Geronimo's Headdress

[Diane Merkel]

Thanks to clw's post in the Swift Dog thread on the Plains Indians board, I started to poke around the FBI website and found this interesting article about Geronimo's headdress.

www.fbi.gov/hq/cid/arttheft/northamerica/us/geronimo/geronimo.htm

Geronimo's wife died while he was imprisoned in Pensacola, and she is buried in the Fort Barrancas National Cemetery. From its website:

"GA-AH," the wife of Apache Indian Geronimo died of Bright's disease on September 28, 1887, while being held prisoner at Fort Pickens (Section 18, Grave 1496).

Source: www.cem.va.gov/CEM/cems/nchp/barrancas.asp#np

[harpskiddie]

They took old Geronimo by storm, and ripped all the feathers from his uniform....We stole their land and they wont give it back. We sent Geronimo a Cadillac.

Oh, boys, take me back. I wanna ride in Geronimo's Cadillac. Yes, Lord, take me back - I wanna ride in Geronimo's Cadillac............

Gordie,
hitchin' a ride through life...................

[Montana Bab]

"Rider" Gordie,

You just wrote a song !!!!

"I don't want a pickle..... I wanna ride my motorsickle"....

;D anonamous

[BrokenSword]

Geronimo developed a small cottage industry for himself by ‘packaging’ himself for profit during his later years on the reservation. Tourists visiting the reservation on which he lived, simply HAD to have a photograph of the famous/infamous ex-warrior leader. Geronimo obliged them by charging $1 per photo, which seems to have been happily paid by all. Later, the donation, was raised to $2 per.

As an added attraction, and in an effort to keep his ‘product‘ fresh - AND presumably to off-set the increase in price - Ole Geronimo created outlandish headdresses and costumes for himself to be photographed wearing. These later photos of him as an Old Timer - literally - haven’t a thread of authenticity to them as far as his apparel. Beware, all of those who run across one of these photos. Do not be fooled into thinking that Geronimo as pictured has ANYTHING to do with Apache culture.

Never fully pacified and unable to give up the old ways entirely - Geronimo, it would appear, simply turned to scalping the tourists rather than the settlers that ventured into his territory. And so passed the Old West into history. Not with a bang but a CA-CHING!

M

[harpskiddie]

Bab:

Strangely enough, I have written songs, but not that one - although I did contribute some guitar work and, if I recall correctly, some backup with my then girlfriend, or maybe she was ex by then. I'd have to look up the recording dates. One of these days, I'll send you a copy of the song, along with some copies of LBH art that I'll make for you.

One of these days..............

Gordie,
watch out or I might do something nice one of these days................................