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Nahche
Nahche (Na-ai-che, `mischievous,' `meddlesome.'-George Wrattan).
An Apache warrior, a member of the Chiricahua band. He is the second
son of the celebrated Cochise, and as hereditary chief succeeded his
elder brother, Tazi, on the death of the latter. His mother was a
daughter of the notorious Mangas Coloradas.
As a child Nahche was meddlesome and mischievous, hence
his name. He was the leading spirit in the many raids |
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settlements of Arizona and New Mexico and of northern Chihuahua and
Sonora between 1881 and 1886, for which Geronimo's, a Medicine-man
and malcontent rather than a warrior, received the chief credit. In
the latter year Geronimo's band, so called, of which Nahche was
actually the chief, was captured by General Miles and taken as
prisoners of war successively to Florida, Alabama, and finally to Ft
Sill, Okla., where Nahche still resides, respected by his own people
as well as by the whites. He is now (1907) about 49 years of age. In
his prime as a warrior he was described as supple and graceful, with
long, flexible hands, and a rather handsome face. His present height
is 5 ft. 10½ in. Col. H. L.
Scott (inf'n, 1907), for four years in charge of the Chiricahua
prisoners in Oklahoma, speaks of Nahche as a most forceful and
reliable man, faithfully performing the duties assigned to him as a
prisoner, whether watched or not. He was proud and self-respecting,
and was regarded by the Chiricahua at Ft Sill as their leader. In
recent years, however, he has lost his old-time influence as well as
some of his trustworthiness (inf'n from Geo. Wrattan, official
interpreter, 1907).
The books presented are for their historical value only and are
not the opinions of the Webmasters of the site.
Handbook of American Indians, 1906
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