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HomeContentsVisual indexesDe Lancey W. Gill

 
  
Standard
  
  
De Lancey W. Gill 
Geronimo besides enjoying the distinction of being the only Indian who made Mr. Gill pay him for posing was also, declares the photographer, considerable of a flim-flam artist. 
1915, 22 August 
  
Newspaper clipping, excerpt 
Internet - Original source ill-defined 
I'm indebted to Paula Fleming for bringing this to my attention (6 January 2020). 
  
 
LL/95650 
  
The Anaconda Standard (Anaconda, Montana) · 22 Aug 1915, Sun · Page 30
Geronimo besides enjoying the distinction of being the only Indian who made Mr. Gill pay him for posing was also, declares the photographer, considerable of a flim-flam artist. The Apache warrior, realizing that photographers were anxious for his likeness, arranged for himself a scale of prices. For one snap-shot with an ordinary hand camera he charged 10 cents, but if he saw a tripod make its appearance the amount of the gratuity rose to 25 cents, and if he were ushered into a studio, as far as he was concerned, "the sky was the limit."
 
So when he was taken to Mr. Gill he blandly demanded $2 for the privilege of taking his photograph. Mr. Gill made up the amount in change and counted it into the horny hand which had in the past lifted so many pale-face scalps. Then he posed Geronimo, but he had scarcely reached his camera when the ancient Apache hailed him in agonized tones, crying, "Two bits short!" Mr. Gill hastened back to his side, protesting that the amount was right, but Geromino was obdurate, exhibiting what he declared was the full amount he had received and refusing to sit until Mr. Gill had produced another quarter.
 
"I know the old rascal short-changed me," declared Mr. Gill, "but I got even with him, for by pretending to arrange my camera I got two plates instead of the one he authorized."
 
Chief Joseph of the Nez Perces, according to Mr. Gill, possessed the dignity of a chief justice and was a man of magnificently strong character.
 
"I photographed Chief Joseph in 1903," says Mr. Gill, "and the following day he returned to see the proofs, upon which I asked him to put his totem. Much to my surprise he wrote 'Chf. Joseef, 1900,"
 
"I pointed to the date and shook my head and said 1903, and the interpreter explained it to him. But the old chief merely shook his head and insisted, 'That's all right.' Through the interpreter I told him again that he had made a mistake, but he replied:
" 'I know it is right. My good friend showed me how to right it.'
This was also part of a larger article Hunting the Indian With a Camera in the Evening star (Washington, D.C.), August 22, 1915, Part 4, Page 2 
 

 
  
 
  
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