The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-22
THE PASSING OF GERONIMO.
The Famous Bloodthirsty Indian
Chief I'm Insane Asylum.

Old Geronimo. the last OF the great In
dian chiefs, and the wickedest Apache ever
an asylum at Oklahoma. The noted warrior
suffers for nothing. His quarters are kept
warm In the winter and cool I'm the sum-
mer. His captors begrudge him nothing
only they wish he would die in captivity or
else Kill himself in an insane moment.~ Iis
cell is not barren Of implements that could
be used in infiictng ceath.
In spite OF his seventy years Of age GerQn-
limo would still be feared as Is a rattle
snake were he at liberty. He has murdered
scores and scores or men and always found
a pleasant diversion I'm burning women
alive, while as for torturing innocent babes
he never hesitated.
Five times Geronimo was captured by the
United States authorities, but in some man
ner ne always succeeded in making good his
escape. For weeks he lived I'm an Indian
Territory cave while the United States
scouts were securing Arizona for him.
Often he lay hidden in some apaporoachabld
lair while the soldiers rode by him within
His endurance on the back Of horse
was astounding to the degree. Once he rode
800 miles without stopping. and on another
occasion ran forty miles in two days to es-
cape from his pursuers. Starvation or the
Western heat had no terrors for him. He
stood them all while his comrades sue
cumbed by the dozens around him. Thirty
times the old chief had been shot by SOL
dlers, his own men betrayed him and sold
him into captivity twice. but through IL all
he lived to terrorize the thousands Of peo-
pie who feared him as they would a plague
Geronimo never fought a battle In the
open field. His tactics were those OF his
redskin ancestry He never gave an enemy
a chance for his life. Even the hardened
settlers of western Arizona trembed at the
mention of his name. So terrible was he IN
his wrath the Mexicans believed he was
god. and they sacrificed cattle 70 him To
keep him appeased. Geronimo lived WITH
the country which kills everything animate
which tries TO cross IL except an Apache In
dian. He knew every inch OF the desert.
10
wait for the prey which Travelled on the
pack train trail. A single man who ever fell
in with the murderous band never escaped
with his life.
on death hunt" numbering ranchmen
and their. families, pillaging their houses
and then burning them afterward I'm foolish
endeavors 10 hide their crimes.
The last great death trail in which the
band killed a rancher In Arizona named
Becker and tortured his wife and children
10 death. The United States troops were
put on his trail and after following him for
several hundred miles finally came upon
him on the southern border of Arizona One
of the band was carrying white girl which
had been stolen from ranch house An
army officer, with a single rifle shot. Killed
the girl and the horse which the Indian
rode, but Geronimo and the Indian stood
over the girl and held a band OF fifty men
at bay for more than FIVE hours. when tbs
rest of the Indians rallied and came to their
Seven years ago Geronimo was captured
and sent TO Florida In captivity. kind
hearted woman tourist met him there ana
talked with him regarding matters concerns
ing his tribe. She was so taken with the
chief that she finally got up a petition
signed by many fellow-tourists begging the
President TO allow the old Indian 10 return
to the desert 70 die.
The people of Arizona rose I'm one voice
when they heard OF the petition and coun-
ter-petitioned the government To keep the
old Indian where he was. saying that IL he
must come back TO send the kind-hearte1
tourist ahead of him when he started and
let her receive him at some Arizona ranch
house The government refused 10 remove
Geronimo then. but year later he was
taken back to Oklahoma in captivity ana
has not been out OF the Territory since.
Several months ago his mind began 20 fall
and his guards now say that IL has COM
pletelv given away. They do not think IL
possible that he can 1--we the year out