Geronimo His Own Story
Part I: The Apaches
Part II: The Mexicans
Part III: The White Men
Part IV: The Old And The New
Part III: The White Men
A Prisoner of War
When I had given up to the Government they put me on the Southern
Pacific Railroad and took me to San Antonio, Texas, and held me
to be tried by their laws.
In forty days they took me from there to Fort Pickens (Pensacola),
Florida. Here they put me to sawing up large logs. There were several
other Apache warriors with me, and all of us had to work every day.
For nearly two years we were kept at hard labor in this place and
we did not see our families until May, 1887. This treatment was
in direct violation of our treaty made at Skeleton Canyon.
After this we were sent with our families to Vermont, Alabama,
where we stayed five years and worked for the Government. We had
no property, and I looked in vain for General Miles to send me to
that land of which he had spoken; I longed in vain for the implements,
house, and stock that General Miles had promised me.
During this time one of my warriors, Fun, killed himself and his
wife. Another one shot his wife and then shot himself. He fell dead,
but the woman recovered and is still living.
We were not healthy in this place, for the climate disagreed with
us. So many of our people died that I consented to let one of my
wives go to the Mescalero Agency in New Mexico to live. This separation
is according to our custom equivalent to what the white people call
divorce, and so she married again soon after she got to Mescalero.
She also kept our two small children, which she had a right to do.
The children, Lenna and Robbie, are still living at Mescalero, New
Mexico. Lenna is married. I kept one wife, but she is dead now and
I have only our daughter Eva with me. Since my separation from Lenna's
mother I have never had more than one wife at a time. Since the
death of Eva's mother I married another woman (December, 1905) but
we could not live happily and separated. She went home to her people-that
is an Apache divorce.
Then, as now, Mr. George Wratton superintended the Indians. He
has always had trouble with the Indians, because he has mistreated
them. One day an Indian, while drunk, stabbed Mr. Wratton with a
little knife. The officer in charge took the part of Mr. Wratton
and the Indian was sent to prison.
When we first came to Fort Sill, Captain Scot was in charge, and
he had houses built for us by the Government. We were also given,
from the Government, cattle, hogs, turkeys and chickens. The Indians
did not do much good with the hogs. because they did not understand
how to care for them, and not many Indians even at the present time
keep hogs. We did better with the turkeys and chickens, but with
these we did not have as good luck as white men do. With the cattle
we have done very well indeed, and we like to raise them. We have
a few horses also, and have had no bad luck with them.
In the matter of selling our stock and grain there has been much
misunderstanding. The Indians understood that the cattle were to
be sold and the money given to them, but instead part of the money
is given to the Indians and part of it is placed in what the officers
call the "Apache Fund." We have had five different officers
in charge of the Indians here and they have all ruled very much
alike-not consulting the Apaches or even explaining to them. It
may be that the Government ordered the officers in charge to put
this cattle money into an Apache fund, for once I complained and
told Lieutenant Purington that I intended to report to the Government
that he had taken some of my part of the cattle money and put it
into the Apache Fund, he said he did not care if I did tell.
Several years ago the issue of clothing ceased. This, too, may
have been by the order of the Government, but the Apaches do not
understand it.
If there is an Apache Fund, it should some day be turned over to
the Indians, or at least they should have an account of it, for
it is their earnings.
When General Miles last visited Fort Sill I asked to be relieved
from labor on account of my age. I also remembered what General
Miles had promised me in the treaty and told him of it. He said
I need not work any more except when I wished to, and since that
time I have not been detailed to do any work. I have worked a great
deal, however, since then, for, although I am old, I like to work
and help my people as much as I am able.
Part IV: The Old And The New
Previous Page - The Final Struggle
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Native American Legends A-B