The Washington herald., 1909-02-18
NOTED INDIAN DEAD
Apache ChiefGerOnimO Starts
on the Long Trail.
MOST CRUEL OF HIS TRIBE
SuccumIs to Pneumonia at Fort Sill,
okla, Where He Was Held PriH-
Ouer for Many Tears-Name Long
synonym for Atrocity-Rnids
of Rapine and Plumber.

Lawton. Okla. Feb 17.-Geronimo. the
noted Indian chief. died to-day at Fort
sill. where he had been confined as a
prisoner Of war many years. He died
Of pneumonia at the hospital at the
fort He will he buried IN the Indian
Cemetery near the fort tomorrow by
Christian missionaries. Geronimo having
pro -essed religion three years ago.
Geronimo. one time chief OF the CHR
lcahua Apache Indians. was once de
scribed by Gen. Nelson 4. Miles. in
report 70 the government. as the lowest
and most cruel of all the Indian savages
on this continent.
For more than half a century the word
Ap che had been a synonym for atrocities
without name. and for nearly all OF that
time Geronimo had been q tribe leader.
having been crowned wav chief al the age
OF siNJeen-ab0Ut seventy years ago. &c
nea. as could be discovered from coaver-
sation with ire chief himself. Geronimo
was the son o. 3iangus-Coiors DO. or Chal-
o-row. who was said 20 he the double dis
TILED essence or Eestial cruelty. Who As
war chief OF the Warm Spring Chirlca-
huas. devasted Arizona. New Mexico. and
Sonora. Mexico.
Was Crafty and subtle.
In his raids OF rapiue and plunder Ger
orimo was led AT frs; 10y old Cochise, the
hereditary chief Of the Apachss. and one
Of the most daring and relentless leaders
that ever baffied the United States army.
He died. old and broken. IN $50. and his
son Natchez. became the head chief 10
be guided and later succeeded by Ger
onimo. with Ifs subtle and crafty genius
for Indian warfare For ten long years
gen Crook trailed The hand led by Ger
onimo. and Al one time could have laid
MS hands upon Geronimo. but was in $50
relieved from duty in the Apache country
and sent up among the ties.
For a period Of seven years after that
there was chaos iu Indian affairs in the
Southwestern Territories and attacks by
the ChiriCahuas upon settlers were con-
slant, and they and their homes were de-
strOyed. The band tainted the Apaches
who had been placed on the reservations
by Crook. and. in 1853. Crook was sent
back 10 md and capture the chief.
When Gen Crook took command in the
West ne had large body OF troops. arc.
alLeE "A lllDLAl- elllEeLle-l ll4 AllAEllE Ter
onimo to so back 70 his reservation. hav-
ing captured him on the border OF Mex
leo. In 1SS5 Geronimo broke loose again.
and this time Crook surrounded the fugi-
tives in the Canyon &c los Embidos. ali
surrendering. This was on March q. That
night the troops guarding the Indians got
drunk and the Apaches slipped away.
This resulted IN the removal OF Crook.
Miles taxing command.
NiIeS Takes the Lead.
When Miles went into the field he de-
termined not 70 he hindered by Washing
ton, as other commanders had been. He
did not cut the field telegraph wires be-
hind him, but field telegraphing was often
forgotten and few knew Of the where
abouts Of either Miles or Geronimo The
general declared 10 his inumates before
he started that ne was determined 10
have peace. II he had 10 Kill every Apache
in the country.
Geronimo was accorded credit for real
warrior ability in his last stand. for he
had against him the pick OF the United
States army officers ard soldiers. In 1SS5
and ISSs Capt--afterward Gen-H. W
I.awton fought the Apache band, and As
sistant Surgeon Leonard Wood asked for
and obtained command Of the infantry
scouts. They had a hard summer and q
worse winter in the awful country be-
tween Arizona. New Mexico. and cd Mex
leo. They Travelled miles upon miles over
burning rocks. almost naked. barefoot.
and hungry often for tweBty-four hours
there was not drop II water for man
or beast
On the night OF August % 1856. as Gen.
Miles sat at the telegraph instrument in
the Wilcox. ATiz.. station, word came that
/ Geronimo had been located at the juno
ton Of the san BeTnardinO and Bavishe
rivers. near the Mexican border. lie
hurried there and met the chief under
guard OF Capt Lawton. The warrior sur
rendered himself and al OF his bucks,
/ squaws and papOoses- They had little
else but dogs, 400 OF them. The willy old
/ chieftain had decided 10 come in and feed
upon the government until he had rested
up and got into good condition again 10
start on his mUTderoUs career