tors] doesn’t fully explain the chil-

half the children were captured by

violence and some saw members of

their family killed, but the circum-

on their ability to assimilate.”

     As for the youngsters’ acceptance

of violence, Zesch pointed out that

frontier life was dangerous in both

cultures. The children’s perception of

the enemy simply changed depend-

Adolph never recounted his experi-

“I considered myself an Indian, and

an Indian I would be” (distributed

by Allen Smith Jr., 1-888-926-1865).

     Life as an Indian, particularly as a

Comanche—Apaches were morose,

according to one narrative—was in

many ways better for the children

than their lives as hard-laboring

homesteaders. At home they worked

from dawn to dusk clearing fields,

hauling water, helping their families

in survival mode. There was little

time for play or education, or even

much parental affection, according

to some of the children. By contrast,

“Indian parents spent quality time

with the children,” Zesch said.

her family at age 10, explained that

her chores in the Comanche camp

were light—gathering wood, fetch-