The Death of Chief Crazy Horse
The forensic details of the chief’s demise.
By: Dr. Jim Kornberg 08/01/2009
This terminal event would have involved the slow but persistent internal loss of blood and a drop in blood pressure, leading to an irregular beating of the heart (cardiac arrhythmia), a weakened pulse and an eventual cardiac arrest. My diagnosis is consistent with the six-eight hours between the time of his largely untreated injury and the time of death.
I estimate the bayonet of Private Gentles would have been 10 inches or longer to inflict the wound as described. Hauntingly, soon after that September day when he killed Chief Crazy Horse, Mr. Gentles, so misnamed, died of an asthma attack on May 20, 1878, while posted at Fort Douglas in Utah Territory.
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