The Apache sentinel., 1944-09-17

PNOAN'--0~
derived from mining and ranching for the
Apaches quickly massacred most OF the MN
ING prospectors and settlers who endeavored
to develop the resources of the territory. At
one time the Washington authorities seriously
contemplated ordering all its orderly citizens
out of the area and giving Arizona back to
the Indians This probably would have been
done except even that would not have stopped
the raids into Mexico, which we were bound
by our solemn treaty with Mexico to prevent.
Treaty after treaty was made with the IN
dians to put stop to hostilities, all to be brok
en- before the ink was dry. Our Government
sought to bribe the hostiles with monthly gifts
of horses food, blankets and farming nipple
ments,- mo avail. The Indians simply loved
to hunt foreigners just most Americans love
to 90 deer hunting. The taking of human life
was not crime to them. Every living thing
had to die sometime real harm was DONE
according to their reasoning.
The Apache Indians had always been ably
led. by such chiefs as Cochise and Mangus
Colorado When Fort Huachuca was founded
the reigning chief was Geronimo, regarded by
many military men all over the world as the
red Napoleon, SO capable a strategist was he.
He led the tribe to many whirlwind victories
and then. when sated with blood would gra-
ciously sign treaty to forever peacefully re-
side on a Reservation if he and his followers
After some months even a year OF resi-
which he usually spent in making a powerful
alcoholic drink from the mescal plants that.
abound in southern Arizona he would engage
in a wild spree during which he usually
imagined some of the young bucks trying to
lure away several of his young Mexican wives.
Whereupon he would stage another outbreak
into Mexico to secure further additions to his
harem and to find the young men OF the trioe
some real work to do.
But now, around 1879, prospectors, pro-
tected bv the presence Of soldiers in this new
Fort Huachuca had discovered vast mineral
riches in what is now Tombstone and Blsbee.
Thousands of miners and settlers flocked to
these new Eldorados. Now the government
simply had to protect these newcomers and
to that end broug hit in the flower OF the Amer
lean Army .spear-headed by the crack units'
the 4th, 9th and 9th Cavalry. A bloody
series of campaigns followed during which the :
Indians gave as good as they received tor
long time But the Dragon Indians were
SLOWLY exterminated. By l666 the APaches
were so thoroughly defeated Geronimo sur
rendered with most of his tribe. He thought
he and the tribe would again be placed on
some Indian Reservation where they could
again recuperate and plan reprisals, but IN
stead, he and all the known hostiles with their
families were sent away to Florida and Okia-
bonoa to die in exile, never to Arizona
again. +
The children of the tribe born in captivity
were scattered amongst other Indian tribes all
over the United States, so thoroughly dispensing
that today the once dreaded name, Dragon
Apache is practically unknown in Arizona to-
day, while other branches of the Apache are
peaceful and prosperous cattle growers, and
respected members of society. The last re-
manning group of Indian Scouts in the Y. 5
Army are at present stationed at Fort Fiua-
chuca, serving as their forebears have since
shortly after Captain Whitside founded the
fort