The Terrifying Truth Hidden in 5 Old Wild West Photos

A photograph taken in March 1886 depicts a group of Apaches gathered around a temporary settlement, armed with bows and arrows and appearing to pose for the camera.

The camera was held by the infamous Western photographer C. S. Fly, who is regarded by many to be one of the first and finest photojournalists, and whose work still provides modern eyes with rare glimpses into life on the frontier.

This photograph became his most famous owing to the fact that it featured, in the foreground, a young white boy whose story is one of the Wild West's greatest.

Jimmy McKinn was 11 years old in 1885 when one day, his life was changed forever. On September 11th, Jimmy and his brother, 17-year-old Martin McKinn, spent the morning herding on their ranch in Gallina Creek. Their father was in town for the day, buying agricultural supplies.

As they took an early lunch break, Jimmy went down to the creek to play while Martin stayed behind to read in the shade of a tree. Suddenly, Jimmy heard a gunshot ring out and returned to where he had left Martin.

He was met with a horrific scene. Jimmy saw an Apache crush his brother with a rock, then strip the body of its shirt and coat. Jimmy attempted to flee the scene, but the Apache horse riders quickly captured him. By the time a search party found Martin’s body, Jimmy was long gone.

The Apache who had murdered Jimmy’s brother was none other than the infamous Geronimo, a then 63-year-old Apache leader of legendary status, who was known both as a skilled medicine man and a vicious warrior. Geronimo's many raids and attacks had cost the US military greatly.

Geronimo interrogated Jimmy for details regarding the military presence in the area, but the boy was too traumatized to reply. Geronimo took pity on him and spared his life, effectively abducting him.

Pursued by American cavalry because of their bloody raiding and pillaging, Geronimo and his people took Jimmy with them as they fled into the Mogollon Mountains, an area that was described as a “natural fortress.”

The following year, Geronimo's violent campaign ended when he and his people were forced to surrender formally.

C. S. Fly was the only photographer to capture the surrendering Indians, and he discovered the young white boy amongst them. Initially, Jimmy refused to speak English and was very reluctant to leave the Apaches, who had apparently treated him well.

Ultimately Jimmy was collected from New Mexico by his parents, wearing only underwear. They outfitted him at a local store and took him home.

Jimmy had fully assimilated into the Apache way of life and strongly resisted being taken from the Apache camp, preferring to remain amongst his captors rather than return to his family. Jimmy had acquired the nickname 'Santiago' and retained it for the rest of his life...

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