COCHISE DIES
JUNE 8 1874
Chief Cochise, Apache
Indian Chief died in the Chiricahua Reservation in southeastern
Arizona on the 8th of June 1874. Very l ittle is known of
Cochise's early life but by the mid 19th century he had
become the leader of the Chiricahua Apache Indian tribe living in
southern Arizona and northern Mexico.
As a leader of the Apache
nation who resented the encroachment of settlers to the Indian's
traditional lands he led
raids in both Mexico and America. His war with the Americans came
mostly by a misunderstanding that happened in October 1860 when a
band of Apache's attacked the ranch of an Irish American by name
of John Ward, kidnapped an adopted son, by name of Felix Tellez.
Although Ward was not at
the ranch during the raids, he believed Cochise had been the
leader and demanded the Army rescue the boy and bring Cochise to
justice. Lieutenant George Bascom
obliged and took Cochise and
a party of Indians , he had invited to a night of entertainment at a
stage station, as prisoners, much to the surprise of the Indians.
Cochise told Bascom he
had not been responsible for the kidnapping but Bascom ordered
Cochise held a hostage
until boy was returned, however, Cochise escaped not being able to
tolerate the unjust imprisonment. The next ten years , Cochise and
his warriors increased raids on settlement and did battle with
soldiers until 1772, when the U. S. offered Cochise a reservation
in the southeastern corner of Arizona if they would cease
hostilities, to which Cochise agreed , saying “the white men and
the Indian are to drink of the same waters, eat of the same bread
and be at peace.”
For Cochise this peace did
not last long, as in 1874 he became ill with cancer , and died this
day in June 8, 1874. His warriors painted his body yellow, black
and vermilion , then took his deep into the Dragooon mountains,
buried his remains in a rocky crevice at an unknown location, now
called “Cochise's Stronghold”
Ten years after Cochises
death, the kidnapped boy, Felix Tellez, resurfaced as an Apache
speaking scout for the U. S. Army, and reported that not Cochise,
but a tribe of Western Apache had kidnapped him.
Abstract 2017, Harrison
Howeth – history.com. /thisdayinhistory, A&E Television
Networks, LLC.
Post:
www,inni.blogspot.com 8 June 2017
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