River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1906-10-11

Geronimo, untamed man killer, I'M
reconstructed savage, willy, blood
thirsty and cruel, now an aged, hope
less, helpless, dying prisoner, has told
the complete story of his life. His
autobiography which has been edited
for him by S. NJ. Barrett, with full per-
mission and consent Of the war de-
partment, is about to be published. 1t
makes long, weird and intensely in
teresting story, as will be noted by
portions reproduced here, says the
New York Herald.
Mr.. Barrett, after gaining the conf
dence Of the old Apache, led him TO
tell of his birth, his early days and
his warfare on other Indians and pale
faces.
OF his battles with Miles and Crook,
of what he calls the injustice done to
the Indian, the old savage writes:
Perhaps the greatest wrong ever
done to the Indians was the treat
ment received by our tribe from the
United States troops about 1853. The
chief Of our tribe, Mangus Colorado,
went to make treaty of peace for our
people with the white settlement at
Apache Tejo, N. M. 1t had been re-
ported to us that the white men in
this settlement were more friendly
and more reliable than those in Ari-
iona, that they would live up to their
treaties and would not wrong the In
dams.
"Mangus-Colorado, with three other
uric. In nhn
held a council with these citizens and
soldiers. They told him that if he
would come with his tribe and live
near them they would issue to him,
from the government, blankets, flour,
provisions, beef and all manner of
supplies. Our chief promised to re-
turn to Apache Tejo within two weeks.
When he came back to our settlement
he assembled the whole tribe in coun-
Gil. l did not believe that the people
at Apache Tejo would do as they said
and therefore / opposed the plan, but
it was decided that with part of the
tribe Mangus-Colorado should return
to Apache Tejo and receive an issue
of rations and supplies. If they were
as represented, and il these white
men would keep the treaty faithfully,
the remainder of the tribe would join
him and we would make our perma-
nent home at Apache Tejo. I was to
remain in charge of that portion of
the tribe which stayed in Arizona. We
gave almost all of our arms and am
munition to the party going to Apache
Tejo, so that in case there should be
treachery they would be prepared for
any surprise. Mangus-Colorado and
about half of our people went to New
Mexico, happy that now they had
found white men who would be kind
to them, and with whom they could
live in peace and plenty.
Claims Comrades Were Slain.
mo word ever came to use from
them. From other sources, however,
we heard that they had been treacher-
ously captured and slain. In this di-
Iemma we did not know just exactly
what to do, but fearing that the troops
who had captured them would attack
us, we retreated into the mountains
near Apache Tejo.
During the weeks that followed
the departure of our people we had
been in suspense, and, failing to pro-
vide more supplies, had exhausted all
of our store of provisions. This was
another reason for moving camp. On
this retreat, while passing through the
mountains, we discovered four men
with herd of cattle Two of the men
were in front in a buggy and two
were behind on horseback. We killed
all four, but did not scalp them; they
were not warriors. We drove the cat
tie back into the mountains, made a
camp and began to kill the cattle and
pack the meat.
Before we had finished this work
we were surprised and attacked by
United States troops, who killed in
all seven Indians-one warrior, three
women and three children. The gov
eminent troops were mounted, and so
were we, but we were poorly armed,
having given most of our weapons to
the division of our tribe that had gone
to Apache Tejo, SO we fought mainly
with spears, bows, and arrows. At
first | had a spear, bow and a few
arrows, but in a short time my spear
and all my arrows were gone. Once
| was wounded. but by lodging from
side to side of my horse as he ran l
escaped During this fight We scat
tered in all directions and two days
later reassembled at our appointed
place of rendezvous, about so miles
from the scene of this battle.
Fought With Rocks and Clubs.
About ten days later the same
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