The Coconino sun. (Flagstaff, Ariz.) 1898-1978, 1917-01-19
HOW old TIMERS LOVE Cd
The NAME OF GERONIMO


dian murderer. He would have made
wax figures which would show the
mutilations which Geronimo commit
ted on the bodies of his victims-eyes
gouged out, ears chopped off, abdo-
mems slit, limbs broken in a dozen
places; representations of the bodies
Of babes whose brains had been
dashed out against boulder, and
others showing to the curious tourist
the niceties of savagery in which &C.
ronimo excelled.
The idea of the name, we under
stand, is not SO much to honor Gero-
nimo, but the commercial possibilities
which it holds. Fasteners seeing the
"Hotel Geronimo" advertised would
Immediately think Of the Apache cam
paigns of the '70's and SOS. The
name would, it is argued, have a
romantic interest, the capitalization
and commercialism Of which would in
duce many tourists to come to Tucson.
The suggestion that the basement be
dedicated to a chamber of horrors
would be only carrying out the idea.
It might add interest to the general
scheme to place somewhere in the
hotel lobby, a bronze tablet giving the
names of the victims of Geronimo.
However, this might clash with the
commercial appeal of the name by de-
tracing from the impressiveness Of
the name and fame Of Geronimo.
1t is not expected, presumably, that
the remaining pioneers and Indian
fighters will be conspicuous in the agi-
tation in favor Of the name Geroni-
mo, or that they would find pleasure
in strolling through the proposed
chamber Of horrors" 1t has been
but scant 35 years since Geronimo
was a name synonymous in Tucson,
with the most fiendish barbarity and
cunning treachery, and there are in
Arizona today, many who carry in
their hearts the scars of Geronimo's
hate.
1t is proposed to do honor in some
measure to a noble redman "more
sinned against than sining," if it is
proposed to concede something to the
belief current in the east at the time
that Geronimo fought for his home
and fireside, we would urge that the
promoters Of the name scheme be
tolerant, yet awhile, Of the belief Of
the living old timers that Geronimo's
attracities were unjustifed, that it
was wrong to murder pioneer Arizona
settlers and their wives and children.
Be tolerant Of the feelings of the old
timers. Then, after they are all gone,
the name Of the hotel can be changed
to Geronimo. Other hotels in the city,
catching the petty commercial spirit,
might follow suit, and choose for
names The Apache Kid, Chihuahua,
Nachiz, Eskimzen, Victoria, Del-shay,
Eskinoyouhay, and Chatto, the muir
derer Of the McComas family.
The Indian whose name it is pro-
posed to perpetuate in grand hotel
because Of his facility as cut-throat,
was not an Apache chief. He was not
an Apache, nor was he chief, accord
ing to Col. Jas. H. McClintock, the
Arizona historian, but was one of the
Janos Indian tribe of Chihuahua,
Mexico, of which he was a sub-chief.
1t was his "gift of gab," it is related,
that put him into the position which
he maintained by the gift of male
VIOLENT cunning and criminal clever
ness. The chief of the Janos, Juh,
was afflicted with an impediment Of
speech, so he used Geronimo as his
spokesman. At conference be-
tween General Crook and band Of
Janos, Crook was led to believe that
Geronimo was the chief because he
did all of the talking, and thence
forth the fattered Geronimo posed as
chief Of the Apaches, though he was
first associated with the Chiricahuas.
Arizona was not Geronimo's native
heath When peace-transitory peace
was made with the Chiricahuas and
the latter put on a reservation, CO.
chise, the chief Of the Chiricahuas,
sent word to the Janos that rations
were to be had for the asking, of the
federal government. Juh came with
his Janos and his amanuensis, Gero-
nimo. 1t was indeed "red-lettered
day" for Arizona when he came.
While he was in prison at Fort Sill,
Oklahoma, Geronimo was deposed
from his usurped position as chief and
the title was given to Asa Duke,
son Of Juh.
These things we had set down as
being of interest at the present time
and as pertinent to the petty sugges-
ton that the modern hotel which it is
intended shall be the symbol Of the
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