On the trail of a possibly genuine photo of the illusive Chief Tasunca Uitco -- Crazy Horse!

Who mysteriously "died in custody" at Fort Robinson in September 1877.


From: The Killing of Chief Crazy Horse -- with commentary by Carroll Friswold, editor, with introduction by Robert A. Clark.

"Glendale, California: The Arthur H. Clark Company, 1976.

"Hidden Springs of Custeriana -- IV."

Pages 45 - 47.

"Herein is an enlargement of what I believe is an authentic picture of Crazy Horse.

"The original is a small tintype, 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 inches in excellent condition.

"Its first owner was Baptiste Garnier (Little Bat) the famous scout and frontiersman.

"When Bat was murdered in 1900 it went to his wife, on her death it was inherited by her daughter, Ellen Howard, from whom Mr. Hackett obtained it, after which it came to me, so the line of ownership is quite clear.

"I have a certificate from Mrs. Howard attesting that the tintype belonged to her father, and that it had been in the family since it had been made.

"She also says that her father told his family it was truly a picture of Crazy Horse..."

Friswold then wanders off on a tangent to say some author named J.W. Vaughn used this same picture in a 1956 book published by Stackpole called With Crook at the Rosebud.

Back to the Picture!

"The picture shows an Indian of medium stature, lighter - haired than the average Indian [along with hazel eyes, too, according to one woman!], with a rounded face rather than one with high, wide cheek bones.

"His hair is in braids to his waist, and he wears two feathers which was customary with Crazy Horse.

"Mr. Hackett has a set of feathers given him by an old chief and they are exactly similar to those shown in the photos.

"Also the picture shows clearly the scar in the left corner of his mouth where was shot some years before by No Water, after he had ridden away with No Water's wife.

"It is most unfortunate that the secretive nature of the old - time Indians dealing with whites caused this picture to be so long hidden.

"Even thirty years ago would have been sufficient for proper identification, as He Dog lived until 1936, and Doctor McGillycuddy -- who knew and liked Crazy Horse [well enough to inject him with a quarter - grain of morphine!] --lived until June of 1939.

"Either man could have said yes or no at first glimpse, but neither saw it and now it is too late.

"From the people involved, and my searches, I firmly believe this is an authentic likeness of Crazy Horse ..."

Hey, who knows?? :)