Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-26

rectly in front of the building in which my
reserve police were hidden. My oodyguaro
of twenty-five was with me and had been
deployed In skirmish line so as 10 party
surround the renegades.
Indian Repartee.
THE hostiles were gathered In SOLID
group directly in front of me, and as was
their custom on such occasions, the worst
in the crowd were nearest me, so That
could have touched them without moving.
They knew that the immediate presence OF
such VIGOROUSLY desperate characters, fully
armed and hideous with war paint, was
anything but reassuring to a 'pale-face.
When all was ready l told Geronimo tnat
L had come long way to have tax Win
him and his people; that l had matters OF
Importance to speak of, but that II my
words were observed with caution no seri-
Gus harm would come to him and ms
braves. Geronimo laughed a scorntul laugh
and remarked that if l observed proper
caution no harm would come to me and my
Indian police
There was nothing very submissive IN
this and l began to wonder what the rene
gades would do when they saw my re-
serves file out of the commissary bulldlns.
On both sides were desperate men, ana the
slightest cause might change the history
of the day.
Trap Was Sprung.
THE signal was given, the door of the
commssary building was thrown open, and
my police emerged on the dead run in In
dian file with their guns ready for instant
action, and completed the skirmish line
surrounding the renegades. Geronimo ana
his fellow outlaws watched the appear
ance of the first dozen of my reserves with
an expression that showed they didnt care
for a Dozen more or less. But by the time
two dozen has passed the commisSary por-
tai and others were still coming the rene
gades grew nervous and began TO move
about so as to occupy more space ana give
room for action. Some moved toward
nearby gulch. They were ordered back,
but the order was disregarded, whereupon
my chief of police threw up his gun and
drew bead on the foremost of the re-
treating Indians.
Instead of the report of a rifle we heard
a terrific yell and heavy squaw sprang
upon Chief Beaufort, hung on to his
shoulders and brought the muZzle of his
gun down near the ground Beauford,
big, brawny scout, gave one look of amaze
ment and disgust and with sweep of his
great right arm sent the squaw spraWllng
ten feet away. Again his gun went up
This time a dozen of my police followed
his example, and the retreating Indians re-
turned. The entire band was surrounded
and we had the drop on them at last.
Geronimo at Bay.
During the moments thus occupied had
not forgotten to observe each expression Of
Geronimo's face. In a large pocket of my
overcoat l had a six-shooter pointed at
the old fellow, and had he made any move
to resist shot from the pocket was among
the surprises 1 had In store for him. When
l insisted that the renegadeS lay down their
arms during our conversation Geronimo OBJ
jected but / stepped forward and took his
gun out of his hands, a gun which l still
have in my possession, a much-prized tro-
Nft I,n n-iN $nl1 h hot
1 had grown very fond of him, SO fond, in
fact, that 1 intended taking him back with
me to San Carlos. He was sitting directly
in front of me. l informed him that he
would have to go to the guard house, and
that he would have to go Immediately.
Geronimo sprang to his feet at once, and
the picture is one that l shall never for
get. He stood six feet in his moccasins,
erect as mountain pine, every outline of
his graceful and perfect form Indicative of
the strength and endurance for which he
had become famous. His straight black
locks fell to his hips, his high cheek bones.
his angular nose his keen, flashing black
eyes, his proud and graceful carriage made
him model of his race, the most perfect
type of Apache l have ever seen. There
he stood-Geronimo the renegade. a form
that commanded attention and a name
dreaded by thousands. His eye burned
luridly under the excitement of the moment
and his form Quivered with unsurpassed
anger He was hating between two pur-
poses-either to draw his knife, his only
remaining weapon, cut right and left and
die fighting, or to surrender.
Apache Chief Disarmed.
my police were not slow in discerning
his thoughts. and as quickly as thought
ore Of them sprang forward and snatched
the knife from the renegades belt. At the
same instant half dozen guns were lev
cled at him. and the first and only capture
of Geronimo was completed. He was con-
veyed to the guard house and heavily
ironed and the entire band was marched
back to San Carlos, where they were still
confined when l resigned my commission in
the Indian service"
The records show that Major Clum met
General Wade while the former was en-
route to San Carlos with the renegades as
prisoners. General Pope, who commanded
the Department of the Missouri at that time
made a report, however, to the effect that
Geronimo had been captured "by the
troops under his command" Upon what
facts this report was based has never been
ascertained. In 1873 when Geronimo was in
charge of the military, he grew tired of
tie bonds that held him and took to the
bills for outing. few more lives were
sacrificed and then Geronimo sent word to
Captain Haskell that he was willing to sur
render. The renegade and his band were
returned to San Carlos and released on
good behavior. In 1881 he took another trip
TO the mountains for his health and more
lives and cattle were sacrificed. Two years
later General Crook, with a large body of
troops caught up with the band and re-
turned to the agency with several sQuaws
and papooses, claiming also to have cap
tu:ed Geronimo, but explaining that Geroa-
iroo would not be along for several days.
A month went by and Geronimo was heard
from on the Mexican border where with
a b0nd of about fifty bad men he was steal
ing cattle and killing settlers. Lieut.. Brit
ton Davis, u. S. A, encountered the band
and they all agreed to go with him to the
reservation, taking the stolen cattle with
them. At Whpple barracks the cattle
were sold by Capt. C. p Egan. who gained
fame in the Spanish-American war through
the canned-beef episode. In 1885 Geronimo
thought he needed another outing and he
left the reservation without so much as a
word of regret to the commanding officer.
A year later, wearied of the war path he
came in and surrendered. General Crook
received him and had them pose for pno-
tographer. The next day General Crook
had the picture and that was all. The In
disns had changed their minds about sur
rendering. General Miles then relieved
General Crook and in the course of time
Geronimo became weary again and sur
rendered. General Miles had a special
train waiting for the outlaw with the "suf-
rendering habit and he and his braves
were deported to Florida, where they
basked In the sunshine or doZed in the
shade of the sheltering palms. When the
reform had been completed, Geronimo