The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-29
GERONIMO'S APACHE BAND
Their Weird Doings When First
Placed in Captivity.
New York Sun.


New York Sun.
The request of Geronimo, the captive
chief of the Apaches, to be released from
Fort Sill, recalls the circumstances OF
the arrival of his tribe at Fort Marion,
ST. Augustine, fourteen years ago. Geron-
ino was not allowed to be with his peo-
pie, because he had broken his word to
the United States government and after
surrender had again gone on the war
path. His squaw and papoose were with
them, though, and the puny infant hang
ing on its mothers back did not look
though it would ever be formidable
enemy of our soldiers.
The squaws had the reputation of hav-
ing tortured those of our men who were
not killed outright by the Indians. Mana
became chief in the absence of Geronimo
and disproved all we have been taught by
tradition to believe concerning the cruel
ty of the Indians to their women, for
Mana submitted to be pulled by the hair
until either he gave in or was rescued
by an officer from his irate spouse. Mana
and the rest of the men had to be coerced
into wearing the garments of civilization.
They came into captivity blanket In
dams and did not like the confinement
of their limbs that the wearing of trou-
sers necessitated. They effected sort
of compromise by wearing the shirt pic
turesQuely hanging outside the trousers.
sometimes wearing two shirts at one time
Of different lengths. They were treated
very kindly at Fort Marion and were pro-
vided with physician by the govern
ment.
The Indians were suspicious of him.
however, and when one day he admins
tered dose of castor oil to a sick man
of the tribe and came after a while to
see his patient he found that he had been
spirited away He was kept hidden in
some one Of the numerous tents that
were pitched upon the ramparts of the
fort nor did he appear again for many
days, not until his entire recovery re-
moved the suspicion from the mind of
the savages that the government intended
to poison them one by one in retaliation
for their crimes against it
They were sometimes allowed to go into
the city. few at time, under guard,
much to the discontinue of the shop
keepers, whose goods they would handle
with great curiosity. leaving them after
close inspection somewhat the worse for
wear. When any one in the street cried
out loosely: Make way for the native
Americans the shop keepers ran hastily
to cover up from view the daiptiest OF
their wares for fear of the appreciatiye
attentions Of the interested visitors.
Some Boston women, wishing to i'm
prove the opportunity OF enllsnlehlnS
these sayages, got permission from the
officers to omen kindergarten in the fort.
The men as we'll as the women and chill
dren took kindly to the plan q relief
! from absolute idleness. The young bucks
tried to play the kindergarten plays and
sing the songs. but one who knew said
| that in the privacy of the tent they called
! the good women a name which translated
| means Cray SQuaws.' -
When the government issued quantity
of red flannel in the fall it put an end to
school, for the women received it most
eagerly and the embroidery put upon the
garments they made of it was wonderful
| to see.