30,000 on the Hoof (The Apache)

30,000 on the Hoof  is the story of a retired army scout, Logan Huett, his wife Lucinda and his family.  Together they built a ranch in the wilderness on lands traditionally roamed by the Apache.  Eventually, the ranch ran, you guessed it, 30,000 head of cattle.   In the story, an Apache warrior named Matazel plays an important role.  He is captured by Logan Huett and his Native American scouts, leading to the brave's promise to get revenge later... which leads to perhaps the most poignant scene in the novel. (You can read the entire novel online if you:

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There are three Apache bands mentioned in Grey's novel- the Chiricahua Apache, the White Mountain Apache and the Southern Tonto Apache.  It is important to understand that there were many bands associated with the broad designation of "Apache".  Each band's loyalties were to the leaders of its band, not to a broader leadership.  Consequently, it was not unusual for individual bands to align differently in their affiliation with the rapidly encroaching white settlers.  

The Chiricahua Apache and Geronimo 

During the time of 30,000 on the Hoof, Geronimo was periodically leaving Arizona's Chiricahua and San Carlos reservations with disgruntled Chiricahua Apache warrors to inflict revenge on U.S. and Mexican settlers in New Mexico, Arizona and Mexico.   He belonged to the smallest band within the Chiricahua tribe, the Bedonkohe, where he was a medicine man. However, he had experienced the tragedy of his first wife and children being cruelly massacred by Mexicans. His resulting hatred make him a fierce leader. 

At first glance, one may jump to the conclusion that the Native American antagonist, Matazel, is Geronimo's son.  Other scouts in the novel reported that this was rumoured to be the case and Matazel himself certainly admired the old warrior as  he made clear when given the option to return to the reservation:

      Matazel made a magnificent gesture that embraced the forest and the      surrounding wilderness.

     “White man steal red man’s land,” he said “Pen Indian up. No horse. No gun. No hunt.”

      General Crook had no ready answer for that retort. “You Indians will be taken care of,” he said presently

      “No!” thundered the Apache. “Geronimo say better fight— better die!”

Some members of Zane Grey's West Society believe the author may have inserted reference to Geronimo into the story to sell books since the renegade leader was known nationwide.   However, the old warrior operated almost entirely on the Chiricahua traditional lands in Southeastern Arizona, Southwestern New Mexico and northern Mexico. We find no record of him ever rampaging near the setting of 30,000 on the Hoof.  Still, though he never actually appears as a character, his name is certainly prominent.

The Mazatzal Band of the Southern Tonto Apache

Zane Grey did not tell us a lot about Logan Huett's Apache enemy in 30,000 on the Hoof.  We assume the warrior "Matazel" was a member of the "Mazatzal" Band of the Southern Tonto Apache, largely because of the similarity between the two names.  Grey often modified the names of people and places a bit in his works. We also know that this band historically left the Camp Verde Reservation.  This reservation was within 30 miles of the Southern Piute's traditional territory which ran from what is now Lake Roosevelt to the Tonto Rim.  In one instance, 600 Tonto Indians fled the Camp Verde Reservation and headed home.  They were pursued by General Crook's Indian scouts who led many of those who fled back to the reservation. The above photo shows a Southern Tonto man in full regalia.  

In addition, Zane Grey's West Society member, Charles Pfeiffer, located the ranch site likely used in the novel which sits on the traditional lands of the Tonto Apache.  The above photo shows a fireplace that sat outside a cabin. The fireplace and cabin site sit in a valley that perfectly matches the ranch in 30,000 on the Hoof. Certainly, the character Matazel would have been upset that the scout who captured him in earlier years had then homesteaded a ranch in his tribe's historic territory!

White Mountain Apache Scouts

Between 1871 and 1875, General George Crook adopted a strategy to locate and subdue rampaging bands of Apache warriors. Rather than sending untrained white soldiers to locate these bands, he hired Apache scouts from other peaceful bands to find those bands who were "on the warpath." The scouts would then lead the soldiers to where the mauraders were located.

Due to the very decentralized natural of the many Apache tribes in the West, it was not unusual for members of one band to help the Army find other warring bands.  In addition, some of the Apache scouts later fought the soldiers.

At time of 30,000 on the Hoof was set, Crook was buiding trails in Arizona to facilitate more rapid supply lines for the various reservations in the area. Though many Apache bands evertually served as Army scouts, the White Mountain Apache were among the earliest.  The image shown after this discussion shows Alchise, a White Mountain Apache scout, who was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.  

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With a brief understanding of General Crook's Apache scouts, the following excerpt from the novel can be better understood:

     "Presently a squad of soldiers rode down into the glade. They had three      mounted Indians with them and another on foot, a tall lithe brave, straight as an arrotv, whose bearing was proud. These captives were herded with the others. Sergeant McKinney reported to General Crook that he had secured Matazel and three of his companions. The others got away on foot.

     “Any shooting?” queried the general.

     “Yes, sir. We couldn’t surprise them an’ they showed fight. We have two men wounded, not serious.”

     “Send Huett to me.”

     The scout approached. He was a young man about twenty-three years old, dark of face. In fact he bore some- what of a resemblance to Matazel, and he was so stalwart and powerfully built that he did not look tall.

     “What’s your report, Huett?”

     “General, we made sure of getting Matazel alive,” replied the scout, “otherwise none of them would have escaped. ... I guessed where Matazel’s bunch was headed for. We cut in behind them, chased them into a box canyon, where we cornered them. They had but little ammunition, or we’d had a different story to tell.”

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A marvelous resource in understanding the history and characters in 30,000 on the Hoof is General Crook's Administration in Arizona: 1871 to 1875, a 1966 University of Arizona thesis by Linda Weldy Baum. Because Baum's thesis is not yet in public domain, we can not link directly to her work.  However, you can download the thesis here.