Jimmy "Santiago" McKinn - Kidnapped by the Apache

Kidnapped By the Apache

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Crook's then began to return the Apache group to Fort Bowie in Arizona Territory.

However, near the border, fearing that they would be murdered once they crossed into U.S. territory, Geronimo, Chief Naiche, 11 warriors, and a few women and boys were able to escape back into the Sierra Madra. As a result, Brigadier General Nelson A. Miles would replace Crook as commander on April 2, 1886.

The rest of the party continued to Fort Bowie and reporter Lummis would write of the events. Of Jimmy's “rescue” from the hostile Apaches, he stated:

Photo taken after Geronimo's surrender to General Crook

in March, 1886. Left to right: Yanozha, Geronimo's

brother-in-law; his son, Chappo; Fun; his 2nd cousin;

and Geronimo, 1886, photo by C.S. Fly

This image available for photographic prints and

downloads HERE!

"When told that he was to be taken back to his father and mother, Santiago began boo-hooing with great vigor. He said in Apache—for the little rascal has already become quite fluent in that language—that he didn't want to go back—he wanted to always stay with the Indians. All sorts of rosy pictures of the delights of home were drawn, but he would have none of them, and acted like a young wild animal in a trap. When they lifted him into the wagon which was to take him to the [railroad] station, he renewed his wails, and was still at them as he disappeared from our view."

And, later:

"Santiago McKinn, the 11-year old white boy, the Apaches' prisoner taken with Geronimo's band, will be sent home tomorrow. It is learned that his parents were not killed, but reside at Hot Springs, at Hunter's, N.M., near the railroad from Deming to Silver City. During his half-year of captivity the lad had grown fully Indianized. He joins their sports, and will have nothing to do with the whites. He understands English and Spanish, but can hardly be induced to speak in either. He has learned the Apache language and talks it exclusively."

Once the party had reached Fort Bowie, Lummis reported again:

"Santiago McKinn, their 11-year-old white captive, was sent home today. He would not leave the camp with a white man, and had to be brought into the fort by Chiricahuas. He bawled badly when told that he was to be taken back to his parents, and said he always wanted to stay with the Indians."

Continuing, Lummis reported:

"Wildest in the rough sports of the bronco boys was one figure which you would single out at a glance. His sandy hair cropping under a dirty cotton rag; his light skin, pretty liberally exposed and everywhere a mass of miscegenated dirt and freckles, showed that he was no Chiricahua. He was their little white captive Santiago McKinn. This poor child, scaly with dirt, wild as a coyote, made my eyes a bit damp. His is a pathetic case. . . . He has had to share their long marches, their scanty and uninviting fare, and all the hardships of such a life, no doubt; but he has not been maltreated. The Apaches are kind to their children, and have been kind to him. The sorrow of it is that he has become so absolutely Indianized. … "By this time he is probably at home. I hope he is finding the welcome that a good home would give him to such a return."

There was no report of who finally accompanied the young McKinn on the 100 mile train ride from Fort Bowie to Deming, New Mexico.

However, when he arrived, the Silver City Enterprise reported on April 9, 1886:

Geronimo's camp where he surrendered to General Crook

in March, 1886, photo by C.S. Fly

This image available for photographic prints and

downloads HERE!

"On Wednesday John McKinn the father of Jimmy McKinn, the thirteen-year old captive taken by Geronimo and his band from the Ginnas [sic] creek, east of the Mimbres, in this country, on the 11th day of September, 1885, went to Deming to meet his boy. The little fellow arrived there Tuesday in deplorable condition, having been shipped from Fort Bowie, Arizona, by the 'greatest Indian fighter' in the army—Crook—C.O.D. Mr. McKinn, who is a poor man, was required to pay the boy's railroad fare, and Lindaner, Wormeerd & Co. generously took the little fellow in and dressed him up in a handsome new suit of clothes, at which he was much pleased. He was overjoyed to see his father, whom he recognized upon sight, and to whom he related the rough experiences of the past seven months. On the arrival of the train in the city, and the news of the coming of the boy, being circulated, a large crowd of curious people gathered to see the little fellow, who was the lion of the hour.

"His face was very much sun-burnt, and the marks of exposure were plainly visible on him. He readily answered every question put to him in Spanish, but when spoken to in the English, would answer 'no sabe' signifying he did not understand that language. He appeared to solicit being questioned by his father, and unhesitatingly answered every question asked by him. He said that Geronimo killed his brother Martin and took his coat and pants off, and that upon hearing the shot which killed his brother he hid in the brush, but was found by the Indians and put upon a horse and taken along. He states that the Indians sometimes traveled two days and nights without sleep or rest, and that they lived mostly on horse flesh, occasionally killing a cow. While a band of Indians were endeavoring to round-up some cattle the boy says that an Indian named Chinco was killed by a party of cowmen, and that he was the only Indian that he knew to have been killed while he was with them. When asked by his father how he liked horse flesh he said: 'It is good when hungry.'

"He vividly describes the burning of a frame house that looked very much like a store, but cannot say in what part of the country it was. Flour, sugar, molasses, bacon and other articles were obtained from the house before it was fired. A large supply of candies and domestics were secured at another place, which is supposed to have been Sabourin's wagon, as he had a large amount of candy aboard when taken in. The little fellow was required to work carrying wood for camp fires, herding and hunting horses. One day Geronimo, becoming angry at him, struck him with a gun on the head, knocking him down and severely injuring him. He is acquainted with every Indian in the band, and will make a good witness against Geronimo, as he saw him kill his brother. He says that when the bucks were going on raids they would leave him in camp with the women.

"Mr. McKinn went to Georgetown on yesterday's coach, taking his boy with him. Much valuable information could be obtained from the boy if time was taken to question him closely by a person familiar with the Spanish language."

Jimmy McKinn remained in Grant County, New Mexico, where he later married, had children, and worked as a blacksmith. Later, he moved to Phoenix where he was thought to have died in the 1950’s.

Of Geronimo, General Miles finally caught up with him at Skeleton Canyon (near Douglas, Arizona) in September, 1886. From there he was escorted to Fort Bowie, Arizona and later removed to Florida for imprisonment and hard labor. Several years later, in 1894, he was moved to Fort Sill in Oklahoma. As years passed, stories of Geronimo's warrior ferocity made him into a legend that fascinated non-Indians and Indians alike. As a result, he appeared at numerous fairs, selling souvenirs and photographs of himself. He died in 1909 at the age of 80, having never seen his homeland of Arizona again. He is buried in Fort Sill in Oklahoma.

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