For my car, (1970 B body) the gear indicator pointer is held onto the part of the column that rotates with the gear selection by 1 phillips head screw.   However, to access the screw the lower trim piece needs to be removed, which is held on my 6 or 7 phillips head screws.     Yours may be similar, but if the pointer wasn't screwed on, it would likely have fallen out.   ----interesting.

so grab a dohickey and undo the whateveritscalled and make sure the thingamabob doesn't get in the way and the whatchyamacallit should spring free.

prepare for cut up fingers