ES 110 Lecture 7.2 - figure 10

ES 110 Lecture 7.2 - Myth and Meaning - Figure 10

Figure 10

Howling Wolf, Cheyenne, 1877.
This is the first second of a picture letter sent by Howling Wolf to his wife, Curly Hair.
The letter never reached Curly Hair. Instead, due to a postal error, it was received by a man named Curly Hair at the Cheyenne River Agency in Dakota Territory! Here the letter sparked some concern, as officials in Dakota Territory were worried about the activities of Sitting Bull in Canada, who had recently arranged for a council meeting with U.S. military officials in Saskachewan. By their interpretation the first page of the letter "was taken as a representation of the Sioux warriors attending the council and the second page provided the result of the council." As this second page clearly depicts a man's death, the message seemed quite threatening.