El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-05-08
NOTED INDIANAT
ME5CALERO DIES
He Was Contemporary With
Victoria and Geronimo;
Had Two Wives at Once.

A death occurred or the MescaIero in
dian reservation in southern New
Mexico. on May 1. which brought to a
close the life of one OF the oldest and
one of the few remaining contem-
poraries Of the famous Apache war
chiefs, GerOpimO, Victoria and COchise.
MagoOsh, notorious as a savage war
r1Or and successful leader in the days
when the indians were active enemies Of
the whites. but friendly and loyal 10 the
government since the Warpath was aban-
dOned for the pillow furrOW, died at his
camp at Elk Springs at an advanced
age Death was due primarily to
asthma, although his age doubtless had
a great deal to do with it as ne was
probably 80 years old
MagOOsh died a devOut Catholic. and
many times during his last illness he
was visited by the priest, whose visits
seemed to give him great consolation.
The funeral services were conducted by
Rev. father Ferdinand. the resident
Catholic missionary, and the remains
were laid to rest in the little cemetery
near the agency.
AagOOsh had not always been a
peaceful Christian indian Forty or
more years ago he conducted many sue
cessful horse stealing and other expedi-
tons against the ranchers Of the south
west. one Of which is mentioned in a
little book called Rangers and Sow
ereignty," by Dan ". Roberts, captain
Of company D." Texas rangers. On this
expedition, which occurred in august
1875, MagOOsh led his followers over a
wide circle through Mason. Kimble and
Menard counties in Texas: was trailed
BY the rangers OVertaken, and after a
hot fight in which the indians were
scattered, he and his band finally made
their escape but with the loss OF prac-
ticaly all the horses AIagoosh remem-
bered the gallant leader Of his Op-
pOnents on this occasion, and many
years later Capt Roberts received a
letter from friend at Mescalero con-
tanning a message from the old warrior
who had then long followed the path OF
peace This message was as follows:
.-MagOOsh would like TO meet you as
a friend and brother once more before
he died; he met you once in battle and
you were a brave man and he would
ike to take your hand as a friend since
all the world is at peace so far as he is
concerned"
The old mans wish was never graft
fled.
Magoosh had the distinction Of being
absolutely baldheaded. which is q rare
thing. indeed. with indians. His head
was as gulltless Of hair and as smooth
and glossy as a billiard ball This condi-
ton dates back at least IS years. as
those who have known the old man that
length Of time can testify. It may have
been caused by fever. although some
wag advanced the opinion that II was
due to a multiplicity OF wives-he had
had several In Feb. 1907. he lost two
wives within 10 days Of each other, both
dying Of pneumonia The two women
lived in nearby tepees in peace and har-
mony. After their death the old chief
took another wife, who survives him
There has been no acknowledged trf-
bal chief at Mescalero for many years,
but Magoosh was long recognized as
one OF the head men" and his Influence
1or good has been a great help to the
different MesaclerO indian agents A
Few years ago he visited Washington
D. g. 10 discuss tribal matters with
the Great White Father" and the won
ders which he saw on this trip were a
never failing source Of pleasant
memories and the basis Of many Won
derIut stories told 70 his people around
the camp fires at night.