The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-07-15
he RIVALS THE RIPPER.
Masse, Geronimo's Red Companion
in Evil, Terrorizss Portions
Of Arizona.
After Surrendering and Going as
Far as st. Louis, He Jumps
the Train and Returns.
He Steals Two Wives In Indian Territory
But Kills Them Before He Reaches
the Mountains-Hurd to Catch.


Did Won ever hear of Masse? asks a San
Carlos correspondent of the San Francisco
Examiner. No? Well. he ia a renegade
Chiracahua Indian who has been on the
war path since the "oldest inhabitant' can
remember.
During the campaign of 'S5 md 'S6 he
WAS head cook and bottle washer to that
old tiend, Geronimo. and when Geronimo
surrendered, or rather when he informed
the United States that he was extremely
tired and hungry and nesded rest and q cor
tain amount of food which was given him,
old Masse remarked that those were his
sentiments also.
But there was one proposition that he
did not Take to very kindly and that was
the proposed trip to Florida. He stated
that Florida was n very good place in win
tor tims--for Il Now York capitalist but MS
u summer resort it failed to satisfy his
longing and that he vastly preferred the
lattlesnake infested mountains of Arizona
and the muddy waters of the ella and San
Carlos rivers to any inducements that Flor
ida offered. He also said that the Gila
monsters and cent?, edes were companions
in every way desirable when compared with
the alligatois and mosquitoes of the Flor
ida rivers and their banks.
Uncle Sam told him, however-and in set
terms-that his services were required as a
Sunday school teacher in the east, and that
be meant to take him there. whereupon tho
old rsprobats climbed into a car, and. after
wiping off his war paint and stutling his
"gse string inside his new army trousers,
he took \ seat on the shady side of the
Pullman and started on his way in no
pleasant frame Of mind. He inserted that
If he was allowed to train the religious idea
how to shoot he would make exceeding hard
work for the coming crop Of boy preach
erB.
When he got to st. Louis, however. and
had seen oil the horrors of civilization, he
decided that he was unequal to the task of
reforming such people, and, stealing u car
bine and revolver from one of the guards.
he slid through a window while the train
was at full speed.
How he worked his way back will always
be a mystery, but the first heard of him.
after his objection to the terrors of riding
through Missouri. was down among the
Comanches in Indian Territory. where he
killed a couple of bucks, stole some horses,
and, taking a couple of squaws with him,
started for the White mountains III Arizona,
and, for fear of injuring the feelings of his
Ny AA6 w ASiA paw VI
3 his alien marriage, he killed the squaws
just prior to reaching his old stamping
grounds.
He was soon in communication with his
people, who received him up in the noun
tains with open arms, and reported his ar
rival to the agent at San Carlos. The agent
at once requested the commanding officer
at san Carlos and Apache to send out
scouting parties. This was done, and since
that day in the summer of 'S6 scouting
nj ~ nun lNa, S, VI nab ~ N art
probably will be for IL generation or so.
1t is asserted by John Hemrstead, who
used to be chief of scouts at San Carlos,
that the old scoundel visited the agency
one day, and that he saw him, but he fails
to state why he did not capture him.. 1t
was certainly not on account of fear, for
John says himself that that element was
left cut of his composition: but the ordi-
nary Elan would think twice before he tried
to capture old MasSe even once, and if he
failed to handle himself with considerable
diligence no would probably never think
uny nose.
It is only a short time since the old man
had business up near Apache. and while hid
IN the rocks a few miles from the post he
observed en old squaw, accompanied by her
daughte I assing within n hundred yards
or 60. He killed the old lady and took the
girl with him over into onora on a honey
moon.
The old woman's remains were found a
rev hours attef QeaCl, ana announcer scout
ing party was added to the list. 1t returned
after its rations were all used up, having &C.
complished nothing, rs usual.
HIS tired OF his wife in a short time, and
Informed her of his intention to kill her,
but she pleaded SO hard for her life that he
pointed to a mountain peak away to tina
north-they we're in the mountains back of
Fort Bowie at the time-and told her that
1t was the home of her tribe, and to 90.
She went, and finally drifted into the
agency, where sho told her tale to the agent
and asked for food.
Mafse is on excellent terms with another
noted citizen OF Arizone. of the same cali
Der as himself. TIE Kid is the celebrity
referred to, and the names of this festive
pair are constantly on the tongues of the
isolated settlers and prospcctors who are
near tho trail that leads from San Carlos
agency to Sonors, for they arc always ex-
pectlng to be the recipient Of q rifle bullet
from either the ono or the other of them.
some dav the government will offer am
nesty to tteso warriors, and they will come
into the agency and get fattened up and
take now wives. Then. perhaps, after a
season of peace and plenty. having in the
meantime cached All almost endless supply
of ammunition in thu mountains they will
wander forth and kill a Mormon freighter
or two and resume business at their old
Itnnd