Loco (1823–2 February 1905) was a Copper Mines Mimbreño

Apache The Apache () are a group of culturally related Native American tribes in the Southwestern United States, which include the Chiricahua, Jicarilla, Lipan, Mescalero, Mimbreño, Ndendahe (Bedonkohe or Mogollon and Nednhi or Carrizaleño an ...

chief who was known for seeking peace at all costs with the US Army, despite the outlook of his fellow apaches like Victorio and

Geronimo Geronimo ( apm, Goyaałé, , ; June 16, 1829 – February 17, 1909) was a prominent leader and medicine man from the Bedonkohe band of the Ndendahe Apache people. From 1850 to 1886, Geronimo joined with members of three other Central Apache ba ...

Name

Loco's Apache name was Jlin-tay-i-tith, "Stops His Horse". One theory suggested that he earned his nickname, "Loco", because he was 'crazy' enough to trust the white men." Yet, this view is not held by most historians. Bud Shapard, former chief of the Bureau of Research at the BIA from 1978-1987, points out that he got his name from his actions at a battle against the Mexicans, where he supposedly braved gunfire in order to save an injured warrior. Loco related this story to John Gregory Bourke in 1882 as well.

Time as chief

After the deaths of Cuchillo Negro, chief of the Warm Springs Tchihende, (1857) and

Mangas Coloradas Mangas Coloradas or Mangus-Colorado (La-choy Ko-kun-noste, alias "Red Sleeve"), or Dasoda-hae ("He Just Sits There") (c. 1793 – January 18, 1863) was an Apache tribal chief and a member of the Mimbreño (Tchihende) division of the Central ...

, chief of the Copper Mines Tchihende, (1863), the Copper Mines Mimbreños and the Warm Springs Mimbreños, under Pindah's pressure, were forced to leave the Pinos Altos area, near Santa Rita del Cobre, and try to concentrate in the Ojo Caliente area. Both of the tribe's bands after Delgadito's death in 1864 had dual chiefs: the Copper Mines Tchihende were under Loco and the Warm Springs Tchihende were under Victorio (who, already chosen as his son-in-law by Mangas Coloradas, was preferred to the older Nana). The Mimbreños accepted to settle in a reservation at Ojo Caliente and later at Cañada Alamosa, but the Mimbreño reservation was abolished, and Victorio's and Loco's people was sent to the Mescalero reservation at

Tularosa Tularosa is a villageFor census purposes it is called a village, but in New Mexico it is historically called a town. See, for example, Otero, Miguel A. (1903) ''Report of the Governor of New Mexico to the Secretary of the Interior - 1903'' Governme ...

. When the Government stated to deport the Mimbreños to San Carlos, in 1877 Victorio and Loco led back their people to Ojo Caliente, but, in 1878, 9th Cavalry was sent to bring them back to San Carlos. Victorio took again the warpath, but Loco was arrested and could not join Victorio in his last war in 1879-1880, remaining in the San Carlos reservation. In 1882, when a party of Apaches including Geronimo forced Loco to leave for Mexico, Loco instead waged guerilla warfare against the

Chiricahua Chiricahua ( ) is a band of Apache Native Americans. Based in the Southern Plains and Southwestern United States, the Chiricahua (Tsokanende ) are related to other Apache groups: Ndendahe (Mogollon, Carrizaleño), Tchihende (Mimbreño), Sehende ...

s. In 1886, Loco went to Washington, D.C. to negotiate; however, like Geronimo, he was made prisoner and sent to Florida.

Legacy

Unlike the militants

and Victorio, Loco was an advocate for peace. Loco was a strong proponent of education and was the first chief to send his children to school while at San Carlos Agency in 1884.Shapard (2012) p.305 Another of his sons was the first to attend the Indian school in Alabama in 1889.

References

Apache people Chiricahua 1823 births 1905 deaths Native Americans imprisoned at Fort Marion People of the American Old West Apache Wars Native American leaders Native American people of the Indian Wars {{NorthAm-native-bio-stub