The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1886-09-23
NO. 81.
APACIIES IN CAPTIVITY
THE CHARACTERISTICS or GERONINIO's
BAND OF MUHDERERs. 2. .r

and Dross-O Other Chlrlcahuas on Their Wa,
| TO Florida. -.
SAN ANTONIO, Tex, September 49,
Geronimo and his band of savages have
attracted great attention here. The cap
two chief wore white straw hat, gray
alpaca coat, white trousers and army
boots, brand now. He was evidently
much ticklcd with them. His black eyes
frequently wandered to them with O.
glance OF proprietary approval. He
moved around tho tents given him,
quietly convcrsing with and directing his
men' He was not impressive, but he
was interesting, Flowing from under
hiS coat was o piece of whito cloth,
alarmlngly like shirt tail, of table
cloth proportions, 1t tapped wildly in
the warm brcczo and beat against tho
legs of tho great chief in emphasis of
the few things he had to say.
George Wrattcn. tho intcrprctcr nctod
as tho medium of communication no
tweon prisoners and captors. 1t was n
curious sccnc when Geronimo was as-
surod of his safety. He and Natchcz had
been suffering with the idea that they
Wero to- be instantly executed. Thoyy
looked miEerably ut the shining weapons
OF tho sentries, and ever and again
glanced at their couchant braves with O
KIND OF see-that-my grave s-kept- green
gaze. General Stanley stood squarelv
IN front of tho wholesale and retail m,
deror A little apart was crowd Gste,
ing to the ,qucor Language and its tran,
lations. The Interpreter n cartrilpe Lnh
crossing his broad breast, waited for 4Ii' tbt
general to speal. '''e
"rell him. said the coInmondo,
'that whcl the whito man Makes nonn;
ho makes peace. Toll him that L aIk,,or akn"o'
his best friend. Let him go to his T., yss
and rest Tell him that will bo n,,%N
during the day. He and his friondS$s2'
shall not be harmed"
The speech WAS slowly put into tho
tongue Of coughs md grunts. AS its
meaning came to the bronzcd band which
had gathered around, they broke into
chorus Of grateful "ughs" and their
white teeth flashed.
Taken by and large, tho hostilcs are O
quccr gang. Their not intricate but
unique raimcnt, handkerchief head gear,
tawdy decorations, small figures and
long coarse hair looked STRANGELY, juxta-
posed to the white tents and trim figures
of the soldicry. a noticeable popularity
was tho great development Of their legs
and their slender arms. 1t is II manifcs-
tation to sec them walk. They move
with the lightness and springy grace of
| the panther.
One of tho women had no nose.
Another had very handsome faco and
was dressed with more taste and cleanli-
ness than her companions. She sat in
front of Chief Nachcz' tont. Some said
she was princess but if SO her domain
has gone from her. Tho females wcro
very small. They wore their hair parted
III tho middle and the long elf locks fell
into their oycs. Chief Nachcz' boy, u
sturdy youngster Of fourteen, was espe-
clally noticeable. Ilo moved freely
about and laughed gaily ut the curiosi-
tics Of tho whites. Around one of his
limbs was tightly bound lcathorn
thong, so tightly, in fact, rs to bury in
the flesh. 1t was probably All effort to
relieve strained tendon. He was Scared
III several places, and when asked what
caused it, picked up small stick and
mtimatcd that he had been hurt in riding
through underground.
On the very day of Geronimo sllrren-
der he became n grandfather, and noxt
day the mothor Of tho papooso was
trudging along tho rough valley with the
othor captiycs, her infnnt strapped upon
hor back. This hardness is chnractcr-
istic Of the sIunws of the Apaches per-
haps to greater degree than of any 9TH
CT Indian women. Tho whirlwind of an
Apache flight carries with it the women
and children of the tribe as long rs tho
pursuing foo is imminent. Whom tho
mountain businesses arc reached the non
combntants nro secrCtCd and the braves
begin their murdcrous retreat from the
avcnging troops
The vito whom Geronimo rescued
from Fort Apache Mt the risk of his own
liberty and life is ono of tho many who
contribute to make hig wigwam happy or
otherwise, as the case may be. Sho is
sald to bo n woman Of rare intelligence,
great courage and entire devotion to her
savage lord, accepting with thankfulness
her fraction of his affections and giving
in return an absolute allegiance.
Captain Lawton gives it as his opinion
that Geronimo is 80 years Of age, though
tho old rcprObate will confess to but Is,
lie is purely sclf-mado man. That is,
he is m accomplished murderer nnd q
crafty cut-throat, and is not hereditary
chief. Tho Captain says he is bright, in
tclligcnt, good talker, crafty, cruel
and trcachcrous to a wonderful degree.
During the past cightcon months
Geronimo and his followers ore credited
with having murdered no less than 400
persons: q majority of whom were Mexi-
cans, on the Mexican side of the Rio
Grandc, Captain Lawton has himself
seen fourteen of the victims after death.
Nachoz is a son OF Cochise and heredi-
tary chicftain of the Chiricahaus. He is
described by officers who know him as q
very remarkable man. He is by long
odds the finest looking of the band Ho
IS SIX feet in heig Int, sparsely built,
muscled like O. race horse, and straight
as IN arrow. He has IN open and cx-
prcssivc cOuntonance, which says rs
plainly as it could be said that the man
is dauntless, desperate and competent