Massai: The Life and Tragic End of a Chiricahua Apache Warrior
The history of the American Southwest is marked by the stories of resilient individuals who navigated the violent clash between Indigenous peoples and the expanding United States. Among these figures was Massai, a Chiricahua Apache warrior whose life was defined by survival, escape, and a tragic end. Often confused in historical records with the infamous Apache Kid, Massai's journey reflects the broader struggle of the Apache people during the late 19th century.
Early Life and Alliance with Geronimo
Massai was born at Mescal Mountain, Arizona, near Globe, to parents White Cloud and Little Star. In his early adulthood, he married a local Chiricahua woman and fathered two children. His life took a pivotal turn when he encountered Geronimo, the renowned leader who was recruiting Apache warriors to resist American settlers and soldiers.
Alongside a Tonkawa man named Gray Lizard, Massai joined Geronimo's cause. Following Geronimo's instructions, the two men began stockpiling food, ammunition, and arms. Interestingly, historical records suggest a complex relationship with the U.S. government; Massai is reported to have served as an Apache Scout—an Indigenous soldier employed by the U.S. Army to track other Apache groups—on two separate occasions in 1880 and 1885.
However, upon attempting to join Geronimo's forces, Massai and Gray Lizard discovered that Geronimo had already been arrested. The two men were subsequently captured and disarmed by Chiricahua Apache Scouts. Massai was designated a prisoner of war and placed on a prison train, accompanied by Gray Lizard and other captured or surrendered Chiricahuas, including former Apache Scouts who were now viewed as expendable by the military.
The Great Escape and Life on the Run
The confinement of the prison train did not last. Near Saint Louis, Missouri, Massai and Gray Lizard managed to escape. In a feat of incredible endurance, the two men walked approximately 1,200 miles back toward the Mescalero Apache tribal lands. Their journey took them across the Pecos River and through Capitan Gap.
Upon reaching Sierra Blanca, New Mexico, they encountered a group of Mescalero Apache. A few days later, at Three Rivers, the companions parted ways. While Gray Lizard returned to Mescal Mountain and the San Carlos Indian Reservation, Massai chose to remain a fugitive. He spent years raiding along the border of New Mexico and Arizona, occasionally seeking refuge in Mexico. Between 1887 and 1890, his name appeared frequently in San Carlos Agency reports.
Around 1887, Massai kidnapped a Mescalero Apache girl named Zan-a-go-li-che. He eventually took her to his family at Mescal Mountain, and the two had six children together. Despite his attempts to maintain a hidden life, Massai remained a target of the military, specifically during the Apache Campaign of 1896, the final U.S. Army operation against the Chiricahua Apaches.
The Ambush and Demise
The end of Massai's life came on September 4, 1906, near Chloride, New Mexico. The events were triggered when a rancher named Charlie Anderson discovered his home had been ransacked and his horses stolen. Anderson and his friend Walter Hearn organized a posse of local men, including Bill Keene, Harry James, and others, to track the raiders through the San Mateo Mountains.
After several days of tracking, the posse located the stolen horses near an abandoned camp and set up a stakeout. At dawn, they ambushed a man and a boy approaching the site. The posse opened fire, killing the man instantly while the boy escaped. Despite the posse's belief that they had killed a "renegade," a search of the camp revealed the man was unarmed and had no ammunition for his rifle. One posse member, Burt Slinkard, later expressed regret over the killing of an unarmed man.
The aftermath was gruesome. Massai's family, who were hiding nearby, later found his charred remains in an unusually large fire built by the posse. Reports and admissions from posse members, including Ed James, indicated that Massai had been decapitated. While some unverified claims suggest his head was gifted to Yale University's Skull and Bones society, contemporary reports from the Tucson Daily Citizen expressed skepticism, noting that such stories were common myths regarding Apache figures.
Legacy and Family Aftermath
Following the death of Massai, Zanagoliche moved her children to the Mescalero Reservation. The transition was devastating; three of the children died from disease within the first year, a tragedy attributed by a local teacher to the children's inability to adapt from a free existence to reservation life. Massai's son, Clifford, was murdered as a teenager. His daughter, Alberta Begay, survived into her later years, living in a retirement home in Alamogordo, New Mexico.
Much of the detailed history of Massai's final years was preserved through an interview between historian Eve Ball and Alberta Begay in 1959. These accounts were published in the 1980 book Indeh: An Apache Odyssey. As a gesture of gratitude, Alberta gave Ball Massai's belt buckle, which Zanagoliche had recovered from his burned remains.
Key Facts
- Birthplace: Mescal Mountain, Arizona.
- Military History: Served as a U.S. Apache Scout (1880, 1885) and allied with Geronimo.
- The Escape: Walked 1,200 miles from Missouri to New Mexico after escaping a prison train.
- Family: Had six children with Zan-a-go-li-che.
- Death: Killed in an ambush by a posse on September 4, 1906, near Chloride, New Mexico.
- Controversy: His body was burned and decapitated; his head was allegedly taken as a trophy.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Tribal Affiliation | Chiricahua Apache |
| Key Associates | Geronimo, Gray Lizard |
| Major Events | Prison train escape, 1896 Apache Campaign |
| Date of Death | September 4, 1906 |
| Primary Source of Later History | Alberta Begay (via historian Eve Ball) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Massai?
Massai was a Chiricahua Apache warrior who lived during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He is known for his alliance with Geronimo, his escape from a U.S. prison train, and his life as a fugitive on the New Mexico-Arizona border.
Was Massai the same person as the Apache Kid?
No, although they are frequently confused in historical accounts. Massai was a distinct individual, though both were prominent Apache figures pursued by the U.S. government.
How did Massai die?
Massai was killed in an ambush by a posse of ranchers and locals near Chloride, New Mexico, on September 4, 1906. Despite being unarmed at the time, he was shot and his body was subsequently burned and decapitated.
What happened to Massai's family after his death?
His wife, Zanagoliche, and their children moved to the Mescalero Reservation. The family suffered significant losses, with three children dying of disease and a son, Clifford, being murdered as a teenager.
Is there any truth to the claim that his head is at Yale University?
This claim remains unverified. While some posse members admitted to the decapitation, contemporary sources like the Tucson Daily Citizen viewed such stories as common myths of the era.