had a
sweeping view of the plains
below and
diamond-shaped holes for
ventilation.
Zesch speculates that they
once served
as a Comanche lookout.
As Adolph became more and
more removed
from society, Herman
became a
celebrity known as the “last
captive.”
He performed at county
fairs and old
settlers reunions, which
brought
together all the participants
in the
transition of the Old West—
Indians,
Rangers and trail drivers,
among others.
At fairs, Herman wore
an
eagle-feather headdress and buck-
skins.
His signature act
was to ride
his pony into
the arena chasing a
calf. He
would shoot arrows at the
calf’s
heels to get him up to speed,
occasionally
letting out a war whoop.
Then he
killed the calf, jumped off
his pony, cut
out the calf’s liver and
ate it raw,
as natives sometimes did
when they
were away from camp.
According to
Zesch, the act usually
brought down
the house.
Kaye
Northcott is editor of Texas
Co-op
Power. |