Apache Tears
Apache Tears are natural crystals and a form of Black
Obsidian Stone. This stone is usually
found in the southwest and parts of Mexico.
They are somewhat transparent and either a dark brown or black in
color. These irregular shape stones get
their name from an American Indian legend.
Around the 1870’s the connection between the United States
military and some of the American Indians, especially the Apaches, was tense
and precarious. The military built many garrisons
in hopes to keep the Apache under restraint.
One of the forts built was Camp Pinal which is located near today’s
Superior, Arizona. There were no written
records, so what happened next was from many years and decades of stories.
In the late 1800’s, troops from Camp Pinal were chasing a
group of 75 Apache warriors. They had
driven the band of men west to the edge of a cliff (now called Apache Leap)
which today looks over the town of Superior.
The Apache men were extremely proud and would not let the military take
them prisoner. Instead, all 75 warriors
leaped off the edge of the cliff and fell eight hundred feet to their death. The men’s families heard of the news and
quickly went to the bottom of the cliff.
They cried nonstop and mourned the brave men’s demise. It is told that their tears absorbed into the
soil, hardened, and turned into the black obsidian stones we see today.
Superior, AZ 2010 (Apache Leap) |
I've missed your blog! Thank you for keeping this heritage legend alive.
ReplyDeleteGlad to have you back. I love the Native American stories and legends.
DeleteWow, what a beautiful and sad story. It explains why at cemeteries in AZ I run into apache tears left on people's graves.
ReplyDeleteYeah, they are weeping for their loved ones.
DeleteThat's such a sad story :( but pretty. Thank you for telling me :)
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome.
DeleteWhat a sad story.
ReplyDelete