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THE TIMELINE & BIOGRAPHY OF A BENDONKOHE APACHE:
Continued - Page 2
   The next years that Goyathlay speaks on begins with 1873.  I will set forth here, some of the things that happened in the world during that five years which must be the time period that he speaks of above as being a “long time before we again went into Mexico or were distrubed by the Mexicans.”

1869 –

Suez Canal opens;

Mahatma Gandhi born;

Celluloid invented;

Periodic law for classification of elements formed;

Cincinnati Red Stockings become first salaried baseball team;

Austria introduces first post cards;

1870 –

Standard Oil Company founded;

Robert E. Lee dies;

T. H. Huxley comes out with “Theory of Biogenesis”;

Jules Verne writes “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”.

1871 –

Italian Law of Guarantees allows Pope possession of Vatican;

Jehovah’s Witnesses founded;

Pneumatic rock drill invented;

P.T. Barnum opens his circus;

The Great Chicago Fire;

Stanley finally catches up with Dr. Livingstone;

U.S. Population now stands at 39 million; more than Japan, Britain, or Italy.

1872 –

Grant re-elected as President;

Jesuits expelled from Germany;

Brooklyn Bridge opens;

1st International Soccer game – Scotland vs. England;

1st U.S. Ski Club founded at Berlin, NH.

1873It must have been relatively peaceful and happy times for Goyathlay and his people during the past four or five years, but he does not speak of it.  Then, in 1873 Mexico attacks his people again. Now, while a lot of historical blame is put upon Goyathlay and/or the Apache people in general, it seems to me that Mexico should have their share as well.  What are the reasons for this constant attacks without seeming provocation, I can not be sure.  However, realizing that Mexico had many areas that were basically controlled by bands of “outlaws” or “banditos” regardless of how they termed themselves or history would later on, it may well be that much of this trouble was caused by them; Pancho Villa for example.

     At any rate, Mexicans once more come to attack the Apache.  Even though the Apache defeated them, Goyathlay’s people decide to move their village.  Trying to figure out the line of reasoning in another’s head is faulty at best, trying to do so for a person or people some 130 years or so in the Past is even more prone to be in error.  Even so, why they decided to move INTO Mexico is beyond me, but that is what they did.  It must be said however, that it very well could have been for economical or living purposes that dictated this move.  For Arizona, one must realize is now becoming more and more populated and the free game and easy hunting is just about gone for the Apache.

“We ranged in these mountains for over a year, raiding the Mexican settlements for our supplies, but not having any general engagement with Mexican troops; then we returned to our homes in Arizona. After remaining in Arizona about a year we returned to Mexico, and went into hiding in the Sierra Madre Mountains. Our camp was near Nacori, and we had just organized bands of warriors for raiding the country, when our scouts discovered Mexican troops coming toward our camp to attack us.”

    It was two Companies of Mexican troops against approximately 60 Apache warriors.  The Mexicans took the high ground, as it is spoken, and dismounted to fight under cover.  The Apache first killed all their horses, then proceeded to at first cautiously try to pick off the hidden troopers, while making them waste their ammunition.  When this became apparent that it was not going to work as far as ending the battle, Goyathlay gives the signal to charge the emplaced troopers.

“The war-whoop sounded and we leaped forward from every stone over the Mexicans' dead horses, fighting hand to hand. The attack was so sudden that the Mexicans, running first this way and then that, became so confused that in a few minutes we had killed them all.”

…….

“That night we moved our camp eastward through the Sierra Madre Mountains into Chihuahua. No troops molested us here and after about a year we returned to Arizona.”

…….

“Almost every year we would live a part of the time in Old Mexico. There were at this time many settlements in Arizona; game was not plentiful, and besides we liked to go down into Old Mexico. Besides, the lands of the Nedni Apaches, our friends and kinsmen, extended far into Mexico. Their Chief, Whoa, was as a brother to me, and we spent much of our time in his territory.”

In 1873, this was happening around the world:

Color photographs first developed;

American Football Clubs adopt uniform rules;

Cities of Buda and Pest are combined to be Budapest, and made capital of Hungary;

1880 – At about this time, Goyathlay says, Mexican again sneak up on them and attack.  Wrong move on their part, for although 12 Apaches were killed, none of the Mexicans made it out alive.

“We kept behind rocks and trees until we came within ten yards of their line, then we stood up and both sides shot until all the Mexicans were killed. We lost twelve warriors in this battle.”

……….

“In about four months we reassembled at Casa Grande to make a treaty of peace. The chiefs of the town of Casa Grande, and all of the men of Casa Grande, made a treaty with us. We shook hands and promised to be brothers. Then we began to trade, and the Mexicans gave us mescal. Soon nearly all the Indians were drunk. While they were drunk two companies of Mexican troops, from another town, attacked us, killed twenty Indians, and captured many more. We fled in all directions.”

In 1880, this was happening around the world:

France annexes Tahiti;

Chile wars with Peru and Bolivia;

1881(?) Goyathlay and his people, now having returned to New Mexico, find two companies of “scouts” are sent to him and Chief Victoria.  The scouts say they are to come to town, however, they do not say why.  Believing that they wanted to council, as they were Apache Scouts, with them, Goyathlay and Victoria go.

“As soon as we arrived in town soldiers met us, disarmed us, and took us both to headquarters, where we were tried by court-martial. They asked us only a few questions and then Victoria was released and I was sentenced to the guardhouse. Scouts conducted me to the guardhouse and put me in chains. When I asked them why they did this they said it was because I had left Apache Pass.”

“I was kept a prisoner for four months, during which time I was transferred to San Carlos. Then I think I had another trial, although I was not present. In fact I do not know that I had another trial, but I was told that I had, and at any rate I was released.”

1883/1884, Goyathlay and his people have many skirmishes with the Mexicans, however he relates little of this during this time period as far as the Mexicans are concerned.

“In the summer of 1883 a rumor was current that the (US)officers were again planning to imprison our leaders. This rumor served to revive the memory of all our past wrongs-the massacre in the tent at Apache Pass, the fate of Mangus Colorado, and my own unjust imprisonment, which might easily have been death to me. Just at this time we were told that the officers wanted us to come up the river above Geronimo to a fort (Fort Thomas) to hold a council with them. We did not believe that any good could come of this conference, or that there was any need of it; so we held a council ourselves, and fearing treachery, decided to leave the reservation. We thought it more manly to die on the war path than to be killed in prison.”

……….

“We went on toward Old Mexico, but on the second day after this United States soldiers overtook us about three o'clock in the afternoon and we fought until dark. The ground where we were attacked was very rough, which was to our advantage, for the troops were compelled to dismount in order to fight us. I do not know how many soldiers were killed, but we lost only one warrior and three children.”

“We ranged in the mountains of Old Mexico for about a year, then returned to San Carlos, taking with us a herd of cattle and horses.”

……….

“In 1884 we returned to Arizona to get other Apaches to come with us into Mexico. The Mexicans were gathering troops in the mountains where we had been ranging, and their numbers were so much greater than ours that we could not hope to fight them successfully, and we were tired of being chased about from place to place.”

……….

“Soon after we arrived at San Carlos the officer in charge, General Crook, took the horses and cattle away from us. I told him that these were not white men's cattle, but belonged to us, for we had taken them from the Mexicans during our wars. I also told him that we did not intend to kill these animals, but that we wished to keep them and raise stock on our range. He would not listen to me, but took the stock. I went up near Fort Apache and General Crook ordered officers, soldiers, and scouts to see that I was arrested; if I offered resistance they were instructed to kill me.”

……….

“In Arizona we had trouble with the United States soldiers and returned to Mexico.

We had lost about fifteen warriors in Arizona, and had gained no recruits. With our reduced number we camped in the mountains north of Arispe. Mexican troops were seen by our scouts in several directions. The United States troops were coming down from the north. We were well armed with guns and supplied with ammunition, but we did not care to be surrounded by the troops of two governments, so we started to move our camp southward.”

……….

“In those days we never camped without placing scouts, for we knew that we were liable to be attacked at any time. The next morning just at daybreak our scouts came in, aroused the camp, and notified us that Mexican troops were approaching. Within five minutes the Mexicans began firing on us.”

“At noon we began to hear them speaking my name with curses. In the afternoon the general came on the field and the fighting became more furious. I gave orders to my warriors to try to kill all the Mexican officers. About three o'clock the general called all the officers together at the right side of the field. The place where they assembled was not very far from the main stream and a little ditch ran out close to where the officers stood. Cautiously I crawled out this ditch very close to where the council was being held. The general was an old warrior. The wind was blowing in my direction, so that l could hear all he said, and I understood most of it. This is about what he told them: "Officers, yonder in those ditches is the red devil Geronimo and his hated band. This must be his last day. Ride on him from both sides of the ditches; kill men, women, and children; take no prisoners; dead Indians are what we want. Do not spare your own men; exterminate this band at any cost; I will post the wounded (to) shoot all deserters; go back to your companies and advance."

“Just as the command to go forward was given I took deliberate aim at the general and he fell. In an instant the ground around me was riddled with bullets; but I was untouched. The Apaches had seen. From all along the ditches arose the fierce war-cry of my people. The columns wavered an instant and then swept on; they did not retreat until our fire had destroyed the front ranks.

After this their fighting was not so fierce, yet they continued to rally and readvance until dark. They also continued to speak my name with threats and curses. That night before the firing had ceased a dozen Indians had crawled out of the ditches and set fire to the long prairie grass behind the Mexican troops. During the confusion that followed we escaped to the mountains.

This was the last battle that I ever fought with Mexicans. United States troops were trailing us continually from this time until the treaty was made with General Miles in Skeleton Canyon.”

……….

“I have killed many Mexicans; I do not know how many, for frequently I did not count them. Some of them were not worth counting.”

……….

“That night we held a council of war; our scouts had reported bands of United States and Mexican troops at many points in the mountains. We estimated that about two thousand soldiers were ranging these mountains seeking to capture us. General Cook had come down into Mexico with the United States troops. They were camped in the Sierra de Antunez Mountains. Scouts told me that General Crook wished to see me and I went to his camp. When I arrived General Crook said to me,

"Why did you leave the reservation?"

I said:

"You told me that I might live in the reservation the same as white people lived. One year I raised a crop of corn, and gathered and stored it, and the next year I put in a crop of oats, and when the crop was almost ready to harvest, you told your soldiers to put me in prison, and if I resisted to kill me. If I had been let alone l would now have been in good circumstances, but instead of that you and the Mexicans are hunting me with soldiers".

He said:

"I never gave any such orders; the troops at Fort Apache, who spread this report, knew that it was untrue".

Then I agreed to go back with him to San Carlos. It was hard for me to believe him at that time. Now I know that what he said was untrue, and I firmly believe that he did issue the orders for me to be put in prison, or to be killed in case I offered resistance.”

……….

We started with all our tribe to go with General Crook back to the United States, but I feared treachery and decided to remain in Mexico. We were not under any guard at the time. The United States troops marched in front and the Indians followed, and when we became suspicious, we turned back. I do not know how far the United States army went after myself, and some warriors turned back before we were missed, and I do not care.

I have suffered much from such unjust orders as those of General Crook. Such acts have caused much distress to my people. I think that General Crook's death was sent by the Almighty as a punishment for the many evil deeds he committed.”

In 1883/1884, this was happening around the world:

Synthetic fiber produced;

Northern Pacific Railroad completed;

Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show organized;

Grover Cleveland elected President;

Harry S. Truman born;

1st Practical steam turbine engine;

Gold discovered in the Transvaal, Johannesburg rises.

1885

“Soon General Miles was made commander of all the western posts, and troops trailed us continually. They were led by Captain Lawton, who had good scout.”

……….

“On our return through Old Mexico we attacked every Mexican found, even if for no other reason than to kill. We believed they had asked the United States troops to come down to Mexico to fight us.”

……….

“We were reckless of our lives, because we felt that every man's hand was against us. If we returned to the reservation we would be put in prison and killed; if we stayed in Mexico they would continue to send soldiers to fight us; so we gave no quarter to anyone and asked no favors.

After some time we left Gosoda and soon were reunited with our tribe in the Sierra de Antunez Mountains.”

“Contrary to our expectations the United States soldiers had not left the mountains in Mexico, and were soon trailing us and skirmishing with us almost every day.”

……….

“Soon after this we made a treaty with the Mexican troops. They told us that the United States troops were the real cause of these wars, and agreed not to fight any more with us provided we would return to the United States. This we agreed to do, and resumed our march, expecting to try to make a treaty with the United States soldiers and return to Arizona. There seemed to be no other course to pursue.”

……….

“Soon after this scouts from Captain Lawton's troops told us that he wished to make a treaty with us; but I knew that General Miles was the chief of the American troops, and I decided to treat with him.”

……….

  “So I went to the camp of the United States troops to meet General Miles .”

“When I arrived at their camp I went directly to General Miles and told him how I had been wronged, and that I wanted to return to the United States with my people, as we wished to see our families, who had been captured and taken away from us."

General Miles said to me:

"The President of the United States has sent me to speak to you. He has heard of your trouble with the white men, and says that if you will agree to a few words of treaty we need have no more trouble. Geronimo, if you will agree to a few words of treaty all will be satisfactorily arranged."

"So General Miles told me how we could be brothers to each other. We raised our hands to heaven and said that the treaty was not to be broken. We took an oath not to do any wrong to each other or to scheme against each other.”

……….

  “Then he talked with me for a long time and told me what he would do for me in the future if I would agree to the treaty. I did not greatly believe General Miles, but because the President of the United States had sent me word I agreed to make the treaty, and to keep it. Then I asked General Miles what the treaty would be." 

General Miles said to me:

"I will take you under Government protection; I will build you a house; I will fence you much land; I will give you cattle, horses, mules, and farming implements. You will be furnished with men to work the farm, for you yourself will not have to work. In the fall I will send you blankets and clothing so that you will not suffer from cold in the winter time.

"There is plenty of timber, water, and grass in the land to which I will send you. You will live with your tribe and with your family. If you agree to this treaty you shall see your family within five days."

I said to General Miles:

"All the officers that have been in charge of the Indians have talked that way, and it sounds like a story to me; I hardly believe you."

He said:

"This time it is the truth."

I said:

"General Miles, I do not know the laws of the white man, nor of this new country where you are to send me, and I might break the laws."

He said:

"While I live you will not be arrested."

Then I agreed to make the treaty. (Since then I have been a prisoner of war, I have been arrested and placed in the guardhouse twice for drinking whisky.)

We stood between his troopers and my warriors. We placed a large stone on the blanket before us. Our treaty was made by this stone, as it was to last until the stone should crumble to dust; so we made the treaty, and bound each other with an oath.

I do not believe that I have ever violated that treaty; but General Miles never fulfilled his promises.

When we had made the treaty General Miles said to me:

"My brother, you have in your mind how you are going to kill me, and other thoughts of war; I want you to put that out of your mind, and change your thoughts to peace."

Then I agreed and gave up my arms. I said:

"I will quit the war path and live at peace here after."

Then General Miles swept a spot of ground clear with his hand, and said:

"Your past deeds shall be wiped out like this and you will start a new life."

"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."

In 1885/1886, this was happening around the world:

U.S. Grant dies;

Germany annexes Tanganyika and Zanzibar;

Golf introduced to the U.S.;

Pasteur devises Rabies vaccine;

Canadian Pacific Railway completed;

Ty Cobb is born.

1887

"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."

……….

1892/1904 – I have had some problems, timelinewise, on this section because in the telling of His Story, Goyathlay does not provide the dates nor does he seem to quite keep various segments in the order they occurred. I am not going to deeply speculate on this, but to me, this element of vagueness is understandable.  Considering the life the man led, the life he once knew having been changed several times drastically, now to the point where he is relegated to being considered little more than a caged animal by his captors and certainly no one “worthy enough” to keep promises made to…myself, I would be loathe to bring this back to life, as well.

"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."

……….

"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."

1904 – St. Louis World’s Fair/Exposition: This section will be the most difficult, for me, to attend to.  Many will wonder why, since it would appear on the surface at least, that the “whites” are finally honoring this man.  As well, some might read into Goyathlay’s words, satisfaction at being recognized and seemingly being accorded “honors” of some sort.  I see it entirely differently. 

     I see it as an “exhibition”; a show at bringing out of some sort of prehistoric past, a living example of “white superiority” and a façade at showing the might of the Army for having brought this “tiger of a man” to bay and rendering him an impotent, old man; a crown jewel in the Might of the Nation’s Crown. 

    Even so, you will notice that they did not leave him alone for one minute, having guards with him at all times.  Was this done because “the Army” felt they needed to protect him from the “white public”? This I heartily doubt. 

     I believe that even as old as Goyathlay was at the time, and certainly made older by his trials and travails, the Army was yet very leery at what this “old man” might do to the “white public” and in this, they were probably right had circumstances warranted it. 

     However, if any such “action” had taken place, I have no doubt that it would have been against the very Army that had maltreated him so, both in words and actions.  If one reads just a bit slower, and takes time to ponder the “words” Goyathlay speaks here, they will come away with a lot more than what the printed word says.

“WHEN I was at first asked to attend the St. Louis World's Fair I did not wish to go. Later, when I was told that I would receive good attention and protection, and that the President of the United States said that it would be all right, I consented. I was kept by parties in charge of the Indian Department, who had obtained permission from the President. I stayed in this place for six months. I sold my photographs for twenty-five cents, and was allowed to keep ten cents of this for myself.”

    I keep looking at these words, and a myriad of thoughts race through my mind; or, I sit mentally mute unable to understand the spite and greed of men who would contrive such a scheme upon a man who basically, has nothing.  I look at the words where he says he was “allowed to keep ten cents of this” and I wonder if Goyathlay is silently being sarcastic here, or if indeed he truly did not realize what these men were doing.  With his mind, both could be held as true.

“I also wrote my name for ten, fifteen, or twenty-five cents, as the case might be, and kept all of that money. I often made as much as two dollars a day, and when I returned I had plenty of money -more than I had ever owned before.”

     With regard to the above words:  I have seen on many websites that have various size section pertaining to Goyathlay, references to this “quote”.  The references point to this and speak out at what a grand thing it was for the “whites” to let Goyathlay do this, for it allowed him to make a great deal of money; as if he went back home with neither he nor his people having to work again. 

     Granted, money in those days had a great deal different value than the same coinage has today; however, when one thinks to the fact that Goyathlay probably never saw money save in very few instances; the fact that the Apaches as well as other Native Americans of that time period simply did not deal “in money”; the fact that Goyathlay was doubtlessly unaware of the true value of any money, even that which he was now getting; it should be readily apparent it would not take much for him to “believe” that he had made a “plenty of money”, nor would it take much to become “more than I ever owned before.” 

    So, if I ever meet one of those people who spout that “Geronimo” made a bundle at the World’s Fair through the largesse of the “public and government”, I think I will smack him with a Duh!? Board!

“Many people in St. Louis invited me to come to their homes, but my keeper always refused.”

    I look at that word, keeper, and I do not know whether to be deeply angry or deeply saddened.  What has been done to a man’s soul whose spirit once burned so bright that the nation of Mexico collectively peed their pants if they heard a rumor “Geronimo’s Coming!”?  What has been done to this man, that at this time at least, he can not even use the word Guard, but instead with one word relegates himself into a cage like an animal with the word Keeper?

“When people first came to the World's Fair they did nothing but parade up and down the streets. When they got tired of this they would visit the shows. There were many strange things in these shows. The Government sent guards with me when I went, and I was not allowed to go anywhere without them.”

     Goyathlay is around 75 years old now, what did they think he was going to do, run out and massacre the entire City of St. Louis; run all the way back to his ancestral homeland on foot?

“In another place a man was on a platform speaking to the audience; they set a basket by the side of the platform and covered it with red calico; then a woman came and got into the basket, and a man covered the basket again with the calico; then the man who was speaking to the audience took a long sword and ran it through the basket, each way, and then down through the cloth cover. I heard the sword cut through the woman's body, and the manager himself said she was dead; but when the cloth was lifted from the basket she stepped out, smiled, and walked off the stage. I would like to know how she was so quickly healed, and why the wounds did not kill her.”

     In many ways, Goyathlay for all his years, still views the world as a child, and this makes him even more endearing in my book.  It is easy for us  to smile at the unknowing of a simple stage Magician and his assistant; but this is also a vast comment on how the “world” had passed this man and his people by.  The true tragedy of this however, is that save for cruelty, greed and avarice, this need not have been.

    How strange and wonderful, the mind and heart of the “innocent”:

“I am glad I went to the Fair. I saw many interesting things and learned much of the white people. They are a very kind and peaceful people. During all the time I was at the Fair no one tried to harm me in any way. Had this been among the Mexicans I am sure I should have been compelled to defend myself often.

I wish all my people could have attended the Fair.”

   This next section deals with “religion” and has no dates associated with it.  However, due to the writing of it, it would have to be between 1904 and 1909.

    There are a lot of “Christians” who will look and have looked at the statement below, and walk around with the smug feeling that another “savage pagan” was converted.  I do not see this here. While it may or may not be true that Goyathlay “converted” as the word goes, to me is not the question.  I see the “Believing in a wise way…” and the advising of “all my people” as another sign that Goyathlay has come to terms with the fact that “the fight” is over, and the best chance for the survival of his people is to at least “appear” alike as possible, the “conquerors”, for they are going to be around for quite some time.

“Believing that in a wise way it is good to go to church, and that associating with Christians would improve my character, I have adopted the Christian religion. I believe that the church has helped me much during the short time I have been a member. I am not ashamed to be a Christian, and I am glad to know that the President of the United States is a Christian, for without the help of the Almighty I do not think he could rightly judge in ruling so many people. I have advised all of my people who are not Christians, to study that religion, because it seems to me the best religion in enabling one to live right.”

    This next is the closing of Goyathlay’s Story, and it is a sad commentary indeed about America when this man had to even ask the President for permission to write his own “story”.

“I am thankful that the President Of the United States has given me permission to tell my story. I hope that he and those in authority under him will read my story and judge whether my people have been rightly treated.”

……….

“We are now held on Comanche and Kiowa lands, which are not suited to our needs-these lands and this climate are suited to the Indians who originally inhabited this country, of course, but our people are decreasing in numbers here, and will continue to decrease unless they are allowed to return to their native land. Such a result is inevitable.”

……….

“I know that if my people were placed in that mountainous region lying around the head waters of the Gila River they would live in peace and act according to the will of the President. They would be prosperous and happy in tilling the soil and learning the civilization of the white men, whom they now respect. Could I but see this accomplished, I think I could forget all the wrongs that I have ever received, and die a contented and happy old man. But we can do nothing in this matter ourselves-we must wait until those in authority choose to act. If this cannot be done during my lifetime-if I must die in bondage- I hope that the remnant of the Apache tribe may, when I am gone, be granted the one privilege which they request-to return to Arizona.”

    Thus ends the story of Goyathlay, in his own words.  He did in fact, join a Christian church, The Dutch Reform; however, they cast him out for being drunk twice.  Or, was that the real reason? Certainly history is replete in virtually every Christian denomination I can think of, whose attendees have been known to get drunk and this, more than twice.

    In 1909, riding toward home after a night on the town, Goyathlay fell off his horse and lay for a long time in the freezing snow.  This brought on a terminal bout with pneumonia, of which Goyathlay eventually succumbed.  Thus, the story is truly closed upon a man, regardless of the view the reader might hold, who has to rank among the Great Men of History.

   In 1909, whether they knew it or not, the world was gearing up for the first War to End All Wars, WW I with weapons horrific and unimaginable, just five years from the year a man who lived most of his life on foot, fought and hunted with lance, bow and arrow, stones, knife, and early model rifle, died.

   There are certainly more stories and tales regarding this man, both true and false; as well as many facts, dates, names and whatnot.  But I have not included them here, because I wanted this to be completely Goyathlay/Geronimo’s words that reached out to us.

    I hope you have enjoyed this walk through history and truly realize that history is not always written by the victor, if one seeks diligently enough.

    In closing, it has come to my attention that there was a man who, along with another apparently, put a family heirloom up for auction on Ebay.  The item? It was said to be the “War Bonnet” of Geronimo.  The man said that Geronimo had given it to his ancestors, for what, I have no idea.  It could have been in trade, it could have been out of friendship, it could have been a lie and been stolen for all I know.  At any rate, the Feds got wind of this and arrested the man and his partner.  Having no other grounds, they arrested him for non-legal sale of Eagle Feathers. To which the man made a deal with them, giving them the headdress in return.

    Now, I understand The Apache and the Comanche’s are at legal “war” with one another, each claiming rights to the headdress.  One saying that it was Geronimo’s and the other saying well, it was but on loan for it was their people who made the headdress, and besides Apaches did not wear them.  It must have been “given” to him to wear while “on parade” during the World’s Fair or some other such travesty, for this man with his totally Apache Way would never have worn it in seriousness.

Upon walking through this man’s words, as we have just done, and seeing from time-to-time, his wry sense of humor shine through; I can just “see” him, where ever he is, laughing his butt off at the foolishness of men.

HEYA!

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