Geronimo was born June 16th, 1829 of the Bedonkohe tribe of Apache's and was originally named "Goyathlay" which meant "One Who Yawns." He was born in New Mexico which was part of Mexico back then, but the Apache's considered it their land and disputed this with the Spanish who controlled Mexico at the time.
Young Goyathlay Earns his New Name
Goyathlay was raised in the traditional Apache way and took a young bride from the “Chiricahua” tribe at seventeen. He fathered three children and was living the normal life of a young Apache warrior. On March 6th, 1851 disaster struck his tribe when his family was massacred while he and his fellow warriors were away trading for goods.
A large force of Mexican troops from Sonora attacked his encampment and rained destruction upon the camp. Among those killed were his wife, three children, and his mother. He joined forces with Chiricahua Chief Cochise for a time and declared vengeance upon the Mexican Government.
The tension between the Spanish dating back to the 17th century and later Mexican Government and the Apache’s was no new thing and disputes and raiding had been going on for years, but the massacre at Janos had ignited a fury in the young warrior and he became legendary because of his exploits and vicious attacks on the Mexicans. The Mexicans named him “Geronimo’ and the name stuck.
Geronimo’s Mystique
Geronimo was never a chief among the “Chiricahua” but was a revered war leader among his people. He was reputed to have spiritual powers and be bullet proof. Warriors followed him into battle because they believed his unearthly powers would protect them from harm.
He was aggressive in his attacks on Mexican Provinces and was seriously wounded multiple times but miraculously survived his wounds and returned more furiously and vicious each time. Then a new and more powerful enemy arrived on the scene, “European Settlers.”
Geronimo Wages War on Two Nations
The Mexican’s had been raiding and warring with the Apache’s for generations but now a new power had emerged upon North America and settlers were encroaching on native Apache lands and creating friction that would eventually erupt into full scale warfare.
Between the years 1858-1886 Geronimo and his “Chiricahua” were involved in war on both sides, both against the nations of Mexico and The United States Government, which the Apache‘s refused to acknowledge. Geronimo’s fame and legend grew with each exploit and each failed attempt to capture or kill him.
Geronimo Surrenders
Geronimo was bigger then life and a legendary rebel but eventually he was run to ground by constant pursuit and lack of manpower and supplies. In the year of 1886 he agreed to return across the border back into U.S. territory and surrender to General Nelson Miles at Skelton Canyon, Arizona.
Geronimo spend the rest of his life as a prisoner of the U.S. Government and resided in multiple states on many different military detentions centers including Fort Pickens in Florida, Mount Vernon Barracks in Alabama, and finally to Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
He became a celebrity in his own lifetime and appeared at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis and even rode in President Theodore Roosevelt’s inaugural parade, but was never allowed to return to his native lands and died in 1909 of pneumonia still a prisoner of the United States Government at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
Also read about LUKE SHORT another interesting Wild West figure
For more on Geronimo visit LEGENDS OF AMERICA.COM
