418

1881, Captain JACK CRAWFORD Signed Photograph Known as The Poet Scout,

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:1,200.00 USD Estimated At:1,200.00 - 1,600.00 USD
1881, Captain JACK CRAWFORD Signed Photograph Known as The Poet Scout,
Western America
“Captain Jack” J. W. Crawford Signed & 1881 Dated Photograph Noted As "Prospecting" Across The Top Edge
JOHN WALLACE “Captain Jack” CRAWFORD (1847-1917). Known as "The Poet Scout," he fought in the Civil War and in 1875 was appointed Captain of the Black Hills Rangers militia.
February 9, 1881-Dated, Signed and Inscribed, “Prospecting - Yours Truly J. W. Crawford - Capt Jack - Feb 9 1881” Photograph Cabinet Card, measuring 6.5” x 4.25” by Bennett and Brown Photographers, Santa Fe, New Mexico, Choice Very Fine. This is a most impressive and dramatic image of a youthful Captain Jack. The photo shows him in his full fancy Winter coat and Western attire, including beaded moccasins and a long, beaver and fringe-trimmed buckskin coat.

Captain Jack’s right hand holds his Winchester lever action repeating rifle, while in his left hand he holds a massive Gold Nugget. At the top Crawford has personally entitled this image "Prospecting". There is a minor 1/2” light stain along left edge as shown in our image. Imprint of Bennett and Brown Photographers, Santa Fe, New Mexico, printed in a fancy decorative scroll design on the reverse. This is one of the finest “Captain Jack” Western and Gold Mining related photos one might hope to acquire. A premium item that would be excellent for display.
John Wallace "Captain Jack" Crawford (1847-1917) became known as "The Poet Scout." He fought in the Civil War and in 1875 was appointed Captain of the Black Hills Rangers militia.

An informative biography at the Black Hills Visitor Magazine site tells, "He was one of a very few “teetotalers” among the army scouts, and the only man on the frontier who could be entrusted to deliver an unopened bottle of whiskey, according to William “Buffalo Bill” Cody. Cody described in his autobiography a meeting with Jack in July of 1876..." He replaced Buffalo Bill Cody as chief of scouts for the 5th Cavalry, "only two months after the Custer massacre at the Little Big Horn, and a mere three weeks after the murder of Wild Bill Hickok in Deadwood." He joined Buffalo Bill Cody's show, and the article reports, "The partnership with Cody ended in Virginia City, Nevada, in the summer of 1877 when, in a combat scene staged on horseback, Crawford accidentally shot himself in the groin and blamed the event on Cody's drunkenness." Crawford later settled in New Mexico, and was involved in ranching and mining.