The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-16
FORT SILL, LAWTON'S
FAMOUS MILITARY POST
Where Geronimo and His Apache
Braves Are Prisoners of Govern
ment-Comanches Rich and Lazy.
BY VIM. H. HORNADAY.
Special Correspondence.

BY VIM. H. HORNADAY.
- $500 Special Correspondence.
LAWTON. Ok, Oct; 10.-Fort Sill, four
miles north Of Lawton, was named in
honor Of Colonel Sill, who fell in the In
dian wars Of 80. The first permanent
buildings were erected in 1872. They are
all built Of stone which was quarried on
the reservation, while the other ma
terials were brought over thettrail from
Fort Worth. There are accommodations
for nearly regiment of cavalry, butfre-
Gently there has been full regiment Of
artillery quartered there, in addition to
the regular garrison.
This is one Of the two artillery regi-
mental, organizations in the army, and
was sent to Fort Sill on account of the
topography Of the large reservation, en-
abling the best practice with the new
field guns. These guns are an improve
ment over the best field pieces used by
the Japanese army, and the practice
among the hills and mountains about
Fort Sill has already demonstrated the
merits Of these guns.
There is much of historic and legend
airy interest at and about Fort Sill. War,
massacre, treachery, beautiful Indian
maidens, the healings at historic Medl-
cine Bluff, the fine Ambrosia spring at the
fort, treacherous Hile's hole in Medicine
creek; old Chief Geronimo, who has mas
sacred more men, outraged more women,
and Drained more children than any old
greaser now alive-all these, and many
other features make this fort and it's i'm
mediate surroundings full of interest.
liz ~ la a3Nf T~ ~ya4
mo and captured red handed In the last
Apache war, are (nomina) prisoners on
the Fort Sill reservation; and must be
present or accounted for" every day to
the military officer in charge Of them.
They have taken to civilized clothing
! and ways to, most wonderful degree.
The young bucks raise corn and cattle and
prepare hay and forage for their stock,
which they are permitted to keep on the
reservation. They have not the annuity
which other tribes draw, and must earn
all the money they spend. They draw
rations from the quartermaster.
! Because Of. the military restrictions
they are not given to the f1rewater habit
as are ali other Indians in this territory
They are more Industrious and Of more
| civilized habits than the lazy greasers
that are pampered and petted by the mis-.
guided or ignorant agents of the so called
| Indian Rights association. OLD &C.
| ronimo claims that he is a Christian, and
that he met Jesus coming along the
Methodist trail" But the old man yet
enjoys the Apache war DANCES and to ar
almost alarming degree were he not 6
prisoner OF war. H.. ~.rs--r NJ. ~. .y- -,-~.
The names Of the three new counties
1 Comanche, Kiowa, and Caddo-indicate
that these were the reservations of these
three tribes. The Comanches are scat.
tered over a small portion of this county
many OF, them living in good houses on thu
allotment belonging to some member o.
the family. The unoccupied allotmenti
are generally leased to white farmer,
through the subagent, and some Indian
give very favorable terms. But many o
the bucks have queer and unbusiness lik'
ideas, and are hard to deal with. s. -
The members Of the Comanche trib
draw large annual interest on the fund il
the. hands Of Uncle Sam, and they ar
4 about the LATEST people on earth
They. have money enough, drive goo,
horses and carriages, marry young
and seldom die; bucks and squaw
play stud poker and drink all tn
fire water they can get, and are actuall
too lazy to either hunt or fish. They owl
countless ours, and you must kick bot
Indian and dog out of your path. Thes
are the fullbloods. Many half-breeds ar
more Industrious and more inclined
white mans meanness and manners.