Apache Chief Geronimo by William R. Sanford

Author:William R. Sanford [Sanford, William R.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-4645-1163-9
Publisher: Enslow Publishers, Inc.
Published: 2013-03-14T16:00:00+00:00

Image Credit: National Archives

The San Carlos reservation in central Arizona. It was an ugly place, located on a gravelly plain.

On April 22, 1877, Geronimo’s band camped outside Warm Springs. Indian Agent John Clum sent them a message. They were to come to Warm Springs for a talk. Clum sat on a porch. Armed police stood on both sides of the Apaches. Clum faced Geronimo and six other leaders. He said they would have to move to San Carlos. Geronimo replied, “We are not going back to San Carlos with you. Unless you are very careful, you and your Apache police will not go back to San Carlos either. Your bodies will stay here . . . to make food for coyotes.”1

Clum gave a signal. From hiding, more police ran onto the parade ground. Their rifles were at the ready. Geronimo’s thumb eased off the hammer of his rifle. Geronimo stared at him with hatred. Clum took the gun. He told them they were prisoners. Geronimo reached for his knife. A policeman snatched it away. Clum took the Apaches to the blacksmith shop. Soon, irons linked by chains shackled their ankles.

The Apaches began the long walk to San Carlos. The trip took three weeks. The shackled men rode in a wagon. At San Carlos, Clum kept the leaders in the guard house. He wanted them tried and hanged. The others were free to live anywhere on the reservation. After a few months, a new agent set the leaders free.

Life was bad at San Carlos. The Apaches had poor housing, no food, and not enough clothing. Many died from smallpox and malaria. In September, over 300 fled. On April 4, 1878, Geronimo followed. It was his first of many breakouts.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.