The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-07-14
WILES OF GERONIMO.
Old Apache Chief is a Wonderful
Poker Player
Kansas City JournaI.l

Army officers deny that Geronimo.
the old Apache chief, is becoming in
sane. Geronimo was brought to Fort
sill. o. T. from Fort Pickens. Fla. five
years ago, where he was imprisoned
first after his capture by General Miles
in 1887.
THAT old sinner is as sane as am
said an officer at the fort YESTERDAY.
Whenever you hear rumOTS 10 the
effect that Geronimo is crazy it may
be set down that he is planning 10 fool
his guards and escape We expect him
TO attempt TO get away at any time
Geronimo is not confined in a cell
now, but is allowed the freedom of the
reservation. He is always accompa-
MED by guard. The officers allow the
old chief to carry revolver, but take
care that it is never loaded. He han
dies the gun as fondly as a mother
would baby.
Geronimo is a great card player"
said the officer, and his tricks az
monte and poker keep the rest Of the
Indians around the fort broke nearly
all the time. We had a great card
game here last Sunday. with Geronimo
| against the field. The old sinner broke
about a dozen soldiers and then com
menced on his fellow Indians He
played them for blankets. feathers and
plumeS, and now he has the finest
wardrobe of any Indian on the reSer-
walton. He feels prouder Of his poker
trophies than a small boy does of his
first pair of pants.
EARLY Sunday morning Geronimo
and a number Of soldiers engaged in
quiet game of monte back Of the gov
eminent house. The old redskin was
less than an hour in raking in their
little pile of $3.50. Then he started IN
TO play poker with Happy Jack, a well
known COW puncher. who lives Wher-
ever his hats off, but generally holds
out at Fort Sill. Geronimo soon had
the COW puncher's money in his pocket
and then the Indians around there lost
all their fancy trinkets.
1T is an interesting sight to see the
old man shuttle the pasteboards. He Is
undoubtedly the bravest gambler that
| ever put his knees under a poker table
| There is no bluff about him He PLAYS
fair and square game, and expects
! others 10 do the same He never hest
| tates about a bet, and his Judgment is
always good. When you raise him a
stiff amount. his cold. gray eyes seem
| TO penetrate your thoughts for the in
slant, and then his mind is made up
/ as to whether you are running G blum
| or holding a good hand.
! "A curious thing about it is that
! Geronimo nearly always gives his VIM
/ nings TO the civilized Indian children
| 10 spend for an education. NOtwith-
| standing the fact that he can neither
read nor write he inSiscs that the ris-
| ing generation should follow in the
white mans trais
Apache trail no good any more
he says.
| Il recollect a queer little incident
| that happened here a year ago" the
! officer went on to say. Burbank. the
| Chicago Indian painter, came down
| here TO make a picture of Geronimo. |
| suppose that Burbank knows Ger0n;-
/ mos features better than any man in
America, for he has painted his pOr-
| trait twenty times. After a lot Of dick
/ ering about the price for. posing, Cor
/ Geronimo raises the figures every time
/ on Burbank, they struck bargain
Ihen the artist wanted TO get plaster
cast of his hand.
. No. heap bad medicine said Ct
ronimo
oh, but you're a medicine man as
| well as great chief" said Burbank
who knows how to f1atter the Indians
and you can make it all right.
Finally he got the plaster cast
/ Geronimo's hand is short. thick, fingers
blunt, nails broken and palm deeply
| oCe'iiI0u- buI pdnh TOOK the cast 10 'lit-
cago and showed it TO another artist
| Ralph GARRISON
Whose hand do you suppose that
/ is% said Burbank
Haven't any idea said ClaTkson,
as he took the cast and began 10 study
It By George, but that's a hand Of
brute, he exclaimed, after making a
minutes inspection.
And Clarkson hit it right" said the
olhcer. Geronimo is a thorough saw
age, always has been one. and always
VIII be. He's one of the kind you can't
/ civilize."