Bullies of the Southwest

The Apache occupied most of south central New Mexico and Arizona and were the most dangerous in the SW as far as whites were concerned.  Their economy depended on robbery and they preyed on agricultural tribes like the Hopi, Pima, and Pagago.  They took supplies, women and children for slave markets, weapons, ammunition and particularly horses.  Unlike the plains Indians, they didn't keep large horse herds, nor did they value them as Indians in the north or east did - to the Apache a horse was disposable.  Even the Spanish and Mexicans couldn't deal with the Apache. 

In the first half of the 19th century (1850s), the American ranchers and settlers began arriving and the Apache turned on the settlers for profit - with the goal of ridding the area of all white men which they came very close to doing.  I
n 1861-1862, travel through the area was actually stopped and settlers fled to Tucson and Mesilla. 

Next Time...After the Gold Rush

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On This Day in History:  On January 8, 1877,  Crazy Horse and his warriors--outnumbered, low on ammunition and forced to use outdated weapons to defend themselves--fight their final losing battle against the U.S. Cavalry in Montana.

The Apache Nation

Geronimo

The Southwest would not be complete without mention of the feared Apache Nation lead by Geronimo and Cochise, his son.  The Apache wars in Arizona happened for the same reason that any other Indian wars in the West happened - white man's ruthless encroachment of tribal lands for mining, declining the food supply, and general exploitation of the Indian people.

One battle with the Apache concerned the sale of liquor at Sulphur Springs in the Dragon Mountains.  Apaches were never known for their ability to handle large quantities of whiskey and reportedly started a war amongst themselves while under the influence. Several women and children were killed and the white man was blamed for selling it to them in the first place.

Resentment grew and reports reached Fort Quitman that Geronimo was on the warpath.  The fact that the stage driver along with a passenger arrived carrying the news and a dozen or so Apache arrows through their body was probably enough to let them know!

In 1886 the Apache surrendered to General Nelson Miles.  Chiefs Geronimo and Natchez, along with 32 braves and squaws, were exiled to Florida.  Many years later, Geronimo was photographed in the seat of an early Model T Ford, in an attempt to show that he had successfully adapted to the white man's world.
To me that begs the question - why could the white man be successful adapting to the Indian's world??

Next time...a whole new direction.  Salesmen in the West.