Original subtitles

Who is it? Who is so hot on my trail?

Who is it?!

Bass reeves. It's bass reeves.

My name is bass reeves...

And this is my true story

As it's never been told.

Hold it right there!

You're that lawman, Bass reeves, ain't ya?

What's it to you?

Bass reeves never became As famous as a bat masterson,

A wild bill hickok.

But in many ways, he was A far more formidable lawman.

You're under arrest by The u.S. Marshals service.

He was tenacious. He sent 3,000 criminals to jail,

Killed 14 of them,

And this puts wyatt earp and Billy the kid in the shade, man.

This guy's the real deal.

Now, let me see your hands In the air.

I was born in bondage, But I would die a lawman.

This is a former slave who had Been told he was nothing.

He became a legend In his own time.

Bass: I never lost a gunfight,

But my story was lost In the history of the old west

Until a legendary character Emerged decades later,

Avenging the innocent On a white horse

With a black mask.

There is compelling evidence That the lone ranger

May have been modeled on The career of bass reeves.

Bass: but the true story is Better than the legend.

[ gunshots ]

There were times I could have Hung up my badge and gun,

When I was framed for murder...

You're going to hang, negro!

...Or when I had to incarcerate My own son.

But being a lawman Was in my blood.

The outlaws don't rest.

-aah! -ha!

Neither can I.

He was feared by outlaws For the same reason

He was respected By the lawman.

He was absolutely fearless.

I am bass reeves, Deputy marshal, at your service.

-- captions by vitac -- www.Vitac.Com

Captions paid for by Discovery communications

[ gunshot ]

Bass reeves -- He worked for 32 years.

People like wyatt earp And wild bill hickok

Were in law enforcement For less than a decade.

If bass got your warrant,

He was going to get you Eventually.

Bass: I was a u.S. Deputy marshal

During the most dangerous Decades of the west,

In the most deadly land known To lawman, the indian territory.

The life expectancy of A deputy marshal

In the indian territory In the 1870s, 1880s

Was -- was very short.

It's a place that would attract Like a magnet

All of the people that were Intent on breaking the law.

The fugitives knew for the most Part that there was no backup.

The deputies were on their own.

What are you doing out here? Are your chores done?

Are those stalls cleaned? No.

Well, get inside and eat supper And then afterwards

You're gonna have to do it all!

Bass: I spent 32 years Corralling outlaws

On their home turf, And I lived to tell the tale.

My secret?

Working undercover.

And I had a built-in advantage When it came to that.

Back in those days, no one Figured a black man

With ratty clothes could be A federal officer,

And I fooled them Time and again.

There were two brothers, And their combined warrants

Totaled $5,000, And they had eluded capture

For an extended period Of time.

And bass was actually sent out On them,

And he was determined to capture These two brothers.

Nelson: they were hiding out At their mother's house,

And he hid his badge And handcuffs under his coat

And shot some holes in his hat And, um, made himself

Look to be Someone on the run, too.

What do you want?

Excuse me, ma'am.

I'm on the run from a lawman Who won't give up my trail,

And I could use a hot meal.

I'd -- I'd work In exchange for it,

Only please Don't turn me out.

If you do, I'm sure to be captured.

Come on.

Thank you, ma'am.

Spears: she takes him in. The boys show up.

And mama reassures them that He's just, uh, an old black man

Coming through and he's --

The law's after him, And no one to fear,

Someone to maybe team Up with.

So they go to bed.

Bass handcuffed them In their sleep.

Mother: you two-faced liar!

You rotten piece of swine! -ma!

Your sons are under arrest By a deputy u.S. Marshal.

They will be tried For their crime.

You're going to rot in hell For what you're doing

To my baby boys!

Bass marches them Out the front door

With mama right on their tail,

Cussing him and throwing things At him and carrying on.

Do you plan on carrying on The whole time?

I fed you supper, you bastard!

And he marches them off Back to justice.

You gonna like fort smith, boys, Once we get there, that is.

That's only a day from here.

Yeah, we've got a couple of Stops to make along the way.

Well, if you was somebody That bass reeves,

Any of the marshals were after, You'd want to be the last people

On the way back they captured.

Because if you were One of the first,

You were shackled Onto the wagon,

And you had to walk.

And we're talking about 400 miles round-trip.

Spears: there's only one court

That had jurisdiction over this Entire indian territory.

One court, one judge,

And a band of deputies To go out after 'em.

Bass: the prisoners I captured Might have been miserable

On the road, chained up Under the stars,

But the fate that awaited them Was a thousand times worse,

The fort smith federal jail,

Also known as "Hell on the border."

Spears: It was built in the 1830s.

It was a flagstone floor, Open room.

There was no toilet facilities. It was a bucket.

Burton: it smelled atrocious. It wasn't sanitary.

I cannot really figure out how They held court upstairs

With the smell.

Spears: it got so bad In the summertime,

They had the joists In the floor packed with sawdust

To keep the smell Out of the courtroom.

Young kids and old men And dangerous outlaws

And people that Were selling liquor

And people that had murdered And raped and pillaged

Were all thrown in together.

Welcome to "Hell on the border," boys.

Lady justice is right upstairs.

Piss off!

[ laughs, whistles ]

I always make sure I deliver The right man to the jail,

Because the risk of depriving A just man of his freedom

Is something I do not Take lightly.

I, myself, Was born into slavery

In 1838 On a plantation in arkansas.

I was the property Of the reeves family.

Bass, at an early age, did ask If he could learn to read.

He wanted to learn How to read the bible.

And william steele reeves Said, "No."

But, uh, what he did do, Which was very unique,

Is he put bass reeves in charge Of his arsenal.

He was really good with horses

And apparently he was Really good with guns.

In fact, it is quite possible That bass reeves may have been

William steele reeves' son And that might've been, uh,

The reason for The preferential treatment.

Bass: others may have Had it worse,

But the truth was, No slave had it good.

I never expected I'd ever Breathe the air of freedom,

But then the war With the north came...

And changed everything.

He was taken with his master To fight for the confederacy.

Bass: I was 23 When the civil war broke out.

It was clear a change Was comin',

And I resolved I would no longer Submit to a life

Of forced servitude.

[ gunfire ]

He ran away and lived with The creek and seminole indians

In the indian territory During the civil war.

He learned the lay of the land,

And he also developed Relationships

With many of The native americans there.

Bass: I became a fugitive Of the law,

Living off the land In the chaotic,

Violent indian territory.

Nelson: it was just to be for Native americans to live there,

Supposedly.

Unfortunately, the area Drew outlaws as a haven.

People that are Committing crimes,

Sometimes in other states Or territories

Surrounding an indian territory,

Can escape the state laws by Entering into the territory.

Outlaws thrived In the indian territory.

Bass: when the war was over, I was suddenly a free man

Surrounded by dangerous And disgruntled ex-rebels.

After the civil war, There were people

Who were the refuse Of that war.

As we see in our wars today, All the p.T.S.D.

And stuff of people coming back

Who had basically lost some of Their humanity in combat.

They couldn't adjust To peacetime,

So they became outlaws.

They kept doing what they were Doing during the war.

Bass: after a decade of Unchecked violence in oklahoma,

A new federal judge came To fort smith,

The honorable isaac parker.

They decided they needed to have A strong court presence

On the west part of arkansas,

And so they established In fort smith.

And they just knew that if they Could have a strong judge there

And he could send marshals Into that territory,

They might be able to eradicate Lawlessness.

And as it turned out, In his first session,

Isaac parker, The "Hanging judge,"

He tried, uh, 15 cases Of murder,

Convicted 13, Sentenced 8 to death,

And hung six in one day.

Bass: judge parker hired 200 new Deputy marshals to crack down

On criminal activity In indian territory.

I became one of the first To ride for him.

I was perfect for the job,

Because I knew the territory Like the back of my hand.

We needed all the advantages We could get.

Ours was a job Of unprecedented danger.

You think that's our men?

Only one way to find out.

The outlaws here had The resources to stay hidden

For years, and everything to Lose if they were caught.

In the history of marshals Service, about 225, 230

Or so people have been killed.

It was a dangerous job. It was a dangerous time.

Bass: the danger of the job Fuels me,

As much as it worries my family,

But the goal is to capture, Not to kill.

And with men who know They are wanted,

This is always a challenge.

You fellas need two good Cowhands today?

We work for grub.

[ spits ]

Well, come on.

I'll show you where you can Post your horses.

-jim webb was a tough texan. -he was wanted for murder.

Bass got the warrant For his capture

And went to bring him in.

Spears: Webb was very suspicious,

And he and his accomplice kept Their guns at the ready.

Nice place you have here. Yep.

Reeves was calculating how he Was gonna get the jump on them.

How many head you got?

Thousand strong.

He had great survival instinct.

[ grunting ]

Bass, being a tremendous Athlete, grabbed him,

Knocked his gun away, And held a gun on him.

[ grunting ]

Bass: I don't blame the outlaws For resisting arrest.

If I was one of them, I'd probably try it, too.

Then again, If I was one of them,

I'd probably do a better job.

My opponents Always shoot to kill.

Unfortunately for them, So do I.

[ gunshots ]

[ gunshot ]

I, bass reeves, was on the trail Of the outlaw jim webb,

Wanted for the murder Of a preacher.

I posed undercover as a cowboy Looking for work,

But webb sniffed me out.

He knew I was there To arrest him.

Things were about to get messy.

Nelson: people who knew That he had their warrants

Knew that There was a good chance

That they were going to hang,

And so they had no reason Not to fight to the death.

[ grunting ]

Reeves was able to pull out His own pistol

And shoot the other cowboy

While he kept his hand On webb's throat.

He had to have been incredibly Strong to be able to do that.

There was a lot of luck On his side, too,

But he knew what he was doing.

Jim webb, you're under arrest

By the u.S. Marshal service For the crime of murder.

Bass: in the 1880s, The indian territory

Was a dangerous place Teeming with outlaws.

On nearly every trail Leading up to the border,

Death threats were posted For lawmen like me.

Burton: "Bass, you're Going to be a dead man."

"We're looking for you."

Sometimes the lawmen got killed

Sleeping in their camps At night.

They got bushwhacked.

And there was no type of Insurance for your family

If you got killed, so your wife And your children

Would not get anything.

Bass: when I was first offered The deputy marshal's job,

My wife jennie was as eager For me to turn it down

As I was to accept it.

That's like our military Going on deployment.

They go over there. They're away from their family

For months at a time,

And they don't know If they're coming back.

It's a good job. I can do it.

Could mean a lot of money.

Months on the road, no way to Tell if you're dead or alive.

What if you don't come back and I have nothing for the kids?

I'll come back.

Meantime, you and the kids have Got a roof over your head.

I don't know, bass. Bennie needs you.

They all do.

Enough, jennie.

It's decided.

Come here.

Give me your hand.

Feel that?

[ inhales ]

[ both laugh ]

It was my duty and my honor To ride for judge parker.

He got the nickname The "Hanging judge"

For sentencing Over 70 men to swing.

But he didn't believe In the death penalty personally,

He was just following the law.

Judge parker also seemed to have A lot in common with bass.

They were both very highly Religious,

And they both had a very strong Dedication to duty

And to the law, To right a wrong.

Isaac parker, coming from A wealthy family,

Bonded with this ex-slave

Because he really admired His integrity.

Bass: it doesn't matter To judge parker

That I'm illiterate. My work speaks for itself.

And though I may not be able to Read a single warrant

That I'm given, I always Bring in the right man.

Nelson: He would memorize the shapes

Of the names of each one,

And sometimes he would get up To 30 warrants at a time.

If you asked him for A particular name,

He could thumb through the stack And pull out

The one you asked about.

And during the course Of his career,

He never got a writ wrong.

He always arrested the person That was on the warrant.

Bass: To survive in this business,

A man's got to master the hand He's been dealt,

Even the cards That seem useless.

There was an occasion where bass Used the fact that he was

Totally illiterate To his advantage.

You fellows know about How near town I am?

Why? What business you got there?

Got me a claim there, Plan on building a farm.

You look like a lawman.

A lawman? [ laughs ]

That's a good one.

No, sir. I'm just a simple cowpoke.

You're that lawman Bass reeves, ain't ya?

Get off that horse now!

Now!

Moncrief: he was captured By two outlaws,

And anyone would assume It was bass reeves' last day.

Bass: the mind can be as strong As any rifle,

If properly employed.

In a tight spot, your wits Are your best weapon.

Any last words, cowpoke?

Well, actually,

There's a letter that My wife wrote to me.

It's over there In my saddlebag.

I'd like to hear her words As my last,

Only I can't read.

Could maybe one of you fellas Possibly read it for me?

It'd mean so much.

"My dear bass..."

About the time he starts Reading, "Dear bass,"

Bass turns the tables Completely on him.

[ grunting ]

You boys was right.

I am bass reeves, Deputy marshal, at your service.

You boys are under arrest for Assaulting a federal officer

Of the united states.

Now let me see your hands In the air!

Bass: when I get a writ For an outlaw's arrest,

His delivery to jail Is guaranteed.

But what happens from there Is out of my hands.

Sometimes the very same men I put away

End up back on the lam.

Such was the case with jim webb.

A year after I put him Behind bars,

He posted a $17,000 bond And disappeared into the wind,

And I got the pleasure Of hunting him again.

Bass found him at a little place Called bywater store,

Which was like a little trading Post, in the chickasaw nation.

-morning, chief. -hey, jim.

I got this awful stomach pain. What you got for that?

Hmm. How 'bout Some blood bitters?

Oh, damn.

I'll be back!

Jim webb, you hold it Right there!

This time there was no way Jim webb would come back

To "Hell on the border," And so he turned around

And started shooting.

[ gunshots, horse whinnies ]

One bullet hit his saddle horn,

One bullet clipped A button off his coat.

Shot a hole in bass' hat.

Bass: it's been said that Starting a gunfight

With me is akin to suicide.

It's just sad that fellas still Want to see for themselves.

[ click ]

[ gunshots ]

¶

[ gunshots ]

Jim webb, You hold it right there!

Bass: the notorious murderer Jim webb had skipped bail

And decided he had enough Of "Hell on the border."

I, deputy marshal bass reeves,

Had already captured him once.

But this time, he was determined To avoid jail or die trying.

Reeves pulled his winchester Out of the scabbard...

[ click ] ...And shot webb at 500 yards.

[ click ]

[ scream echoes ]

[ grunts ]

They said both bullets landed

Within a hand's width Of each other.

[ pants, groans ]

Throw your revolver Away from you! Now!

Reeves, take it.

[ sighs ]

I killed 11 men with that.

You were going to be my 12th.

[ breathing heavily ]

You're a brave man, reeves.

[ exhales twice ]

Webb told bass that he was A brave, brave man,

And would he take his holster As a salute to him?

And that's the story Of the bad guy jim webb

And one of the greatest Gunfights I've ever heard of.

Bass: reports of that shoot-out

And many others that ended The same way

Propelled me to the top of The outlaws' most wanted list.

But it wasn't just the outlaws Who put a target on my back.

There were some powerful lawmen Who didn't like the idea

Of a famous black deputy.

And a few years later,

It was I who wound up In "Hell on the border,"

On a trumped up charge Of murder,

Surrounded by the criminals I'd locked up.

How does it feel to be back In chains, reeves?

You gon' hang, negro!

Boggs: he's in prison with men That he sent to prison,

And I think most cops Will tell you

That's their worst fear --

To go to prison with people That you've put there.

Because they're going to not Be very nice.

And fort smith dungeon is really No place for anyone to be.

Bass: I was patient, though,

Because I knew it would only be A matter of time

Before my side of the story Was heard.

William leach was a cook That was hired by bass reeves

To accompany him into The indian territory.

And on one particular trip,

They were out in the chickasaw Nation, and reeves was upset.

The beans are burnt again, Leach.

I don't hear anyone else Complaining.

He is right, you know. These beans are something awful.

Shh.

We'll see if I bring you On the road again.

See if I don't say "No."

While this conversation was Going on, he was trying

To dislodge a bullet that had Got caught in the gun barrel.

[ gunshot ]

The gun accidentally went off And shot the cook in the neck.

Send for a doctor.

That bastard is going to Hang for it this time.

[ laughs ]

It was probably an accident.

Nkokheli: this new marshal, Who was a former confederate,

Decided to bring bass up On charges two years later,

And was successful In getting bass arrested.

Bass: I never believed that My arrest was really about

The death of william leach.

No one cared what had happened Back in '84.

In '86, that was the first time

That a former confederate Officer

Became the u.S. Marshal For the fort smith court.

They were getting rid of all The black deputies and officials

That had been appointed during Reconstruction, so this was

The way they were going to Get rid of bass.

Why don't you tell us what Happened, in your own words?

I was attempting to get My rifle clear,

And during the process,

The round accidentally Discharged and leach was hit.

And that's what happened.

He had to sell everything he had To raise the money

To raise bond And to pay his lawyers.

The prosecution argues That he did it intentionally,

That it had been some resentment

And heated words between The cook and reeves.

And they're going to bring in People to testify that,

You know, it was Cold-blooded murder.

The prosecuting attorney Actually tried to use

Some of the fugitives That bass reeves

Had captured as witnesses Against bass reeves.

But the wife of one of the Prisoners who was on the trip,

She gave real good testimony, Which helped vindicate reeves.

In the case of the government Versus bass reeves

For the charge of murder, The court finds you...

Not guilty, mr. Reeves.

Dismissed.

Thank you. Thank you.

Back to work then?

There's nothing I'd like More, sir.

Bass: once again, it was Judge parker who saved my life,

This time by defying The powerful forces

Who had sought to bring me down.

Unfortunately for them, my time As a lawman was not up.

I don't care How much it costs,

All that matters is that You're home.

Not just yet, jennie.

I got two dozen writs To serve.

-but bass! -father.

He told his family he was Going to go back out

And continue making a living to Support them and to do the work

He knew he was cut out to do.

All I could think about When I was in that dungeon

Was getting back On the road again,

Making sure that the people who Really deserve to be there are.

Being able to provide For you again.

Provide?

These boys need a father More than money,

And I need a husband.

You could get a job here.

When is it going to be enough?

Jennie, the outlaws don't rest.

Neither can I.

Nkokheli: what did bass do

After being falsely accused Of murder?

He took up his commission, His badge,

A handful of writs, and went Right back to service.

He wasn't going to let them win By forcing him out of his job.

There's no resentment.

I mean, he comes back, he pins On that star again

And he keeps doing his job.

I'm not sure I'd do that.

Bass: as the turn of The 20th century drew near,

There were as many bad men As ever lurking

In the indian territory,

And one in particular, whose Writ I had carried for years,

Bob dozier.

He was the kind of outlaw Who scared other outlaws.

When you consider all The criminals,

He was one of the worst.

Bass: he was the kingpin Of a criminal empire

Who was known to torture men For information.

He just didn't kill people, He robbed stagecoaches,

You know, he robbed cattle.

He did everything he could.

Well, he was kind of the Precursor to organized crime

In indian nation,

And, uh, he was, because of That, hard to find.

I'm running out Of patience, son.

Now, one last time before I use This as an ear cleaner.

Who is it?

Who is so hot on my trail?

Who is it?!

[ sizzling ] Ah! Ah! Ah!

[ groans ]

It's bass reeves. It's bass reeves.

I don't know if it's true, But that's what I heard.

Well, now see?

That wasn't so hard After all, was it?

[ sizzling ] Ah! Aah!

[ laughs ]

He was able to elude All of the deputy marshals

For an extended period of time, Very cunning.

Bass: but evidently not cunning Enough to elude yours truly.

You bass reeves? The lawman?

What's it to you?

I have a message From bob dozier.

He knows it's you after him.

He says you'll be a dead man If you keep pursuing him.

Bob dozier had sent somebody Ahead to say,

"If you come on after me, I'm gonna kill you."

[ laughing ]

Bass basically said, "Well, I guess, take your best shot."

He wasn't gonna turn back.

You tell bob dozier he'll have To quit running to kill me.

And I'll be ready at any time To give him that opportunity.

Hyah! Hyah!

Bass: idle threats Don't scare me.

They only motivate me All the more,

Particularly When I'm closing in.

All I had to do to find the man Was follow his messenger.

Bass had tracked him Into the cherokee hills,

Into the woody area.

Moncrief: it was hard to see, A lot of trees.

Bass had his posseman with him,

And was suddenly shot at.

[ gunshot ]

They started firing back.

[ gunshot ] Bass tried to return fire,

But really couldn't see His target well enough.

The next time the flare Of the gun went off...

Bass went down.

¶

[ gunshot ]

Bass: for years, The writ I carried

For the notorious outlaw Bob dozier

Had been burning a hole In my pocket.

I had never been closer to him Than I was in that forest,

Deep in the indian territory.

He was quick and crafty, But he had one key weakness --

Arrogance -- And I exploited it.

Bob dozier came out from his Hiding spot, confident, happy

That he had hit his target.

Dozier can't believe his luck That he shot

The famed black marshal, Bass reeves.

So he's walking up on the body And laughing

Because he's thinking, "Man, I've built my reputation.

I've shot bass reeves."

I told you, you ignorant Black bastard,

I was going to kill you if You ever caught up to me.

Bob dozier was quite amused At this turn of events,

But this time I knew that I would have the last laugh.

Bob dozier came up to check On his kill

And when he got too close...

Bob dozier Ended up the one dead.

Dozier foolishly assumed He had gotten him.

Reeves was just, you know, Pretending.

And that's the first And last encounter

That they had together.

Bass: there is no outlaw Or warrant that I fear,

No writ that I will refuse.

But there once was one that I couldn't help but dread.

Oh, good to see you, deputy.

Bass, I've got something here That I don't know about

Showing to you, a writ.

[ laughs ] Come on now, sam.

Since when am I afraid Of a writ?

I didn't want to have To do this,

But none of the other Deputies would take it.

And although bass Could not read,

He looked at the paper And was able

To make out the word reeves.

It's bennie.

It was an arrest warrant For his own son.

Bennie?

He was wanted for murder.

I'm sorry. Apparently there was Some altercation with his wife.

Nobody wanted to pick up The warrant,

None of the other deputies, Because they knew bass.

They respected him.

Bass: suddenly, I was forced to Choose between upholding the law

Or protecting my family.

The choice was clear, but that Doesn't mean it was easy.

He takes the writ And goes after his own son.

Bass: my thoughts raced as I rode in pursuit of my son.

Nelson: bennie reeves' wife had Been unfaithful to him before.

When ben found her with someone Else again,

He lost control.

He ended up shooting his wife.

I think this is something I need to do for myself.

Bass: it was bennie Who pulled the trigger,

But I can't say my conscience Was entirely clear.

Bass felt real guilty about It because bass had advised

His son on one previous occasion That maybe, uh, you might need

To take a stronger hand With your wife.

It was probably my fault, Really.

I haven't been home enough.

She's lonely.

That woman swore a holy oath Of loyalty to you,

Son, when you married her.

Spears: bennie talked to his dad About it.

His dad wanted him To stick it out.

Bass was a very religious man,

And he didn't believe In divorce.

What did you do to the bastard When you caught him?

I told him to scram.

He scrammed all right.

I see.

What would you have done?

I'd have shot The hell out of him

And whooped the living god Out of her.

I don't think he meant For bennie to kill his wife,

But he felt that bennie needed To stand up for himself.

He had a dedication To duty that, I think,

Was unmatched by most people.

And that was proven in the fact That he arrested his own son.

I need you to get up And come with me.

You don't want to do that.

No, but maybe I have to.

We can do this with honor.

You'll stand trial. You'll be sentenced.

You'll serve.

I'll hang.

You don't know that.

I guarantee you will If you resist arrest.

Now hand over that gun.

Spears: it was his son. It was his job to arrest him.

He figured he better than anyone Else could make this happen

Without some kind of incident.

You're the only outlaw I'll skip the chains for.

What do you say?

Just so long as you promise Not to run off on me.

And you know I'll track you down.

Bass: I knew full well That bennie faced

One of two terrible fates --

A lifetime behind bars, Or a violent end on the gallows.

Hard to tell which was worse.

But I've always lived by a code Of honor,

And this would be Its ultimate test.

¶

[ gunshots ]

In my time as a lawman, I arrested over 3,000 criminals.

All of them deserved it, but one Was my own flesh and blood.

My son bennie, charged with The murder of his wife.

I couldn't help but feel Partly responsible

For his downfall,

Because it was I who had planted The seed of revenge in him.

The fact that bass reeves Took it upon himself to go

Arrest his own son And bring him in,

Man, that is -- that's some Integrity.

I -- that's striking.

I'm sure the entire time Was very painful for bass,

Perhaps reflecting on the time That he did not have

To raise his own kids With the integrity

That he had developed From such a young age.

The court finds benjamin reeves Guilty...

Of murder in the first degree.

He is to serve life in prison.

¶

Bass: bennie made A terrible mistake,

But it wasn't too late To redeem himself before god.

He could still be A man of honor,

And that is what he became.

Spears: bennie became A model prisoner.

And after 11 years in jail, He was pardoned.

And he went back To muskogee, oklahoma,

Where all of this happened,

And becomes a barber, Becomes a very respected

Member of the community And lives out his life

As a law-abiding citizen.

Bass: during the decade That bennie was in prison,

The west I knew had changed, And not for the better.

There was a new villain To contend with,

More formidable than any outlaw.

Nelson: When oklahoma becomes a state,

The jim crow laws take effect,

And bass or other blacks

Can no longer be Deputy u.S. Marshals.

And so bass is out of a job, But he is not ready to retire.

Bass, uh, became A police officer in muskogee,

But he was relegated to only Enforcing the law

In the black areas.

Bass: politics may have forced Me out of the marshal service,

But my reputation was As fierce as ever.

It was said that no crimes Were ever committed

During bass reeves' shift.

Bass: in my 32 years As a lawman,

I was never outgunned, Never outmaneuvered.

I sent 14 bad men To their graves,

But the good lord spared me From a violent end.

He died with his boots off.

He was 71, going on 72 The year he died, in 1910.

White people, black people, Native americans came out

In great numbers to his funeral, And he was buried in muskogee.

Bass', uh, character was renown Throughout the area.

Matter of fact, not only Throughout the indian territory

In arkansas, oklahoma, But throughout the country.

When he passed away, There was even an obituary

In the washington, d.C., Newspaper

About this famous Black deputy marshal.

History played a cruel trick On him...And forgot him.

This was a man Of sterling character,

Who should be the hero Of every child in america,

But who, of course, alas,

Is just a dusty page In the history books.

Bass: my name may be All but forgotten,

But my story lives on

Through one of america's Most legendary characters,

An icon inspired by yours truly.

The lone ranger broke On the radio in detroit in 1933.

Prisoners were Coming out of fort smith

And the indian territory And serving time

In detroit house of corrections.

Next to the detroit House of corrections,

There was a radio station.

Hearing the stories Of this black marshal

In the indian territories From these prison guards,

There's nothing definitive To prove it,

But there was no one In real life

That came closer.

The lone ranger, of course, Is a white guy from texas,

And bass reeves is a black man In indian territory.

But there are similarities.

Sounds crazy? Think about it.

The lone ranger is fearless.

Bass always said That bullets couldn't hurt him,

And maybe that's why He seemed to be so fearless.

Bass: the lone ranger employs Trickery and disguises

To catch criminals.

He did use disguises and managed To capture criminals

By taking them by surprise.

Bass: the lone ranger Rides for justice.

Boggs: bass reeves wasn't in it For money.

He wasn't in it for glory. He was a lawman.

Pure and simple, I mean, He was dedicated to justice.

Bass: the lone ranger's partner Is native american.

Nkokheli: by tribal law, The deputy marshals

Had to be accompanied By a native american posse,

And this is probably where tonto Might have originated.

Bass: the lone ranger gives out Silver bullets.

There are stories that bass Often gave out silver dollars

As a thank-you to people.

Bass: he rides a white horse.

Bass reeves did raise, and was Known to ride a white horse.

Bass: And he wears a black mask.

In a sense, it was like

They wanted to say This was a black man,

But they couldn't really say It was a black man.

Hutton: for a black lawman Like bass reeves,

He faces a lot of hurdles And he overcomes them all.

And that just speaks To the sheer presence

This man must have had.

He really is one of the most Remarkable characters

In the american west.

Against all odds, He charged forth

And did what he knew was right.

As jim webb said, "You're The bravest man I ever met."

He was.

He became a legend In his own time.

The people who lived In the indian territory

Were singing songs About bass reeves.

Nkokheli: people would say That if bass reeves

Were to spit on a brick, The brick would break.

So that was their way to talk About how tough he was.

Bass: I never set out To be a legend.

Only wanted to defend the law.

Because where there is law, There is freedom.

And a life without freedom, The life I once knew,

Is no life at all.

His story reads in many ways Like a tall tale, but it's not.

And that's the amazing thing.

The difference between The lone ranger and bass

Is that bass reeves was real.