Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-07-30
GERONIMO.
Sketch OF the Notorious Chief-A Mexican,
Not an Indian

but fuIl-blooded Mexican. born at La
iowa on the Rio Grande, fifty miles
below Albuquerque. His father, Jose
Louis Lobato. was fcmous violinist,
generally known and referred to as
Jose Louis. Ell Musieo
Geronimo. when boy, was person
ally known to the writer of this. he
being one of family of FIVE children
and the oldest of the BOYS. Jose Louis.
| wife, and children. resided al Mansano.
sixty miles east of Albuquerque. for
several years. and it was at that time
| we became intimately acquainted with
them In the spring of 1858 we had
large wood contract with the Govern
ment at Albuquerque, and quite wildly
remember one morning. just about
sunrise, at Coyote Springs, fourteen
miles east of Albuquerque, OF discover
ing eighteen Navajo Indians near
camp, with two hundred mules belong
ing TO Juan Cristobal Armijo, Manuel
Barrella and other citizens of the R.o
Grande, in the act of confiscating our
animals Our mulero succeeded IN
| catching the bell mare. and. mount NJ
her. made camp. ali the mules belong
| ing TO US except ten following. The
Indians. foiled in securing one hum
dred more additional animals. proceed
ed in q southerfy direction, keep ne
upon the open plain.
News went to the military at Albu-
querque. and three companies of cav
airy, headed by Bias 1ucero (who still
lives in Albuquerque) As guide, pro-
ceeded TO cut Oft the NaYajoes. prevent
them from crossing the Rio Grande to
the west into their own country. and
recapture the stolen stock The troops
followed the Rio Grande River down.
keeping IN sight OF the dust raised bv
the Indians. and at point below Sa-
b nal, where at that tine there were
two good crossings three miles apart,
awaiting the Navaioes. The Ind ans,
as above stated. kept the open plain
east of the Rio Grande as far down as
FL Sierjtta, where the road passes from
Mansano and Abo Pass TO La Joya.
The Indians from this point discovered
aMexican carretta coming toward them,
driven BIZ two Mesicans. containing
two women and five children Several
of the Indians went out 10 capture the
concern. but the men driving made a
hard fight for liberty. and Il running
battle for a distance of three N les was
the result The ammunition of the
two men having been exhausted the
Indians closed in and killed them with
lances. The oxen were killed for food.
and the two women-mother and
grandmother to Geronimo-himSelf
and tour brothers and sisters made cap
tiyes.
The Navajoes from their lookout
position. had discovered the long line
of brass buttoned soldiery with glitter
they were. IN the night. between the
hours of ten and twelve O'Clock. the
Navaioes made for the river. and at
daylight in the morning. when their
trail was discovered, they were no
doubt thirty or forty miles west. max
ing for their stronghold in the noun
ia rs near old Fort Defiance Where
they crossed the Rio Grande the troops
found the old woman dead. having been
pierced through with q lance, because,
it was afterward ascertained. she made
a noise with a view of apprising the
troops. The troops followed the trail
in hot pursuit, galloping and rum ne
their horses for forty miles when they
were pretty well played resulting
in their return 10 the Rio Grande with
out any dead Indians or captured ami
mails.
Mrs. Lobato and the children were
among the Indians for about two years
before being rescued by the United
States Government, and then only the
mother and three children succeeded in
gaining their freedom. Geronimo and
sister two years his senior having been
traded to the Apaches, and were never
recovered
We believe it was in 1859 or 1860
II I.
Mexico volunteers. captured several
Navaioes and made an exchange for
the Mexican prisoners Both mother
and daughter were welded to Indians.
and in addition to two children by her
husband, Mrs. Labato left little babe
behind. the offspring by her Indian
liege and lord-the tribe claiming the
child as genuine Navajo, and not
transferable, notwithstanding the fact
that the child was but one dav old.
Geron mo is now about thirty-eight
years OF age and one Of the best-known
Indian commanders in the United
States He is noted for his cunning
and ferocity, added to his extraordi-
nary skill as trailer and dexterity in
the use of arms, and his great influence
over men has gained for him an I'M
limited influence among the people of
his adoption He speaks English,
Spanish and several Indian dia-
lects and combines many Of the
detestable traits of the Indian with all
of the vilest attributes of the superior
race. We believe his mother. brother,
sister. and aunts still res de at La Joya.
on the Rio Grsnde, while his father.
Jose Louis, the Mexican Ole Bull of his
time, has gone beyond the reach OF In
liam or civilized foe
The vindictive and irreclaimable bad
character of Geronimo leaves but little
doubt that he will never cease from at
tempting to block the progress of civ
ilization or become reconciled to the
monotony of peaceful existence as a
government pet unless thoroughly con-
yerted by cold lead into such condi-
ton as would make him a>good abo-
riginal anatomical subject for some
medical museum. OF the renegades
who two years ago consented to return
to their reservations. he was the last to
put in an appearance, and that his good
treatment by the authorities during his
stay on the reservation was worse than
thrown away is amply demonstrated by
the thirty-six victims whose lives were
brutally sacrificed BY his savage wan
tonnes prescott Miner.