The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-04-14

raise him he will look you straight in the
eyes and if he thinks you are blufhng Will
raise you a stiff sum. One can never
read by his face whether or not ne mas
a good hand But the weakness of his
poker game is that he almost invariably
overbids his hand. Poker and monte are
his favorite games and the Geronimo
tepee is the scene of many highly exclt-
ing sittings. Soldiers and cowboys often
sit in the games with the Indians.
One curious and attractive trait OF the
old chief is that when he makes a Dig
winning at cards or has a large sale OF
trinkets he gives the proceeds to the 1T
tie children in camp to spend for school
books Much of his money goes 70 his
favorite daughter, Eva, and his faVoflte
suuaw, Ketona. The daughter of ketona
gets little love from her father. rms IS
because she married a white man, and
what was still worse in the eyes OF the
father-he was a cowboy.
Geronimo is said to be 50 years old. He
does not know his age. He was win
Victoria when that chieftain went against
the Mexicans and later he developed into
a leader himself. He is born leader OF
redskins for the reason that he claims 10
be not only fighting man, but also
medicine man, and it takes a man VINO
can talk with unseen beings to make
really deep impression on the Indian. Ge-
ronimo made his first raid in 1884, when
he marched against the town OF Flna'
Ariz. and with a few warriors, succeed
ed in wiping out the whole population OF
500 souls This was followed by other
atrocities, until he was captured IN 1881,
having cost the United States government
almost 100000 in giving chase to him.
He and his band of 200 fighters were taken
to Fort Marion, Fla, but owing to the
hot climate they could not live there ana
were transferred some five years ago 10
Fort sill, where they have since remained
with the exception of a trip to Omaha,
three years ago. 1t was during the Span
ish war that Geronimo made threats 10
escape, and did attempt it. He only got
a few miles from the fort when over
taken Since then he has been on ms
good behavior. The only fault now
found with his conduct is his
persistent lying about his treat
nent by the soldiers. So far as
his wanting to die is concerned ex-
cept when he is obviously bioding lot
sympathy. he SENS TO be enjying life well
enough to live until the last trumpet
sounds.
Geronimo is small in stature, possessed
of a keen face and piercing eye. The
biue i'm his eve is of that peculiarly steely
color that aGOuSGS uIlplCdo<l4l SSiAoe.NASA'-
in the mind. His face is wrinkled and
his hands are small and rough. His color
is a dark red. Geronimo smokes his ciga-
rettes these days and would drink nre
water had he the privilege. He has SIX
wives. but lives with none of them. his
favorite daughter Eva lives with him
when she is at home. He gives her SUM-
cient money to send her to an Eastern
school eight months in the year.
Geronimo does not work; that Is such as
raising crop of corn or millet- he gets
rent free, two room house TO hve H.
but he keeps his ponies therein and re-
sides himself in a tepee. All of the
Apaches who are held as war prisoners
live in tents and keep their horses in the
house furnished to them. The Apache VII
lage is on an open plain in sight OF Fort
Sill. In summer the tepees catch all OF
the dust and IN the winter the snow nur-
ries into the doors. 1t would not be a
white mans notion of comfort, but the
Indians like IT, m the valley near the
fort are some very handy places to pitch
a camp, but they will have none of 1t.
A few weeks ago Geronimo's daughter
Eva was taken III with some skin disease
and was placed in the government hospi-
tai at the fort. A large boil appeared on
her neck. Geronimo told the white physl-
clan IN charge that 1t should be opened
The white medicine man told Geronimo
that II should not When the doctor was
not watching the old warrior pulled out a
lack knife and opened the sore. The sol
dlers placed him in the guard house for
three days. but the girl Improved daily
thereafter. Among the Apaches Geroni-
mo Is called an excellent doctor and they
win have no other.
Hundreds OF people drive fifty miles IN
a rlckcty stage coach from the railway
station though the kiowa and comanche
reservation in order 10 get a glimpse OF
this noted fighter. lie has learned 40
waich for them ana when they APP
proach be- assumes very dignined and
injured dir always repeating bic plain
tive story 81 hoW he longs for death.
while itue iu sympathy with modern
civilization me oid chief appreciates one
az Na Inventions. the camera. fie charges
~ for bis picture. But theirs ers thoas