The Coconino sun., 1927-11-25
APACHE DEPREDATIONS WERE
AWFUL IN EARLY DAYS; STORY
OF GERONIMO AND OTHERS

Morenci and Globe, and clear down
into Old Mexico. Occasionally the
soldiers and rangers had frequent bat
ties with the followers and allies of
Geronimo and no effort was spared to
bag the willy chief. General Crook,
who had been in command in Arizona
10 years before was returned here in
July, 1882, to assume charge of the
campaign against the Indians.
Crook with small force penetrated
into Mexico and visited the Apache
stronghold. After two days negotia-
tions the Indians surrendered and the
start was made back to the San Car
/ los reservation. But on the way many
of the warriors, including Geronimo
and his principal allies, dropped out
and returned to Mexico
Crook lost his popularity because of
the easy way he had been hoodwinked
by the Apaches.
Then Geronimo returned on his
own hook to the San Carlos reserva-
tion and his rations. This was in
1884, and there followed few
months of comparative quiet.
Then the Apaches broke out again,
and there began reign of terror COW
ering much of the country between
San Carlos and Moctezuma General
Philip Sheridan came from Washing
ton to see General Crook about the
situation. Demand became general
all over Arizona for the recall of
Crook and that something be done at
once by the military for the abolish
ment of the San Carlos reservation
and the removal of every Apache
from this state
Crook again decided to go into
Mexico after the Apaches, but this
time sent Captain Emmett Crawford
in charge. The expedition was at
tackled by Mexicans, Crawford and
| several others being killed.
Sheridan wired from Washington
ordering Crook to force unconditional
surrender of the Indian Apaches.
Geronimo, Chihuahua and the others
formally surrendered in May, 1886.
The next morning soldiers and Apache
captives started back for Bowie.
But agc.n Crook had acted like a
fool, foc he did not disarm the cap
tives. A trader sold the captives mes
cal, lot of them got drunk, includ-
ing Geronimo, and walked away dur
inP me night.
Crook did the best thing then, he
resigned and Sheridan promptly ac-
cepted the resignation.
Then came General Nelson A. Miles,
and there soon was a different aspect
all around Miles arrived at Fort
Bowie in April, 1886, and at once
| started a campaign to exterminate
the hostiles at any cost Meanwhile
~ Ii nd
were continuing their orgy of murder
Closely pressed by soldiers under
the command of Capt. H. w. Lawton,
Geronimo surrendered on Sept. 4.
General Miles in the meantime was on
his way to join Lawton, and when he
arrived he at once arranged for
Geronimo's deportation to Florida,
where he died several years later.
General Miles that year, 1886, prac-
tically disposed Of the Indian question
in Arizona.
A tremendously interesting side
| light in connection with Capt. Law
tons capture of Geronimo was his
tribute to the late General Leonard
Wood, destined to attain great and IN
ternational fame and who died only a
few months ago. He said of Wood:
81 desire to particularly invite the
attention of the department COM
mander to Assistant Surgeon Leonard
Wood, the only officer who has been
with me during the whole campaign.
His courage, energy and loyal sup
port during the whole time; his en-
couraging example to the command,
when work was the hardest and pros
poets darkest; his thorough confidence
and belief in the final success of the
expedition, and his untiring efforts to
make it so, have placed me under
obligations so great that / cannot even
express them"