The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-07-09
GERoNIMo's CAMP.
A Glimpse at the Captive Apache Chiefs
Home in Alabama.

home III Alabama,
1t would be difficult to find any thing
more picturesque and interesting than
is tho camp of the Chiricahua Apache
Indians now held as prisoners of war at
Mount Vernon Barracks, Alabama. 1t
consists of hundred or more cabins and
few scattered wigwams, which the
older women have been unable to aban-
| don. Geronimo, who foiled our army
again and again, is seated in front of
his cabin, beading whip, and with an
| overcoat on, the cape of which is lined
with the artillery red; nor has he so far
neglected artistic effect as not to have
the most perfect harmony exist between
the lining Of the cape and his COM
| pleXion. His favoritc squaw sits at his
feet almost invariably cooking pump
llins, for which her master has an in
satiable appetite. Not far off is Na-chiz
with the yellow of the cavalry, and few
cavalrymcn could wearit with more mil
itary grace and dignity than does he.
Groups Of boys are playing marbles,
their long, black hair set off by bright
red jerlin, or a hat with gorgeous
| piece Of calico tied around it and orna-
mented with numerous white pins. Per-
haps they still cling to Apache taste,
and wear a feather. Their trousers re-
! qnire frequent pulls to keep them from
taking French leave, and, indeed, one
small urchin has evidently either not
had time to make his morning toilet, or
else regards clothes as an absurd lido
syncrasy of civilization for his sole
adornment is necktie. The girls,
with gown appalingly decollete, but
declSed with beads and charms innumer-
able, scorn so infantile an amusement
as marbles, and are frequently seen
gambling away their ornaments with as
much, if not more, zeal than their moth
ers could. The women are performing
every kind Of work, fetching wood and
water, preparing the food, scrubbing
their unfortunate children in the open
air, or washing their own hair:
others have obviously concluded
that cleanliness is indeed godli
ness, and for the first time prob
ably in six months every thing wear
|
tub; three or four shiyering youngsters,
almost, if not quite, nude, stand wait
ing until their clothes shall be ready,
which they will put on-still wet.
The cabins have as a rule two foored
rooms, joined by kind of jnclosed
built; the smoke is usually so dense
that it requires several moments for
ones eyes 10 become sufficiently accuS.
toned to it to discern the objects around
one. When at length the smoke fog
lifts little, two squaws can be seen
gambling in one corner, while a third is
making bread. The master is seated in
the one chair, half asleep, and the
babies are conveniently disposed of in
their baskets standing against the wall.
The raw beef is hanging up to dry and
does not much improve the unpleasant
odor that prevails. Calm contentment
apparently reigns which is really re-
markable when one considers that man
frequently has two, and sometimes
three, wives living in the same cabin.
Much is being done for the civiliza-
ton and improvement of the Apache.
Every morning from eight to eleven
o'clock the children are instructed, and
later the men. In the afternoon there
is singing school for the children,
which has been of untold benefit in en-
larging their vocabulary in a pleasant
manner.
A bath-house has been established by
the children's teacher, and, although it
was at first thought quite impracticable,
has proved the reverse, as on the first
Saturday that it was in working order
some twenty boys and six or seven
women. with their smaller children, APP
peared eager to begin work. The chief
difficulty is that all wish to take the
bath, and then, with their clothes tied
up in the towel, return home to DRESS
Valiant Julico in N. Y. Times.