Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-03-27
Geronimo, the Noted Apache Chief,
Wants Freedom and Citizenship.

path they killed seventy-six settlers.
For years Gen. Crook, king Of Indian
fighters, had camped on the willy Indians
trail and in 1888 he persuaded Geronimo
and his people to settle peaceably for two
years on the Mexican border.
Then came the terrible outbreak Of 1885.
and General Crook asked to be relieved OF
command.
General Miles, now commander-in-chief
of the army, succeeded him. and began the
most tireless campaign ever waged
against the redskins.
Aided by the late General Lawton, then
captain. he succeeded in sharing Geron-
limo in 1885,
Geronimo and the remnant OF his fight
ers were run to earth on the Yaqui River,
in section Of the country almost impass-
able for man or beast.
Their camp was located on a small ia
bleland bordered by the river on one side
and surrounded for the rest by high cliffs
that no human being could scale. The
only points of entrance were from the
river up or down.
Officers under Capt Lawton crept up,
and from a bluff 1900 feet above looked
down upon the enemy. All the fires were
burning. the horses grazing and the IN
dams enjoying swim in the river.
Word was dispatched Immediately to the
troops and they hurried to close up the
exists by water.
Unfortunately an Indian lookout caught
sight of the red band on the hat Of one Of
the scouts.
GeronimO's party fed precipitately up
the river.
Negotiations were opened between the
Indians and the troops. One morning at
daybreak Geronimo, Matches and dozen
other Indians came into camp.
Geronimo, naughty as a conqueror, gaz-
ed at him. Then he rushed up to Gen.
1w4~WsN L
You are the man I want to walk with
he said.
After parleys lasting several days, dur
ing which Lawton's men believed them
selves in danger of suffering the fate that
finally befell Crooks band. GERONIMO
agreed to surrender formally to Gen.
Miles.
Then IT was discovered that Geronirlos
immediate company consisted Of eighteen
bucks and squaws. and that they were
hard pressed by wounds and hunger.
Since then Geronimo has been nominaliy
prisoper.
He has lost in measure his ferocious
appearance. and his face has taken on
something of the dignity of a red Ma
poleon. Lion-liI1e courage. determination,
steadfast purpose, still light up the strong
face. and to a degree conceal its wonder
full cunning.
A few years ago he was reported insane,
out TINS proved mistake. he Is an IN
veterate gambler and a good one. He is
never bluffed, and is game to the last
dollar.
A favorite trick OF his is to explain that
his oversight is extremely bad. Then he
pins a bit of white paper up as a target
and offers a white man SO for every time
the white man hits it with a pistol shot.
But you must give me SO every time
hit it." adds Geronimo.
And Geronimo, in spite Of his failing
eyesight, never misses the mark.
Horse-racing is the delight OF the old
mans heart.
He charges every artist who makes his
picture SIS for the privilege.
When asked what he believed would be-
come Of the North American Indian. Ge-
ronimo said recently:
THE sun rises and shines for a time
and then 1t goes down, sinking out OF
sight and is lost. So 1t will be with the
Indian When I was boy my old father
told me the Indians were as many as the
leaves on the trees. know that If they
were there they have gone now. It will
be only a few years more when the In
dian will be heard of no more except in
the books that the white man writes about
him."