Monday, January 31, 2011

Native American Indian Postcard: Curley, General Custer's Scout

Curley was about 17 years old when he enlisted as a scout for the US Army and was assigned to General George Custer's Little Big Horn expedition. The Crow scouts' reports about a large settlement were ignored by General Custer when he decided to wage a battle rather than wait for reinforcements. Custer sent the scouts away prior to the attack. Curley watched parts of the battle through a spy glass from a distance of about a mile and a half away. He made his way through Sioux territory to report the disaster. He was purportedly the only surviving witness to "Custer's Last Stand" He died in 1923of pneumonia.

 More information from http://www.bridgestree.org/documents/Custers_Scouts_at_Little_Big_Horn.pdf :

"Accompanying Custer and his forces after their separation from Benteen and Reno were four Crow Scouts: Curley, Goes Ahead, Hairy Moccasin and White Man Runs Him. Two Crow Scouts remained with Reno, Half Yellow Face and White Swan. When Custer's troop came into contact with the Indian village, the scouts were excused; they had done their job. Among them, Curley refused to leave. Nevertheless, Mitch Bouyer, one of Custer's mixedblood French and Lakota guides, insisted that
the 17 year old Curley depart, allegedly telling Curley that "We have no chance at all," and relay the message to Terry that "all are killed." In 1983, archeological exploration of the battlefield was conducted. Previously unidentified remains were found. Using modern forensic science, the remains of Boyer were identified. Curley departed and was able to observe the battle with a spy glass from a ridge about a mile and a half away. He then eluded the Sioux by crawling through coulees until he found the pony of a dead Sioux, taking the Sioux pony and blanket, he then rode two and a half days until he found the Steamboat Far West, where through sign lanquage and drawing he was able to disclose
the disaster. Because of language difficulties, however, the extent of the disaster was not fully realized.
Curley was the youngest of the Crow scouts with Custer. He was probably about 20 years old the day of the battle.

Curley is the English name for Ashishishe, a Native American of the Crow tribe. Ashishishe was born in approximately 1856 in Montana, the son of Strong Bear (Inside the Mouth) and Strikes By the Side of the Water. Curley resided on the Crow Reservation in the vicinity of Pryor Creek, and married Bird Woman. He enlisted in the U.S. Army as an Indian scout on April 10, 1876 and was later chosen to scout for the Seventh Cavalry during the Little Bighorn expedition in 1876 along with fellow Crow warriors White Man Runs Him, Goes Ahead, Hairy Moccasin and others. He carried the news of the battle to the steamboat Far West at the mouth of the Little Bighorn. He witnessed parts of the Battle of the Little Bighorn, and his translated account later appeared in several newspapers, as he was thought to be the only surviving witness from the U.S. side of Custer's Last Stand. Curley later gave several variations on his account, and the accuracy of his recollections has been questioned.
However, two of the most influential historians of the Battle of the Little Bighorn, Walter Mason Camp (who interviewed Curley on several occasions) and John S. Gray, accepted Curley's account. Curley later lived on the Crow Reservation on the bank of the Little Bighorn River, close to the site of the Battle. He served in the Crow Police. He divorced Bird Woman in 1886, and married Takes a Shield. Curley had one daughter Awakuk Korita ha Sakush ("Bird of Another Year") who took the English name Nora. Curley received a U.S. pension as of 1920. He died May 21,1923 at his ranch home near Crow Agency of pneumonia, and his remains were interred in the National Cemetery at the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, only a mile from his home."


This great postcard can be found in my bidStart store here: Native American Indian Curley General Custer's Scout
and in my eBay Store here: NATIVE AMERICAN INDIAN POSTCARD CURLEY GEN CUSTER SCOUT

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Women's Fashion Postcards: Hobbleskirts Vs Suffrage

It's ironic that during the height of the Women's Suffrage movement in the US and UK, the restrictive hobbleskirt came into fashion. Today's circa 1910  postcards reflect that incongruity! Perhaps these demonstate women's "sufferage" instead


SUFFRAGE POSTCARD HOBBLESKIRT WOMEN MAKE GREAT STRIDES









Saturday, January 29, 2011

Birtth Congratulations Postcard : Baby Boy and Stork

Today's postcard is a charming Barton and Spooner postcard intended to be sent to congratulate the parents of a baby boy. I love the strategically placed ribbon!




This great postcard can be found in my eBay store here: Birth Congratulations Postcard Baby Boy and Stork and my bidStart store here: Birth Congratulations Postcard Baby Boy and Stork
 

Friday, January 28, 2011

RPPC POSTCARD EGGLESTON CABIN STEVENS LAKE WI

I have to share this postcard today because I am so excited about my research results. Whenever I have an unidentified Real Photo Postcard with clues about location or subjects, I do a Google search to see if I can find out more. My first search, "Stevens Lake", yielded results in several states - I suspected Northern Minnesota, Wisconsin or Michigan but couldn't nail it. I next searched "Eggleston Stevens Lake" and found a 1908 obituary for Ralph Eggleston of Stevens Lake who drowned when he went through the ice on the lake. He left a widow in "delicate" condition (I assume this meant pregnant) and four young daughters. Ironically, he had his gun with him and the postcard shows a row of dressed deer on the right side of the cabin. The postcard is in very good condition but the image is not the best - it looks like it was snowing when the photograph was captured. There is a Velox stamp box - dating the card between 1907 and 1917.
 This card is currently listed as an auction on eBay:: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160538445799&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT


Here is a link to the Forest County Historical Society Obituary: Ralph Eggleston Drowned

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Real Photo Postcard Three Women Fishing Maple Plain MN 1913

This great RPPC (Real Photo Post Card) is a candid shot of three women in a rowboat with bamboo fishing poles. It is postmarked 1913 at Maple Plain Minnesota. The ladies are not identified - the postcard is written in Swedish (or Norwegian or Danish) and is addressed to Mr. Gust Emanuelsen in Minneapolis. Is great to see that our foremothers had some time for a little fun and did not spend all of their days cooking, cleaning and sewing!





You can find this great postcard in my eBay Store here: RPPC THREE FISHERWOMEN IN ROWBOAT MAPLE PLAIN MN

NATIONAL FLAG SERIES POSTCARD LADY IN FLAG ENGLAND


This postcard takes patriotism to another level!  I have come across many flag waving men, women and children but this is the first rather risque (for the period) view of a woman draped in a flag with a "come hither" look. It was published by Alfred Holzman, Chicago IL as part of the "National Flag Series -no 80". It is postally unused and has rounded corners with a light stain on back.



This postcard can be found in my eBay store here: NATIONAL FLAG SERIES POSTCARD LADY IN FLAG ENGLAND

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Roadside Americana Postcard: Pyramid Supper Club



I have a fondness for "roadside" postcards - the tackier the better. I think today's card fits the bill to a "T". The postcard boasts: "America's Most Unique and Beautiful Supper Club, Authentic Egyptian Theme and Decor". This establishment was built in the 1960's and is located 5 miles east of Beaver Dam WI on Highway 33. I discovered that the most recent incarnation, "The Pyramid of the Nile", closed on New Year's Eve 2009 due to the economy (according to the website: Pyramid of the Nile).


You can find this great postcard in my eBay store here: PYRAMID RESTAURANT BEAVER DAM WI ROADSIDE POSTCARD

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Advertising Postcard from Minneapolis Grocery 1939 Heinz Products




I just love this postcard on so many levels! First of all, it was published by a grocery store in my hometown, Minneapolis MN. The store was located in the Linden Hills neighborhood, just a couple of blocks from beautiful Lake Harriet. The business district at the time was on a trolley line serving cottages and country homes. Today the neighborhood has many charming shops and has an urban "small town" ambiance.


It is surprising to note that the prices of the Heinz products are not that much lower than prices of similar products today, 70 years later (when you consider the cost of living - home prices, gas, automobiles etc). I thought it would be interesting to compare prices to today's Heinz products, but discovered that many of them are available only in the UK!


This card can be found in my eBay store here: Heinz Ad Postcard Hawkinson Grocery Minneapolis MN

Friday, January 7, 2011

Pilot Whales Ashore At South Wellfleet Cape Cod MA

I've come across versions of this postcard a few times and have always wondered about the story behind it. Back in whaling days, fisherman drove the blackfish (pilot whales) ashore so the oil and meat could be harvested. It was a communal effort so the they all shared in the great bounty. This particular event took place in 1884 at Old Wharf Point. The 1500 whales were sold for $15,000 which was shared by 300 members of the community. Nowadays great efforts are made to save beached whales!
 This postcard can be found at auction right now on eBay: BLACKFISH ASHORE SOUTH WELLFLEET CAPE COD MA POSTCARD

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Moody Mommy's Vintage New Year Postcards : HAPPY NEW YEAR!

New Year's Day has dawned cold and crisp here. This is my final chapter of holiday postcards for this season. 

I have no particular theme today. Here are a group of (exactly!) hundred year old postcards heralding the year:


 Here is an example of a calendar post card:


And here is a "March of Months":


And finally, a French snowman postcard just because I like it:
Happy New Year! May all your days be merry and bright.