Where is tonto buried

The army establishment was reluctant to create Native allies, but Crook was willing to exploit historic factions and enmity among the Apache bands. Crook's troops, heavily reinforced with native scouts from the White Mountain Apaches as well as Pima, Maricopa, and Yavapai, began a push north into Tonto Basin; one target was the rancheria of Delshay, a major chief of the Tonto Apaches. Troops were led to a rock shelter of the north wall of the Salt River Canyon, above what is now the waters of Apache Lake.

As many as a hundred Natives had fortified themselves in what became their deathtrap. Unwilling to surrender, they fell to ricocheting bullets from above and below. The final death count was between 50 and 75, including warriors, women, children, and elderly. An estimated 20 Natives survived. At the time the army identified this as an attack on Tonto Apaches. Fort McDowell Yavapais believe that the fallen were their people. The Native dead were left unburied: hence the name, "Skeleton Cave.

In , a memorial stone was dedicated at the grave: "In remembrance to the brave Yavapai men, women, and children who were massacred at the Skeleton Cave December by the U.

The army followed General Crook's methodical strategy of taking the fight into the mountains, using native scouts, and destroying one rancheria at a time. Chief Delshay surrendered on April 25, telling Crook that he was down to only 20 warriors. Neither place was particularly hospitable and the first years were miserable for the people at both reservations. There was not enough food and people were not permitted to leave the reservations to hunt or gather. They suffered from malaria, smallpox, and other diseases.

By the summer of , many lives had been lost. There were breakouts by "renegade" chiefs such as Delshay, and Cook found it necessary to direct a second war against some of these Tonto Apaches. He was Wearing that mask, Clayton Moore became one of the most recognizable characters on the planet. Until the end of his life, he wore it with honor. During the period when Clayton Moore was replaced by John Hart, another horse was brought in to play Silver.

You might say he was born for the part. Topper was a magnificent white animal. Topper was also used to play the Lone Rangers horse Silver. Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. Press ESC to cancel. The mask of The Lone Ranger now resides at the Smithsonian.

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