The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-15
How Lawton Captured Geronimo.
From Golfers Weekly.

HOW LaWtOn captured
From Golfers Weekly.
When Gen. Miles assumed command of
the Department of Arizona on April T.
1886, his attention was called to the hos
tile members of the Chricahua band OF
Apaches, whose depredations and fiendish
atrocities had created feeling of nse-
curity through scattered settlements along
the borders. Many of the industrial in
terests-mining, agricultural and pastoral
had been abandoned, and the troops were
discouraged by their long and futile chase
after these elusive savages.
Gen. Miles so disposed his troops as to
afford the best protection to the citizens
of Arizona, and also organized an effective
force to pursue marauding bands In old
Mexico For the command of this special
column he selected Capt. Henry Ware
Lawton of the Fourth United States Cav
airy, an officer whose record during the
war and subsequently had been most
brilliant, and whose splendid physique
character and high attachments as an et-
ticient con mander of men peculiarly fit
ted him for his task. Lawtons command,
organized May 4 and supplied with sixty
days rations, marched from Fort Hua-
chuca May 3, to follow up the trail of the
Indians.
The Apaches were followed through the
Santa Rita, MILESTONE Rincon and Santa
Catalina mountains. In the latter they
We're attacked, and a boy who had been
recently captured by them was rescued.
They We're then pushed southwark until
at length they crossed the boundary line
for the second time into Sonora whose
topography they knew We'll Mounted
troops were no longer available in so
rough country. Capt. Lawton, with
fresh command, assumed the arduous and
almost impossible task of pursuing the
Apaches persistently through the broken
country of Sonora for nearly three months
He followed them from one range of
mountains 10 another, over peaks which
were 10000 or 1000 feet above the level
OF the sea, and frequently in the depths
OF canons where the heat in July was
OF tropical intensity. Because of this heat
the men could not bear their hands on
the metal parts of their rifles nor on the
rocks.
SO Injured had the Apaches become 10
Inc thln, dry air that in passing from
one to another of these almost parallel
ranges their movements were almost as
rapid as the native Rocky mountain sheen
and their disappearance from the peaks
was as magical AS the men climbed up-
ward the great eXertion in this rarefied
atmosphere caused them to fall backward
exhausted and bleeding at the lungs. while
the cruel, jagged rocks tore their cloth
ing and rasped their flimsy boots into
shreds.
During this time Lieut.. Gatewood. Sixth
Cavalry, with two Chiricahua Indians
Who had been charged with commission
to enter the Indian camp and demand their
surrender, Joined Lawton On Aug. "a
Lawton received information that the An
aches were moving toward the Terras
mountains. He marched Immediately to
lara flar, off IQxr,e L
he arrived near Fronteras on the 20th. and
learning that the Indians had expressed
TO the MexicanS a desire to surrender
Lieut.. Gatewood went forward at once
with his friendly Chiricahuas to communi-
cate with them, but found the Mexican
authorities already trying to negotiate
terms. Gatewood, however, sent his In
dams forward, and soon learned that the
Indians had moved their camp. This fact
he communicated to Lawton.
On the evening of the 24th Lawton came
up with Gatewood and found him In
communication with the fugitives; but on
his return from their camp he reported
that they declined to make an uncondi-
tional surrender; and wished him to bear
certain messages to Gen. Miles. Lawton
persuaded Gatewood to remain with him.
believing that the Indians would yet come
to terms. The following morning Ger
onimo came into Lawton's camp and init
mated mis- desire to make peace, but wish
ed to talk with Gen. Miles. In the course
of the talk Geronimo, after looking Law
ton over grunted out the remark, you
are the only white man that ever tired
me outr Quickly came Lawtons reply
in his usual terse manner: well, that is
Just what came to do9
When Gen. Miles returned to Fort Bowie.
sixty-five miles distant he took with him
Geronimo Natchez and four other In
dams. Lawton with the main body of
Apaches started, and, by making slow
marches. reached Fort Bowie on the morn
ing of Sept s. Thus the campaign, be-
ginning on May 8, had continued five
months, during which the column had
marched and secuted total of 3,O4l miles.
The Indians had fought until their am
munition became exhausted.
Every member of that splendid command
of Lawton's, who despite hardships,
achieved the success their endurance and
fortitude so richly deserved, would in any
other country, have received immediate
promotion, brevets and medals. Lawton
entered a modest claim for the honors
of this campaign in a letter. dated Fort
Huachuca, A. T., Oct. 81, 1856, a little over
six weeks after Geronimo's surrender. He
says: IL have been hard at work all sum-
mer, and you need not believe all the lies
the newspapers tell you about the cam
paign. l got Geronimo myself, and feel
very good over the complete success of
my five months work. II has added very
much 10 my pleasure. too. to receive let
ters of congratulation from so many old
friends and feel myself remembered