Albuquerque evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1911-1914, 1913-08-18

4
Facts ADout the Apachc..
The origin Of tho Apache Indian,
like the origin OF many other people
Of the earth, II largely matter q
speculation. The namo Apache
means man. and there Is no doubt
that the Navojos and tho Apaches
are of the same origin, AZ are also
tho Lipan Indians Of Old Mexico.
The various bands OF Apaches live
now. ~ they have lived TOT ases lu
the past. in New Mexico and Arizona.
The Apaches are iutermarried with
the c0manchea Ia = small extent al
though tho language Of the two tribes
Is distinctly different but you will
find amongst The Lipans 81 Mexico
and the Apaches Of New Mexico and
Arizona, az well ~ among the Nav-
ajos. few learned men who speak
the COmanche language. The Coz
manche language may well be said TO
have been the court language Of the
plains II stood to the other indian
tribes as the French language for
merry did 90 Europe. being the di-
plomatic language, and the cducatrd
ones OF the tribes referred go. who
spoke the Comanchc language. were
sent AZ amissarics and diplomats to
various other tribes going as far
north ~ the Arupahocs and Sioux.
The religious belief of the Apache
is that there are i've gods. or great
spirits. and the proof that their med
icine men have always been able to
keep IN the good graccs OF az least
one of the gods II that they exist
live and have their being. Were they
"a lose the favor Of all OF the gods
their belief Ia that there would be
instant humiliation. When ! first
came To McscRIero agency the chief
medicine man was a little. weakened,
dried-up fellow. whom the Indians
claimed was nearly geo years old.
He bore the name Gargonio. and
held the tribe entirely in the grasp
OF his wIli Once each year II war
his custom and part of the rellgious
rites that he 60 on top Of one OF the
Hottest mountains In their section,
there TO commune with the Great
Spirits. for a space Of Ave days and
five nights. going entirsly alone and
supposedly without food or drink,
This was a solemn occasion In the
tribe. and all sports and amusements
were suspended until Gargonio re-
turned.
The FIRST year at the agency 7 no.
tlced his departure he was enveioped
IN long winding robe fixed up and
decorated with Indian symbols. char
acters and figures, and as he moved
away, supporting himself with a long
stan IL occurred to me from his mo-
tions that he might be pretty well
stocked up with provisions and a
few bottles OF water. 10 sustain him
during his five 0ays and nights OF
communion with the Great Spirits.
The thought occurred TO me that II
l was going TO have any great In
| iluence with the tribe ! could not do
better than to have Gargonio AS a
sort OF side partner. az Il were. 40
had my horse saddled. and without
saying anything rode across the
mountain, intercepting OargoniO be-
fore he reached the top of same, and
right then and there GarRonio and
myself came 20 an understanding.
found that he had four quarts OF Tis-
i win, a gallon OF water aud an abun.
dant supply Of the necesmrles Oi
/ life To sustain him rOr even "A longer
period than five days. In fact. his
menu was 30 attractive that IL I had
had the time ! would have been
mighty glad Ia have gone up and
camped with the old man and as
sisted him In communing with In,
Spirits until the provisions ran cut
u IN needless to add that ! sacrcdly
kept GargoniOs secret and tina
whenever I needed his influence
communicated with him and ne wa,
always on my side
My second year at the agency
had as the agency physician Dr
Atkins, an army surgeon. who after
wards lived for many years In La
Vegas. The doctor was great stu
dent and took a deep interest in IN,
sanitary condition OF the Indians
One case IN particular the doctor
treated for siN months. continuously
until the patient finally recovered
Each month the doctor was writinl
Tor medical journal the progress
OF the case. and the wonderful ct
feet OF his treatment. After the en-
tire recovery of the patient he aske,
me To visit the camp with him an,
/
the camp and found the patient {,
be- an Indian woman. about fortl
years of age. she WAS skippn,
around as spry as kitten. and wa
delighted 10 see the doctor and pre-
scented him with two very handsome
~ beaded pair 1T moccasins. Sh
hnaliy insisted ON cur going into he
lodge, where she turned her bcddinl
over and produced TO the nstounde,
doctor every bottle and every drul
of medicine he had given her durin
the six months treatment. She ha,
never taken "a single dose. but he
beltf was that me medicine wa
powerful and had cured her sucl
~ Imagination, even among the viii
Indians
In this same indian camp. Their
was very interesting case OF an a.,
indian woman whom the Indian
claimed Was u witch. The Apache
are firm believers in wltchcrafi
which goes 10 show that they are ont
a couple at years behind the Puri
! ians ~ New England. who wer
equally as firm In their belief Will
l was agent. the Indians burned tire
witches. l was poweriess 10 proven