The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-12-11
FAMOUS OLD CHIEF
RENEGADE GERONIMO
NOW WRINKLED AND BENT.
ONCE THE MOST DREADED OF RED
SKINNED OUTLAWS.

Thirty Years Ago He Welded the
and New Mexico; Now a lettering
Old Man Who Spends His Time
Between His Wigwam and His
Little Garden at Fort Sill, Living
on the Charity of the Government
He Once Defed.
Washington, Dec. 10.-Geronimo is
growing old Geronimo. once the terror
of Arizona and New Mexico, once the
most dreaded of all redskinned outlaws
of the Southwest, is wrinkled and bent
with age. His once strong frame now
trembles as he totters to and fro be-
tween his wigwam and his garden. The
hearts which once were chilled by the
mere mention of his name now pity
him. Geronimo, the mighty, has fall
EN-, and with his passing there will be
written the final chapter in one of the
most vivid of real American dramas.
There is something of peculiar inter-
est in the fading of this old Apache
renegade. He is one of the rare and
picturesque milestones which mark the
evolution and inevitable domination of
the "pale-face." Thirty years ago he
welded the power of monarch His
domination at that time was only linn
tied by his range of vision. His in
f1uence was paramount and supreme
among the members of that wild Apa-
che nation. To-day he lives upon the
charity of the government he once de-
fed, robbed of all courage and ambi-
ton, weak both in body and in spirit.
The eyes which once flashed fire in the
face of marching thousands, now
wander listlessy among the cabbages
and the turnips and the peas which
owe their being to his handiwork. The
hands which were so quick with rifle,
now falter as they guide the hoe.
Truly, there is pathos in this picture.
Last week a stranger went to Fort
Sill, man about so, his hair tinged
with gray.
Where is old Geronimo?" he asked
of an officer
There he is, working in his garden"
was the reply. The stranger approach
ed the garden. and the officer, curl
Gus, stepped back in the shade to
watch them. He saw Geronimo as he
looked UP at the intruder. He saw
the form of the old chieftain straighten
almost to its hight of years ago. He
saw the listless eyes brighten and
grow larger and larger in wonderment.
The hoe dropped in the furrow.
A Memory of OjO CnIiente.
81 know you; l know you," Geroni-
mo repeated, and then, putting out his
trembling hand. he added, "Howdy
Maj. Clum. l no see you for thirty
years, at Ojo Caliente: 1 remember"
The stranger was Mr.. Jonn P. Clum
4,<43a
ly agent at the San Carlos Indian res
ervation, New Mexico. He. it was,
who effected the only capture of Ge-
ronimo. The renegade surrendered
several times, but was only captured
once. Mr.. Clum spent the afternoon
with the old warrior. and in the even
ing told your correspondent the story
of that single capture. AS record of
adventure it rivals fantastic fiction:
81 first met Geronimo" said Mr..
Clum, June 4, 1876. at Apache Pass,
in the Chiracahua mountains. He and
his band of marauders had been killing
settlers and pillaging homes along the
Rio San Redro, and the entire South
west country was perturbed. The
band took refuge in the mountains and
in May, 1876, l was ordered to proceed
to their stronghold and bring the In
dams to the San Carlos reservation,
of which L had charge. Accompanied
by small bodyguard, I reached the
camp of Geronimo without incident,
and had long talk with the chiefs, in
which they all consented to remove to
San Carlos. They asked for little
time in which to bring in their women
and children. This was granted.
Became a Renegade.
THAT very night Geronimo had all
the dogs in camp killed, abandoned his
surplus camp equippage and provi-
sions, and set out for his old home in
Mexico From that date Geronimo