Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-10-25
GEN. NILES AND GERONI MO.
rhe Terms Made With the Apache Chief
GEN. MILES REPORT OF THE EsURRENDER-GERo-
NIMO TOLD HE MUST TRUST TO THE GOVERN.
MENT'S MERCY.


MENT's MERCY.
Gen. Miles report goes minutely into descrip-
t1ons OF the dashes made from time to time at
the retreating Indians, and refers to the services
OF several officers who carried out his orders
creditably. About the surrender and the as
surances to the captives he says:
Nv hile EN- route to join Lawton's command
Geronimo had sent his own brother with the
interpreter 10 Fort Bowie To see me, and. il not
as hostage, as an assurance OF their submission
q "a desire TO surrender, and earnest OF
their good faith. Soon after reaching Lawton's s
dlsmounted. Then, coming foI ward unarmed,
he recounted his grievances and the cause OF
ieaVlnS the reservation. He stated that he had
been abused and aSSaied by the officials, aud
tnat plot had been laid 20 take his life by
Chatto and Mickey Free. encouraged by one of
the officials; that it was question whether to
ule on The war-path or be assassnated; that at
that time he was cultivating a crop, and il ne
had not been driven away he would by this
tlnle nave been in good circumstances. part
OF this story knew to be true. informed him
that Capt. Lawion and Lieut.. Ga;ewood were
honorable men. and that was there to confirm
What they had said 10 them; that though Capt.
Layton with other troops had followed them
necessarily, yet should they throw down their
arms and place themselves entirely at our
mercy we should certainly not Kill them, but
that they must surrender absolutely as
prisoners of War TO the federal authori-
them fairly and justly. informed them that
l was removing all the Chiricahua ana Warm
spring Indians from Arizona and that they
would all be removed from this country at
once and for all time. Geronimo replied that
he would do whatever l said, obey any order
and bring in his camp early next mornNg,
which he did. NatcheZ sent I'm word requesting
pass of twenty days 10 go TO the White noun
talnS, but this was refused. They had found
troops in every valley, and when they saw
photographic communications flashing across
every mountain range Geronimo and others
sent word to NacheZ that he had better come
in at once and surrender. Natchez was wild
and suspicious, and evidently reared treachery.
Since the establishment OF the government
there have been two me- hods or policies OF deal
ing with the Indans-One holding them inui.
vidually responsible for their acts and amena-
BILE 10 the local laws, subject to arrest and pun.
lshment; the other, the almost universal policy
where their Offenses have assumed the nature
OF an ln>urrectiOn, to use the military forces
against them as people and by the devasI;i-
tlons Of war and the destruction of their prop
erty and the Imprisonment OF the whole tribe,
or banishment from their native country TO e-
fectually subjugate and punish them one
body. Such men as Natchez and Geronimo
occupy the same status Red Cloud, who led
the Fort FeLte man massacre; Cuief Joseph,
Raln-in-the-fdce,' spotted Eagle, Sitting Bull
and thousands OF Others, many OF whom have
burned and mutiated their living victims. Ar
bitrary and absolute Punishment is severe
punishment for any people, and its effect upon
neIgIboring tribes has been very salutory here
tOfOre In other parts OF he cOuutry.n