Post by conz on Dec 14, 2008 9:33:53 GMT -6
Reading Utley, I came across notes of Sitting Bull’s relationship with Fred Gerard, the trader. I’ve never been one to follow personal histories much, but Pohanka got me interested long ago, and now I find their impact on decision-making to be fascinating.
“Sometimes the Hunkpapas went to the fort itself. On one such occasion, Sitting Bull and trader Fred Gerard tested each other’s strength and will. As remembered by Gerard, ‘The cause was a dispute about the price of some Iroquois shells. Sitting Bull got them in his possession and was going to set his own price on them, after turning over to me some buffalo hides. The result was that I took the shells from him forcibly. He pulled up his double-barrelled gun and I seized him and the gun being cocked, I slipped the caps off [the hammers] with my thumb.’…The encounter produced sequels extending over many years, Sitting Bull sent word to Fort Berthold that he had an arrow in his quiver for Gerard. ‘I sent word back that I had a rifle that could speak true and if he ever came back he would hear it speak.’”
It was often personal out on those Plains. Can anyone add to this relationship?
In a later note, Utley says that Gerard was riding a big black stallion at LBH, and that Sitting Bull recognized it years later on the reservation, and stole it!
Clair
“Sometimes the Hunkpapas went to the fort itself. On one such occasion, Sitting Bull and trader Fred Gerard tested each other’s strength and will. As remembered by Gerard, ‘The cause was a dispute about the price of some Iroquois shells. Sitting Bull got them in his possession and was going to set his own price on them, after turning over to me some buffalo hides. The result was that I took the shells from him forcibly. He pulled up his double-barrelled gun and I seized him and the gun being cocked, I slipped the caps off [the hammers] with my thumb.’…The encounter produced sequels extending over many years, Sitting Bull sent word to Fort Berthold that he had an arrow in his quiver for Gerard. ‘I sent word back that I had a rifle that could speak true and if he ever came back he would hear it speak.’”
It was often personal out on those Plains. Can anyone add to this relationship?
In a later note, Utley says that Gerard was riding a big black stallion at LBH, and that Sitting Bull recognized it years later on the reservation, and stole it!
Clair
