The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-11-14


old Geronimo is fast failing In
years caused by the awful hard
ships he experienced during this
days that he held the west and
southwest in terror prior to 1886
he can still lariat steer with great
accuracy. He Is now ousily engaged
with many Of the Apache bucks
roping the young calves of the
Apache cattle and assisting in the
branding of several thousand year.
nngs. This work is being done
while the Apacne Indians are max
ing their annual roundup of cattle
on the range Of the FIT. Sill mill.
tary reservation. All cattle are be-
ing collected at the Rick Island
tanks rear Elgin, where the calves
will be branded.
Lieut.. George Purington, who has
charge Of the Apache prisoners OF
war and their possessions is over
seeing the roundup. Working under
him and assisting in the roun!up
are 100 Apache men and boys.
belonging to the Indians is to be
made. 1t is estimated that the
Apache herd of cattle contains 10000
headsi probably the largest single
herd in Oklahoma. One of the
interesting things in connection
with the herd Is the fact tha.
there are very few dry cows. This
year there was the largest tcroo
NJ calves" ever raised on the reser-
walton.
According to the usual custom OF
handling the Apache cattle, the cows
are numbered, and in branding all
calves are branded with the sams
number as their mother. The heifer
calves are retained-no cows being
sold until too cid for active life
IN the rarlge-and the greater OF
7teers are shipped and sold.
Each Indian owns cows bearing
his numbers, and the young cows
bearing the same number, become
his property. 1t Is estimated that
there are approximately 500 steer
Valves this year. which will bring
'he tribe about $4,000.
Old Geronimo was in Lawton to-
lay and expressed himself, through
an Interpreter on the Indian and
his future. MY people going fast"
he said in broken Spanish. ''Nearly
al dead now. Soon all will be
lead. Too much whiskey kill In
Han. Soon no more at all" That
branch Of the tribe prisoners OF
war upon the Fort Sill military
reservation has diminished until they
number less than $50 members. This
7tate of affairs grieves the broken
7own old Apache ex-chief and ad-
"isor more than anything that ever
'ame m in his life in times Of wa-
0r neace, It has ALWAYS been his
ambition TO have his tribe, like his
White brethren. to thrive and in
crease in number and influence.
Geronimo was the chief attraction
at the last pow-wow given by the
blanketed Indians at Collinsville.
That time he met the Shawnee. Osa-
ses and a few Cherokees and Creeks
Geronimo went over with an armed
escort, upon permission from Sec.
retary William Taft, of the war de.
partment. ], A. Dickerson, secretary
of the Collinsville Commercial club,
came to Fort Sill and accompanied
the old chief, his daughter and wife
to Collinsville. When old Geronimo
reached the spot of the yreat In
dian meeting and found there e
w. Logston, Lawton photographer
and one of his close personal friends
having made many photos for the
HId chieF who would not permit
Hnvone 10 return home with him,
"ather rre'errirg to come back with
Mr. Togstor.
There was nothing out OF the or
dinary in the dress OF Geronimo TO
attract attention to his person, when
he arrived at the pow-wow, but
Geronimo was not TO be outdone, and
when he saw the Usage and Shaw
nees all logged out their many
colored blankets and glaring feath
er head gears and paint of gaudy
tints, he retired to his tepee and
soon emerged therefrom with all
his war paint and feathers. He was
a grand outstanding figure OF q
man, Yet he looked diminutive be.
side the big, fat forms of the Usage
and the masculine Shawnees, un-
til he looked around and then the
big husky Osages and the tall Shaw
nees seemed to wither away and
leave but the single figure OF the
old warrior in the foreground.
Il T.