of course, “The Apache Prisoner Geronimo” was
promoted as a headline act.
In his autobiography, Geronimo said, “When I
was at first asked to attend the St. Louis World’s
Fair I did not wish to go.”
According to another account however, what
Geronimo does not say is that he did not wish to
go because the government was only willing to pay
him $1 per day for appearing at the exposition,
while commercial promoters offered much more.
Once the government made it clear that he could
only leave the compound at Fort Sill under these
terms, he agreed. Or, as he put it, “I consented.”
He went on to say, “Later, when I was told that I
would receive good attention and protection, and
that the President of the United States said that it
would be all right, I consented. …Every Sunday
the President of the Fair sent for me to go to a
Wild West show. I took part in the roping contests
before the audience. There were many other
Indian tribes there, and strange people of whom
I had never heard …There were many strange
things in these shows…I am glad I went to the
Fair. I saw many interesting things and learned
much of the white people. They are a very kind
and peaceful people. During all the time I was at
the Fair no one tried to harm me in any way.”
In 1905, Geronimo agreed to tell his life story
to S. M. Barrett, Superintendent of Education
in Lawton, Oklahoma. Barrett had to ask the
President of the United States for permission to
publish the book. Geronimo reportedly came
to each interview knowing exactly what he
wanted to say. He refused to answer questions
or alter his narrative afterwards, saying, “Write
ݡ