The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1906-10-11

again uAAAEhEu UE duNLMeE company OF
United States troops. Just before this
night we had been joined by q band Of
ChOkOnen Indians under Cociiise. who
took command Of both divisions. We
were ~renulsed and decided 10 dlsband.
After we had d~isbanded our tribe
the Bedonkohe Apaches reassembled
near their old camp. vainly waiting
for the return OF Mangus-C Colorado and
our kinsmen. No tidings came ave
that they had ali been treacherously
slain. Then a council was held. and
as It vas believed that Mangus-C Colo
RADIO was dead I was elected tribe
chief"
Geronimo then relates the tale OF
his capture by American scouts. Of his
Imprisonment for four months and his
subsequent release. He continues:
Feared Further Imprisonment.
In the summer Of 1883 a rumor
was current that the officers we're
again planning 20 imprison cur lead
ers. This rumor served 70 revive the
memory Of all our past wrongs-the
massacre in TIE tent at Apache Pass.
the fate Of Mangus Colorado. and my
own unjust imprisonment. which
might easily have been death 70 me.
just at this time We were told that
the officers wanted US to come up the
river above Geronimo 20 a fort (Fort
Thomas) TO hold a council with them.
We did not believe that any good
could come OF this conference. or that
there was any need OF C. so we held
a council ourselves and. fearing
treaehery. decided TO leave the reser-
walton. We thought It more manly to
die on the warpath than to be killed
In prison.
There were In ala about $50 IN
dians, chiefly the Bedonkohe and Ned
nj Apaches. led by myself and Whoa
We went through Apache Pass. aud
just west OF there had a fight with the
United States troops. la this battle
We killed three soldiers and lost none.
we went on toward Old Mexico.
but on the second day after this Unit.
ed States soldiers overlook us about
three o'clock Ga the afternoon aud we
fought until dark, The ground where
we were attacked was very rough.
which was 60 advantage. for the
troops were compelled 10 dlsmouEt Ia
order 20 tight us. ! DO not know how
many soldiers we killed. but we lost
only one warrior and thr0e children.
We had plenty % guns and ammunl.
ton at this time. Many OF the guns
and much ammunition we had ac.
cumulated while living In the reserya-
lion. and the remainder we bad OBJ
tanned from the White Mountain
Apaches when we left the reservation.
The troops did not follow as "a
longer. SO w went south almost 10
Casa Grande and camped iR the sierra
de Sahaupa mountains. We ranged
IN the mountains OF old Mexico for
about a year. then returned 10 san
Carlos, taking with us a herd ~ cat.
he and horses,
Horses n Cattle Seized.
Soon after we arrived az San Car
los the officer IN charge. Gen. Crook
took the horses and cattle away from
us. J told him that these were not
white mems cattle. but belonged 10 US
for we had taken them from the Mex
leans during our wars. also told
him that We did not intend 10 KIN
these animals. but that We wished to
keep them and raise stock on our
range, He would not listen to nae.
but took tho stock. I went ap near
Fort Apache aud Gen. Crook ordered
officers. soldicFs and scouts 20 see that
J was arrested. n offered resistance
thoy were instructed To kfl mo.
This Information WAS brought %
me by the Indians. When learned
OF this proposed action I left for old
Mexico and about four hundred Ia
dians went with me. They were the
hodonkohc. ChOkonou and Nodni
Apachos AZ this time Whoa was
dead, and Naiche was the only chief
with me We went south into sonora
and camped Ia the mountains. rroops
followed %, but did not attack us unul
We We're oamped In the mountains
west OF Casa Grande, Here We were
attacked by government Indian scouts
one boy was killed and nearly an OF
our women aud children were cap
tured.
That night We held a council Of
war; our scouts had reported bands Of
United States and Mexican troops at
many points In the mountains We
estimated that about two thousand
soldiers were ranging these mountains
seeking TO capture as.
Interview with Gen. Crock.
Gen. Crook had come down into
Mexico with the United States troops
They were eampcd I'm the Sierra de
Antunel mountains. Scouts told mo
chat Gen. Crook wished 90 see ma and
went 10 his camp When / arrived
Gen. Crook said to me Why ala you
leave the reservation ! said, You
told me that ] might live m the roser
walton the same as white people lived
One year ! raised a crop OF corn. aud
gathered aud stored q. and TIE next
wear / put IN a crop 0f oats. ana when