Las Vegas optic., 1912-10-10
TO FIND HOMES
FOR APACHE
INDIANS
GOVERNMENT OFFICER WILL
CHOOSE RESERVATION FOR
OKLAHOMA RED MEN.

Oklahoma city, Okla. Oct 1O.-- Maj
OF H. L. Scott, representing the war
department and Lieutenant Ernest
stocker, Anadarko agent, representing
the department of the interior, were
| appointed to select the new homes for
the 26s Apache prisoners Of war held
by the United States government, at
Fort Sill, Okla.
The last session of congress grant
ed liberty to these Indians after hold
Ting them prisoners of war for 26
years, and the committee of two will
select for them an open reservation,
somewhere in the west, but the prob
abilities are that their new home will
not be within the boundaries of either
New Mexico or Arizona. A reserya
tion in either Of those states might in
cite in the savage Apache Indians a
memory of their forefathers' conquests
and defeats, within those boundaries,
1
and render their re-imprisonment nee
essary.
The Apache tribe is one Of the few
tribes that never assimilated the
white mans ways Of living, and since
the year Of 1858 have not been on
friendly terms with any member Of
the white race.
/ IN that year one division Of the six
branches, into which the tribe is dl-
vided, went from the eastern line Of
Arizona, where they were ranging, into
Old Mexico on trading expedition.
When near the outpost of Kas-h-yeh
they camped, and leaving their women
and children, proceeded towards Casa
Grande. Citizens from that town met
| them and entered itno treaty OF
fpeace with them, though the Mexican
government had placed price upon
/ their heads, paying $1OO for warrior
$50 for squaw and $25 for dead IN
dian child.
i While in Casa Grande trading, Mexi-
can soldiers took advantage of their
absence from camp and set upon the
defenseless women and children, kill
ing all within camp. When the war
/ riors returned in the evening the Mex
ican soldiers opened fire upon them,
and the Apaches being armed with
bows and arrows. were exterminated
excepting Geronimo, who at that time
was a young brave. and one other
Apache. In this massacre, GERONIMO
lost his wife and child, and according
to his own statement made after he
became a prisoner of war of the Unit
ed states he swore eternal hostility to
all Mexicans. Geronimo returned tc
Arizona, and sought aid from the 9th
er five Apache tribes, in seeking e
venge on the Mexicans. The citizens
Of Casa Grande sent him a disclaimer
Of all knowledge Of the massacre o.
his people after they had entered into
the trading treaty with his band IN
old Mexico, but Geronimo could never
understand how it was the citizens nat
no control over those acts Of the sol
diers, and from that year until 1885,
made annual raids upon the settle
ments within three hundred miles o.
) the northern boundary Of Mexico.
. His raids, only on one occasion were
participated in by more than dozer
! companions, and the extent of his dep
: relations consisted chiefly in running
$ off ponies and cattle. The Mexican
government never had in the fielC
against the Apaches more than twC
companies of troops, and the larges
number of Apaches assembled at ont
time in war paint, was stated by Ger
!, onimo himself, to be four hundred,
The Apaches, while on their excur
sions to Mexico, ran off some cattle
that were in charge of white cowboys
and shortly thereafter United statei
troops made their appearance and th'
Apaches always professed to believ'
they came in response to the Mexican
8 governments appeal for aid in exter
s. minating the Apaches.
!: In 1872 President Grant sent Gen
l l eral Howard to Arizona to enter int
+ a peace treaty with the Apaches, AM
n sometime after the treaty the leader
of the band were arrested and put i
chains, but subsequently released. TIL
Apaches took to the hills with thei
leaders, and not long afterwards som
j of the leaders were requested to com
into soldiers camp, and while ther
were killed.
The Apaches under Geronimo cor
tinued a desultory warfare agains
) the federal government until Genera
Miles was sent out to enter anothe
treaty with them.
-. Ill.,. - ~. - xrYn =