Geronimo’s Story of His Life · Chapter
Raid by White Men explained
In 1882, a group of six Mexican traders known as smugglers were ambushed by five white men in Skeleton Canyon, resulting in the deaths of five of the Mexicans.
What happens
In 1882, a group of six Mexican traders known as smugglers were ambushed by five white men in Skeleton Canyon, resulting in the deaths of five of the Mexicans. The lone survivor escaped despite being wounded. Days later, cowboys buried the remains left by coyotes, and two years later a cowboy found a bag of seventy-two Mexican dollars overlooked by the robbers. The perpetrators lived openly in Arizona without arrest or retribution.
Themes in this chapter
Injustice and Oppression
The murder of five Mexican traders by white men went unpunished, illustrating systemic injustice and the lack of legal recourse for non-white victims.
Betrayal and Broken Treaties
The ambush and subsequent impunity for the perpetrators reflect a broader pattern of broken trust and betrayal of justice, akin to broken treaties with indigenous peoples.
Key passages
“In 1882 a company of six Mexican traders, who were known as 'smugglers' because they evaded duties on goods which they brought into United States and sold in Arizona, were camped in Skeleton Canyon, ten miles north of the north line of Old Mexico.”
In 1882, six Mexican traders, called smugglers for avoiding import taxes on goods they sold in Arizona, were camping in Skeleton Canyon, about ten miles north of the Mexican border.
Establishes the setting and the traders' reputation.
“However, on this occasion, just as they were rising in the morning to prepare their breakfast, five white men opened fire on them from ambush and all save one of the Mexicans were killed.”
That morning, as the traders got up to make breakfast, five white men ambushed them, killing all but one.
Describes the sudden and deadly attack.
“The men who did this killing lived in Arizona for many years afterwards, and although it was known that they had committed the depredation, no arrests followed, and no attempt was made by any of the Mexicans to recover the property of their fellow citizens.”
The killers remained in Arizona for years without being arrested, and no effort was made by the Mexicans to reclaim their countrymen's stolen property.
Highlights the impunity enjoyed by the perpetrators.