05

Says Secret Society Members Swiped American Indian Leader's Skull, But Doubts Remain

HARTFORD, Conn., May 9, 2006

(AP) A Yale University historian has uncovered a 1918 letter that seems to lend validity to the lore that Yale's ultra-secret Skull and Bones society swiped the skull of American Indian leader Geronimo.

The letter, written by one member of Skull and Bones to another, purports that the skull and some of the Indian leader's remains were spirited from his burial plot in Fort Sill, Okla., to a stone tomb in New Haven, Conn., that serves as the club's headquarters.

According to Skull and Bones legend, members — including President George W. Bush's grandfather, Prescott Bush — dug up Geronimo's grave when a group of Army volunteers from Yale were stationed at the fort during World War I. Geronimo died in 1909.

"The skull of the worthy Geronimo the Terrible, exhumed from its tomb at Fort Sill by your club ... is now safe inside the (Tomb) together with his well worn femurs, bit & saddle horn," according to the letter, written by Winter Mead.

But Mead was not at Fort Sill and researcher Marc Wortman, who found the letter last fall, said Monday he is skeptical the bones are actually those of the famed Indian leader.

"What I think we could probably say is they removed some skull and bones and other materials from a grave at Fort Sill," he said. "Historically, it may be impossible to prove it's Geronimo's. They believe it's from Geronimo."

Harlyn Geronimo, the great grandson of Geronimo, said he has been looking for a lawyer to sue the U.S. Army, which runs Fort Sill. Discovery of the letter could help, he said.

"It's keeping it alive and now it makes me really want to confront the issue with my attorneys," said Geronimo, of Mescalero, N.M. "If we get the remains back ... and find that, for instance, that bones are missing, you know who to blame."

A portion of the letter and an accompanying story were posted Monday on the Yale Alumni Magazine's Web site.

Only 15 Yale seniors are asked to join Skull and Bones each year. Alumni include Sen. John Kerry, President William Howard Taft, numerous members of Congress, media leaders, Wall Street financiers, the scions of wealthy families and agents in the CIA.

Members swear an oath of secrecy about the group and its strange rituals, which are said to include an initiation rite in which would-be members kiss a skull.

Geronimo was a leader of the Chiricahua group of Apaches in the southwestern states of Arizona and New Mexico. He waged a guerrilla war in the 1870s and 1880s against the U.S. Army, which was trying to remove them from ancestral tribal lands and force them onto reservations.

After surrendering for the final time in 1886, Geronimo and his followers were deported as prisoners of war to Florida, spent time in prison in Alabama, and finally ended up under military confinement at Fort Sill. There, Geronimo adopted Christianity, became a successful farmer and ended up a national celebrity with the publication of his autobiography in 1906.


	05/12/06 - NNHS Newsletter - Apache
Apache - Rancheria		Thursday, July 1, 1852 - Apache Treaty - Yahnoza, Chappo, Fun, and Geronimo
"I cannot think that we are useless or God would not have created us. There is one God looking down on us all. We are all the children of one God. The sun, the darkness, the winds are all listening to what we have to say." - Geronimo (a.k.a. Goyaałé or "One Who Yawns") Leader of the Chiricahua Apache (16 June 1829 - 17 Feb 1909)

Geronimo's Bones in the News: From USA Today - 05/09/06: 1918 letter claims Geronimo's bones found
		HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A Yale University historian discovered a 1918 letter that raises anew questions about a secretive Yale student society and the remains of the American Indian leader Geronimo. The letter, written by a member of Skull and Bones to another member of the society, purports that some of the Indian leader's remains were spirited from his burial plot in Fort Sill, Okla., to a stone tomb in New Haven that serves as the club's headquarters. *A portion of the letter and an accompanying story were posted Monday on the Yale Alumni Magazine's website.*
1905 - Geronimo
Image by DeLancey Gill, Smithsonian via AP
From CBS News - 05/09/06: Letter May Back Yale Claim On Geronimo Says Secret Society Members Swiped American Indian Leader's Skull, But Doubts Remain HARTFORD, Conn., May 9, 2006 (AP) A Yale University historian has uncovered a 1918 letter that seems to lend validity to the lore that Yale's ultra-secret Skull and Bones society swiped the skull of American Indian leader Geronimo. The letter, written by one member of Skull and Bones to another, purports that the skull and some of the Indian leader's remains were spirited from his burial plot in Fort Sill, Okla., to a stone tomb in New Haven, Conn., that serves as the club's headquarters. According to Skull and Bones legend, members — including President George W. Bush's grandfather, Prescott Bush — dug up Geronimo's grave when a group of Army volunteers from Yale were stationed at the fort during World War I. Geronimo died in 1909. "The skull of the worthy Geronimo the Terrible, exhumed from its tomb at Fort Sill by your club ... is now safe inside the (Tomb) together with his well worn femurs, bit & saddle horn," according to the letter, written by Winter Mead. But Mead was not at Fort Sill and researcher Marc Wortman, who found the letter last fall, said Monday he is skeptical the bones are actually those of the famed Indian leader. "What I think we could probably say is they removed some skull and bones and other materials from a grave at Fort Sill," he said. "Historically, it may be impossible to prove it's Geronimo's. They believe it's from Geronimo." Harlyn Geronimo, the great grandson of Geronimo, said he has been looking for a lawyer to sue the U.S. Army, which runs Fort Sill. Discovery of the letter could help, he said. "It's keeping it alive and now it makes me really want to confront the issue with my attorneys," said Geronimo, of Mescalero, N.M. "If we get the remains back ... and find that, for instance, that bones are missing, you know who to blame." A portion of the letter and an accompanying story were posted Monday on the Yale Alumni Magazine's Web site. Only 15 Yale seniors are asked to join Skull and Bones each year. Alumni include Sen. John Kerry, President William Howard Taft, numerous members of Congress, media leaders, Wall Street financiers, the scions of wealthy families and agents in the CIA. Members swear an oath of secrecy about the group and its strange rituals, which are said to include an initiation rite in which would-be members kiss a skull. Geronimo was a leader of the Chiricahua group of Apaches in the southwestern states of Arizona and New Mexico. He waged a guerrilla war in the 1870s and 1880s against the U.S. Army, which was trying to remove them from ancestral tribal lands and force them onto reservations. After surrendering for the final time in 1886, Geronimo and his followers were deported as prisoners of war to Florida, spent time in prison in Alabama, and finally ended up under military confinement at Fort Sill. There, Geronimo adopted Christianity, became a successful farmer and ended up a national celebrity with the publication of his autobiography in 1906.

Hi Carol, Do you know if the Class of 1961 is having a 40-year reunion this summer? Pat Grzybowski Class of 61 Oh, yes, ma'am, they are indeed! Starting Monday, this information will be included in every Newsletter until the great days arrive. Meanwhile, Reunion information is ALWAYS posted very near the top on the front page, and on the Reunion Page section: http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/reunion-page.html
YOU ARE INVITED!! The NNHS Class of 1957 will hold its annual picnic on Saturday, June 3, 2006. The Picnic will be held at the Newport News Park Shelter #19 from 11:00 AM till dark. The menu includes homemade Bar-B-Q and all the other good fixin's as well as specialty desserts made by members of the class. If you would like to renew old friendships, send a check in the amount of $10 for each attendee made out to "NNHS Class of 1957" to: W. D. Dangler, 318 - 57th Street, Newport News, VA 23607 AND CHECK THIS WEB PAGE FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION - 05/10/06: http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/reunion-class-of-1957.html	The Super Open Reunion sponsored by the NNHS Class of 1961 in honor of their graduation 45 years ago will be held on Saturday, July 1, 2006 at the Radisson Hotel, Hampton, VA at 6:30 PM. There will be a social hour/dinner, at a cost of $65 per person. On Sunday, July 2, 2006, there will be a Sunday morning brunch, also at the Radisson, for the cost of $20. If you attend both events, the combined cost will be $75. The Radisson is holding a block of rooms until June 14 for $139 plus tax. CONTACT Jane Monfalcone Simmons at janesi722@cox.net or 757-898-5009 AND CHECK THIS WEB PAGE FOR THE LATEST INFORMATION - 03/26/06: http://www.nnhs65.00freehost.com/reunion-class-of-1961.html
Thanks, Pat! We certainly don't want anyone to miss them!
Thanks, Pat! We certainly don't want anyone to miss them!

Carol Just signs of the times Richard Dawes			Oh, no.... Thanks, Dicky!

Letter May Back Yale Claim On Geronimo

Says Secret Society Members Swiped American Indian Leader's Skull, But Doubts Remain