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INTRODUCTORY4th Endorsement.FORT S ILL, O. T., Sept. 2d, 1905.Respectfully returned to the Adjutant, Fort Sill,O. T. I can see no objection to Geronimo telling thestory of his past life, providing he tells the truth. Iwould recommend that Mr. S. M. Barrett be heldresponsible for what is written and published.(Signed) GEO. A. PURINGTON,1st. Lieut. 8th Cavalry,In Charge of Apache prisoners of war.5th Endorsement.FORT SILL, O. T., Sept. 4th, 1905.Respectfully returned to the Military Secretary,Dept. of Texas, San Antonio, Texas, inviting attention to 4th endorsement hereon. It is recommendedthat the manuscript be submitted before publicationto Lieut. Purington, who can pass upon the truth ofthe story.(Signed) A. L. DADE,Captain, 13th Cavalry, Commanding.6th Endorsement.HEADQUARTERS DEPT. OF TEXAS,SAN ANTONIO, September 8th, 1905.Respectfully returned to the Military Secretary,xvii

INTRODUCTORYWar Department, Washington, D. C., inviting attention to the preceding endorsement hereon, whichis concurred in.(Signed) J. M. LEE,Brigadier General, Commanding.7th Endorsement.W AR D EPARTMENT,OFFICE OF THE C HIEF OF S TAFF,W ASHINGTON, September 13th, 1905.Respectfully submitted to the Honorable the Secretary of War, inviting attention to the foregoingendorsements.(Signed) J. C. BATES,Major General, Acting Chief of Staff.8th Endorsement.W AR DEPARTMENT,September 15th, 1905.Respectfully returned to the Acting Chief of Staffto grant the necessary authority in this matter,through official channels, with the express understanding that the manuscript of the book shall be submittedto him before publication. Upon receipt of suchmanuscript the Chief of Staff will submit it to suchperson as he may select as competent to make axviii

INTRODUCTORYproper and critical inspection of the proposed publication.(Signed) R OBERT S HAW OLIVER,Acting Secretary of War.9th Endorsement.W AR DEPARTMENT,THE M ILITARY S ECRETARY’S OFFICE,W ASHINGTON, September 18th, 1905.Respectfully returned, by direction of the ActingChief of Staff, to the Commanding General, Dept. ofTexas, who will give the necessary instructions forcarrying out the directions of the Acting Secretaryof War, contained in the 8th endorsement. It isdesired that Mr. Barrett be advised accordingly.(Signed) HENRY P. MC CAIN,Military Secretary.10th Endorsement.HEADQUARTERS DEPT. OF TEXAS,M ILITARY SECRETARY’S OFFICE,S AN ANTONIO, September 23, 1905.Respectfully referred to the Commanding Officer,Fort Sill, Oklahoma Territory, who will give thenecessary instructions for carrying out the directionof the Acting Secretary of War contained in the 8thendorsement hereon.xix

INTRODUCTORYThis paper will be shown and fully explained toMr. Barrett, and then returned to these headquarters.By order of Colonel Hughes.(Signed) GEO. VAN HORN MOSELEY,1st. Lieut. 1st Cavalry, Aide-de-Camp,Acting Military Secretary.Early in October I secured the services ofan educated Indian, Asa Deklugie, son ofWhoa, chief of the Nedni Apaches, as interpreter, and the work of compiling thebook began.Geronimo refused to talk when a stenographer was present, or to wait for corrections or questions when telling the story.Each day he had in mind what he would telland told it in a very clear, brief manner.He might prefer to talk at his own tepee, atAsa Deklugie’s house, in some mountaindell, or as he rode in a swinging gallop acrossthe prairie; wherever his fancy led him,there he told whatever he wished to tell andno more. On the day that he first gave anyportion of his autobiography he would notxx

INTRODUCTORYbe questioned about any details, nor wouldhe add another word, but simply said,“Write what I have spoken,” and left usto remember and write the story without onebit of assistance. He would agree, however,to come on another day to my study, or anyplace designated by me, and listen to thereproduction (in Apache) of what had beentold, and at such times would answer allquestions or add information wherever hecould be convinced that it was necessary.He soon became so tired of book makingthat he would have abandoned the task butfor the fact that he had agreed to tell thecomplete story. When he once gives hisword, nothing will turn him from fulfillinghis promise. A very striking illustration ofthis was furnished by him early in January,1906. He had agreed to come to my studyon a certain date, but at the appointed hourthe interpreter came alone, and said thatGeronimo was very sick with cold and fever.He had come to tell me that we must apxxi

INTRODUCTORYpoint another date, as he feared the old warrior had an attack of pneumonia. It was acold day and the interpreter drew a chair upto the grate to warm himself after the exposure of the long ride. Just as he wasseating himself he looked out of the window,then rose quickly, and without speakingpointed to a rapidly moving object comingour way. In a moment I recognized the oldchief riding furiously (evidently trying toarrive as soon as the interpreter did), hishorse flecked with foam and reeling fromexhaustion. Dismounting he came in andsaid in a hoarse whisper, “I promised tocome. I am here.”I explained to him that I had not expected him to come on such a stormy day,and that in his physical condition he mustnot try to work. He stood for some time,and then without speaking left the room, remounted his tired pony, and with bowedhead faced ten long miles of cold north wind—he had kept his promise.xxii

INTRODUCTORYWhen he had finished his story I submitted the manuscript to Major Charles W.Taylor, Eighteenth Cavalry, commandant,Fort Sill, Oklahoma, who gave me some valuable suggestions as to additional relatedinformation which I asked Geronimo togive. In most cases the old chief gave thedesired information, but in some instanceshe refused, stating his reasons for so doing.When the added information had been incorporated I submitted the manuscript toPresident Roosevelt, from whose letter Iquote: “This is a very interesting volumewhich you have in manuscript, but I wouldadvise that you disclaim responsibility in allcases where the reputation of an individualis assailed.”In accordance with that suggestion, Ihave appended notes throughout the bookdisclaiming responsibility for adverse criticisms of any persons mentioned by Geronimo.On June 2d, 1906, I transmitted thexxiii

INTRODUCTORYcomplete manuscript to the War Department. The following quotation is from theletter of transmission:“In accordance with endorsement number eight ofthe ‘Brief’ submitted to me by the commandingofficer of Fort Sill, which endorsement constituted theinstructions of the Department, I submit herewithmanuscript of the Autobiography of Geronimo.“The manuscript has been submitted to the President, and at his suggestion I have disclaimed anyresponsibility for the criticisms (made by Geronimo)of individuals mentioned.”Six weeks after the manuscript was forwarded, Thomas C. Barry, Brigadier General, Assistant to the Chief of Staff, sent tothe President the following:“M EMORANDUM FOR THE S ECRETARY OF W AR.“Subject: Manuscript of the Autobiography ofGeronimo. The paper herewith, which was referredto this office on July 6th, with instructions to reportas to whether there is anything objectionable in it, isreturned.“The manuscript is an interesting autobiographyof a notable Indian, made by himself. There are axxiv

INTRODUCTORYnumber of passages which, from the departmentalpoint of view, are decidedly objectionable. These arefound on pages 73, 74, 90, 91, and 97, and are indicated by marginal lines in red. The entire manuscript appears in a way important as showing theIndian side of a prolonged controversy, but it isbelieved that the document, either in whole or in part,should not receive the approval of the War Department.”The memorandum is published that theobjections of the War Department may bemade known to the public.The objection is raised to the mention onpages seventy-three and seventy-four of themanuscript of an attack upon Indians in atent at Apache Pass or Bowie, by U. S.soldiers. The statement of Geronimo is,however, substantially confirmed by L. C.Hughes, editor of The Star, Tucson,Arizona.On pages ninety and ninety-one of themanuscript, Geronimo criticised GeneralCrook. This criticism is simply Geronimo’sprivate opinion of General Crook. Wexxv

INTRODUCTORYdeem it a personal matter and leave it without comment, as it in no way concerns thehistory of the Apaches.On page ninety-seven of the manuscriptGeronimo accuses General Miles of badfaith. Of course, General Miles made thetreaty with the Apaches, but we know verywell that he is not responsible for the waythe Government subsequently treated theprisoners of war. However, Geronimo cannot understand this and fixes upon GeneralMiles the blame for what he calls unjusttreatment.One could not expect the Department ofWar to approve adverse criticisms of itsown acts, but it is especially gratifying thatsuch a liberal view has been taken of thesecriticisms, and also that such a frank statement of the merits of the Autobiography issubmitted in the memorandum. Of courseneither the President nor the War Department is in any way responsible for whatGeronimo says; he has simply been grantedxxvi

INTRODUCTORYthe opportunity to state his own case as hesees it.The fact that Geronimo has told the storyin his own way is doubtless the only excusenecessary to offer for the many unconventional features of this work.xxvii

PART ITHE APACHES

GERONIMOCHAPTER IORIGIN OF THE APACHE INDIANSIN the beginning the world was coveredwith darkness. There was no sun, noday. The perpetual night had no moon orstars.There were, however, all manner of beastsand birds. Among the beasts were manyhideous, nameless monsters, as well asdragons, lions, tigers, wolves, foxes, beavers,rabbits, squirrels, rats, mice, and all mannerof creeping things such as lizards and serpents. Mankind could not prosper undersuch conditions, for the beasts and serpentsdestroyed all human offspring.All creatures had the power of speech andwere gifted with reason.There were two tribes of creatures: thebirds or the feathered tribe and the beasts.3

GERONIMOThe former were organized under theirchief, the eagle.These tribes often held councils, and thebirds wanted light admitted. This the beastsrepeatedly refused to do. Finally the birdsmade war against the beasts.The beasts were armed with clubs, but theeagle had taught his tribe to use bows andarrows. The serpents were so wise that theycould not all be killed. One took refuge ina perpendicular cliff of a mountain in Arizona, and his eye (changed into a brilliantstone) may be seen in that rock to this day.The bears, when killed, would each bechanged into several other bears, so that themore bears the feathered tribe killed, themore there were. The dragon could not bekilled, either, for he was covered withfour coats of horny scales, and the arrowswould not penetrate these. One of themost hideous, vile monsters (nameless) wasproof against arrows, so the eagle flewhigh up in the air with a round, white4

ORIGIN OF THE APACHEstone, and let it fall on this monster’shead, killing him instantly. This was sucha good service that the stone was calledsacred. (A symbol of this stone is used inthe tribal game of Kah.1) They foughtfor many days, but at last the birds won thevictory.After this war was over, although someevil beasts remained, the birds were able tocontrol the councils, and light was admitted.Then mankind could live and prosper. Theeagle was chief in this good fight: therefore,his feathers were worn by man as emblemsof wisdom, justice, and power.Among the few human beings that wereyet alive was a woman who had been blessedwith many children, but these had alwaysbeen destroyed by the beasts. If by anymeans she succeeded in eluding the others,the dragon, who was very wise and very evil,would come himself and eat her babes.After many years a son of the rainstorm1See Chapter IV.5

GERONIMOwas born to her and she dug for him a deepcave. The entrance to this cave she closedand over the spot built a camp fire. Thisconcealed the babe’s hiding place and kepthim warm. Every day she would removethe fire and descend into the cave, where thechild’s bed was, to nurse him; then shewould return and rebuild the camp fire.Frequently the dragon would come andquestion her, but she would say, “I have nomore children; you have eaten all of them.”When the child was larger he would notalways stay in the cave, for he sometimeswanted to run and play. Once the dragonsaw his tracks. Now this perplexed and enraged the old dragon, for he could not findthe hiding place of the boy; but he said thathe would destroy the mother if she did notreveal the child’s hiding place. The poormother was very much troubled; she couldnot give up her child, but she knew thepower and cunning of the dragon, thereforeshe lived in constant fear.6

ORIGIN OF THE APACHESoon after this the boy said that hewished to go hunting. The mother wouldnot give her consent. She told him of thedragon, the wolves, and the serpents; but hesaid, “To-morrow I go.”At the boy’s request his uncle (who wasthe only man then living) made a little bowand some arrows for him, and the two wenthunting the next day. They trailed the deerfar up the mountain and finally the boykilled a buck. His uncle showed him how todress the deer and broil the meat. Theybroiled two hind quarters, one for the childand one for his uncle. When the meat wasdone they placed it on some bushes to cool.Just then the huge form of the dragon appeared. The child was not afraid, but hisuncle was so dumb with fright that he didnot speak or move.The dragon took the boy’s parcel of meatand went aside with it. He placed the meaton another bush and seated himself besideit. Then he said, “This is the child I have7

GERONIMObeen seeking. Boy, you are nice and fat,so when I have eaten this venison I shall eatyou.” The boy said, “No, you shall not eatme, and you shall not eat that meat.” So hewalked over to where the dragon sat andtook the meat back to his own seat. Thedragon said, “I like your courage, but youare foolish; what do you think you coulddo?” “Well,” said the boy, “I can doenough to protect myself, as you may findout.” Then the dragon took the meat again,and then the boy retook it. Four times inall the dragon took the meat, and after thefourth time the boy replaced the meat hesaid, “Dragon, will you fight me?” Thedragon said, “Yes, in whatever way youlike.” The boy said, “I will stand one hundred paces distant from you and you mayhave four shots at me with your bow andarrows, provided that you will then exchange places with me and give me fourshots.” “Good,” said the dragon. “Standup.”8

ORIGIN OF THE APACHEThen the dragon took his bow, which wasmade of a large pine tree. He took four arrows from his quiver; they were made ofyoung pine tree saplings, and each arrowwas twenty feet in length. He took deliberate aim, but just as the arrow left the bowthe boy made a peculiar sound and leapedinto the air. Immediately the arrow wasshivered into a thousand splinters, and theboy was seen standing on the top of a brightrainbow over the spot where the dragon’saim had been directed. Soon the rainbow wasgone and the boy was standing on the groundagain. Four times this was repeated, thenthe boy said, “Dragon, stand here; it is mytime to shoot.” The dragon said, “Allright; your little arrows cannot pierce myfirst coat of horn, and I have three othercoats—shoot away.” The boy shot an arrow, striking the dragon just over the heart,and one coat of the great horny scales fellto the ground. The next shot another coat,and then another, and the dragon’s heart was9

GERONIMOexposed. Then the dragon trembled, butcould not move. Before the fourth arrowwas shot the boy said, “Uncle, you aredumb with fear; you have not moved; comehere or the dragon will fall on you.” Hisuncle ran toward him. Then he sped thefourth arrow with true aim, and it piercedthe dragon’s heart. With a tremendousroar the dragon rolled down the mountainside—down four precipices into a cañonbelow.Immediately storm clouds swept the mountains, lightning flashed, thunder rolled, andthe rain poured. When the rainstorm hadpassed, far down in the cañon below, theycould see fragments of the huge body of thedragon lying among the rocks, and the bonesof this dragon may still be found there.This boy’s name was Apache. Usen 2taught him how to prepare herbs for medi2Usen is the Apache word for God. It is used here because it implies the attributes of deity that are held intheir primitive religion. “Apache” means “Enemy.”10

ORIGIN OF THE APACHEcine, how to hunt, and how to fight. He wasthe first chief of the Indians and wore theeagle’s feathers as the sign of justice, wisdom, and power. To him, and to his people,as they were created, Usen gave homes in theland of the west.11

CHAPTER IISUBDIVISIONS OF THE APACHE TRIBETHE Apache Indians are divided intosix sub-tribes. To one of these, theBe-don-ko-he, I belong.Our tribe inhabited that region of mountainous country which lies west from the eastline of Arizona, and south from the headwaters of the Gila River.East of us lived the Chi-hen-ne (OjoCaliente), (Hot Springs) Apaches. Ourtribe never had any difficulty with them.Victoria, their chief, was always a friend tome. He always helped our tribe when weasked him for help. He lost his life in thedefense of the rights of his people. He wasa good man and a brave warrior. His sonCharlie now lives here in this reservationwith us.12

THE APACHE TRIBENorth of us lived the White MountainApaches. They were not always on the bestof terms with our tribe, yet we seldom hadany war with them. I knew their chief,Hash-ka-ai-la, personally, and I consideredhim a good warrior. Their range was nextto that of the Navajo Indians, who were notof the same blood as the Apaches. We heldcouncils with all Apache tribes, but neverwith the Navajo Indians. However, wetraded with them and sometimes visitedthem.To the west of our country ranged theChi-e-a-hen Apaches. They had two chiefswithin my time, Co-si-to and Co-da-hoo-yah.They were friendly, but not intimate withour tribe.South of us lived the Cho-kon-en (Chiricahua) Apaches, whose chief in the old dayswas Co-chise, and later his son, Naiche. Thistribe was always on the most friendly termswith us. We were often in camp and onthe trail together. Naiche, who wa

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