Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1913-01-02
GOVERNMENT RELEASES LAST
OF PRISONERS OF WAR.
Local Business Man Gives Interesting
History Of Apache Tribe Which is to
be Released at Early Date by the
Government.

Interest of an historical nature is
associated with the recent authorized
release of band of Apache Indians
who have been held as prisoners of
war at Fort Sill, Okla, for the United
States government.
In view of the interest attached to
this event a representative of this pa
per called upon Manager A. S. Truck
OF the local telephone company, for an
account of their Imprisonment, ETC.,
and was given the following story.
Mr.. Truck has been close neighbor
to the New Mexico Apaches for the
past six years:
Beyond a doubt the Apaches have
given more trouble than any one tribe
of Indians.
Sitting Bull, was a chief of the
Sioux was a meek school boy COM
pared with Geronimo and his tribe.
1.-The Apaches on reservations con-
| sist of the tribe in Arizona and the
tribe in New Mexico. The Indians
| that have been held prisoners at Fort
| Sill, Oklahoma, represent the last band
of Apaches taken in battle. Not all
the Apache surrendered at the same
| time. In 1886 the main part of the
| ApoCASS Oul 1hCAl ShACA
Geronimo, however, fed over into Old
Mexico with 500 of his followers. Ge-
ronimo was a bad Indian, probably the
! worst that ever lived. In his day his
people suffered from the whites and
Uncle Sam was forced to begin war
of determination on this tribe.
When Geronimo fed to Mexico the
Mexicans visited his camp in the alb
I H.
most of the Indian women and chill
| dren.
| "TheseApaches swore eternal hosti1i-
ty to all white men. They moved back
and forward across the Rio Grande
camping for a few weeks on United
States soil, then moving to Mexican
soil. When they were finally captur-
ed it.was by an overwhelming force OF
United States cavalry.
For many years the Apaches on the
reservations were ugly and trouble
some and seldom allowed off theiI
reservation and then only by writer
pass and a few at a time.
d Even today these Indians quarre
amongst themselves and there is baC
blood between the leaders.
They are kept under close surveil
lance and if an Indian shoots whit,
ma nthe Indians are forced to live III
to their treaty and deliver the guilt.
one to the authorities.
CAS- many of these Indians owl
sheep and other live stock, the govern
; ment permits such stock owners t
carry firearms to protect their stock
however about twice year the loca
agent calls in all fire arms and make
: pretty clean job of getting them toe
) for the reason that many of the buck
have obtained IRE arms who have n
: business with them. For weeks an
4 Indian found with gun is relieved Q
/; his. burden After things are cleane
3 up guns are distributed again to thos
3 who have stock to protect until tn
next killing when they are called i
( again.
!: Geronimo died at Fort Sill abou
E f1S months ago and most of the oil
I Divide
n THE temperament and nature of tn
Apaches that have been held prisoner
: at Fort Sill for IS years can best b
: explained by saying that Mai. H.
Scott of the war department and Lieu
s Stocker Of the department of the il
s terror, the men appointed to find
S suitable reservation for these Indians
will not locate them in either Arizon
/ or New Mexico. Uncle Sam has n
/ desire to start trouble by placing hi
+ late prisoners too close to their Rins
lmen.