Blue Duck

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

The character of Blue Duck in Larry McMurtry's classic novel Lonesome Dove was partially based on a real-life Native American.  Who was it?

[Delmonico]

Don't remember his real name but he got his picture taken with Bell Starr before the hunged him.

[Brazos Bucky Smith]

Hoca hey!   Blue Ducks real name could be  Bluford Duck, I believe his Indian name to be Sha-Con-Gah  Kaw-wan-nu

Could I be right?

BB

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

Thanks to Del and BB for at least making an attempt, serious or otherwise.  Sorry to say, however, neither is correct.

The one in question was a key Indian leader in the The Salt Creek Massacre, and is pictured below.

[Delmonico]

Fowl, I cry fowl!   Ok I got a copy of "Law West of Fort Smith" by Glenn Shirley.  The picture I've seen with Belle Starr and Blue Duck, don't look like the same Duck.  This book ain't got no index so I'm gonna have ta read some, but the picture is often in books.  So who is the other Blue Duck?

[Delmonico]

Ok, maybe I cried fowl to fast.  Nuther book I got here says the Blue duck I was thinkin' bout was not a half breed like often said, but a white guy who used the name real name is lost to history.

And they didn't hang him, was gonna but Belle Starr hired a fancy lawyer and got his sentance comuted ta life.

So I was right about a Blue Duck gettin' picture with Belle Starr, was wrong, but so are many of the sources about being native or half native and I was wrong about him bein' hung'ed.  Will you forgive me Cap. I am so 'barresed for callin' fowl. ;

Least I didn't cry wolf.

[Brazos Bucky Smith]

   Oh my!   Seems I have the wrong Duck too!   So who is the guy pictured with Belle then?   Anyways a fun lookin for the character!  Ducks of a feather may be's they know'd each other.

Naw,  your Duck probably would'a lifted the other guys hair cause he was dressed as a white-eye.

BB

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

Hey,

McMurtry created a fictional Indian renegade who was a vicious killing machine that he named "Blue Duck".  This ficional "Blue Duck's" character was at least partially based on a real-life Native American who was just about as mean as the fictional Lonesome Dove Blue Duck, but his name was not Blue Duck.  The photo I posted is of the real-life killing machine.  It is his name that you need to come up with.

Ya'll are probably thinking of this Blue Duck http://www.fpcc.net/~sgrimm/bluford_duck.htm.

[Four-Eyed Buck]

Fooled me ,Cap. Thought I was gonna see a likeness, not a stone! have no idea on whom the fella is, sorry..........Buck

[El Peludo]

Dang!!  And, I've seen that picture before, too.  Somehow, I want to say he was a Commanche; but I sure don't know.

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

This is allegedly Bluford Duck/Blue Duck with Belle Starr.  See the story at http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/4743/bstarr.html

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

Ok, maybe I cried fowl to fast.  Nuther book I got here says the Blue duck I was thinkin' bout was not a half breed like often said, but a white guy who used the name real name is lost to history.

And they didn't hang him, was gonna but Belle Starr hired a fancy lawyer and got his sentance comuted ta life.

So I was right about a Blue Duck gettin' picture with Belle Starr, was wrong, but so are many of the sources about being native or half native and I was wrong about him bein' hung'ed.  Will you forgive me Cap. I am so 'barresed for callin' fowl. ;

Least I didn't cry wolf.

Del,

Best you jus' ferget 'bout ole Blue Duck an' go curl up with your rubber duck.  'Fraid you're gettin' way too wrought up and we don't want you to have a stroke or nuthin' like that.  We lose you, and ain't nobody gonna take up the slack with them cookin' questions.

[Four-Eyed Buck]

Okay, that's the face I associate with Blue Duck. still haven't a clue about the other image........Buck

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

OK, here's a major hint.

"A fateful raid marked the turning point. In May, 1871, a party of more than one hundred Kiowas, Comanches, and others left Fort Sill and crossed into Texas. Led by Satank, Satanta, and Big Tree, they took up positions on the Salt Creek Prairie. A group of heavily armed white soldiers was allowed to pass unmolested; unknown to the Indians, the military escort was for General Sherman, who was conducting an inspection tour of Texas. The next group of whites to pass was a wagon train belonging to a freighting company. The Indians swept down upon the wagons and attacked. They killed the wagon master and seven teamsters and looted the wagons, then returned immediately to the reservation."

One of the three underlined individuals is the subject of this thread and the original photo I posted.

[Delmonico]

Never fear, my cholerteralll is fine and so is my blood pressure, I just got home from work, I thunk of it at work but didn't have time ta answer.  Remembered the jumpin' out the winder and realized ya wern't lookin' fer a nuther Blue Duck, but a winder jumper.

Durn Larry M. should a called his bad guy Pink Goose or sumthin' like that and not confused me, like him killin' off Big Foot Wallace long before his time was up.   

[Four-Eyed Buck]

Well, Cap, my BP ain't and neither is my cholesterol( 208!). I'll take an uninformed guess here and say Satanta. least maybe narrow it down for one of the others.............Buck

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

Well, Cap, my BP ain't and neither is my cholesterol( 208!). I'll take an uninformed guess here and say Satanta. least maybe narrow it down for one of the others.............Buck

A darn good gluess, Buck, that's who it was for sure.

Just for that, you can take the rest of the day off.

[Four-Eyed Buck]

now if I could just come up with the winning lottery numbers I could get that Ballard I'm lusting after ..................Buck

[Delmonico]

See ya got me so worked up I didn't answer, should a had my coffee first.  Bet if'n they a kilt General Sherman they'd a really been in hot water.  

Ya got me ta thinkin', when did rubber ducks ge invented?  That will be a good one fer Slim ta google us up in the mornin'.

Got one fer you, based on my research I think the old-time chuckwagon cooks was as nice as anyone, maybe even nicer than most.  They've been given a bum rap, I've been studyin' photos of chuckwagons and I think I can prove me point on this.  A bit tongue in cheek here, but also just as much serious.    Course you can always tell the cook in the photo, even with out the apron, cause they look so surley.  But serious photo anallysis has give me the clue, they hate photographers.  

Look at the pictures, cowboys sittin' around not eatin' starin' at the picture man, they should suck it up and get goin' so the cook can clean up.  Horse's tied to the wgon, hangin' their heads over his work table, horse have no manners or poloulytion controls.  Do you want horse poop in yer kitchen?

Look at the cowboys wearin' white shirts and ties, more time spent waitin' fer them ta tie their ties.

And most important, many show ranch buildin's in the background, they are right there on the ranch gettin' stupid pictures taken, the poor misused cook could have been cookin' in the cookhouse, but no the pain in the arse photographer makes him drag out the wagon, clean it up and cook outside.
And any one knows a photographer can't just take a picture of sumthin', he has ta diddle round with everything till it is just right in his mind.  

Boy I'm glad I got that off my chest, I'm plum worn out with all that rantin' and ravin', think I'll go ta bed soon.  

But I want ta know when rubber ducks was invented and if they are period correct, if so I want one fer my wreck pans!

[Capt. Hamp Cox]

More on Satanta http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/view/SS/fsa33.html.

If you don't read it all, at least read the last three or four sentences and see if it reminds you of Lonesome Dove at all.

[Brazos Bucky Smith]

Yep, the jumping out a window, well, without someone to hold onto anyway.   Another good read.  thanks Capt.

BB