The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-08-07
GERONIMO
Sketch OF the Notorious Chief-A Mexican
Not an Indian.


huas is not. as supposed, an Apache.
but full-blooded Mexican. born at La
Joya. 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 Musico.
Geronimo. when boy. was person.
| ally known to the writer of this. no
being one of a family of five children
and the oldest OF the boys. Jose Louis.
wife. and children, resided atMansano.
sixty niles 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 W tn the Govern
ment at Albuquerque. and quite wildly
remember one morning. Just about
sunrise. at Coyots Springs, fourteen
miles east of Albuquerque. of discover
! ing eighteen Navajo indians near
camp, with two hundred mules belong
ing to Juan CIR stobal Armljo, Manuel
Barrella and other citizens of the X
Grande, in the act of conscating our
OuI SbCCttutu III
catching the bell mare, and, mount ne
her, made camp. ali the mules belong
| ing to us except ten following. The
Ind ans. fooled in securing one hun
bred more addit onal animals. proceed
ed in southerly direction, keep NC
| upon the open plain.
News went to the military at Albu-
querque, and three companies of cav
airy, headed by Bias Lucero (who still
lives in Albuquerque) As gu de. pro-
ceeded to cut off the Navajoes. prevent
them from cross Nc 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 by
the Indians, and at a point below Sa-
b nal, where at that { me there were
two good crossings three m les apart.
awaiting the Navaioes. The Ind ans.
as above stated, kept the open PLAIN
cast of the Rio Grande as far down as
Ell Sier tia, where the road passes from
Mansano and Abo Pass to La Joya
The Indians from this point discovered
aMexican carretta com NO toward them,
driven BY two Mexicans. containing
of the Indians went out to capture the
concern. but the men driving made
hard fight for liberty. and a running
battle for distance of three miles 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-mOtner and
grandmother to Geronimo-himself
and four brothers and sisters made cap
tiyeS.
The Navajoes from their lookout
position. had d severed the long line
of rass-huttoned sOldiery with glitter
ing sabers, and knew exactly where
they were. In the night, between the
hours of ten and twelve clock, the
Nava; oes made for the river. and at
daylight in the morning. when their
trail was discovered. they We're no.
doubt thirty or forty m les west. max
ing for their stronghold in the noun
tn us near cd Fort Defiance. Where
they crossed the Rio Grande the troops
found the old woman dead. having been
p creed through with lance, because.
it was afterward ascerta ned. she made
a noise with view of apprising the
troops. The troops followed the trail
in hot pursuit, gallop;ng and rum NC
their horses for forty miles when they
were pretty well played" resulting
in their return to the Rio Grande with
out any dead Ind ans 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 the. freedom. Geronimo and a.
sister two years his senior having been
traded to the Apaches, and were never
recovered.
We believe it was in 1859 or 1860
that Colonel Chavez. with his New
Mexico volunteers, captured several
NavajOes and made an exchange for
the Mexican pr soners. Both mother
and daughter were welded to Ind; ans,
and in addition 10 two children by her
husband. Mrs. Labato left little babe
behind. the offspring by her Ind an
eye and lord-the tribe ella ming the
child as genuine Navaj TO- and not
Notwithstanding the fact
that the child was but one day old
GerOn mo IS now about thirty-a;ght
years of age and one OF the best-known
Ind an commanders in the United
States. He is noted for his cunning
and ferocity. added to his extraordI-
nary skill as trailer and dexterity in
ihe use of arms, and his great influence
over men has CAMEL for MIN an un~
limited influence among the people of
his adoption. He speaks English,
Spanish and several Ind an dia-
lects and combines many of the
detestable ira is 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 Grande. while his father,
Jose Louis. the Mexican Ole Bull of his
time. has gone beyond the reach of In
1ian 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
liZat'on or become reconciled to the
nonot )ny of a peaceful existence as .
pet unless thoroughly con-
Ierted by cold lead into such q condi-
ion as would make him good abo-
.iginal anatomical subject for some
ned cal museum. Of the renegades
Who two years ago consented to return
% Their reservat ons. he was the last to
,ut in an appearance. and that his good
treatment by the authort es during his
tay on the reservation was worse than
brown away is amply demonstrated by
he thirty-six victims whose lives were
'rutally sacrificed bv his savage wan
oppaSS - Prascotf Minor