PLAIN BULL

[brentnvicki]

I am looking for any information on "Plain Bull". He was good friend with "Chief Plenty Coups". He was also a scout for General George Crook. Any pictures or stories would be great.

Thanks
Brent

[jinlian]

Hi Brent,

here are some census data on Plain Bull:

born around 1861 (he was younger than Plenty Coups), in 1885 is reported as married to
Stays on the Top of the House
and having a 9-years-old son called Caleb Plainbull.

In 1930, he was reported as being married to the same woman.

Plain Bull belonged to the Ashhiraarioo (Newly-made Lodges) clan; his wife - and consequently his children - was an Ashkepkawiia (Bad War Deeds). (From R. Lowie Social Life of the Crow Indians)

I know of a photograph of Plenty Coups, Coyote Runs and Plain Bull in the Frank Linderman Memorial Collection collection held at the University of Montana-Missoula Library; I'm trying myself to get a copy, will let you know the outcome.

[brentnvicki]

Jinlian,

Thank you so much for the information. I have a painting of Plain Bull that was painted from life by David Humphreys Miller. On the back of the painting Signed on bottom corner "David Humphreys Miller". Written on back stretcher with ink "Plain Bull - Age 93 - Crow" "Crow Agency, Montana (From Pryor, Montana) Scout for Gen L.G. Crook at Rosebud Battle in 1876. Close friend of Chief Plenty Coups"

I have been trying to find information on Plain Bull, but have not had much success. I did find one short story about Plain Bull and Chief Plenty Coup and that is it. Thank you so much for the information. If you would like a picture of the painting let me know and I would be happy to email it to you.

Thanks again for the information
Brent

[jinlian]

Jun 13, 2009 16:15:12 GMT -5 brentnvicki said:

Jinlian,

Thank you so much for the information. I have a painting of Plain Bull that was painted from life by David Humphreys Miller. On the back of the painting Signed on bottom corner "David Humphreys Miller". Written on back stretcher with ink "Plain Bull - Age 93 - Crow" "Crow Agency, Montana (From Pryor, Montana) Scout for Gen L.G. Crook at Rosebud Battle in 1876. Close friend of Chief Plenty Coups"

I have been trying to find information on Plain Bull, but have not had much success. I did find one short story about Plain Bull and Chief Plenty Coup and that is it. Thank you so much for the information. If you would like a picture of the painting let me know and I would be happy to email it to you.

Thanks again for the information
Brent

Thank you so much, Brent, that would be wonderful. I've been trying to find more about both Plain Bull and Coyote Runs, but the info available on the printed material are quite scarce. Perhaps the Crow oral tradition has more to share...

[brentnvicki]

Jinlian,

I sent you a picture of the Plain Bull Painting. I can't upload pictures from my little part of Michigan, but if you would like to post it your are welcome to do so.

Thanks
Brent

[jinlian]

Here's the Plain Bull portrait by David Miller provided by Brent. Thanks Brent! On Plain Bull's forehead it's evident the scar by the wound he got in the accident described in Plenty Coups's autobiography.

[jinlian]

From Plenty Coups, Chief of the Crows by F.B. Linderman:

"The scar on my chin?"..."Plain-Bull was with me when I got it and I was with him when his head was split open. You can see his scar too, which put him to sleep for a long time. It is worse than mine. I thought him dead.
....That was a bad blow that broke Plain-Bull's skull. We were packing in meat, and the horses were heavily laden. Plain-Bull was behind them and struck one with his quirt. The lash wound round the horse's leg and when he kicked viciously to free it, he pulled Plain-Bull to him by the quirt-lash , so that the blow of his hoofs was fair and full. Plain-Bull knew nothing at all for two days and two nights, yet he sits here with us today, as good as ever.

In another passage, Plain-Bull is described as
thin and spare - (he) was retiring; his badly scarred forehead was a reminder of strenous life