendez-
vous should be the Santa Bita Mountains in
Arizona. We did not reassemble in Mexico,
but traveled separately and in three days we
were encamped in our place of rendezvous.
From this place we returned home empty-
handed. We had not even a partial victory
to report. I again returned wounded, but
I was not yet discouraged. Again I was
blamed by our people, and again I had no
reply.

After our return many of the warriors

63

GERONIMO

had gone on a hunt and some of them had
gone north to trade for blankets from the
Navajo Indians. I remained at home try-
ing to get my wounds healed. One morning
just at daybreak, when the squaws were
lighting the camp fires to prepare breakfast,
three companies of Mexican troops who had
surrounded our settlement in the night
opened fire. There was no time for fighting.
Men, women, and children fled for their
lives. Many women and children and a few
warriors were killed, and four women were
captured. My left eye was still swollen
shut, but with the other I saw well enough
to hit one of the officers with an arrow, and
then make good my escape among the rocks.
The troopers burned our tepees and took
our arms, provisions, ponies, and blankets.
Winter was at hand.

There were not more than twenty warriors
in camp at this time, and only a few of us
had secured weapons during the excitement
of the attack. A few warriors followed the

64

UNDER DIFFICULTIES

trail of the troops as they went back to Mex-
ico with their booty, but were unable to offer
battle. It was a long, long time before we
were again able to go on the warpath against
the Mexicans.

The four women who were captured at
this time by the Mexicans were taken into
Sonora, Mexico, where they were compelled
to work for the Mexicans. After some
years they escaped to the mountains and
started to find our tribe. They had knives
which they had stolen from the Mexicans,
but they had no other weapons. They had
no blankets ; so at night they would make a
little tepee by cutting brush with their
knives, and setting them up for the walls.
The top was covered over with brush. In
this temporary tepee they would all sleep.
One night when their camp fire was low they
heard growling just outside the tepee.
Francisco, the youngest woman of the
party (about seventeen years of age),
started to build up the fire, when a moun-

65

GERONIMO

tain lion crashed through the tepee and at-
tacked her. The suddenness of the attack
made her drop her knife, but she fought as
best she could with her hand. She was no
match for the lion, however; her left shoul-
der was crushed and partly torn away. The
lion kept trying to catch her by the throat;
this she prevented with her hands for a long
time. He dragged her for about 300 yards,
then she found her strength was failing her
from loss of blood, and she called to the
other women for help. The lion had been
dragging her by one foot, and she had been
catching hold of his legs, and of the rocks
and underbrush, to delay him. Finally he
stopped and stood over her. She again
called her companions and they attacked
him with their knives and killed him. Then
they dressed her wounds and nursed her in
the mountains for about a month. When
she was again able to walk they resumed
their journey and reached our tribe in
safety.

6G

. t - >■

« ■

Asa Deklugie, Wife and Children

UNDER DIFFICULTIES

This woman (Francisco) was held as a
prisoner of war with the other Apaches and
died on the Fort Sill Reservation in 1892.
Her face was always disfigured with those
scars and she never regained perfect use of
her hands. The three older women died be-
fore we became prisoners of war.

Many women and children were carried
away at different times by Mexicans. Not
many of them ever returned, and those who
did underwent many hardships in order to
be again united with their people. Those
who did not escape were slaves to the Mex-
icans, or perhaps even more degraded.

When warriors were captured by the
Mexicans they were kept in chains. Four
warriors who were captured once at a place
north of Casa Grande, called by the Indians
"Honas," were kept in chains for a year
and a half, when they were exchanged for
Mexicans whom we had captured.

We never chained prisoners or kept them
in confinement, but they seldom got away.

67

GERONIMO

Mexican men when captured were compelled
to cut wood and herd horses. Mexican
women and children3 were treated as our
own people.

s The interpreter, Asa, son of Whoa, remembers a little
captive Mexican girl who used to play with the Apache
children, but was finally exchanged.

One of Geronimo's wives and her child were killed at this
time, and thenceforth until he became a prisoner of war he
had two wives. He might have had as many wives as he
wished, but he says that he was so busy fighting Mexicans
that he could not support more than two.

68

VIII

KAIDS THAT WERE SUCCESSFUL

IN the summer of 1862 I took eight
men and invaded Mexican territory.
We went south on the west side of the Sierra
Madre Mountains for five days ; then in the
night crossed over to the southern part of
the Sierra de Sahuaripa range. Here we
again camped to watch for pack trains.
About ten o'clock next morning four driv-
ers, mounted, came past our camp with a
pack-mule train. As soon as they saw us
they rode for their lives, leaving us the booty.
This was a long train, and packed with
blankets, calico, saddles, tinware, and loaf
sugar. We hurried home as fast as we
could with these provisions, and on our re-
turn while passing through a canon in the
Santa Catilina range of mountains in Ari-
zona, met a white man driving a mule pack

69

f

GERONIMO

train. When we first saw him he had al-
ready seen us, and was riding at full tilt up
the canon. We examined his train and
found that his mules were all loaded with
cheese. We put them in with the other train
and resumed our journey. We did not at-
tempt to trail the driver and I am sure he
did not try to follow us.

In two days we arrived at home. Then
Mangus-Colorado, our chief, assembled the
tribe. We gave a feast, divided the spoils,
and danced all night. Some of the pack
mules were killed and eaten.

This time after our return we kept out
scouts so that we would know if Mexican
troops should attempt to follow us.

On the third day our scouts came into camp
and reported Mexican cavalry dismounted
and approaching our settlement. All our
warriors were in camp. Mangus-Colorado
took command of one division and I of the
other. We hoped to get possession of their
horses, then surround the troops in the

70

•;;'<

r
r
w
3

i

02

O

w

O

o

o

o

c

w

w

o:

o

w
o

O
G

0

ft

w

hi

(-5

H

o

p

a

0

m

r

O

a

>

SUCCESSFUL RAIDS

mountains, and destroy the whole company.
This we were unable to do, for they, too, had
scouts. However, within four hours after
we started we had killed ten troopers with
the loss of only one man, and the Mexican
cavalry was in full retreat, followed by
thirty armed Apaches, who gave them no
rest until they were far inside the Mexi-
can country. No more troops came that
winter.

For a long time we had plenty of provi-
sions, plenty of blankets, and plenty of
clothing. We also had plenty of cheese and
sugar.

Another summer (1863) I selected three
warriors and went on a raid into Mexico.
We went south into Sonora, camping in the
Sierra de Sahuaripa Mountains. About
forty miles west of Casa Grande is a small
village in the mountains, called by the In-
dians " Crassanas." We camped near this
place and concluded to make an attack. We
had noticed that just at midday no one

71

GERONIMO

seemed to be stirring; so we planned to make
our attack at the noon hour. The next day
we stole into the town at noon. We had no
guns, but were armed with spears and bows
and arrows. When the war-whoop was
given to open the attack the Mexicans fled
in every direction; not one of them made
any attempt to fight us.

We shot some arrows at the retreating
Mexicans, but killed only one. Soon all was
silent in the town and no Mexicans could be
seen.

When we discovered that all the Mexicans
were gone we looked through their houses
and saw many curious things. These Mex-
icans kept many more kinds of property
than the Apaches did. Many of the things
we saw in the houses we could not under-
stand, but in the stores we saw much that we
wanted ; so we drove in a herd of horses and
mules, and packed as much provisions and
supplies as we could on them. Then we
formed these animals into a pack train and

72

f SUCCESSFUL RAIDS

returned safely to Arizona. The Mexicans
did not even trail us.

When we arrived in camp we called the
tribe together and feasted all day. We gave
presents to everyone. That night the dance
began, and it did not cease until noon the
next day.

This was perhaps the most successful raid
ever made by us into Mexican territory. I
do not know the value of the booty, but it
was very great, for we had supplies enough
to last our whole tribe for a year or more.

In the fall of 1864 twenty warriors were V

willing to go with me on another raid into

Mexico. These were all chosen men, well

-armed and equipped for battle. As usual

we provided for the safety of our families

before starting on this raid. Our whole tribe

scattered and then reassembled at a camp

about forty miles from the former place. In

this way it would be hard for the Mexicans to

trail them and we would know where to find

our families when we returned. Moreover,

73

GERONIMO

if any hostile Indians should see this large
number of warriors leaving our range they
might attack our camp, but if they found
no one at the usual place their raid would
fail.

We went south through the Chokonen
Apaches' range, entered Sonora, Mexico, at
a point directly south of Tombstone, Ari-
zona, and went into hiding in the Sierra de
Antunez Mountains.

We attacked several settlements in the
neighborhood and secured plenty of provi-
sions and supplies. After about three days
we attacked and captured a mule pack train
at a place called by the Indians " Pontoco."
It is situated in the mountains due west,
about one day's journey ' from Arispe.

There were three drivers with this train.
One was killed and two escaped. The train
was loaded with mescal,2 which was con-

i Forty-five miles.

2 Mescal is a fiery liquor produced in Mexico from several
spices of Agave.

74

SUCCESSFUL RAIDS

tained in bottles held in wicker baskets. As
soon as we made camp the Indians began to
get drunk and fight each other. I, too,
drank enough mescal to feel the effect of it,
but I was not drunk. I ordered the fight-
ing stopped, but the order was disobeyed.
Soon almost a general fight was in progress.
I tried to place a guard out around our
camp, but all were drunk and refused to
serve. I expected an attack from Mexican
troops at any moment, and really it was a
serious matter for me, for being in command
I would be held responsible for any ill luck
attending the expedition. Finally the
camp became comparatively still, for the In-
dians were too drunk to walk or even to
fight. While they were in this stupor I
poured out all the mescal, then I put out all
the fires and moved the pack mules to a con-
siderable distance from camp. After this
I returned to camp to try to do something
for the wounded. I found that only two
Mrere dangerously wounded. From the leg

75

GERONIMO

of one of these I cut an arrow head, and
from the shoulder of another I withdrew a
spear point. When all the wounds had been
cared for, I myself kept guard till morning.
The next day we loaded our wounded on the
pack mules and started for Arizona.

The next day we captured come cattle
from a herd and drove them home with us.
But it was a very difficult matter to drive
cattle when we were on foot. Caring for
the wounded and keeping the cattle from
escaping made our journey tedious. But
we were not trailed, and arrived safely at
home with all the booty.

We then gave a feast and dance, and di-
vided the spoils. After the dance we killed
all the cattle and dried the meat. We
dressed the hides and then the dried meat
was packed in between these hides and
stored away. All that winter we had plenty
of meat. These were the first cattle we ever
had. As usual we killed and ate some of

the mules. We had little use for mules, and

76

SUCCESSFUL RAIDS

if we could not trade them for something of
value, we killed them.

In the summer of 1865, with four war-
riors, I went again into Mexico. Hereto-
fore we had gone on foot; we were accus-
tomed to fight on foot; besides, we could
more easily conceal ourselves when dis-
mounted. But this time we wanted more
cattle, and it was hard to drive them when
we were on foot. We entered Sonora at a
point southwest from Tombstone, Arizona,
and followed the Sierra de Antunez Moun-
tains to the southern limit, then crossed the
country as far south as the mouth of Yaqui
River. Here we saw a great lake3 extend-
ing beyond the limit of sight. Then we
turned north, attacked several settlements,
and secured plenty of supplies. When we
had come back northwest of Arispe we se-
cured about sixty head of cattle, and drove
them to our homes in Arizona. We did not
go directly home, but camped in different

s Gulf of California.

77

GERONIMO

valleys with our cattle. We were not trailed.
When we arrived at our camp the tribe was
again assembled for feasting and dancing.
Presents were given to everybody; then the
cattle were killed and the meat dried and
packed.

78

CHAPTER IX

VARYING FORTUNES

IN the fall of 1865 with nine other war-
riors I went into Mexico on foot. We
attacked several settlements south of Casa
Grande, and collected many horses and
mules. We made our way northward with
these animals through the mountains. When
near Arispe we made camp one evening,
and thinking that we were not heing trailed,
turned loose the whole herd, even those we
had been riding. They were in a valley sur-
rounded by steep mountains, and we were
camped at the mouth of this valley so that
the animals could not leave without coming
through our camp. Just as we had begun
to eat our supper our scouts came in and an-
nounced Mexican troops coming toward our
camp. We started for the horses, but troops
that our scouts had not seen were on the

79

GERONIMO

cliffs above us, and opened fire. We scat-
tered in all directions, and the troops re-
covered all our booty. In three days we
reassembled at our appointed place of ren-
dezvous in the Sierra Madre Mountains in
northern Sonora. Mexican troops did not
follow us, and we returned to Arizona with-
out any more fighting and with no booty.
Again I had nothing to say, but I was anx-
ious for another raid.

Early the next summer (1866) I took
thirty mounted warriors and invaded Mex-
ican territory. We went south through
Chihuahua as far as Santa Cruz, Sonora,
then crossed over the Sierra Madre Moun-
tains, following the river course at the south
end of the range. We kept on westward
from the Sierra Madre Mountains to the
Sierra de Sahuripa Mountains, and fol-
lowed that range northward. We collected
all the horses, mules, and cattle we wanted,
and drove them northward through Sonora
into Arizona. Mexicans saw us at many

80

>

>—l

o

S3
W

w

0

o

c

o

C

C

K

sc

w

K

3

w ►>

H

EB

o
p

o

— •

p

VARYING FORTUNES

times and in many places, but they did not
attack us at any time, nor did any troops
attempt to follow us. When we arrived at
our homes we gave presents to all, and the
tribe feasted and danced. During this raid
we had killed about fifty Mexicans.

Next year (1867) Mangus-Colorado led
eight warriors on a raid into Mexico. I
went as a warrior, for I was always glad
to fight the Mexicans. We rode south from
near Tombstone, Arizona, into Sonora,
Mexico. We attacked some cowboys, and
after a fight with them, in which two of
their number were killed, we drove all their
cattle northward. The second day we were
driving the cattle, but had no scouts out.
When we were not far from Arispe, Mexican
troops rode upon us. They were well armed
and well mounted, and when we first saw
them they were not half a mile away from
us. We left the cattle and rode as hard as
we could toward the mountains, but they
gained on us rapidly. Soon they opened

81

GERONIMO

fire, but were so far away from us that we
were unable to reach them with our arrows ;
finally we reached some timber, and, leaving
our ponies, fought from cover. Then the
Mexicans halted, collected our ponies, and
rode away across the plains toward Arispe,
driving the cattle with them. We stood and
watched them until they disappeared in the
distance, and then took up our march for
home.

We arrived home in five days with no vic-
tory to report, no spoils to divide, and not
even the ponies which we had ridden into
Mexico. This expedition was considered
disgraceful.

The warriors who had been with Mangus-
Colorado on this last expedition wanted to
return to Mexico. They were not satisfied,
besides they felt keenly the taunts of the
other warriors. Mangus-Colorado would
not lead them back, so I took command and
we went on foot, directly toward Arispe in
Sonora, and made our camp in the Sierra de

82

VARYING FORTUNES

Sahuripa Mountains. There were only six
of us, but we raided several settlements (at
night), captured many horses and mules,
and loaded them with provisions, saddles
and blankets. Then we returned to Arizona,
traveling only at night. When we arrived
at our camp we sent out scouts to prevent
any surprise by Mexicans, assembled the
tribe, feasted, danced, and divided the spoils.
Mangus-Colorado would not receive any of
this booty, but we did not care. No Mex-
ican troops followed us to Arizona.

About a year after this (1868) Mexican
troops rounded up all the horses and mules
of the tribe not far from our settlement.
No raids had been made into Mexico that
year, and we were not expecting any at-
tacks. We were all in camp, having just
returned from hunting.

About two o'clock in the afternoon two
Mexican scouts were seen near our settle-
ment. We killed these scouts, but the troops
got under way with the herd of our horses

83

GERONIMO

and mules before we saw them. It was use-
less to try to overtake them on foot, and
our tribe had not a horse left. I took twenty
warriors and trailed them. We found the
stock at a cattle ranch in Sonora, not far
from Nacozari, and attacked the cowboys
who had them in charge. We killed two
men and lost none. After the fight we
drove off our own stock and all of theirs.

We were trailed by nine cowboys. I
sent the stock on ahead and with three war-
riors stayed in the rear to intercept any at-
tacking parties. One night when near the
Arizona line we discovered these cowboys
on our trail and watched them camp for the
night and picket their horses. About mid-
night we stole into their camp and silently
led away all their horses, leaving the cow-
boys asleep. Then we rode hard and over-
took our companions, who always traveled
at night instead of in the daytime. We
turned these horses in with the herd and fell
back to again intercept anyone who might

84

VARYING FORTUNES

trail us. What these nine cowboys did next
morning I do not know, and I have never
heard the Mexicans say anything about it;
I know they did not follow us, for we were
not molested. When we arrived in camp at
home there was great rejoicing in the tribe.
It was considered a good trick to get the
Mexicans' horses and leave them asleep in
the mountains.

It was a long time before we again went
into Mexico or were disturbed by the Mex-
icans.

8/5

CHAPTER X

OTHER RAIDS

WHEN reading the foregoing chap-
ters of Apache raids one not ac-
quainted with the lawlessness of the frontier
might wonder how this tendency of the
Apaches was developed to such a marked
degree; but one acquainted with the real
conditions — the disregard for law by both
Mexicans and white men along the border
line of Old Mexico and Arizona in early
days — can readily understand where the
Apache got his education in the art of con-
ducting lawless raids. In order, therefore,
that those who are unacquainted with the
conditions as they were in southern Arizona
during the eighties, may understand the en-
vironment of the Apaches, this chapter is
given. The events herein narrated are taken

86

'''»', ' ' . ' , ' '

* )

> >

, •

OTHER RAIDS

by the author from many accounts given
him by reliable men who lived in this section
of country during the period mentioned.

Raid by White Men

In 1882 a company of six Mexican tra-
ders, who were known as " smugglers " be-
cause they evaded duties on goods which
they brought into United States and sold
in Arizona, were camped in Skeleton Canon,
ten miles north of the north line of Old
Mexico. They were known to carry large
sums of money, but as they were always
armed and ready to defend their possessions
they were not often molested. However, on
this occasion, just as they were rising in the
morning to prepare their breakfast, five
white men opened fire on them from ambush
and all save one of the Mexicans were killed.
This one, though wounded, finally made his
escape. A few days after the killing some
cowboys on a round-up camped at this
place and buried the remains (what the

87

GERONIMO

coyotes had left) of these five Mexicans.
Two years later, at the same place, a cow-
boy found a leather bag containing seventy-
two Mexican dollars, which small amount
of money had been overlooked by the
robbers.

The men who did this killing lived in
Arizona for many years afterwards, and
although it was known that they had com-
mitted the depredation, no arrests followed,
and no attempt was made by any of the
Mexicans to recover the property of their
fellow citizens.

Meancan Raid

In 1884 a cattleman and four cowboys
from his ranch started to drive some fat
cattle to market at Tombstone, Arizona.
The route they took led partly through Old
Mexico and partly through Arizona. One
night they camped in a canon just south of
the Mexican border. Next morning at day-
light, the cowboy who had been on herd

88

OTHER RAIDS

duty the last half of the night had just come
in and aroused the camp when the Mexicans
opened fire on them from ambush. The cat-
tleman and one of the cowboys were severely
wounded at the first volley and took shelter
behind the camp wagon, from which posi-
tion they fired as long as their ammunition
lasted. The other three were only slightly
wounded and reached cover, but only one
escaped with his life. He remained in hid-
ing for two days before his comrades found
him. He saw the Mexicans rob the bodies
of the dead and lead away their saddle
horses, after having cooked breakfast for
themselves in the deserted camp. He was
severely wounded and all his ammunition
was gone, hence he could only wait.

On the second day after this raid some of
the cattle strayed back to the old ranch,
thereby giving notice to the cowboys that
there had been foul play. They found their
wounded companions lying delirious near
the decaying bodies of their comrades. No

89

GERONIMO

arrests were ever made in Mexico for these
murders, and no attempt was made to re-
cover damage or prosecute the robbers. The
two instances above narrated will serve to
show the reader what kind of an example
was set for the Apaches by at least a portion
of the inhabitants of the two Christian na-
tions with whom they came in contact.

Apache Raids

It is thought well to give in this chapter
some of the depredations of the Apaches,
not told by Geronimo. They are given as
told by our own citizens and from the white
man's point of view.

In 1884 Judge McCormick and wife, ac-
companied by their young son, were driving
from Silver City to Lordsburg, when they
were ambushed by Apaches. The bodies of
the adults were found soon afterward, but
the child's body was never recovered. Years
afterwards, an Apache squaw told some of
the settlers in Arizona that the little boy

90

OTHER RAIDS

(about eight years old) cried so much and
was so stubborn that they had to kill him,
although their original intention was to
spare his life.

In 1882 a man named Hunt was wounded
in a row in a saloon in Tombstone, Arizona.
During this row two other men had been
killed, and, to avoid arrest, Hunt and his
brother went into the mountains and camped
about ten miles north of Willow Springs to
await the healing of his wounds. A few
days after they came there, Apache Indians
attacked them and killed the wounded
brother, but the other, by hard riding, made
good his escape.

In 1883 two Eastern boys went into Ari-
zona to prospect. Their real outing began
at Willow Springs, where they had stayed
two days with the cowboys. These cowboys
had warned them against the Apaches, but
the young men seemed entirely fearless, and
pushed on into the mountains. On the
second morning after they left the settle-

91

GERONIMO

ment, one of the boys was getting breakfast
while the other went to bring in the pack
horses that had been hobbled and turned
loose the night before to graze. Just about
the time he found his horses, two Apache
warriors rode out from cover toward him
and he made a hasty retreat to camp, jump-
ing off of a bluff and in so doing breaking
his leg.

A consultation was then held between
the two Easterners and it was decided that
perhaps all the stories they had been told
of the Apache raids were true, and that
it was advisable to surrender. Accordingly
a white handkerchief was tied to the end of
a pole and raised cautiously above the top of
the bluff. In about ten minutes the two
Indians — one a very old warrior and the
other a mere boy, evidently his son — rode
into camp and dismounted. The old war-
rior examined the broken limb, then without
a word proceeded to take off the shirt of
the uninjured youth, with strips of which he

92

OTHER RAIDS

carefully bound up the broken leg. After
this the two Indians ate the prepared break-
fast and remounted their ponies. Then the
old warrior, indicating the direction with his
thumb, said " Doctor — Lordsburg — three
days," and silently rode away. The young
men rode twenty-five miles to Sansimone,
where the cowboys fitted them out with a
wagon to continue their journey to Lords-
burg, seventy-five miles further, where a
physician's services could be secured.

In 1883 two prospectors, Alberts and
Reese by name, were driving a team, con-
sisting of a horse and a mule, through Tur-
key Creek bottoms, when they were shot by
the Indians. The wagon and harness were
left in the road, and the mule was found
dead in the road two hundred yards from
that place. Evidently the Indians had not
much use for him. The guns of the pros-
pectors were found later, but the horse they
drove was not recovered.

In none of the above-named instances

93

GERONIMO

were the bodies of the victims mutilated.
However, there are many recorded instances
in which the Apache Indians did mutilate
the bodies of their victims, but it is claimed
by Geronimo that these were outlawed In-
dians, as his regular warriors were in-
structed to scalp none except those killed in
battle, and to torture none except to make
them reveal desired information.

In 1884 two cowboys in the employment
of the Sansimone Cattle Company were
camped at Willow Springs, eighteen miles
southwest of Skeleton Canon, and not far
from Old Mexico. Just at sundown their
camp was surrounded by Apaches in war
paint, who said that they had been at war
with the Mexicans and wished to return to
the United States. There were about
seventy-five Indians in the whole tribe, the
squaws and children coming up later. They
had with them about one hundred and fifty
Mexican horses. The Indians took posses-
sion of the camp and remained for about ten

94

OTHER RAIDS

days, getting their supplies of meat by kill-
ing cattle of the company.

With this band of Indians was a white
boy about fourteen years old, who had evi-
dently been with them from infancy, for he
could not speak a word of English, and did
not understand much Spanish, but spoke the
Apache language readily.

They would allow but one of the cow-
boys to leave camp at a time, keeping the
other under guard. They had sentinels with
sypglasses on all the hills and peaks sur-
rounding the camp.

One evening when one of the cowboys,
William Berne, had been allowed to pass out
of the camp, he noticed an Indian dis-
mounted and, as he approached, discovered
that the Indian had him under range of his
rifle. He immediately dismounted, and
standing on the opposite side from the red-
skin, threw his own Winchester across his
horse's neck, when the Indian sprang on his
horse and galloped toward him at full

95

GERONIMO

speed, making signs to him not to shoot, and
when he approached him, dismounted and
pointing to the ground, showed Berne many
fresh deer tracks. Then, as an understand-
ing had been established, the cowboy re-
mounted and went on his way, leaving the
Apache to hunt the deer.

One day when this cowboy was about ten
miles from camp, he found two splendid
horses of the Indians. These horses had
strayed from the herd. Thinking that they
would in a way compensate for the cattle
the Apaches were eating, he drove them on
for about five miles into a canon where there
was plenty of grass and water and left them
there, intending to come back after the de-
parture of the Indians and take possession
of them.

On the tenth day after the arrival of this
band of Indians, United States troops, ac-
companied by two Indians who had been
sent to make the arrangements, arrived in
camp, paid for the cattle the Apaches had

96

o
a*

3

o

O

•-i
a
a

o

M

3= o

«^

n

c-t-
5'

3

OTHER RAIDS

eaten, took the Indians and their stock, and
moved on toward Fort Bowie. The cowboys
immediately started for the canon where the
two horses had been left, but had not gone
far when they met two Indians driving these
horses in front of them as they pushed on
to overtake the tribe.

Evidently the shrewdness of the paleface
had not outwitted the red man that time.

Geronimo says he was in no wise con-
nected with the events herein mentioned, but
refuses to state whether he knows anything
about them. He holds it unmanly to tell of
any depredations of red men except those
for which he was responsible.

Such were the events transpiring in
" Apache land " during the days when Ge-
ronimo was leading his warriors to avenge
the " wrongs " of his people. This chapter
will serve to show that the Apache had
plenty of examples of lawlessness furnished
him, and also that he was a very apt scholar
in this school of savage lawlessness.

97

CHAPTER XI

HEAVY FIGHTING

ABOUT 1873 we were again attacked
^ by Mexican troops in our settlement,
but we defeated them. Then we decided to
make raids into Mexico. We moved our
whole camp, packing all our belongings on
mules and horses, went into Mexico and
made camp in the mountains near Nacori.
In moving our camp in this way we wanted
no one to spy on us, and if we passed a
Mexican's home we usually killed the in-
mates. However, if they offered to sur-
render and made no resistance or trouble in
any way, we would take them prisoners.
Frequently we would change our place of
rendezvous ; then we would take with us our
prisoners if they were willing to go, but if
they were unruly they might be killed. I

remember one Mexican in the Sierra Madre

98

HEAVY FIGHTING

Mountains who saw us moving and delayed
us for some time. We took the trouble to
get him, thinking the plunder of his house
would pay us for the delay, but after we
had killed him we found nothing in his
house worth having. We ranged in these
mountains for over a year, raiding the Mex-
ican settlements for our supplies, but not
having any general engagement with Mex-
ican troops; then we returned to our homes
in Arizona. After remaining in Arizona
about a year we returned to Mexico, and
went into hiding in the Sierra Madre Moun-
tains. Our camp was near Nacori, and we
had just organized bands of warriors for
raiding the country, when our scouts dis-
covered Mexican troops coming toward our
camp to attack us.

Battle of White Hill
The chief of the Nedni Apaches, Whoa,
was with me and commanded one division.
The warriors were all marched toward the

99

GERONIMO

troops and met them at a place about five
miles from our camp. We showed our-
selves to the soldiers and they quickly rode
to the top of a hill and dismounted, placing
their horses on the outside for breastworks.
It was a round hill, very steep and rocky,
and there was no timber on its sides. There
were two companies of Mexican cavalry, and
we had about sixty warriors. We crept up
the hill behind the rocks, and they kept up a
constant fire, but I had cautioned our war-
riors not to expose themselves to the Mex-
icans.

I knew that the troopers would waste
their ammunition. Soon we had killed all
their horses, but the soldiers would lie be-
hind these and shoot at us. While we had
killed several Mexicans, we had not yet lost
a man. However, it was impossible to get
very close to them in this way, and I deemed
it best to lead a charge against them.

We had been fighting ever since about

one o'clock, and about the middle of the

100

>

"3

- -

o °
5!

re'

♦- <-+■

, ft

i &i

2

ft

3

P

P

r.

3"
.. rt

• >

1/3

3 3
it- ,

I o

f 3"

-

>-*5 l-C
CT W

3. 1

ft

ft »-h,

I©

ft

. ft

ii. ^ t

O
O 3

■''■'*

HEAVY FIGHTING

afternoon, seeing that we were making no
further progress, I gave the sign for the
advance. The war-whoop sounded and we
leaped forward from every stone over the
Mexicans' dead horses, fighting hand to
hand. The attack was so sudden that the
Mexicans, running first this way and then
that, became so confused that in a few min-
utes we had killed them all. Then we
scalped the slain, carried away our dead, and
secured all the arms we needed. That night
we moved our camp eastward through the
Sierra Madre Mountains into Chihuahua.
No troops molested us here and after about
a year we returned to Arizona.

Almost every year we would live a part^
of the time in Old Mexico. There were at
this time many settlements in Arizona;
game was not plentiful, and besides we liked |
to go down into Old Mexico. Besides, the J
lands of the Nedni Apaches, our friends and
kinsmen, extended far into Mexico. Their
Chief, Whoa, was as a brother to me, and

101

GERONIMO

we spent much of our time in his terri-
tory.

About 1880 we were in camp in the moun-
tains south of Casa Grande, when a com-
pany of Mexican troops attacked us. There
were twenty-four Mexican soldiers and
about forty Indians. The Mexicans sur-
prised us in camp and fired on us, killing
two Indians the first volley. I do not know
how they were able to find our camp unless
they had excellent scouts and our guards
were careless, but there they were shooting
at us before we knew they were near. We
were in the timber, and I gave the order to
go forward and fight at close range. We
kept behind rocks and trees until we came
within ten yards of their line, then we stood
up and both sides shot until all the Mexicans
were killed. We lost twelve warriors in this
battle.

This place was called by the Indians

" Sko-la-ta." When we had buried our dead

and secured what supplies the Mexicans had,

102

HEAVY FIGHTING

we went northeast. At a place near Nacori
Mexican troops attacked us. At this place,
called by the Indians " Nokode," there were
about eighty warriors, Bedonkohe and
Nedni Apaches. There were three com-
panies of Mexican troops. They attacked
us in an open field, and \ve scattered, firing
as we ran. They followed us, but we dis-
persed, and soon were free from their pur-
suit; then we reassembled in the Sierra
Madre Mountains. Here a council was
held, and as Mexican troops were coming
from many quarters, we disbanded.

In about four months we reassembled at ^t
Casa Grande to make a treaty of peace.
The chiefs of the town of Casa Grande,
and all of the men of Casa Grande, made a
treaty with us. We shook hands and prom-
ised to be brothers. Then we began to trade,
and the Mexicans gave us mescal. Soon
nearly all the Indians were drunk. While
they were drunk two companies of Mexican
troops, from, another town, attacked us,

103

GERONIMO

killed twenty Indians, and captured many
more.1 We fled in all directions.

i It is impossible to get Geronimo to understand that
these troops served the general government instead of any
particular town. He still thinks each town independent
and each city a separate tribe. He cannot understand the
relation of cities to the general government.

104

CHAPTER XII

GERONIMO's MIGHTIEST BATTLE

AFTER the treachery and massacre of
L Casa Grande we did not reassemble
for a long while, and when we did we re-
turned to Arizona. We remained in Ari-jJ
zona for some time, living in San Carlos
Reservation, at a place now called Geron-
imo. In 1883 we went into Mexico again.
We remained in the mountain ranges of
Mexico for about fourteen months, and dur-
ing this time we had many skirmishes with
Mexican troops. In 1884 we returned to/|»
Arizona to get other Apaches to come with
us into Mexico. The Mexicans were gath-
ering troops in the mountains where we had
been ranging, and their numbers were so
much greater than ours that we could not
hope to fight them successfully, and we were

105

GERONIMO

tired of being chased about from place to
place.

In Arizona we had trouble with the
United States soldiers (explained in next
chapter) and returned to Mexico.

We had lost about fifteen warriors in
Arizona, and had gained no recruits. With
our reduced number we camped in the moun-
tains north of Arispe. Mexican troops were
seen by our scouts in several directions. The
United States troops were coming down
from the north. We were well armed with
guns and supplied with ammunition, but we
did not care to be surrounded by the troops
of two governments, so we started to move
our camp southward.

One night we made camp some distance
from the mountains by a stream. There
was not much water in the stream, but a
deep channel was worn through the prairie
and small trees were beginning to grow here
and there along the bank of this stream.

In those days we never camped without

106

HIS MIGHTEST BATTLE

placing scouts, for we knew that we were
liable to be attacked at any time. The next
morning just at daybreak our scouts came in,
aroused the camp, and notified us that Mex-
ican troops were approaching. Within five
minutes the Mexicans began firing on us.
We took to the ditches made by the stream,
and had the women and children busy dig-
ging these deeper. I gave strict orders to
waste no ammunition and keep under cover.
We killed many Mexicans that day and in
turn lost heavily, for the fight lasted all day.
Frequently troops would charge at one point,
be repulsed, then rally and charge at another
point.

About noon we began to hear them speak-
ing my name with curses. In the afternoon
the general came on the field and the fight-
ing became more furious. I gave orders to
my warriors to try to kill all the Mexican
officers. About three o'clock the general
called all the officers together at the right
side of the field. The place where they as-

107

GERONIMO

sembled was not very far from the main
stream, and a little ditch ran out close to
where the officers stood. Cautiously I
crawled out this ditch very close to where
the council was being held. The general was
an old warrior. The wind was blowing in
my direction, so that I could hear all he said,
and 1 1 understood most of it. This is about
what he told them: "Officers, yonder in
those ditches is the red devil Geronimo and
his hated band. This must be his last day.
Ride on him from both sides of the ditches ;
kill men, women, and children ; take no pris-
oners; dead Indians are what we want. Do
not spare your own men; exterminate this
band at any cost ; I will post the wounded to
shoot all deserters; go back to your com-
panies and advance."

Just as the command to go forward was
given I took deliberate aim at the general
and he fell. In an instant the ground
around me was riddled with bullets, but I

i Geronimo has a fair knowledge of the Spanish language.

108

o

or

r

n'

o

-*>

*

o

W

-hi

E

3

o

0

—

3

»T*

rs

0)

a

O
w

o

3

HIS MIGHTEST BATTLE

was untouched. The Apaches had seen.
From all along the ditches arose the fierce
war-cry of my people. The columns wav-
ered an instant and then swept on; they did
not retreat until our fire had destroyed the
front ranks.

After this their fighting was not so fierce,
yet they continued to rally and readvance
until dark. They also continued to speak
my name with threats and curses. That
night before the firing had ceased a dozen
Indians had crawled out of the ditches and
set fire to the long prairie grass behind the
Mexican troops. During the confusion that
followed we escaped to the mountains.

This was the last battle that I ever fought
with Mexicans. United States troops were,
trailing us continually from this time until
the treaty was made with General Miles in
Skeleton Canon.

During my many wars with the Mexicans
I received eight wounds, as follows: shot in
the right leg above the knee, and still carry

109

GERONIMO

the bullet; shot through the left forearm;
wounded in the right leg below the knee with
a saber ; wounded on top of the head with the
butt of a musket; shot just below the outer
corner of the left eye ; shot in left side ; shot
in the back. I have killed many Mexicans ;
I do not know how many, for frequently I
did not count them. Some of them were
not worth counting.

It has been a long time since then, but still
I have no love for the Mexicans. With me
they were always treacherous and malicious.
I am old now and shall never go on the war-
path again, but if I were young, and fol-
lowed the warpath, it would lead into Old
Mexico.

no

PART III

THE WHITE MEN

CHAPTER XIII

COMING OF THE WHITE MEN

ABOUT the time of the massacre of
fc "Kaskiyeh" (1858) we heard that
some white men were measuring land to the
south of us. In company with a number of
other warriors I went to visit them. We
could not understand them very well, for we
had no interpreter, but we made a treaty
with them by shaking hands and promising
to be brothers. Then we made our camp
near their camp, and they came to trade
with us. We gave them buckskin, blankets,
and ponies in exchange for shirts and pro-
visions. We also brought them game, for
which they gave us some money. We did
not know the value of this money, but we
kept it and later learned from the Navajo
Indians that it was very valuable.

113

GERONIMO

Every day they measured land with curi-
ous instruments and put down marks which
we could not understand. They were good
men, and we were sorry when they had gone
on into the west. They were not soldiers.
These were the first white men I ever saw.

About ten years later some more white
men came. These were all warriors. They
made their camp on the Gila River south of
Hot Springs. At first they were friendly
and we did not dislike them, but they were
not as good as those who came first.

After about a year some trouble arose
between them and the Indians, and I took
the warpath as a warrior, not as a chief.1 I
had not been wronged, but some of my peo-
ple had been, and I fought with my tribe;
for the soldiers and not the Indians were at
fault.

Not long after this some of the officers
of the United States troops invited our

i As a tribe they would fight under their tribal chief,
Mangus-Colorado. If several tribes had been called out, the
war chief, Geronimo, would have commanded.

114

THE WHITE MEN

leaders to hold a conference at Apache Pass
(Fort Bowie). Just before noon the In-
dians were shown into a tent and told that
they would be given something to eat.
When in the tent they were2 attacked by
soldiers. Our chief, Mangus- Colorado,
and several other warriors, by cutting
through the tent, escaped; but most of the
warriors were killed or captured. Among
the Bedonkohe Apaches killed at this time
were Sanza, Kladetahe, Niyokahe, and
Gopi. After this treachery the Indians
went back to the mountains and left the

2 Regarding this attack, Mr. L. C. Hughes, editor of
The Star, Tucson, Arizona, to whom I was referred by
General Miles, writes as follows:

*'It appears that Cochise and his tribe had been on the
warpath for some time and he with a number of sub-
ordinate chiefs was brought into the military camp at
Bowie under the promise that a treaty of peace was to
Ito held, when they were taken into a large tent where
handcuffs were put upon them. Cochise, seeing this, cut
his way through the tent and fled to the mountains; and
in less than six hours had surrounded the camp with from
three to five hundred warriors; but the soldiers refused to
make fight/'

115

GERONIMO

fort entirely alone. I do not think that the
agent had anything to do with planning
this, for he had always treated us well. I
believe it was entirely planned by the
soldiers.

From3 the very first the soldiers sent out
to our western country, and the officers in
charge of them, did not hesitate to wrong
the Indians. They never explained to the
Government when an Indian was wronged,
but always reported the misdeeds of the In-
dians. Much that was done by mean white
men was reported at Washington as the
deeds of my people.

The Indians always tried to live peace-
ably with the white soldiers and settlers.
One day during the time that the soldiers
were stationed at Apache Pass I made a
treaty with the post. This was done by shak-
ing hands and promising to be brothers.
Cochise and Mangus- Colorado did likewise.

* This sweeping statement is more general than we are
willing to concede, yet it may be more nearly true than
our own accounts.

116

THE WHITE MEN

I do not know the name of the officer in
command, but this was the first regiment
that ever came to Apache Pass. This treaty
was made about a year before we were at-
tacked in a tent, as above related. In a few
days after the attack at Apache Pass we or-
ganized in the mountains and returned to
fight the soldiers. There were two tribes —
the Bedonkohe and the Chokonen Apaches,
both commanded by Cochise. After a few
days' skirmishing we attacked a freight train
that was coming in with supplies for the
Fort. We killed some of the men and cap-
tured the others. These prisoners our chief
offered to trade for the Indians whom the
soldiers had captured at the massacre in the
tent. This the officers refused, so we killed
our prisoners, disbanded, and went into hid-
ing in the mountains. Of those who took
part in this affair I am the only one now
living.

In a few days troops were sent out to
search for us, but as we were disbanded, it

117

GERONIMO

was, of course, impossible for them to locate

any hostile camp. During the time they

were searching for us many of our war-

yv riors (who were thought by the soldiers to

£ be peaceable Indians) talked to the officers
and men, advising them where they might
find the camp they sought, and while they
searched we watched them from our hiding
places and laughed at their failures.

VL After this trouble all of the Indians
agreed not to be friendly with the white men
any more. There was no general engage-
ment, but a long struggle followed. Some-
times we attacked the white men — sometimes
they attacked us. First a few Indians
would be killed and then a few soldiers. I
think the killing was about equal on each
side. The number killed in these troubles
did not amount to much, but this treachery
on the part of the soldiers had angered the
Indians and revived memories of other
wrongs, so that we never again trusted the
United States troops.

118

Quanah Parker
Chief of Comanche Indians

CHAPTER XIV

GREATEST OF WRONGS

PERHAPS the greatest wrong ever f
done to the Indians was the treat-
ment received by our tribe from the United
States troops about 1863. The chief of our
tribe, Mangus-Colorado, went to make a
treaty of peace for our people with the
white settlement at Apache Tejo, New Mex-
ico. It had been reported to us that the
white men in this settlement were more
friendly and more reliable than those in Ari-
zona, that they would live up to their treaties
and would not wrong the Indians.

Mangus-Colorado, with three other war-
riors, went to Apache Tejo and held a coun-
cil with these citizens and soldiers. They
told him that if he would come with his tribe
and live near them, they would issue to him,
from the Government, blankets, flour, pro-

119

GERONIMO

visions, beef, and all manner of supplies.
Our chief promised to return to Apache
Tejo within two weeks. When he came
back to our settlement he assembled the
whole tribe in council. I did not believe that
the people at Apache Tejo would do as they
said and therefore I opposed the plan, but
it was decided that with part of the tribe
Mangus-Colorado should return to Apache
Tejo and receive an issue of rations and sup-
plies. If they were as represented, and if
these white men would keep the treaty faith-
fully, the remainder of the tribe would join
him and we would make our permanent home
at Apache Tejo. I was to remain in charge
of that portion of the tribe which stayed in
Arizona. We gave almost all of our arms
and ammunition to the party going to
Apache Tejo, so that in case there should
be treachery they would be prepared for
any surprise. Mangus-Colorado and about
half of our people went to New Mexico,

happy that now they had found white men

120

II

GREATEST OF WRONGS

who would be kind to them, and with whom
they could live in peace and plenty.

No word ever came to us from them.
From other sources, however, we heard that
they had been treacherously * captured and
slain. In this dilemma we did not know just
exactly what to do, but fearing that the
troops who had captured them would attack
us, we retreated into the mountains near
Apache Pass.

During the weeks that followed the de-
parture of our people we had been in sus-
pense, and failing to provide more supplies,
had exhausted all of our store of provisions.
This was another reason for moving camp.
On this retreat, while passing through the
mountains, we discovered four men with a
herd of cattle. Two of the men were in
front in a buggy and two were behind on

i General Miles telegraphed from Whipple Barracks,}
Arizona, Sept. 24, 1886, relative to the surrender of the
Apaches. Among other things he said : " Mangus-Colorado
had years ago been foully murdered after he had sur-J
rendered."

121

GERONIMO

horseback. We killed all four, but did not
scalp them; they were not warriors. We
drove the cattle back into the mountains,
made a camp, and began to kill the cattle
and pack the meat.

Before we had finished this work we were
surprised and attacked by United States
troops, who killed in all seven Indians — one
warrior, three women, and three children.
The Government troops were mounted and
so were we, but we were poorly armed, hav-
ing given most of our weapons to the divi-
sion of our tribe that had gone to Apache
iTejo, so we fought mainly with spears, bows,
and arrows. At first I had a spear, a bow,
and a few arrows; but in a short time my
spear and all my arrows were gone. Once
I was surrounded, but by dodging from side
to side of my horse as he ran I escaped. It
was necessary during this fight for many of
the warriors to leave their horses and escape
on foot. But my horse was trained to come

at call, and as soon as I reached a safe place,

122

GREATEST OF WRONGS

if not too closely pursued, I would call him
to me.2 During this fight we scattered in all
directions and two days later reassembled at
our appointed place of rendezvous, about
fifty miles from the scene of this battle.

About ten days later the same United
States troops attacked our new camp at sun-
rise. The fight lasted all day, but our ar-
rows and spears were all gone before ten
o'clock, and for the remainder of the day we
had only rocks and clubs with which to fight.
We could do little damage with these weap-
ons, and at night we moved our camp about
four miles back into the mountains where it
would be hard for the cavalry to follow us.
The next day our scouts, who had been left
behind to observe the movements of the sol-
diers, returned, saying that the troops had
gone back toward San Carlos Reservation.

A few days after this we were again at-
tacked by another company of United

2 Geronimo often calls his horses to him in Fort Sill
Reservation. He gives only one shrill note and they run
to him at full speed.

123

GERONIMO

States troops. Just before this fight we had
been joined by a band of Chokonen Indians
under Cochise, who took command of both
divisions. We were repulsed, and decided
to disband.

After we had disbanded our tribe the
Bedonkohe Apaches reassembled near their
old camp vainly waiting for the return of
Mangus-Colorado and our kinsmen. No
tidings came save that they had all been
treacherously slain.3 Then a council was
held, and as it was believed that Mangus-
Colorado was dead, I was elected Tribal
Chief.

For a long time we had no trouble with
anyone. It was more than a year after I
had been made Tribal Chief that United
States troops surprised and attacked our
camp. They killed seven children, five
women, and four warriors, captured all our

3 Regarding the killing of Mangus-Colorado, "L. C.
Hughes of the Tucson, Ariz., Star, writes as follows: "It
was early in the year '63, when General West and his
troops were camped near Membras, that he sent Jack

121-

GREATEST OF WRONGS

supplies, blankets, horses, and clothing, and
destroyed our tepees. We had nothing left ;
winter was beginning, and it was the cold-
est winter I ever knew. After the soldiers
withdrew I took three warriors and trailed
them. Their trail led back toward San
Carlos.

Swilling, a scout, to bring in Mangus, who had been on
the warpath ever since the time of the incident with
Cochise at Bowie. The old chief was always for peace,
and gladly accepted the proffer; when he appeared at the
camp General West ordered him put into the guard-house,
in which there was only a small opening in the rear and
but one small window. As the old chief entered he said:
4 This is my end. I shall never again hunt over the
mountains and through the valleys of my people.' He
felt that he was to be assassinated. The guards were given
orders to shoot him if he attempted to escape. He lay
down and tried to sleep, but during the night, someone
threw a large stone which struck him in the breast. He
sprang up and in his delirium the guards thought he was
attempting escape and several of them shot him; this was
the end of Mangus.

" His head was severed from his body by a surgeon,
and the brain taken out and weighed. The head meas-
ured larger than that of Daniel Webster, and the brain
was of corresponding weight. The skull was sent to
Washington, and is now on exhibition at the Smith-
sonian Institution."

125

CHAPTER XV

REMOVALS

WHILE returning from trailing the
Government troops we saw two
men, a Mexican and a white man, and shot
them off their horses. With these two
horses we returned and moved our camp.
My people were suffering much and it was
deemed advisable to go where we could get
more provisions. Game was scarce in our
range then, and since I had been Tribal
Chief I had not asked for rations from the
Government, nor did I care to do so, but we
did not wish to starve.

We had heard that Chief Victoria of the
Chihenne (Oje Caliente) Apaches was hold-
ing a council with the white men near Hot
Springs in New Mexico, and that he had
plenty of provisions. We had always been

126

REMOVALS

on friendly terms with this tribe, and Vic-
toria was especially kind to my people.
With the help of the two horses we had cap-
tured, to carry our sick with us, we went to
Hot Springs. We easily found Victoria
and his band, and they gave us supplies for
the winter. We stayed with them for about
a year, and during this stay we had perfect
peace. We had not the least trouble with
Mexicans, white men, or Indians. When we
had stayed as long as we should, and had
again accumulated some supplies, we de-
cided to leave Victoria's band. When I told
him that we were going to leave he said that
we should have a feast and dance before we
separated.

The festivities were held about two miles
above Hot Springs, and lasted for four
days. There were about four hundred In-
dians at this celebration. I do not think we
ever spent a more pleasant time than upon
this occasion. No one ever treated our tribe
more kindly than Victoria and his band. We

127

GERONIMO

are still proud to say that he and his people
were our friends.

When I went to Apache Pass (Fort
Bowie) I found General Howard * in com-
mand, and made a treaty with him. This
treaty lasted until long after General How-
ard had left our country. He always kept
his word with us and treated us as brothers.
We never had so good a friend among the
United States officers as General Howard.
We could have lived forever at peace with
him. If there is any pure, honest white man
in the United States army, that man is Gen-
eral Howard. All the Indians respect him,
and even to this day frequently talk of the
happy times when General Howard was in
command of our Post. After he went away
he placed an agent at Apache Pass who is-

i General O. O. Howard was not in command, but had
been sent by President Grant, in 1872, to make peace with
the Apache Indians. The general wrote me from Burling-
ton, Vt., under date of June 12, 1906, that he remembered
the treaty, and that he also remembered with much satisfac-
tion subsequently meeting Geronimo. — Editor.

128

REMOVALS

sued to us from the Government clothing,
rations, and supplies, as General Howard
directed. When beef was issued to the In-
dians I got twelve steers for my tribe, and
Cochise got twelve steers for his tribe. Ra-
tions were issued about once a month, but
if we ran out we only had to ask and we
were supplied. Now, as prisoners of war in
this Reservation, we do not get such good
rations.2

Out on the prairie away from Apache
Pass a man kept a store and saloon. Some
time after General Howard went away a
band of outlawed Indians killed this man,
and took away many of the supplies from
his store. On the very next day after this
some Indians at the Post were drunk on
"tiswin," which they had made from corn.
They fought among themselves and four of
them were killed. There had been quarrels
and feuds among them for some time, and

2 They do not receive full rations now, as they did then.

129

GEROXIMO

after this trouble we deemed it impossible to
keep the different bands together in peace.
Therefore we separated, each leader taking
his own band. Some of them went to San
Carlos and some to Old Mexico, but I took
my tribe back to Hot Springs and rejoined
Victoria's band.

ISO

XVI

IN PRISON AND ON THE WARPATH

SOON after we arrived in New Mexico
two companies of scouts were sent
from San Carlos. When they came to Hot
Springs they sent word for me and Victoria
to come to town. The messengers did not
say what they wanted with us, but as they
seemed friendly we thought they wanted a
council, and rode in to meet the officers. As
soon as we arrived in town soldiers met us,
disarmed us, and took us both to headquar-
ters, where we were tried by court-martial.
They asked us only a few questions and then
Victoria was released and I was sentenced
to the guardhouse. Scouts conducted me to
the guardhouse and put me in chains. When
I asked them why they did this they said
it was because I had left Apache Pass.

131

A

GERONIMO

I do not think that I ever belonged to
those soldiers at Apache Pass, or that I
should have asked them where I might go.
Our bands could no longer live in peace 1 to-
gether, and so we had quietly withdrawn,
expecting to live with Victoria's band, where
we thought we would not be molested. They
also sentenced seven other Apaches to chains
in the guardhouse.

I do not know why this was done, for
these Indians had simply followed me from
Apache Pass to Hot Springs. If it was
wrong (and I do not think it was wrong)
for us to go to Hot Springs, I alone was to
blame. They asked the soldiers in charge
why they were imprisoned and chained, but
received no answer.

I was kept a prisoner for four months,
during which time I was transferred to San

l Victoria, chief of the Hot Spring Apaches, met his
death in opposing the forcible removal of his band to a
reservation, because having previously tried and failed he
felt it impossible for separate bands of Apaches to live at
peace under such arrangement.

132

ON THE WARPATH

Carlos. Then I think I had another trial,
although I was not present. In fact I do
not know that I had another trial, but I was
told that I had, and at any rate I was re-
leased.

After this we had no more trouble with
the soldiers, but I never felt at ease any
longer at the Post. We were allowed to live
above San Carlos at a place now called
Geronimo. A man whom the Indians
called " Nick Golee " was agent at this place.
All went well here for a period of two years,
but we were not satisfied.

In the summer of 1883 a rumor was cur-
rent that the officers were again planning to
imprison our leaders. This rumor served
to revive the memory of all our past wrongs
— the massacre in the tent at Apache Pass,
the fate of Mangus- Colorado, and my own
unjust imprisonment, which might easily
have been death to me. Just at this time we
were told that the officers wanted us to come
up the river above Geronimo to a fort (Fort

133

GERONIMO

Tholnas) to hold a council with them. We
did not believe that any good could come of
this conference, or that there was any need
of it; so we held a council ourselves, and
fearing treachery, decided to leave the reser-
vation. We thought it more manly to die
on the warpath than to be killed in prison.

There were in all about 250 Indians,
chiefly the Bedonkohe and Nedni Apaches,
led by myself and Whoa. We went through
Apache Pass and just west of there had a
fight with the United States troops. In this
battle we killed three soldiers and lost none.

We went on toward Old Mexico, but on
the second day after this United States sol-
diers overtook us about three o'clock in the
afternoon and we fought until dark. The
ground where we were attacked was very
rough, which was to our advantage, for the
troops were compelled to dismount in order
to fight us. I do not know how many sol-
diers we killed, but we lost only one warrior
and three children. We had plenty of guns

134

ON THE WARPATH

and ammunition at this time. Many of the
guns and much ammunition we had accumu-
lated while living in the reservation, and the
remainder we had obtained from the White
Mountain Apaches when we left the reser-
vation.

Troops did not follow us any longer,
so we went south almost to Casa Grande
and camped in the Sierra de Sahuaripa
Mountains. We ranged in the mountains
of Old Mexico for about a year, then re-
turned to San Carlos, taking with us a herd
of cattle and horses.

Soon after we arrived at San Carlos the
officer in charge, General Crook, took the
horses and cattle away from us. I told him
that these were not white men's cattle, but
belonged to us, for we had taken them from
the Mexicans during our wars. I also told
him that we did not intend to kill these ani-
mals, but that we wished to keep them and
raise stock on our range. He would not lis-
ten to me, but took the stock. I went up

135

GERONIMO

near Forth Apache and General Crook or-
dered officers, soldiers, and scouts to see that
I was arrested; if I offered resistance they
were instructed to kill me.

This information was brought to me by
the Indians. When I learned of this pro-
posed action I left for Old Mexico, and
about four hundred Indians went with me.
They were the Bedonkohe, Chokonen, and
Nedni Apaches. At this time Whoa was
dead, and Naiche was the only chief with
me. We went south into Sonora and camped
in the mountains. Troops followed us, but
did not attack us until we were camped in
the mountains west of Casa Grande. Here
we were attacked by Government Indian
scouts. One boy was killed and nearly all of
our women and children were captured.2

After this battle we went south of Casa
Grande and made a camp, but within a few
days this camp was attacked by Mexican

2 Geronimo's whole family, excepting his eldest son, a
warrior, were captured.

136

ON THE WARPATH

soldiers. We skirmished with them all day,
killing a few Mexicans, but sustaining no
loss ourselves. B

That night we went east into the foothills
of the Sierra Madre Mountains and made
another camp. Mexican troops trailed us,
and after a few days attacked our camp
again. This time the Mexicans had a very
large army, and we avoided a general en-
gagement. It is senseless to fight when you
cannot hope to win.

That night we held a council of war; our
scouts had reported bands of United States
and Mexican troops at many points in the
mountains. We estimated that about two
thousand soldiers were ranging these moun-
tains seeking to capture us.

General Crook had come down into Mex-
ico with the United States troops. They
were camped in the Sierra de Antunez
Mountains. Scouts told me that General
Crook wished to see me and I went to his
camp. When I arrived General Crook said

137

4

GERONIMO

to me, " Why did you leave the reserva-
tion? " I said: " You told me that I might
live in the reservation the same as white peo-
ple lived. One year I raised a crop of corn,
and gathered and stored it, and the next year
I put in a crop of oats, and when the crop
was almost ready to harvest, you told your
soldiers to put me in prison, and if I resisted
to kill me. If I had been let alone I would
now have been in good circumstances, but
instead of that you and the Mexicans are
hunting me with soldiers." He said: "I
never gave any such orders; the troops at
Fort Apache, who spread this report, knew
that it was untrue." Then I agreed to go
back with him to San Carlos.

It was hard for me to believe him at that
time. Now I know that what he said was
untrue,3 and I firmly believe that he did issue
the orders for me to be put in prison, or to
be killed in case I offered resistance.

sGeronimo's exact words, for which the Editor disclaims
any responsibility.

138

CHAPTER XVII

THE FINAL STRUGGLE

WE started with all our tribe to go
with General Crook back to the
United States, but I feared treachery and
decided to remain in Mexico. We were
not under any guard at this time. The
United States troops marched in front and
the Indians followed, and when we became
suspicious, we turned back. I do not know
how far the United States army went after
myself, and some warriors turned back be-
fore we were missed, and I do not care.

I have suffered much from such unjust
orders as those of General Crook. Such acts
have caused much distress to my people. I
think that General Crook's death 1 was sent

i These are the exact words of Geronimo. The Editor is
not responsible for this criticism of General Crook.

139

GERONIMO

by the Almighty as a punishment for the
many evil deeds he committed.

Soon General Miles was made comman-
der of all the western posts, and troops
trailed us continually. They were led by
Captain Lawton, who had good scouts. The
Mexican2 soldiers also became more active
and more numerous. We had skirmishes
almost every day, and so we finally decided
to break up into small bands. With six men
and four women I made for the range of
mountains near Hot Springs, New Mex-
ico. We passed many cattle ranches, but
had no trouble with the cowboys. We killed
cattle to eat whenever we were in need of
food, but we frequently suffered greatly
for water. At one time we had no water for
two days and nights and our horses almost
died from thirst. We ranged in the moun-
tains of New Mexico for some time, then
thinking that perhaps the troops had left

2 Governor Torres of Sonora had agreed to cooperate
with our troops in exterminating or capturing this tribe.

140

THE FINAL STRUGGLE

Mexico, we returned. On our return through
Old Mexico we attacked every Mexican
found, even if for no other reason than to
kill. We believed they had asked the United
States troops to come down to Mexico to
fight us.

South of Casa Grande, near a place
called by the Indians Gosoda, there was
a road leading out from the town. There
was much freighting carried on by the Mex-
icans over this road. Where the road ran
through a mountain pass we stayed in hid-
ing, and whenever Mexican freighters
passed we killed them, took what supplies
we wanted, and destroyed the remainder.
We were reckless of our lives, because we
felt that every man's hand was against us.
If we returned to the reservation we would
be put in prison and killed; if we stayed in '
Mexico they would continue to send soldiers \
to fight us ; so we gave no quarter to anyone
and asked no favors.

After some time we left Gosoda and

141

-\

GERONIMO

soon were reunited with our tribe in the
Sierra de Antunez Mountains.

Contrary to our expectations the United
States soldiers had not left the mountains in
Mexico, and were soon trailing us and skir-
mishing with us almost every day. Four or
five times they surprised our camp. One
time they surprised us about nine o'clock in
the morning, and captured all our horses 3
(nineteen in number) and secured our store
of dried meats. We also lost three Indians
in this encounter. About the middle of the
afternoon of the same day we attacked them
from the rear as they were passing through
a prairie — killed one soldier, but lost none
ourselves. In this skirmish we recovered all
our horses except three that belonged to me.
The three horses that we did not recover
were the best riding horses we had.

Soon after this we made a treaty with the

3 Captain Lawton reports officially the same engagement
(see page 151), but makes no mention of the recapture (by the
Apaches) of the horses.

142

THE FINAL STRUGGLE

Mexican troops. They told us that the
United States troops were the real cause of
these wars, and agreed not to fight any more
with us provided we would return to the
United States. This we agreed to do,
and resumed our march, expecting to try to
make a treaty with the United States sol-
diers and return to Arizona. There seemed
to be no other course to pursue.

Soon after this scouts from Captain Law-
ton's troops told us that he wished to make
a treaty with us; but I knew that General
Miles was the chief of the American troops,
and I decided to treat with him.

We continued to move our camp north-
ward, and the American troops also moved
northward,4 keeping at no great distance
from us, but not attacking us.

I sent my brother Porico (White Horse)
with Mr. George Wratton on to Fort Bowie
to see General Miles, and to tell him that

4 See page 154.

143

GERONIMO

we wished to return to Arizona; but before
these messengers returned I met two Indian
scouts — Kayitah, a Chokonen Apache, and
Marteen, a Nedni Apache. They were serv-
ing as scouts for Captain Lawton's troops.
They told me that General Miles had come
and had sent them to ask me to meet him.
So I went to the camp of the United States
troops to meet General Miles.

When I arrived at their camp I went di-
rectly to General Miles and told him how I
had been wronged, and that I wanted to re-
turn to the United States with my people,
as we wished to see our families, who had
been captured 5 and taken away from us.

General Miles said to me : " The Presi-
dent of the United States has sent me to
speak to you. He has heard of your trou-
ble with the white men, and says that if you
will agree to a few words of treaty we need
have no more trouble. Geronimo, if you
will agree to a few words of treaty all will
be satisfactorily arranged."

BSee page 136.
144

GOTEBO

War Chief, Kiowa Indians

THE FINAL STRUGGLE

So General Miles told me how we could
be brothers to each other. We raised our
hands to heaven and said that the treaty was
not to be broken. We took an oath not to
do any wrong to each other or to scheme
against each other.

Then he talked with me for a long time
and told me what he would do for me in the
future if I would agree to the treaty. I did
not greatly believe General Miles, but be-
cause the President of the United States
had sent me word I agreed to make the
treaty, and to keep it. Then I asked Gen-
eral Miles what the treaty would be. Gen-
eral Miles said to me : 6 "I will take you
under Government protection; I will build
you a house; I will fence you much land;
I will give you cattle, horses, mules, and
farming implements. You will be fur-
nished with men to work the farm, for you
yourself will not have to work. In the fall
I will send you blankets and clothing so that

o For terms of treaty see page 154.

145

GERONIMO

you will not suffer from cold in the winter
time.

" There is plenty of timber, water, and
grass in the land to which I will send you.
You will live with your tribe and with your
family. If you agree to this treaty you shall
see your family within five days."

I said to General Miles: "All the of-
ficers that have been in charge of the Indians
have talked that way, and it sounds like a
story to me; I hardly believe you."

He said: " This time it is the truth."

I said : " General Miles, I do not know
the laws of the white man, nor of this new
country where you are to send me, and I
might break their laws."

He said: "While I live you will not be
arrested." ^

Then I agreed to make the treaty.
( Since I have been a prisoner of war I have
been arrested and placed in the guardhouse
twice for drinking whisky.)

We stood between his troopers and my

146

THE FINAL STRUGGLE

warriors. We placed a large stone on the
blanket before us. Our treaty was made by
this stone, and it was to last until the stone
should crumble to dust; so we made the
treaty, and bound each other with an oath.

I do not believe that I have ever violated
that treaty; but General Miles7 never ful-
filled his promises.

When we had made the treaty General
Miles said to me: " My brother, you have in
your mind how you are going to kill men,
and other thoughts of war; I want you to
put that out of your mind, and change your
thoughts to peace."

Then I agreed and gave up my arms. I
said: " I will quit the warpath and live at
peace hereafter."

Then General Miles swept a spot of
ground clear with his hand, and said: " Your
past deeds shall be wiped out like this and
you will start a new life."

i The criticisms of General Miles in the foregoing chapter
are from Geronimo, not from the Editor.

147

CHAPTER XVIII

SURRENDER OF GERONIMO

ON February 11, 1887, the Senate
passed the following resolution:
" Resolved, That the Secretary of War
be directed to communicate to the Senate all
dispatches of General Miles referring* to the
surrender of Geronimo, and all instruc-
tions given to and correspondence with Gen-
eral Miles in reference to the same." These
papers are published in the Senate Execu-
tive Documents, Second Session, 49th Con-
gress, 1886-7, Volume II, Nos. Ill to 125.
For an exhaustive account of the conditions
of Geronimo's surrender the reader is re-
ferred to that document, but this chapter is
given to show briefly the terms of surrender,
and corroborate, at least in part, the state-
ments made by Geronimo.

148

SURRENDER OF GERONIMO

Upon assuming command of the Depart-
ment of Arizona, General Nelson A. Miles
was directed by the War Department to use
most vigorous operations for the destruc-
tion or capture of the hostile Apaches.

The following extracts are from instruc-
tions issued April 20th, 1886, for the in-
formation and guidance of troops serving
in the southern portion of Arizona and New
Mexico.

"The chief object of the troops will be

to capture or destroy any band of hostile

Apache Indians found in this section of

country, and to this end the most vigorous

and persistent efforts will be required of

all officers and soldiers until the object is

accomplished."

. . . ' . •

" A sufficient number of reliable Indians
will be used as auxiliaries to discover any
signs of hostile Indians, and as trailers."

<<

To avoid any advantage the Indians

149

GERONIMO

*

may have by a relay of horses, where a
troop or squadron commander is near the
hostile Indians he will be justified in dis-
mounting one-half of his command and
selecting the lightest and best riders to make
pursuit by the most vigorous forced marches
until the strength of all the animals of his

command shall have been exhausted."
• • • • •

The following telegrams show the efforts
of the United States troops and the coop-
eration of Mexican troops under Governor
Torres :

" Headquarters Division of the Pacific,

" Presidio of San Francisco, Cal.

"July 22, 1886.
"Adjutant General,

"Washington, D. C:

" The following telegram just received
from General Miles:

" ' Captain Lawton reports, through
Colonel Royall, commanding at Fort
Huachuca, that his camp surprised Ge-

150

SURRENDER OF GERONIMO

ronimo's camp on Yongi River, about 130
miles south and east of Campas, Sonora,
or nearly 300 miles south of Mexican boun-
dary, capturing all the Indian property, in-
cluding hundreds of pounds of dried meat
and nineteen riding animals. This is the
fifth time within three months in which the
Indians have been surprised by the troops.
While the results have not been decisive,
yet it has given encouragement to the
troops, and has reduced the numbers and
strength of the Indians, and given them a
feeling of insecurity even in the remote and
almost inaccessible mountains of Old
Mexico.'

" In absence of division commander.
I "C. McKeever,

"Assistant Adjutant General."

151

GERONIMO

" Headquarters Division of the Pacific,
" Presidio of San Francisco, Cal.

M August 19, 1886.
"Adjutant General,

"Washington, D. C:

" Following received from General Miles,
dated 18th:

" ' Dispatches to-day from Governor
Torres, dated Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico,
from Colonels Forsyth and Beaumont,
commanding Huachuca and Bowie districts,
confirms the following: Geronimo with
forty Indians is endeavoring to make terms
of peace with Mexican authorities of Fron-
teraz district. One of our scouts, in return-
ing to Fort Huachuca from Lawton's
command, met him, Naiche, and thirteen
other Indians on their way to Fronteraz ; had
a long conversation with them; they said they
wanted to make peace, and looked worn and
hungry. Geronimo carried his right arm in
a sling, bandaged. The splendid work of
the troops is evidently having good effect.

152

SURRENDER OF GERONIMO

Should hostiles not surrender to the Mexican
authorities, Lawton's command is south of
them, and Wilder, with G and M troops,
Fourth Cavalry, moved south to Fronteraz,
and will be there by 20th. Lieutenant
Lockett, with an effective command, will
be in good position to-morrow, near Guada-
lupe Canon, in Cajon Bonito Mountains.
On the 11th I had a very satisfactory inter-
view with Governor Torres. The Mexican
officials are acting in concert with ours.'

" O. O. Howard,
"Major General."

General O. O. Howard telegraphed from
[Presidio, San Francisco, California, Sep-
tember 24, 1886, as follows:

"... The 6th of September General
Miles reports the hostile Apaches made
overtures of surrender, through Lieutenant
Gatewood, to Captain Lawton. They de-
sired certain terms and sent two messengers
to me (Miles). They were informed that

153

GERONIMO

they must surrender as prisoners of war to
troops in the field. They promised to sur-
render to me in person, and for eleven days
Captain Lawton's command moved north,
Geronimo and Naiche moving parallel and
frequently camping near it. . . . At
Skeleton Canon they halted, saying that
they desired to see me (Miles) before sur-
rendering."

After Miles's arrival he reports as fol-
lows:

" Geronimo came from his mountain
camp amid the rocks and said he was willing
to surrender. He was told that they could
surrender as prisoners of war; that it was
not the way of officers of the Army to kill
their enemies who laid down their arms."

". . . Naiche was wild and suspi-
cious and evidently feared treachery. He
knew that the once noted leader, Mangus-
Colorado, had, years ago, been foully mur-
dered after he had surrendered, and the last

154

SURRENDER OF GERONIMO

hereditary chief of the hostile Apaches hes-
itated to place himself in the hands of the
palefaces. . • ."

Continuing his report, General Howard
says:

" . . . I believed at first from official
reports that the surrender was uncondi-
tional, except that the troops themselves
would not kill the hostiles. Now, from
General Miles's dispatches and from his an-
nual report, forwarded on the 21st instant
by mail, the conditions are plain: First,
that the lives of all the Indians should be
spared. Second, that they should be sent
to Fort Marion, Florida, where their tribe,
including their families, had already been
ordered. . . ."

D. S. Stanley, Brigadier General, tele-
graphs from San Antonio, Texas, October
22, 1886, as follows:

<(

Geronimo and Naiche re-

155

GERONIMO

quested an interview with me when they
first ascertained that they were to leave here,
and in talking to them, I told them the
exact disposition that was to be made of
them. They regarded the separation of
themselves from their families as a violation
of the terms of their treaty of surrender, by
which they had been guaranteed, in the most
positive manner conceivable to their minds,
that they should be united with their fami-
lies at Fort Marion.

" There were present at the talk they had
with me Major J. P. Wright, surgeon,
United States Army; Captain J. G. Bal-
lance, acting Judge-advocate, United States
Army; George Wratton,1 the interpreter;
Naiche, and Geronimo.

" The Indians were separated from their
families at this place; the women, children,

i Mr. George Wratton is now at Fort Sill, Oklahoma,
acting as Superintendent of Apaches. He has been with
the Apaches as interpreter and superintendent since their
surrender.

156

SURRENDER OF GERONIMO

and the two scouts were placed in a separate
car before they left.

" In an interview with me they stated the
following incident, which they regard as an
essential part of their treaty of surrender,
and which took place at Skeleton Canon
before they had, as a band, made up their
minds to surrender, and before any of them,
except perhaps Geronimo, had given up
their arms, and when they were still fully
able to escape and defend themselves.

"General Miles said to them: 'You go
with me to Fort Bowie and at a certain
time you will go to see your relatives in
Florida.' After they went to Fort Bowie
he reassured them that they would see their
relatives in Florida in four and a half or
five days.

" While at Skeleton Canon General Miles
said to them: ' I have come to have a talk
with you.' The conversation was inter-
preted from English into Spanish and from
Spanish into Apache and vice versa. The

157

GERONIMO

interpreting from English into Spanish was
done by a man by the name of Nelson. The
interpreting from Spanish into Apache was
done by Jose Maria Yaskes. Jose Maria
Montoya was also present, but he did not do
any of the interpreting.

"Dr. Wood, United States Army, and
Lieutenant Clay, Tenth Infantry, were
present.

" General Miles drew a line on the ground
and said, ' This represents the ocean,' and,
putting a small rock beside the line, he said,
1 This represents the place where Chihua-
hua is with his band.' He then picked up
another stone and placed it a short distance
from the first, and said, ' This represents
you, Geronimo.' He then picked up a third
stone and placed it a little distance from
the others, and said, ' This represents the
Indians at Camp Apache. The President
wants to take you and put you with Chi-
huahua.' He then picked up the stone
which represented Geronimo and his band

158

SURRENDER OF GERONIMO

and put it beside the one which represented
Chihuahua at Fort Marion. After doing
this he picked up the stone which repre-
sented the Indians at Camp Apache and
placed it beside the other two stones which
represented Geronimo and Chihuahau at
Fort Marion, and said, * That is what the
President wants to do, get all of you to-
gether.'

" After their arrival at Fort Bowie Gen-
eral Miles said to them, ' From now on we
want to begin a new life,' and holding up
one of his hands with the palm open and
horizontal he marked lines across it with
the finger of the other hand and said, point-
ing to his open palm, ' This represents the
past; it is all covered with hollows and
ridges/ then, rubbing his other palm over
it, he said, ' That represents the wiping out
of the past, which will be considered smooth
and forgotten.'

" The interpreter, Wratton, says that he
was present and heard this conversation.

159

GERONIMO

The Indians say that Captain Thompson,
Fourth Cavalry, was also present.

"Naiche said that Captain Thompson,
who was the acting assistant adjutant gen-
eral, Department of Arizona, told him at
his house in Fort Bowie, ' Don't be afraid ;
no harm shall come to you. You will go to
your friends all right.' He also told them
1 that Fort Marion is not a very large place,
and is not probably large enough for all,
and that probably in six months or so you
will be put in a larger place, where you can
do better.' He told them the same thing
when they took their departure in the cars
from Fort Bowie.

" The idea that they had of the treaty of
surrender given in this letter is forwarded
at their desire, and, while not desiring to
comment on the matter, I feel compelled
to say that my knowledge of the Indian
character, and the experience I have had
with Indians of all kinds, and the cor-
roborating circumstances and facts that

160

SURRENDER OF GERONIMO

have been brought to my notice in this par-
ticular case, convince me that the foregoing
statement of Naiche and Geronimo is sub-
stantially correct."

Extract from the annual report (1886)
of the Division of the Pacific, commanded
by Major General O. O. Howard, U. S.
Army.

u Headquarters Division of the Pacific,
" Presidio of San Francisco, Cal.
" September 17, 1886.
"Adjutant General,

"U. S. Army, Washington, D. C:
"General: I have the honor to submit
the following report upon military opera-
tions and the condition of the Division of
the Pacific for the information of the Lieu-
tenant General, and to make some sugges-
tions for his consideration:

. « • . .

" On the 17th of May, 1885, a party of

about fifty of the Chiricahua prisoners,

161

GERONIMO

headed by Geronimo, Naiche, and other
chiefs, escaped from the White Mountain
Reserve, in Arizona, and entered upon a
career of murder and robbery unparalleled
in the history of Indian raids.

" Since then, and up to the time of my as-
suming command of this division, they had
been pursued by troops with varying suc-
cess.

" After the assassination of Captain Craw-
ford, on January 11, by the Mexicans, the
hostiles asked for a ' talk,' and finally had
a conference on March 25, 26, and 27, with
General Crook, in the Canon of Los Em-
budos, 25 miles south of San Bernardino,
Mexico, on which latter date it was arranged
that they should be conducted by Lieutenant
Manus, with his battalion of scouts, to Fort
Bowie, Ariz.

" The march commenced on the morning

^> of March 28 and proceeded until the night

of the 29th, when, becoming excited with

fears of possible punishment, Geronimo

162

Emma Tuki.oxkv

[ SURRENDER OF GERONIMO

and Naiche, with twenty men, fourteen
women, and two boys, stampeded to the
hills. Lieutenant Manus immediately pur-
sued, but without success.

. . . ' . • ■

" Simultaneously with my taking com-
mand of the division Brigadier General
Crook was relieved by Brigadier General
Miles, who at once set out to complete the
task commenced by his predecessor.

" Geronimo and his band were committing
depredations, now in the United States and
now in Mexico, and, being separated into
small parties, easily eluded the troops, and
carried on their work of murder and out-
rage.

" Early in May General Miles organized
the hostile field of operations into districts,
each with its command of troops, with spe-
cific instructions to guard the water holes,
to cover the entire ground by scouting par-
ties, and give the hostiles no rest.

"An effective command, under Captain

163

GERONIMO

Lawton, Fourth Cavalry, was organized for
a long pursuit.

" On May 3 Captain Lebo, Tenth Cav-
alry, had a fight with Geronimo's band 12
miles southwest of Santa Cruz, in Mexico,
with a loss of one soldier killed and one
wounded. After this fight the Indians re-
treated southward followed by three troops
of cavalry.

" On May 12 a serious fight of Mexican
troops with the hostiles near Planchos, Mex-
ico, resulted in a partial defeat of the Mexi-
cans.

" On May 15 Captain Hatfield's com-
mand engaged Geronimo's band in the
Corrona Mountains, suffering a loss of two
killed and three wounded, and the loss of
several horses and mules, the Indians losing
several killed.

11 On May 16 Lieutenant Brown, Fourth
Cavalry, struck the hostiles near Buena
Vista, Mexico, capturing several horses,
rifles, and a quantity of ammunition.

164

SURRENDER OF GERONIMO

"The usual series of outrages, with fa-
tiguing chase by troops, continued until
June 21, when the Mexicans engaged the
hostiles about 40 miles southeast of Magda-
lena, Mexico, and after a stubborn fight re-
pulsed them. . . .

• • • : • •

" About the middle of August Geronimo
and his band were so reduced and harassed
by the tireless pursuit of the soldiers that
they made offer of surrender to the Mexi-
cans, but without coming to terms.

" Their locality thus being definitely
known, disposition of the troops was rapidly
made to act in conjunction with the Mexi-
cans to intercept Geronimo and force his
surrender.

" On August 25 Geronimo, when near
Fronteraz, Mexico, recognizing that he was
pretty well surrounded, and being out of
ammunition and food, made overtures of
capitulation, through Lieutenant Gate-
wood, Sixth Cavalry, to Captain Lawton.

165

GERONIMO

He desired certain terms, but was informed
that a surrender as prisoner of war was all
that would be accepted.

" The Indians then proceeded to the vi-
cinity of Captain Lawton's command, near
Skeleton Canon, and sent word that they
wished to see General Miles.
*) " On September 3 General Miles arrived
at Lawton's camp, and on September 4
Naiche, the son of Cochise, and the heredi-
tary chief of the Apaches, with Geronimo
surrendered all the hostiles, with the under-
standing, it seems, that they should be sent
out of Arizona.

" I am not informed of the exact nature
of this surrender, at first deemed uncondi-
tional.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obe-
dient servant,

" O. O. Howard,
" Major General, United States Army."

166

SURRENDER OF GERONIMO

Statement of W. T. Melton, Ana&arko,

Oklahoma.

From 1882 to 1887 I lived in southern
Arizona, and was employed by the Sansi-
mone Cattle Company.

In 1886 I was stationed in Skeleton
Canon, about 10 miles north of the boun-
dary line between Arizona and Old Mexico,
with J. D. Prewitt. It was our duty to ride
the lines south of our range and keep the
cattle of the Company from straying into
Old Mexico.

One afternoon, when returning from our
ride, we discovered an Indian trail leading
toward our camp. We rode hurriedly out
of the hills into a broad valley so that we
could better discover any attacking parties
of Apaches and if assailed have at least a
fighting chance for our lives. We knew
the Apaches under Geronimo were on the
warpath, but they were far down in Old
Mexico. However, our knowledge of the

167

GERONIMO

Indians led us to expect anything at any
time — to always be ready for the worst.

When we reached the valley we struck
a cavalry trail also headed for our camp.
This was perplexing, for neither the Indians
nor the soldiers seemed to have been riding
fast, and both trails led toward our camp
in Skeleton Canon. This canon was a nat-
ural route from Old Mexico to Arizona,
and almost all bands of Indians, as well as
detachments of United States troops, passed
and repassed through this valley when go-
ing to Old Mexico or returning therefrom,
but never before had two hostile bands
passed through here at the same time and
traveling in the same direction, except when
one fled and the other pursued. What this
could mean was a mystery to us. Could it
be that the troops had not seen the Indians?
Were the redskins trying to head the troops
off and attack them in their camp? Were
the troops hunting for those Indians? Could
this be Lawton's command? Could that be

168

SURRENDER OF GERONIMO

Geronimo's band? No, it was impossible.
Then who were these troops and what In-
dians were those?

Cautiously we rode to our camp, and
nailed on the door of our cabin was this
notice :

a

BE CAREFUL, GERONIMO IS NEAR BY AND

HAS NOT YET SURRENDERED.

" CAPT. LAWTON."

Then we understood.

A short distance above our cabin we
found the camp of the troops and we had
just finished talking with Captain Lawton,
who advised us to remain in his camp rather
than risk staying alone in our cabin, when
up rode the chief, Geronimo. He was
mounted on a blaze-faced, white-stockinged
dun horse.

He came directly to Captain Lawton and
through an interpreter asked who we were
and what we wanted.

As soon as the explanation was given he
nodded his approval and rode away.

169

GERONIMO

Prewitt and I rode away with him. We
were well armed and well mounted and Ge-
ronimo was well mounted, but so far as we
could see unarmed. I tried to talk with the
chief (in English), but could not make him
understand. Prewitt wanted to shoot2 him
and said he could easily kill him the first
shot, but I objected and succeeded in re-
straining him. While we were arguing the
chief rode silently between us, evidently feel-
ing perfectly secure. All this time we had
been riding in the direction of our horses
that were grazing in the valley about a mile
distant from our corral. When we came to a
place about a half mile from Lawton's camp,
where a spur of the mountain ran far out
into the valley, Geronimo turned aside, sa-
luted, said in fairly good Spanish, " Adios,
Senors/' and began to ascend a mountain

- Recently Mr. Melton told Geronimo of this conversa-
tion. The wily old chief laughed shyly and said, "What
if Prewitt's pistol had been knocked out of his hand?
Other men have tried to shoot me and at least some of
them failed. But I'm glad he didn't try it."

170

\ SURRENDER OF GERONIMO

path. Later we learned that he was going
directly toward his camp far up among the
rocks. We rode on, drove our horses back
to the corral and remained in our cabin all
night, but were not molested by the In-
dians.

The next day we killed three beeves for
the Indians, and they were paid for by Cap-
tain Lawton. On the second day two
mounted Mexican scouts came to Lawton's
camp. As soon as these Mexicans came in
sight the Indians seized their arms and van-
ished, as it were, among the rocks.

Captain Lawton wrote an account of con-
ditions and delivered it to the Mexicans,
who withdrew. After they had gone and
their mission had been explained to Ge-
ronimo the Indians again returned to their
camp and laid down their arms.

On the next day word reached camp th*\t
General Miles was approaching and the In-
dians again armed and disappeared among
the rocks. (Many of the Apache squaws

171

GERONIMO

had field glasses3 and were stationed every
day on prominent mountain peaks to keep a
lookout. No one could approach their camp
or Lawton's camp without being discovered
by these spies.)

Soon after General Miles joined Law-
ton's command Geronimo rode into camp
unarmed, and dismounting approached Gen-
eral Miles, shook hands with him, and then
stood proudly before the officers waiting
for General Miles to begin conversation
with him.

The interpreter said to Geronimo, " Gen-
eral Miles is your friend." Geronimo said,
" I never saw him, but I have been in need
of friends. Why has he not been with me? "
When this answer was interpreted every-
body laughed. After this there was no
more formality and without delay the dis-
cussion of the treaty was begun. All I
remember distinctly of the treaty is that Ge-

* These field glasses were taken from soldiers and officers
(Mexicans and Americans) whom the Apaches had killed.

172

1 •

» 3 » •

W. F. Mkltov
At whose camp in Skeleton Canon Geronimo surrendered

I SURRENDER OF GERONIMO

ronimo and his band were not to be killed,
but they were to be taken to their families.

I remember this more distinctly, because
the Indians were so much pleased with this
particular one of the terms of the treaty.

Geronimo, Naiche, and a few others went
on ahead with General Miles, but the main
band of Indians left under the escort of
Lawton's troops.

The night before they left, a young
squaw, daughter-in-law of Geronimo, gave
birth to a child. The next morning the hus-
band, Geronimo's son, carried the child, but
the mother mounted her pony unaided and
rode away unassisted — a prisoner of war
under military escort.

On the afternoon of the day of the treaty
Captain Lawton built a monument (about
ten feet across and six feet high) of rough
stones at the spot where the treaty was
made. The next year some cowboys on a
round-up camped at the place, and tore
down the monument to see what was in it.

173

GERONIMO

All they found was a bottle containing a
piece of paper upon which was written the
names of the officers who were with Lawton.

After the Indians left we found one hun-
dred and fifty dollars and twenty-five cents
($150.25) in Mexican money hidden in a
rat's nest4 near where the Indians had
camped.

About ten o'clock on the morning after
the Apaches and soldiers had gone away
twenty Pimos Indians, accompanied by one
white man, surrounded our camp and de-
manded to know of Geronimo's where-
abouts. We told them of the treaty and
they followed the trail on toward Fort
Bowie.

That afternoon, thinking all danger from
Apaches past, my partner, Prewitt, went to
ride the lines and I was left in camp alone.
I was pumping water (by horse-power) at
the well, when I saw three Indians round-

*This was a stick nest built on top of the ground by a
species of woods rat.

174

SURRENDER OF GERONIMO

ing up our horses about half a mile away.
They saw me but did not disturb me, nor
did I interfere with them, but as soon as
they had driven that bunch of horses north-
ward over the hill out of sight I rode quickly
off in another direction and drove another
bunch of horses into the corral. The rest
of the afternoon I stayed in camp, but saw
no more Indians.

The next day we rode over the hill in the
direction these Indians had gone and found
that they had camped not three miles away.
There were evidently several in the party
and they had kept scouts concealed near the
top of the hill to watch me, and to shoot me
from ambush had I followed them. This
we knew because we saw behind some rocks
at the crest of the hill in the loose soil the
imprints left by the bodies of three warriors
where they had been lying down in conceal-
ment.

At their camp we found the head and
hoofs of my favorite horse, " Digger," a

175

GERONIMO

fine little sorrel pony, and knew that he had
served them for dinner. We followed their
trail far into Old Mexico, but did not over-
take them. We had been accustomed to say
"it was Geronimo's band," whenever any
depredation was committed, but this time

we were not so positive.

• . . • •

We do not wish to express our own opin-
ion, but to ask the reader whether, after
having had the testimony of Apaches, sol-
diers, and civilians, who knew the condi-
tions of surrender, and, after having
examined carefully the testimony offered, it
would be possible to conclude that Geronimo
made an unconditional surrender?

Before passing from this subject it would
be well also to consider whether our Govern-
ment has treated these prisoners in strict
accordance with the terms of the treaty
made in Skeleton Canon.

176

CHAPTER XIX

A PRISONER OF WAR

WHEN I had given up to the Gov-
ernment they put me on the South-
ern Pacific Railroad and took me to San
Antonio, Texas, and held me to be tried by
their laws.

In forty days they took me from there to
Fort Pickens (Pensacola), Florida. Here
they put me to sawing up large logs. There
were several other Apache warriors with me,
and all of us had to work every day. For
nearly two years we were kept at hard labor
in this place and we did not see our families
until May, 1887. This treatment was in
direct violation of our treaty made at Skele-
ton Canon.

After this we were sent with our families

to Vermont, Alabama, where we stayed five

177

GERONIMO

years and worked for the Government. We
had no property, and I looked in vain for
General Miles to send me to that land of
which he had spoken; I longed in vain for
the implements, house, and stock that Gen-
eral Miles had promised me.

During this time one of my warriors,
Fun, killed himself and his wife. Another
one shot his wife and then shot himself.
He fell dead, but the woman recovered and
is still living.

We were not healthy in this place, for the
climate disagreed with us. So many of our
people died that I consented to let one of my
wives go to the Mescalero Agency in New
Mexico to live. This separation is accord-
ing to our custom equivalent to what the
white people call divorce, and so she married
again soon after she got to Mescalero. She
also kept our two small children, which she
had a right to do. The children, Lenna and
Robbie, are still living at Mescalero, New
Mexico. Lenna is married. I kept one

178

A PRISONER OF WAR

wife, but she is dead now and I have only
our daughter Eva with me. Since my
separation from Lenna's mother I have
never had more than one wife at a time.
Since the death of Eva's mother I married
another woman (December, 1905) but we
could not live happily and separated. She
went home to her people — that is an Apache
divorce.

Then,1 as now, Mr. George Wratton su-
perintended the Indians. He has always
had trouble with the Indians, because he has
mistreated them. One day an Indian, while
drunk, stabbed Mr. Wratton with a little
knife. The officer in charge took the part
of Mr. Wratton and the Indian was sent to
prison.

When2 we first came to Fort Sill, Cap-
tain Scott was in charge, and he had houses
built for us by the Government. We were

i These are not the words of the Editor, but of Geronimo.
2 They were in Alabama from May, 1888, to October,
1894.

179

I

GERONIMO

also given, from the Government, cattle,
hogs, turkeys and chickens. The Indians
did not do much good with the hogs, because
they did not understand how to care for
them, and not many Indians even at the
present time keep hogs. We did better with
the turkeys and chickens, but with these we
did not have as good luck as white men do.
With the cattle we have done very well, in-
deed, and we like to raise them. We have
a few horses also, and have had no bad luck
with them.

In the matter of selling3 our stock and
grain there has been much misunderstand-
ing. The Indians understood that the cat-
tle were to be sold and the money given to
them, but instead part of the money is given
to the Indians and part of it is placed in

3 The Indians are not allowed to sell the cattle them-
selves. When cattle are ready for market they are sold
by the officer in charge, part of the money paid to the
Indians who owned them and part of it placed in a general
(Apache) fund. The supplies, farming implements, etc.,
for the Apaches are paid for from this fund.

180

A PRISONER OF WAR

what the officers call the "Apache Fund."
We have had five different officers in charge
of the Indians here and they have all ruled
very much alike — not consulting the
Apaches or even explaining to them. It
may be that the Government ordered the
officers in charge to put this cattle money
into an Apache fund, for once I complained
and told Lieutenant Purington4 that I in-
tended to report to the Government that he ^/
had taken some of my part of the cattle^
money and put it into the Apache Fund, he
said he did not care if I did tell.

Several years ago the issue of clothing
ceased. This, too, may have been by the
order of the Government, but the Apaches
do not understand it.

If there is an Apache Fund, it should
some day be turned over to the Indians, or

*The criticism of Lieutenant Purington is from Ge-
ronimo. The Editor disclaims any responsibility for it,
as in all cases where individuals are criticised by the old
warrior.

181

6

GERONIMO

at least they should have an account of it,
for it is their earnings.

When General Miles last visited Fort
Sill I asked to be relieved from labor on
account of my age. I also remembered
what General Miles had promised me in the
treaty and told him of it. He said I need
not work any more except when I wished
to, and since that time I have not been de-
tailed to do any work. I have worked a
great deal, however, since then, for, although
I am old, I like to work 5 and help my peo-
ple as much as I am able.

5 Geronimo helps make hay and care for the cattle, but
does not receive orders from the Superintendent of the
Indians.

182

PART IV

THE OLD AND THE NEW

CHAPTER XX

UNWRITTEN LAWS OF THE APACHES

Trials

WHEN an Indian has been wronged
by a member of his tribe he may,
if he does not wish to settle the difficulty
personally, make complaint to the Chieftain.
If he is unable to meet the offending parties
in a personal encounter, and disdains to
make complaint, anyone may in his stead
inform the chief of this conduct, and then
it becomes necessary to have an investigation
or trial. Both the accused and the accuser
are entitled to witnesses, and their witnesses
are not interrupted in any way by questions,
but simply say what they wish to say in
regard to the matter. The witnesses are not
placed under oath, because it is not believed
that they will give false testimony in a mat-
ter relating to their own people.

185

GERONIMO

The chief of the tribe presides during
these trials, but if it is a serious offense he
asks two or three leaders to sit with him.
These simply determine whether or not the
man is guilty. If he is not guilty the mat-
ter is ended, and the complaining party has
forfeited his right to take personal ven-
geance, for if he wishes to take vengeance
himself, he must object to the trial which
would prevent it. If the accused is found
guilty the injured party fixes the penalty,
which is generally confirmed by the chief and
his associates.

Adoption of Children

If any children are left orphans by the
usage of war or otherwise, that is, if both
parents are dead, the chief of the tribe may
adopt them or give them away as he desires.
In the case of outlawed Indians, they may,
if they wish, take their children with them,
but if they leave the children with the tribe,
the chief decides what will be done with

186

UNWRITTEN LAWS

them, but no disgrace attaches to the chil-
dren.

| " Salt Lake "

We obtained our salt from a little lake in
the Gila Mountains. This is a very small
lake of clear, shallow water, and in the cen-
ter a small mound arises above the surface
of the water. The water is too salty to
drink, and the bottom of the lake is covered
with a brown crust. When this crust is
broken cakes of salt adhere to it. These
cakes of salt may be washed clear in the
water of this lake, but if washed in other
water will dissolve.

When visiting this lake our people were
not allowed to even kill game or attack an
enemy. All creatures were free to go and
come without molestation.

Preparation of a Warrior

To be admitted as a warrior a youth must
have gone with the warriors of his tribe four
separate times on the warpath.

187

GERONIMO

On the first trip he will be given only very
inferior food. With this he must be con-
tented without murmuring. On none of
the four trips is he allowed to select his food
as the warriors do, but must eat such food
as he is permitted to have.

On each of these expeditions he acts as
servant, cares for the horses, cooks the food,
and does whatever duties he should do with-
out being told. He knows what things are
to be done, and without waiting to be told
is to do them. He is not allowed to speak
to any warrior except in answer to ques-
tions or when told to speak.

During these four wars he is expected to
learn the sacred names of everything used
in war, for after the tribe enters upon the
warpath no common names are used in re-
ferring to anything appertaining to war in
any way. War is a solemn religious
matter.

If, after four expeditions, all the war-
riors are satisfied that the youth has been

188

UNWRITTEN LAWS

industrious, has not spoken out of order,
has been discreet in all things, has shown
courage in battle, has borne all hardships
uncomplainingly, and has exhibited no color
of cowardice, or weakness of any kind, he
may by vote of the council be admitted as
a warrior; but if any warrior objects to
him upon any account he will be subjected
to further tests, and if he meets these cour-
ageously, his name may again be proposed.
When he has proven beyond question that
he can bear hardships without complaint,
and that he is a stranger to fear, he is ad-
mitted to the council of the warriors in the
lowest rank. After this there is no formal
test for promotions, but by common con-
sent he assumes a station on the battlefield,
and if that position is maintained with
honor, he is allowed to keep it, and may be
asked, or may volunteer, to take a higher
station, but no warrior would presume to
take a higher station unless he had assurance
from the leaders of the tribe that his con-

189

GERONIMO

duct in the first position was worthy of com-
mendation.

From this point upward the only election
by the council in formal assembly is the elec-
tion of the chief.

Old men are not allowed to lead in battle,
but their advice is always respected. Old
age means loss of physical power and is
fatal to active leadership.

Dances

All dances are considered religious cere-
monies and are presided over by a chief and
medicine men. They are of a social or mili-
tary nature, but never without some sacred
characteristic.

A Dance of Thanksgiving

Every summer we would gather the fruit

of the yucca, grind and pulverize it and

mold it into cakes; then the tribe would

be assembled to feast, to sing, and to give

praises to Usen. Prayers of Thanksgiving

were said by all. When the dance began

190

13 ^ ,

t I

• •> * e • *

Chihuahua and Family

UNWRITTEN LAWS

the leaders bore these cakes and added
words of praise occasionally to the usual
tone sounds of the music.

The War Dance

After a council of the warriors had de-
liberated, and had prepared for the warpath,
the dance would be started. In this dance
there is the usual singing led by the warriors
and accompanied with the beating of the
" esadadene," but the dancing is more vio-
lent, and yells and war whoops sometimes
almost drown the music. Only warriors
participated in this dance.

Scalp Dance

After a war party has returned, a modifi-
cation of the war dance is held. The war-
riors who have brought scalps from the
battles exhibit them to the tribe, and when
the dance begins these scalps, elevated on
poles or spears, are carried around the camp
fires while the dance is in progress. During
this dance there is still some of the solem-

191

GERONIMO

nity of the war dance. There are yells and
war whoops, frequently accompanied by dis-
charge of firearms, but there is always more
levity than would be permitted at a war
dance. After the scalp dance is over the
scalps are thrown away. No Apache would
keep them, for they are considered defiling.

A Social Dance

In the early part of September, 1905, I
announced among the Apaches that my
daughter, Eva, having attained woman-
hood, should now put away childish things
and assume her station as a young lady.
At a dance of the tribe she would make her
debut, and then, or thereafter, it would be
proper for a warrior to seek her hand in
marriage. Accordingly, invitations were is-
sued to all Apaches, and many Comanches
and Kiowas, to assemble for a grand dance
on the green by the south bank of Medi-
cine Creek, near the village of Naiche, for-
mer chief of the Chokonen Apaches, on

192

UNWRITTEN LAWS

the first night of full moon in September.
The festivities were to continue for two
days and nights. Nothing was omitted in
the preparation that would contribute to
the enjoyment of the guests or the perfec-
tion of the observance of the religious rite.

To make ready for the dancing the grass
on a large circular space was closely mowed.

The singing was led by Chief Naiche, and
I, assisted by our medicine men, directed
the dance.

First Eva advanced from among the
women and danced once around the camp
fire; then, accompanied by another young
woman, she again advanced and both danced
twice around the camp fire; then she and
two other young ladies advanced and danced
three times around the camp fire; the next
time she and three other young ladies ad-
vanced and danced four times around the
camp fire; this ceremony lasted about one
hour. Next the medicine men entered,
stripped to the waist, their bodies painted

193

GERONIMO

fantastically, and danced the sacred dances.
They were followed by clown dancers, who
amused the audience greatly.

Then the members of the tribe joined
hands and danced in a circle around the
camp fire for a long time. All the friends
of the tribe were asked to take part in this
dance, and when it was ended many of the
old people retired, and the " lovers' dance '
began.

The warriors stood in the middle of the
circle and the ladies, two-aid-two, danced
forward and designated some warrior to
dance with them. The dancing was back
and forth on a line from the center to the
outer edge of the circle. The warrior faced
the two ladies, and when they danced for-
ward to the center he danced backward:
then they danced backward to the outer edge
and he followed facing them. This lasted
two or three hours and then the music
changed. Immediately the warriors assem-
bled again in the center of the circle, and

194

UNWRITTEN LAWS

this time each lady selected a warrior as a
partner. The manner of dancing was as be-
fore, only two instead of three danced
together. During this dance, which con-
tinued until daylight, the warrior (if danc-
ing with a maiden) could propose1 mar-
riage, and if the maiden agreed, he would
consult her father soon afterward and make
a bargain for her.

Upon all such occasions as this, when the
dance is finished, each warrior gives a pres-
ent to the lady who selected him for a part-
ner and danced with him. If she is satisfied
with the present he says good-by, if not, the
matter is referred to someone in authority
(medicine man or chief), who determines
the question of what is a proper gift.

For a married lady the value of the pres-

i Apache warriors do not go "courting" as our youths
do. The associations in the villages afford ample op-
portunity for acquaintance, and the arranging for mar-
riages is considered a business transaction, but the courtesy
of consulting the maiden, although not essential, is con-
sidered very polite.

195

GERONIMO

sent should be two or three dollars; for a
maiden the present should have a value of
not less than five dollars. Often, however,
the maiden receives a very valuable present.

During the " lovers' dance " the medicine
men mingle with the dancers to keep out
evil spirits.

Perhaps I shall never again have cause
to assemble our people to dance, but these
social dances in the moonlight have been a
large part of our enjoyment in the past, and
I think they will not soon be discontinued,
at least I hope not.

196

CHAPTER XXI

AT THE WORLD'S FAIR

WHEN I was at first asked to attend
the St. Louis World's Fair I did
not wish to go. Later, when I was told
that I would receive good attention and
protection, and that the President of the
United States said that it would be all right,
I consented. I was kept by parties in
charge of the Indian Department, who had
obtained permission from the President. I
stayed in this place for six months. I sold
my photographs for twenty-five cents, and
was allowed to keep ten cents of this for
myself. I also wrote my name for ten, fif-
teen, or twenty-five cents, as the case might
be, and kept all of that money. I often
made as much as two dollars a day, and
when I returned I had plenty of money —
more than I had ever owned before.

197

GERONIMO

Many people in St. Louis invited me to
come to their homes, but my keeper always
refused.

Every Sunday the President of the Fair
sent for me to go to a wild west show. I
took part in the roping contests before the
audience. There were many other Indian
tribes there, and strange people of whom I
had never heard.

When people first came to the World's
Fair they did nothing but parade up and
down the streets. When they got tired of
this they would visit the shows. There were
many strange things in these shows. The
Government sent guards with me when I
went, and I was not allowed to go anywhere
without them.

In one of the shows some strange men *
with red caps had some peculiar swords, and
they seemed to want to fight. Finally their
manager told them they might fight each
other. They tried to hit each other over the

i Turks.
198

AT THE WORLD'S FAIR

head with these swords, and I expected both
to be wounded or perhaps killed, but neither
one was harmed. They would be hard peo-
ple to kill in a hand-to-hand fight.

In another show there was a strange-look-
ing negro. The manager tied his hands
fast, then tied him to a chair. He was se-
curely tied, for I looked myself, and I did
not think it was possible for him to get
away. Then the manager told him to get
loose.

He twisted in his chair for a moment,
and then stood up ; the ropes were still tied,
but he was free. I do not understand how
this was done. It was certainly a miraculous
power, because no man could have released
himself by his own efforts.

In another place a man was on a platform
speaking to the audience; they set a basket
by the side of the platform and covered it
with red calico ; then a woman came and got
into the basket, and a man covered the
basket again with the calica; then the man

199

GERONIMO

who was speaking to the audience took a
long sword and ran it through the basket,
each way, and then down through the cloth
cover. I heard the sword cut through the
woman's body, and the manager himself
said she was dead; but when the cloth was
lifted from the basket she stepped out,
smiled, and walked off the stage. I would
like to know how she was so quickly healed,
and why the wounds did not kill her.

I have never considered bears very intelli-
gent, except in their wild habits, but I had
never before seen a white bear. In one of
the shows a man had a white bear that
was as intelligent as a man. He would do
whatever he was told — carry a log on his
shoulder, just as a man would; then, when
he was told, would put it down again. He
did many other things, and seemed to know
exactly what his keeper said to him. I am
sure that no grizzly bear could be trained to
do these things.

One time the guards took me into a little

200

Mrs. Asa Deklugie Eva Geronimo

Niece of Geronimo and daughter Geronimo's youngest daughter,

of Chihuahua, a famous Apache 16 years old

chieftain

AT THE WORLD'S FAIR

house 2 that had four windows. When we
were seated the little house started to move
along the ground. Then the guards called
my attention to some curious things they
had in their pockets. Finally they told me
to look out, and when I did so I was scared,
for our little house had gone high up in
the air, and the people down in the Fair
Grounds looked no larger than ants. The
men laughed at me for being scared; then
they gave me a glass to look through (I
often had such glasses which I took from
dead officers after battles in Mexico and
elsewhere), and I could see rivers, lakes
and mountains. But I had never been so
high in the air, and I tried to look into the
sky. There were no stars, and I could not
look at the sun through this glass because
the brightness hurt my eyes. Finally I put
the glass down, and as they were all laugh-
ing at me, I too, began to laugh. Then they
said, " Get out! " and when I looked we were

2 Ferris wheel.
201

GERONIMO

on the street again. After we were safe
on the land I watched many of these little
houses going up and coming down, but I
cannot understand how they travel. They
are very curious little houses.

One day we went into another show, and
as soon as we were in, it changed into night.
It was real night, for I could feel the damp
air; soon it began to thunder, and the light-
nings flashed ; it was real lightning, too, for
it struck just above our heads. I dodged
and wanted to run away, but I could not
tell which way to go in order to get out.
The guards motioned me to keep still, and
so I stayed. In front of us were some
strange little people who came out on the
platform; then I looked up again and the
clouds were all gone, and I could see the
stars shining. The little people on the plat-
form did not seem in earnest about anything
they did; so I only laughed at them. All the
people around where we sat seemed to be
laughing at me.

202

AT THE WORLD'S FAIR

We went into another place and the man-
ager took us into a little room that was made
like a cage; then everything around us
seemed to be moving; soon the air looked
blue, then there were black clouds moving
with the wind. Pretty soon it was clear
outside ; then we saw a few thin white clouds ;
then the clouds grew thicker, and it rained
and hailed with thunder and lightning. Then
the thunder retreated and a rainbow ap-
peared in the distance ; then it became dark,
the moon rose and thousands of stars came
out. Soon the sun came up, and we got out
of the little room. This was a good show,
but it was so strange and unnatural that I
was glad to be on the streets again.

We went into one place where they made
glassware. I had always thought that these
things were made by hand, but they are not.
The man had a curious little instrument, and
whenever he would blow through this into a
little blaze the glass would take any shape
he wanted it to. I am not sure, but I think

203

GERONTMO

that if I had this kind of an instrument
I could make whatever I wished. There
seems to be a charm about it. But I sup-
pose it is very difficult to get these little
instruments, or other people would have
them. The people in this show were so
anxious to buy the things the man made
that they kept him so busy he could not sit
down all day long. I bought many curious
things in there and brought them home
with me.

At the end of one of the streets some
people were getting into a clumsy canoe,
upon a kind of shelf, and sliding down into
the water.3 They seemed to enjoy it, but it
looked too fierce for me. If one of these
canoes had gone out of its path the peo-
ple would have been sure to get hurt or
killed.

There were some little brown people 4 at
the Fair that United States troops captured

« Shooting the Chute.

* Iggorrotes from the Philippines.

204

AT THE WORLD'S FAIR

recently on some islands far away from
here.

They did not wear much clothing, and I
think that they should not have been allowed
to come to the Fair. But they themselves
did not seem to know any better. They had
some little brass plates, and they tried to
play music with these, but I did not think
it was music — it was only a rattle. How-
ever, they danced to this noise and seemed
to think they were giving a fine show.

I do not know how true the report was,
but I heard that the President sent them to
the Fair so that they could learn some man-
ners, and when they went home teach
their people how to dress and how to be-
have.

I am glad I went to the Fair. I saw
many interesting things and learned much
of the white people. They are a very kind
and peaceful people. During all the time I
was at the Fair no one tried to harm me in
any way. Had this been among the Mex-

205

+

GERONIMO

icans I am sure I should have been com-
pelled to defend myself often.

I wish all my people could have attended
the Fair.5

6 Geronimo was also taken to both the Omaha and the
Buffalo Expositions, but during that period of his life he
was sullen and took no interest in things. The St. Louis
Exposition was held after he had adopted the Christian
religion and had begun to try to understand our civilization.

206

CHAPTER XXII

RELIGION

IN our primitive worship only our rela-
tions to Usen and the members of our
tribe were considered as appertaining to our
religious responsibilities. As to the future
state, the teachings of our tribe were not
specific, that is, we had no definite idea of
our relations and surroundings in after life.
We believed that there is a life after this
one, but no one ever told me as to what part
of man lived after death. I have seen many
men die; I have seen many human bodies
decayed, but I have never seen that part
which is called the spirit; I do not know
what it is; nor have I yet been able to un-
derstand that part of the Christian religion.
We held that the discharge of one's duty
would make his future life more pleasant,
but whether that future life was worse than

% 207

GERONIMO

this life or better, we did not know, and no
one was able to tell us. We hoped that in
the future life family and tribal relations
would be resumed. In a way we believed
this, but we did not know it.

Once when living in San Carlos Reserva-
tion an Indian told me that while lying un-
conscious on the battlefield he had actually
been dead, and had passed into the spirit
land.

First he came to a mulberry tree growing
out from a cave in the ground. Before this
cave a guard was stationed, but when he
approached without fear the guard let him
pass. He descended into the cave, and a
little way back the path widened and termi-
nated in a perpendicular rock many hun-
dreds of feet wide and equal in height.
There was not much light, but by peering
directly beneath him he discovered a pile of
sand reaching from the depths below to
within twenty feet of the top of the rock
where he stood. Holding to a bush, he

208

RELIGION

swung off from the edge of the rock and
dropped onto the sand, sliding rapidly down
its steep side into the darkness. He landed
in a narrow passage running due westward
through a canon which gradually grew
lighter and lighter until he could see as well
as if it had been daylight ; but there was no
sun. Finally he came to a section of this
passage that was wider for a short distance,
and then closing abruptly continued in a
narrow path; just where this section nar-
rowed two huge serpents were coiled, and
rearing their heads, hissed at him as he ap-
proached, but he showed no fear, and as soon
as he came close to them they withdrew
quietly and let him pass. At the next place,
where the passage opened into a wider sec-
tion, were two grizzly bears prepared to at-
tack him, but when he approached and spoke
to them they stood aside and he passed un-
harmed. He continued to follow the nar-
row passage, and the third time it widened
and two mountain lions crouched in the way,

209

GERONIMO

but when he had approached them without
fear and had spoken to them they also with-
drew. He again entered the narrow pas-
sage. For some time he followed this,
emerging into a fourth section beyond
which he could see nothing: the further
walls of this section were clashing together
at regular intervals with tremendous sounds,
but when he approached them they stood
apart until he had passed. After this he
seemed to be in a forest, and following the
natural draws, which led westward, soon
came into a green valley where there were
many Indians camped and plenty of game.
He said that he saw and recognized many
whom he had known in this life, and that
he was sorry when he was brought back to
consciousness.

I told him if I knew this to be true I
would not want to live another day, but by
some means, if by my own hands, I would
die in order to enjoy these pleasures. I my-
self have lain unconscious on the battlefield,

210

i ■>■> t J

, •> »»

Ready for Chukch

RELIGION

and while in that condition have had some
strange thoughts or experiences; but they
are very dim and I cannot recall them well
enough to relate them. Many Indians be-
lieved this warrior, and I cannot say that he
did not tell the truth. I wish I knew that
what he said is beyond question true. But
perhaps it is as well that we are not certain.

Since my life as a prisoner has begun I
have heard the teachings of the white man's
religion, and in many respects believe it to
be better than the religion of my fathers.
However, I have always prayed, and I be-
lieve that the Almighty has always pro-
tected me.

Believing that in a wise way it is good to
go to church, and that associating with
Christians would improve my character, I
have adopted the Christian religion.1 I be-

i Geronimo joined the Dutch Reformed church and was -$
baptized in the summer of 1903. He attends the serv-
ices regularly at the Apache Mission, Ft. Sill Military-
Reservation.

211

GERONIMO

lieve that the church has helped me much

during the short time I have been a member.

•" I am not ashamed to be a Christian, and I

am glad to know that the President of the

United States is a Christian, for without the

help of the Almighty I do not think he could

rightly judge in ruling so many people. I

r have advised all of my people who are not

\ Christians, to study that religion, because it

\ seems to me the best religion in enabling one

jto live right.

212

CHAPTER XXIII

HOPES FOR THE FUTURE

1AM thankful that the President of the
United States has given me permission
to tell my story. I hope that he and those

in authority under him will read my story
and judge whether my people have been
rightly treated.

There is a great question between the
Apaches and the Government. For twenty
years we have been held prisoners of war
under a treaty which was made with General
Miles, on the part of the United States Gov-
ernment, and myself as the representative
of the Apaches. That treaty has not at all
times been properly observed by the Gov-
ernment, although at the present time it is
being more nearly fulfilled on their part
than heretofore. In the treaty with General
Miles we agreed to go to a place outside of

21$

GERONIMO

Arizona and learn to live as the white people
do. I think that my people are now capable
of living in accordance with the laws of the
United States, and we would, of course, like
to have the liberty to return to that land
which is ours by divine right. We are reduced
in numbers, and having learned how to culti-
vate the soil would not require so much
ground as was formerly necessary. We do
not ask all of the land which the Almighty
gave us in the beginning, but that we may
have sufficient lands there to cultivate.
What we do not need we are glad for the
I white men to cultivate.

We are now held on Comanche and
Kiowa lands, which are not suited to our
needs — these lands and this climate are
suited to the Indians who originally in-
habited this country, of course, but our
people are decreasing in numbers here, and
will continue to decrease unless they are
allowed to return to their native land. Such
a result is inevitable.

2!4

HOPES FOR THE FUTURE

There is no climate or soil which, to my
mind, is equal to that of Arizona. We
could have plenty of good cultivating land,
plenty of grass, plenty of timber and plenty
of minerals in that land which the Almighty
created for the Apaches. It is my land, my
home, my fathers' land, to which I now ask
to be allowed to return. I want to spend
my last days there, and be buried among
those mountains. If this could be I might
die in peace, feeling that my people, placed
in their native homes, would increase in num-
bers, rather than diminish as at present, and
that our name would not become extinct.

I know that if my people were placed in
that mountainous region lying around the
headwaters of the Gila River they would
live in peace and act according to the will
of the President. They would be prosper-
ous and happy in tilling the soil and learn-
ing the civilization of the white men, whom
they now respect. Could I but see this ac-
complished, I think I could forget all the

215

A

GERONIMO

wrongs that I have ever received, and die
a contented and happy old man. But we
can do nothing in this matter ourselves — we
must wait until those in authority choose to
act. If this cannot be done during my life-
time— if I must die in bondage — I hope that
the remnant of the Apache tribe may, when
£ I am gone, be granted the one privilege
which they request — to return to Arizona.

'.

2?C

RETURN TO the circulation desk of any

University of California Library

or to the

NORTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY
Bldg. 400, Richmond Field Station
University of California
Richmond, CA 94804-4698

LL BOOKS MAY BE RECALLED AFTER 7 DAYS
■month loans may be renewed by calling

(415)642-6753
■year loans may be recharged by bringing books

to NRLF
enewals and recharges may be made 4 days

prior to due date

DUE AS STAMPED BELOW

fwm

OAN

DEC .03 1991

JU.20'92

|(vr»c<-» "^ RCPK

D£C 171994

INTERIMS

LOAM

nrr.osttfl'

M

ncr-

pCRK

IUL 1 ■■ 1992

1.1 ' - i a-duhhi

IJnivf»r*irv r»f r^alifr^rn^

YB 2677A

U.C. BERKELEY LIBRARIES

CD317c^7flcl