Fun Fact Series

 Fun Fact #411

  Geronimo!

On March 5th, 1851, an Apache healer named “Goyahkla (one who yawns)” returned from trading with the nearby town of Janos to find his home in ruins. Discovering his Mother, Wife, and 3 children dead he vowed for revenge. He then went into the Forrest, where Goyahkla received a vision that arms would no longer harm him –he was to seek revenge against all who harmed the Apache starting with the man who killed his wife Colonel Jose Maria Carrisco. 

Armed with vision, he got support from Chief Magnus Coloradas (Red Sleeves) and hid the women and children in a cave network. Leading the warband, Goyyahkla engaged in a battle with 8 Spanish companies who were led by Colonel Carrisco. He began the battle with only a hunting knife, but as he slashed Spanish troops he began using their own weapons against them causing the Spanish to reportedly yell variations of “Jeronimo! (Save us saint Jerome!)”. When the battle was over Goyahkla would be found with the Colonel’s saber in his hands and took the pleas of his enemies as his new name “Geronimo”.
Geronimo would then continue his war until September 1886 when he would surrender to US forces in exchange for pardon for his people. His was the Last Warband to Surrender to the US, and the only War Chief to survive doing so by agreeing to travel –under guard– between various fairs on the East coast. Here he taught about his people, and even rendering medical aid as needed making his name famous in the eyes of the American people as “The War Chief who never lost”. After his death in 1909 his name would be adopted as a Battle cry by Americans wishing to experience the same luck as the once famed Shaman, Geronimo!

Image of Geronimo (on the horse) and his warriors, March 1886 by C. S. Fly (From Wikimedia commons) It is the only known image of Native American Combatants who were still in the field, actively at war with the US when the image was taken.