The age-herald., 1898-07-26
LAWTON DID NOT
 CAPTURE GERONIMO
RY sEMELL nAaeARn.

Miami, fla., JuHy Z0.-OefOnlHOi the 1dhiS ous Indian chief who gave General Miles such an exciting chase through the west in 1886, was not captured by Captain (now Major-GeneraD Lawton. according to th9 details Of the affair given by Lieutenant- Colonel Mcdonald of the First Alabama, who was connected indirectly with the pur- suing party
 Lawton was fifteen miles away, and the credit belongs to Lieutenant Gatewood then of the Eighth cavalry, who has since died of injuries received in an explosion at Fort Mckinney A Chicago newspaper, in, story recently printed, gave the honor to Lawton, at the same time painting an ex- citing story of the daring deed.
 "The fact of the matter is,'' said Colonel Mcdonald, that Lawton had nothing to do with the capture of the red belligerent. Geronimo and thirteen Indians had their camp on the Yald river. Miles was then at Fort Buoy, and Geronimo had been at large so long that he had received urgent orders to recapture him. Lawton with detachment followed a trail to the Yakf river, probably fifteen miles from where Geronimo and his men were supposed to be camped. Here Gatewood came across Lawton accompanied by a party of Indian scouts. Lawton gave him orders to go no further, but notwithstanding this he pushed ahead and entered the camp of the Indian chief, accompanied by one of his trusted men. There was no fighting attached to the adventure. The leader with his thir- teen followers surrendered because he had grown weary of being bounded from place to place. Gatewood told Geronimo that hs had as well surrender, for they would get him sooner or later. This the old chief in- dgnanty denied with the assertion that he "coud hide out as long as he chose"
 Gatewood was then a lieutenant in the Sixth cavalry. Shortly afterwards an in4 cendiary fire occurred at Fort Mckinney and while trying to save the magazines wall fell on the lieutenant, breaking his arm and infiicting other injuries. He was retired and in two years afterwards he died from his wounds His wife is now drawing a pension from the government
 Lieutenant Colonel Mcdonald was at the time in charge of command of Indian scouts Shortly before the capture they had been dsbanded, but in order to facfli- tate the capture of Geronimo, Miles had ordered him to re-enlist the redskins. He was accomplishing this work when the capture took place.
 The majority of the big chiefs foHow- CTS had some time before this surrendered to Miles. Geronimo and his faithful fol- lowers stole away and were at large proba- ply year.
 Lawton. through sheer luck has been pro- noted on the strength of this supposed daring achievement. Yet there are num- Der of hardy old army officers that have seen service in the wild west and who sup press a smile at a colored newspaper story giving to Lawton the credit since his rise before Santiago.
 In the state of Florida there are approx imately 5C0 redskins, composed of the fa- nous Miamis and other tribes They com- pose the remnant of a once brave and cour- ageous people that are now supposed to be extinct. They proudly claim the distinction of being among the small number that the government was unable to corral. They move from camp to camp, still relying for subsistence upon hunting. They are ex- pert alligator hunters, from which they de. rive considerable revenue. The most profit. able trade, however, is in selling the plu- mage of birds, with which the everglades abound, for $9 an ounce. Formerly they were frequent visitors to Miami, Tampa s'i'eA ""SiASoiifiiiS' A'o" 'SiJ iS" oiS eo po seen.
 ''Too much sojer," the sly old warrior who has mustered up courage to venture in replies when the question of his absence is raised. And he goes on chattering, while trying to hide himself from a group of curious blue coats
 Many of the men speak English, and not an inconsiderable number can read and write This accomplishment the squaws do not possess
 "Why not teach squaw to talk?' asked an inquiring gentleman.
 The Indian stood straight, while meditat- ing a moment. Then came the philosophic reply:
 ''Squaw talk too much now"