Apache

Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)

a-pa'cha, an Indian tribe of Athabascan stock, related to the Navajos. They occupied the mountains of New Mexico and Arizona. In 1853 the United States made the Gadsden Purchase , acquiring 45,000 square miles, now included in the southern part of Arizona and New Mexico. The Apaches at this time were found to be at mortal enmity with the Mexicans. They subsequently gave our government much trouble. From 1857 until 1886, a period of thirty years, the region of the Apaches witnessed one continued series of outbreaks, massacres, and reprisals. They proved themselves to be without exception the most hardy, daring, skillful, relentless, bloodthirsty tribe with which settlers have had to deal. It is estimated that there were 10,000 of them at the beginning of this period. They owned the best of riding ponies, descended from the original Spanish horses introduced into the southwest. Armed at first with bows and arrows, in the use of which they had wonderful skill, and later with firearms obtained from the whites, they were a formidable foe. Mounted on their fleet, wiry steeds, they would emerge from their mountain fastnesses, sweep down upon the settler's cabin, scalp the inmates, apply the torch, and get back to the mountains again before the break of day. Not less than a thousand settlers were killed outright, or carried into captivity and tortured to death by these savages. Small detachments of troops were waylaid. It was impossible for stage coaches to pass through their country without military escort. Many a thrilling tale is told of battles with these Indians. They were hunted out finally by the United States troops under Generals Crook and Miles. About 5,000 of them are now confined on reservations at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and elsewhere. Of late the Apaches have found employment as common laborer in building railways and roads and in constructing irrigation works. Contractors claim that they are quite as skillful and as satisfactory as the workmen obtained from Italy, Greece, and Austria. Old Geronimo, the famous chieftain under whom the Apaches made their last stand, was a central figure at the World's Fair held in St. Louis in 1904. He had cunning, cruel features, a low, wrinkled forehead, glittering eyes, and thin, sharp lips. He received so much attention that he became quite irritable. He appeared to lack entirely the native dignity of the Sioux chiefs. He seemed in every way worthy of the nickname, "Red Devil," given him by General Miles. See Indian