New-York tribune., 1906-10-27

teen illustrations from
xviii, 2l6- Dufleld & Co.
President Roosevelt has manifested a broad
minded lenity and at the same time a sagacious
judgment in authorizing the publication Of the
present volume in which the once dangerous
and long guarded Apache chieftain seeks to
justify his past conduct by relating the story of
his sanGuiC2ry career. 1t is difficult TO on
what sufficient grounds the officials of the War
Department and the officers OF the army who
opposed the printing CT the book based their
objections TO it The captive Indian. indeed in
dulges in occasional criticisms of the conduct of
those to whose active interposition is due his
own present innocuous inactivity He accuses
both General Crook and General Miles of unfair
dealing in securing his submission and of failure
10 carry out the terms of his surrender. The
regulations OF these gentlemen are not likely to
suffer under the animadversions Of so interested
party to a compact which has placed perma-
nent restraint upon his ferine impulses. Reading
the accounts of the remorseless raids conducted
by the revengeful Apache upon Mexican and
American settlers, traders and travellers.
herein set down in his words by faithful
chronicler, the ordinary citizen will be likely to
hold Geronimo as fortunate beyond his deserts
in being granted his life-even at the expense
Of his Iberty-in which to repent him Of his
misdeeds His autobiography. although record
ing his conversion to Christianity, is evidence
that. SO Ear, he has failed 10 avail himself Of the
opportunity.
In his self-painted portrait Geronimo stands
revealed as an unreconstructed savage, incapa-
bic OF assimilating the most elementary notions
Of the civilized state. For example, he tells Of
treaty of peace entered into between the Apaches
and the inhabitants % Casa Grande, and of how
troops from another town attacked the Indians
while they were trading with the Mexicans. The
transcriber feels compelled to explain in a foot
note that 1T is impossible to get Geronimo to
understand that these troops served the general
government instead of any particular town. He
still thinks each town independent and each city
p separate tribe. He cannot understand the
Iation Of cities to the general government" He
remains TO this day faithful to the Apache idea
which recognized no duties to any outside
their tribe. It was sin to kill enemies or to
rob them" Warfare moreover. even Of the most
private and predatory nature. invested with
a sacred character. a spirit Of religious fanati
cism added an element of fury to the naturally
ferocious instincts of these American Ishmaes,
According to Mr. Barrett:
From the moment the command for war is given
guise The manner Of camping cooking etc is
exactly prescribed Every object pertaining to
n English one sBoGid a SAW not @ borse but
Re By his oTdha 9F
Geronimo's sacred war name was Go-khla-yeh.
He was first called Geronimo by the Mexicans
at the fight at "Kas-ki-yeh' in 1858. and he has
been known by it among both Indians and white
men ever since. -
This is not the place to enter upon a gen.
eral consideration of the relations between the
redman and the white. 1t is not a pleasant
chapter in American history-nor one in which
the blame for conditions extending over four
centuries is to beAightly apportioned, either
side TO the--other- 1t is apparent that
Geronimo believed that he had just cause for
grievance and reason distrust the white
mans word. This much must be granted but
the indiscriminate manner in which he sought
retaliation for his injuries in the wholesale
slaughter and robbery Of innocent individuals
marked him a man too dangerous TO the well
fare OF the community to be allowed to go at
large. whatever warrant he may have had or
may still have, for regarding himself as the vic
tim of injustice. His persistent attitude is well
expressed by himself in a single sentence: "Au
the other Apaches We're satisfied after the battle
of 'Kas-ki-yeh,' but I still desired more re-
venge"
If however, Geronimo is not likely to gain
much sympathy for himself by his vivid mar
rative of his tempestuous and belIicose life. his
autobiography is valuable alike for the insight
It affords into Indian character for it's descrip-
tions of Apache customs and a contribu-
ton to the folklore Of his race. He begins his
story with an interesting legend Of the origin
O. the Apaches, and follows with an explana-
ton OF the constitution of the tribe and of it's
separation into six subdivisions. 1t is perhaps
significant that the Apaches did not smoke
the peace pipe unless II was proposed by some
other Indians" Although great smokers, they
had no large pipes, but usually smoked cigar
cites made by rolling the tobacco in oak leaves"
Unmarried women were not prohibited from
smoking but were considered immodest If they
did So" The Apaches do not keep the scalps
that they take. but cast them away after they
have graced the ceremonial dance of victory.
To retain them would be considered "def-
ing" Geronimo states that some of the Ind
ians were skilled in cutting out bullets.
heads and other missiles with which warriors
were wounded I myself have done much of
this using common dirk butcher knife"
The old chiefs dexterity in such rough and
ready surgery, Mr.. Barrett declares. is the only
foundation for the report sometimes circu-
lated that he was medicine man" Geronimo
has always held General o. 0. Howard in high
esteem I'VE could have lived forever at peace
with MIN" he asserts. IF there Is any pure
honest white man in the United States Army,
that man IS General Howard. All the Indians
respect him"
1+ erraars that there are people who regard