From Fort Marion to Fort Sill: A Documentary History of the Chiricahua Apache Prisoners of War, 1886-1913

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276 Z Zaen (Penelope) c. 1870–1887 ch Penolpe Zanca. A daughter of Yuan, she was enrolled in Carlisle on December 8, 1886, as “Penelope Zaen, father dead, mother living, age 16, height 5'1", weight 97, home address Yu-en (mother).” She died of tuberculosis on August 28, 1887, and is buried at Carlisle.1 Zahnah c. 1860–1904 ws Sahnah; Nancy Zahnah. Zahnah was a sister or half-sister of Mangigan. She had one child, Nahtalish, father unknown. Her second husband was Spitty; they had four children. Lucy, Erick Jr., Sadie, and Theodore all died at Fort Sill. Her third husband was Skuyyuggi; they had one child, Sylvester. Zahnah is listed as “Sahnah” on the Mount Vernon census. She died on November 23, 1904 [sw5025].2 See also Skuyyuggi (John); Spitty (Erick). Zaienah (Effie) 1877–1900 nd fig. 15 Effie Binday; Zeyanah. Effie was a younger sister of Taayzslath, was a niece of Gonahsin, and was related to Guyan. She was enrolled in Carlisle on April 30, 1887, as “Effie Zaienah, father dead, mother living, age 10, height 4'5", weight 81.” She was discharged on May 30, 1889, due to illness and sent to Alabama . She married Binday; they had three children, Hobson, Fannie, and Vincent. All died at Fort Sill. Zaienah died on November 15, 1900 [sw5093].3 See also Binday (Samuel). Zele | 277 Zehgolthchede c. 1846–1912 ws Sounig. Her Apache name Zehgolthchede means “reddish lips” or “pink lips.” She was a sister or a cousin of Kaywaykla’s father and was closely related to Oswald Smith and Belle Nicholas. She is listed on the Mount Vernon census as “Ramon’s wife.” After his death she married José First; they had no children. Zehgolthchede died on January 5, 1912 [se5273].4 See also First (José) Ramon. Zele c. 1839–1896 ch fig. 55 Gillee; Tzele; Zeelay; Zele; Zeelee; Zillee. He was Clay Domeah’s father and Noche’s (George) uncle. Zele’s remembered wives were Juana and Tzistohn. He was a prominent leader and a respected warrior closely associated with Chatto (Alfred) and Chief Bonito during the Apache wars. Captain John Bourke noted that the chiefs, and Zele in particular, were “men of noticeable brain power, physically perfect and mentally acute—just the individuals to lead a forlorn hope in the face of every obstacle.” The commander of Company B, Apache Scouts, Lieutenant Britton Davis, reported that Zele was one of the “subchiefs” who stayed in Mexico during the summer of 1883, after the capture of 325 Chiricahua and Warm Springs Apaches by General Crook. Several weeks later Zele rode into Davis’s camp with around a dozen warriors and twice that number of women and children . Well supplied with Mexican ponies, the Apaches returned to San Carlos by “quick march.” Davis marveled at the Apaches’ physical attributes ; see his description in the biography of Naiche (Christian). Interviewed by Captain Crawford on December 31, 1883, Zele stated that his group was camped with Loco at San Carlos. They were forced out by Geronimo, Chatto, and Naiche’s men, who had been in Mexico. They told him “to come on or they would kill” all of Zele’s and Loco’s groups. Zele was a reservation policeman serving under Captain Adna Chaffee. Lieutenant Davis said Zele was one of the chiefs who on occasion “came to my tent for friendly or business talks.” In 1884 Zele was listed as chief of Band D and was described as “age 45, height 5'7", and married.” 278 | Zescloya Zele and other Chiricahua and Warm Springs chiefs opposed the militant Kaahteney (Jacob) prior to his arrest and subsequent imprisonment at Alcatraz. Immediately before the May 1885 breakout Zele was involved in the heated discussion in Davis’s tent regarding wife beating and tiswin drinking. He and three-fourths of the Chiricahua and Warm Springs Apaches refused to take part in the breakout. Davis characterized him as “a fine type,” . . . “morally and physically as it would be possible to find in any race.” He was listed as “Zeelay” on the Mount Vernon census. In 1889 he stated that he had been instructed to be a “good man,” and he had complied . He was an “old man” but had done as he was told: “lived in a house, used a chair, and slept in a bed,” and he had not strayed from the “wide road.” God controlled the seasons...