GUN FALL 2015
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/5/2015
RARE AND HISTORIC BOW OF FAMOUS LAKOTA SIOUX CHIEF GALL.This wonderful decorated Sioux Bow, 41" tip to tip and may be the bow that Chief Gall is seen holding including a famous photograph made of him by David F. Barry about 1881. An old worn typed label reads "Sioux Buffalo Bow / Gift from Chief Pezi" (Gall) / Standing Rock Res / Donated by J McLaughlin". James McLaughlin author of My Friend The Indian, was long time Indian agent, present at Standing Rock Reservation from 1881 - 1890. McLaughlin knew Gall very well and writes prominently about his close personal friend, though not specifically stating this gift, but we are told other McLaughlin Indian objects are noted with similar typed tags. Though Gall is not as well known in the Custer massacre as Sitting Bull or Crazy Horse, Gall was indeed among the fiercest warriors. In the first volley, Gall''s two wives and three daughters were killed. An excellent biography on Gall by Robert Larson, Gall, Lakota War Chief, "A particularly bitter factor in the deaths of most of Gall''s family in 1876 was the involvement of Gall''s old nemesis Bloody Knife. Little Sioux, one of the Arikara warrior scouts who preceded Reno''s crossing of the Greasy Grass, claimed in a later interview that he and three other Arikara scouts saw three women and two children running as fast as they could toward the river. He fired twice at them, and then he and his comrades rode through the timber toward the river, where they killed all of them. Whether or not any of these victims were members of the Gall family cannot be proven with certainty, but Bloody Knife''s involvement in this phase of the battle seems unquestionable. As Custer''s chief Indian scout, he was probably at the head of this scouting party, searching for ponies and not being averse to killing Lakota families in the process. Obviously Gall was grief stricken when he saw the dead bodies of these family members. the Little Bighorn would mean glory for many of his comrades, but it would be an almost unbearable personal tragedy for him. He no doubt pondered the irony of this tragic development. He was one of the fiercest of the Lakota warriors, and yet he could not protect his own family. Of particular surprise to him was the fact that Reno''s troopers, as well as those hated Arikara scouts, got close enough to kill the most defenseless members of the Hunkpapa camp. Had the distraught war leader made this discovery upon his first return to camp, he would have vigorously pursued Reno''s troopers to their final defensive position on the hilltop east of the Little Bighorn. Revenge would have been his overwhelming emotion. When he finally did recover from his crippling anguish, startled by the sound of increasing gunfire to the north, his mood was dominated by a thirst for vengeance. "It made my heart bad," he later remarked. "After that I killed all my enemies with the hatchet."" This particular title also shows good 1881 D.F. Barry facsimile photograph on p. 139, owned by Historical Society of North Dakota, showing Gall with quite possibly this bow. Rarely do historical bow''s or other objects directly relating to prominent Indians from the Battle of The Little Big Horn ever come to market. SIZE: CONDITION: Very good to fine overall. Bow retains good red, black and yellow decoration with wear where held sinew wrapped decoration is intact and bow string is present though knot loose on one end. Accompanying pasted tag is soiled but still discernible. It is interesting to note that the decorations there are 9 light stripes on one internal edge near center and 7 light stripes on other side of middle and that Gall wore 9 white stripes on his right forearm which I have not noted on other American Indians as decorations. Accompanying custom stand is very good as is. Accompanying copy of Larson''s biography. 49129-1 JS (20,000-40,000)