Evening star., 1939-10-29
Geronimo Followers
Sue U. 5. for Wrongs
Half Century Ago
Seek Redress for Years
In Captivity and Pay
For Tribal Lands
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
ANADARKO. Okla, Oct. 28-It
has been 80 years since old Geronimo
died. but the wrath of the rash
Apache chief-Who once deled the
might Of the United States Army
haunts the Government yet.
Aged members of his untamed
band of Chiricahaus and their de-
scendants have employed an attor-
ney skilled in Indian affairs to
carry to the tribal court of claims
at Washington their contention
that the white mans Government
did them wrong half century ago.
Eighty-seven Apaches powwowing
at the town of Apache, near here,
early this month decided to ask
redress for the more than Is years
they languished in captivity and
compensation for tribal lands they
claim were taken from them on New
Mexico's Warm Springs Reserva-
ton in 1852.
Grady Lewis. an Oklahoma City
attorney who handled many tribal
matters. has been dispatched to
Washington to take up the claims.
Play at Hide and Seek.
Once these hardy braves whooped
defiance at the Government, but
they are old men now, too old to
seize what they believe is theirs. So
they turn to the white mans courts.
Many a wrinkled Chiricahau at
the Apache powwow rode with
Geronimo when he eluded United
States troops early in 1886 and
vanished into the mountains OF
Mexico.
They had played desperately at
hide and seek with relentless, hard
riding troopers under orders to end
their forays and stamp them out.
Half starved, bedraggled, they had
been part of a weary band OF latter
demalions that surrendered at last
In the late summer of 1886.
They had followed Geronimo into
captivity, served at hard labor at
Fort Pickens. Fla, or ST. Augustine,
and had been returned to Fort Sill,
Okla, in 1894.
Geronimo died in 1909, but it was
not until 1913 that the Government
released his band.
Eighty-five followers Of Geronimo
accepted the Governments offer OF
land around Apache. The rest re-
turned to settle near Mescalero, N.
Mex.
$1,000 Spent on Each Apache.
One fact that may make their suit
more difficult is that the Govern
ment spent an average Of $4,000 on
each Apache to provide him with
tracts of land. Each Apache also
received a house. This was con-
sidered partial restitution, at least,
for the years Of captivity.
A reason for the current Apache
attitude may be that Geronimo went
to his grave convinced he had been
the victim of colossal double-cross
at the hands of the Army.
Gen. Nelson A. Miles, who finally
captured Geronimo. said the sur
render was unconditional. Geronimo
insisted he was promised permission
to return to New Mexico and the
land of his fathers after time.
The chiefs followers were OF the
same opinion.
But the soldiers who finally
brought Geronimo to bay had
harassed him so closely he had been
hard put even to keep food on hand,
and they believed the Apache was
ready to surrender under any condl-
tions.
1t was bloody path that Geroni-
mo left behind him as he trudged
of into captivity.
Born in Arizona.
Geronimo came from line of
Apache chiefs. rulers of what his
people called the Be-Don-ko-He
tribe, one of six among the Apaches.
In his memoirs he said he was
born in 1929 at No-Do-Yohn Can
yon, Ariz.
At II he was admitted into the
council of warriors, a braWny, cum
ming, fearless youth. His hrst ex-
ploit that brought him to the notice
of the Army was to foray into
sonora. MEXICO, III 1909.
In 1884, after numerous other
raids across the border, he launched
q reign of terror in New Mexico
and Arizona.
Geronimo insisted to his dying
day he fought only for living room
tor his people. The Government
branded him a ruthless marauder.
thnr
toned in the area, went stern orders
from Washington: Stamp out the
apaches, if necessary. Take Ge-
ronimo dead or alive
For two years the Government
chased Geronimo through New Mexs
ico and Arizona. His tribe-the Wom-
en-. the children and the old men
was rounded up and taken to Florida,
but Geronimo fought on.
Slips Away Into Mexico.
When Gen. Crook nally cornered
Geronimo in 1886 the fierce old
chief refused to surrender unless he
was left free to join his tribe In
Florida. Under these terms he was
started to Fort Bowie. En- route
he and his followers slipped away
into Mexico.
A Jurors broke in Washington
over the incident. Gen. Crook was
transferred and Gen. Miles took
his place.
So hard and fast did Gen. Miles
command ride after Geronimo that
the chief surrendered within five
months.
With IA others, Geronimo was
sent to Fort Pickens. The rest
were placed under guard at st.
Augustine. He spent two years at
hard labor there and from 1888 to
1894 was held at Vermont, Ala.
Then came the transfer to Fort Sill.
When Geronimo died in 1909 he
still was chatting at the restraints