All language subtitles for Death.Valley.Days.S06E02.Camel.Train.1080p.AMZN.WEB-DL.DD+2.0.H.264-bigworm_track3_[eng]

THE OLD RANGER:
And now,Death Valley Days.

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

Hyah! Yah!

Yah! Yah!

Howdy, folks.
I'’m the Old Ranger,

and I have another
interesting true story for you

about the historic
Death Valley country.

I have here
a newspaper clipping

which quotes
the Smithsonian Institute
at Washington D.C.

as confirming the theory
that the earliest
ancestors of the camel

roamed what is now
North America.

And since the camel
originated right here,

I'’m sure you'll be interested
in the story

of the great American
camel experiment
of 100 years ago.

I call the story...

The two men who rode
into this valley in 1847

knew nothing about camels
having roamed in this region

40 million years ago.

They were on
an exploring trip.

The first white men
ever to set foot in this place

which a party of '’49ers
would later name

"Death Valley."

They are
Edward Fitzgerald Beale,

lieutenant
in the United States Navy,
presently on land duty,

and the famous scout,
Kit Carson.

They'’re interested
not in the past but the future,

seeking new routes westward.

Yet oddly enough,
it is camels
they'’re discussing.

You know that book
by Abbé Huc I was reading
out loud to you last night, Kit?

You ever travel
without a book
in your pack, Ned?

[ chuckles ]
Not if I can help it.

It gave me an idea, though.

If camels are so useful
on the deserts
of China and Tibet,

why couldn'’t they be
equally useful here
in our American desert?

They'’d sure scare
the blue blazes
out of the Injun.
[ chuckles ]

They'’d outrun
the Indian ponies, too,

which is more
than our cavalry can do.

By George, the next time
I go to Washington,

I'’m gonna put the idea up
to Jefferson Davis.

Jefferson Davis?
Who'’s he?

He'’s head
of the Senate Committee
on Military Affairs

and vitally interested
in opening up the West.

Go to it.

You kind of skeptical
about the idea of a camel corps?

No. I just never seen
a camel, that'’s all.

Except in pictures.

And you will, though.

I predict you'’ll see them
on our American desert

as part of
the army transport system,

and within
the next few years.

It wasn'’t until four years
later, though, in 1851,

that I got the chance
to present my idea
to Jeff Davis.

Do you know, Mr. Davis,
how much a pack camel can carry?

Over a thousand pounds.

Do you know how far
a riding camel can travel?

Ninety miles a day.
They require almost no water

and can live for weeks
on their own humps.

You'’ve done a lot of reading
on the subject, Lieutenant.

Everything I could
lay my hands on
for the past four years.

What I know about the Southwest
hasn'’t come out
of books, though.

I'’ve lived that.I'’ll say you have.

I reckon
there'’s no man in this country,
unless it'’s Kit Carson,

knows the Southwest better.

The more I travel it,
the more convinced I am

that camels are the answer.

Look at the distance
between these army posts.

Vast, arid stretches
overrun with hostile Indians.

How are you going
to patrol them?

How are you going
to provide communication,
transport supplies,

protect the immigrants
going to the gold fields?

With camels.You really mean it?

I certainly think
it'’s worth a try.

Mr. Davis!

I'’ll present
the matter to Congress
at the earliest opportunity.

Thank you, sir.
Thank you.

Three times Jefferson Davis
put the camel project
up to Congress,

and each time
they rejected it.

It was frustrating,

especially as I had been months
working out a plan

to open a road
across the Southwest
with the camels

as soon as we got them
over here.

I decided to go east
to my home in Chester,
Pennsylvania,

where my wife, Mary,
was waiting.

Ned, I feel sure that Jeff Davis
will push it through this time,

now that he'’s secretary of war.

Dear Mary.

Always the loyal helpmate.

Well, I know one Congressman
who'’ll vote for it--

my father.[ chuckles ]

If there'’s one thing in life
I find it hard to bear,
it'’s waiting for action.

I know you do, dear.
But cousin David Porter

has promised to let us know-- [ knock on door ]

There he is, I hope.

David, come in.

Ned. Cousin Mary.

How nice to see you.

David, any news?

The news is good
from your standpoint, Ned.

You mean Jeff Davis
put it over?

He did.Wonderful!

He got an appropriation
and is naming a commission

to proceed to the Near East
to purchase camels.

Good. Good.
That'’s great.

Oh, you see, Ned?
They do appreciate your ideas.

Yeah. There'’s only
one thing wrong
with the picture:

I'’m to head the commission.Who could head it any better?

Well, after all, you lived
in Constantinople as a boy

when Uncle Porter
was consul there.

Have you ever
smelled a camel?

Think of spending weeks
aboard ship with 80 of them.

But it'’ll be fun to visit
some of those ports again,
won'’t it?

When are you sailing?In a matter of weeks.

As soon as we can convert
the naval storeship Supply

into a floating caravansary.

How long will it take
before you get
the camels over here?

Several months.
August, perhaps.

The plan is to take them
to Texas by water.

We'’ll land them there.And then what?

That'’s where your husband
takes over, my dear.

Soon as I get the camels
off of my ship,

the whole experiment is up
to Lieutenant Edward
Fitzgerald Beale--

"Ned" to you.[ chuckles ]

He dreamed up this whole thing.
He'’ll have to see it through.

And I will too.

I'’ll prove
that the American desert

and the army
need this camel corps.

You'’ll both see it through.
[ chuckles ]

Well, I think
it'’s simply wonderful

the part you two
are going to play
in opening up the West.

But, of course, I didn'’t dream
what the problems would be.

Cousin David'’s letters
were a revelation.

The effort to get strong,
healthy, young camels.

The struggle
to get Arab cameleers

who would agree
to stay in the United States.

Difficulties on the ship
with those poor beasts

latched to the decks
in the storms.

And, of course,
man-like,

they never thought
of the baby camels

that would be born at sea,

or how to take care of them.

And my poor Ned,

waiting there in Texas
in the August heat

to take over
the whole responsibility

of acclimatizing
those strange beasts

in a strange land.

I'’ll never forget
my first sight of a camel.

I could tell
he was sneering at me.

[ grunting ]

The first night ashore,
we put the camels
in a corral fenced with cactus.

By morning,
they had eaten their way out,
spines and all.

I think it'’s wonderful
that camels will eat cactus.

It goes to prove
they can subsist on anything.

You'’re gonna do all right
here in our desert, old fella.

Have they got names?Him Sayyid.

That mean gentleman."Gentleman."
[ chuckles ]

While we'’re performing
introduction,

let me introduce you
to Hadji Ali from Smyrna.

We call him "Hi Jolly." How do you do?

Effendi.Who offend-y who?

"Effendi" is a term of address.

Let me introduce you
to the other boys.

George Caralambo.

Mustafa Hazam.

Ali Suleman.[ mutters ]

These two are the best
saddle-makers in all of Turkey.

You like ride?

Well, I-- Him fast trotter.

Oh, I don'’t doubt it.
But I think I'’ll wait till
he'’s got his land legs first.

Thanks.Oh, nonsense. The beast
needs his exercise.

Climb aboard.

[ growling ]

[ bells jingling ]

Makes me seasick
just to look at him.

You'’ll get used to that motion
by the time you reach
California, Sergeant.

What do you mean, sir?

As soon as the camels have
recovered from their voyage,

Lieutenant Beale is planning
to try them out
on a wagon road survey

clear to California.The heck, you say!

I don'’t say.
Secretary of War says.

Hi Jolly glad go California.
Find gold.

"And I hope the day will come
when the three of us together

will have a home
in California."

Then I can go on
the camel crew with Papa?

Oh, I'’m afraid not, son.
You'’re just a baby yet.

I can ride a baby camel.

[ chuckling ]

Anyway, I wish I
could see a camel.

Well, maybe you'’ll see
and ride one someday.

I think camels are cute.

Well designed for
the desert, anyway.

Do you know how many
stomachs they have?

How many?Four.

Four? Why?

Well, one of them is used
to store water in.

Gee, think of having
four stomachaches.

[ laughing ]

Why do some camels
have two humps,

and the others
have one hump?

Oh, Papa will answer
all of your questions
when the expedition is over.

When will it be over?Oh, I wish I knew.

I miss him.I miss Papa too.

Well, we'’ll be hearing
from him, darling.

He'’s keeping a diary
every mile

from Fort Defiance, New Mexico,
to Fort Tejon, California.

He'’s going to bring it back
and read it to us.

Now, won'’t that be fun?

Not as much fun
as riding on a camel.

[ laughing ]

[ bells jingling ]

Blast you! Why'’d I ever
join the army anyway?

[ grunting ]

[ bells continue jingling ]

BEALE:
We number 48 men,
12 wagons,

and 120 animals.

Each camel is loaded
with 700 pounds of forage

for the horses and mules.

The camels themselves

browse on anything
they find along the way.

They require almost no sleep.

[ bellowing ]

[ bellowing intensifies ]Hey! Hey!

[ bellowing continues ]

Hey!

Hey!

[ animal howling, distant ]

BEALE:
Fire'’s getting low.

I'’ll gather some old greasewood.

[ howling continues ]

[ tail rattling ]Rattlesnake!

[ animal howling ]

He bite ya?

No.

Lucky.

Nice shooting, sir.

Thanks.

BEALE:
The country is growing rougher

and more waterless.

The camels alone
seem unworried.

They are living up
to all my expectations.

The only problem they create
is a human one.

[ whip cracking ]

[ camel bellowing ]Take that,
you humpbacked heathen!

And that!

Stop it!

I said, stop it!

What do you mean
treating a camel like that?He tried to bite me.

Serves you right,
the way you handle him.

Can'’t you learn?I hate the critters.

Give me a mule anytime.A mule?

One camel
is worth four mules.

The answer is
you'’re afraid of 'em.

You take it out in abuse.

You'’re harsh, stupid,
totally unfit.

From now on, you leave
the camels to the native boys.

That suits me fine... sir!

That'’s all right, fella.
Easy now. Easy.

BEALE:
Today, our camp was visited

by Mohave Indians

with melons for sale.

[ sniffing ]

How much?

One dollar, United States.

One dollar?
How many?One.

A dollar apiece?
Well, that'’s highway robbery.

Melon good, juicy.

Not worth a dollar.One dollar!

Doggone.
They know our tongues
are hanging out.

First fresh fruit
we'’ve seen in weeks.

[ sniffs ]

Now, look, Chief,
let'’s be reasonable.

We like you.
You like us.

Let'’s be friends.
Let'’s talk this over.

CHIEF:
One dollar, take or leave.[ bells jingling ]

Fifty cents.

One dollar.Sixty cents.

CHIEF:
One dollar. MAN: Seventy-five cents.

One dollar, take or leave.[ shouting ]

[ bellowing ]

[ man shouts
in native language ]

[ laughter ]

Stacy, you deserve
the Medal of Honor.[ laughter ]

Thank you, sir,
but I'’ll settle
for a couple of cantaloupes.

[ laughter, chatter ]

Hey-o!

Well, this is the one place
I'’ve been dreading.

Well, the current
doesn'’t look too swift.

For animals
who can swim.

Oh, it'’s said
that camels can'’t.

Is it true that
camels can'’t swim?

I don'’t know.
We'’re about to find out.

Well, if they can'’t,
we'’ll get 'em across
by raft.

Then the expedition
will have failed.

Hi Jolly,
bring up your camel.

[ camel grunting ]

And bring up one of
those saddle horses.

Tie a rope to that
camel'’s lead line.

Okay, now lead him
into the river
with your horse.

[ bells jingling ]

[ grunting ]

[ bellows ] [ water splashing ]

It'’s almost reached
its depth.

He'’s swimming!
Look at him strike out!

MAN:
He'’s holding his own
against the current,

strong as anything!

[ men shouting ]

[ shouting continues ]

[ cheering ]

[ laughter ]

Hi Jolly,

string '’em together,
each to the saddle of another.

[ grunting ]

[ bellows ] [ water splashing ]

[ bellows ] [ water splashing ]

[ growling ]

MAN:
Hey!

Hey!

[ growling continues ]

[ bells jingling ]

All right, boys.
Keep '’em moving.

Keep '’em rolling.
We'’re almost there.

Let'’s go!

[ jingling continues ]

[ camels grunting ]

Goldarnedest critters
I ever seen.

Any one of '’em
is worth ten army mules.

You changed your mind about
those camels, Sergeant?

Yep. Oh, uh, yes, sir.[ chuckles ]

Please, this is California?

Sure.Where is gold?

You didn'’t expect to find gold
in an army post, did you?

The fellers tell me
there'’s some diggings
up north of here.

A place called
Whiskey Flat.

Whiskey?Yeah. Whiskey.

Please.Oh, I forgot.

You Moslems
don'’t indulge,
do you?

Anyhow, I hear Whiskey Flat
is a roaring gold camp.

How far?Maybe 50 miles.

One night on camel.

Oh-ho, so that'’s what
you'’re up to.

You'’d better not let
the lieutenant catch you.

BEALE:
That you, Hi Jolly?

Where you going?Whiskey Flat, effendi.

Whiskey Flat?Find gold.

Our job'’s only half done.

We'’ve got to see
how the camels make out
in the snows of winter.

Hi Jolly come to California
to find gold.

All right. You'’re free to go
to the gold fields
if you want to.

You'’re not bound by contract,
and I can'’t stop you.

Who'’ll take care of camels?

Our own soldiers
if you cameleers quit.

I stay with camels.

Gold can wait.

After blazing a trail
across three states
with the camel train,

I wrote my official report
to Washington.

I was truthfully able to say,

"The camels have proved equal
to every test we put them to,

"performed tasks
which no other animal
could possibly have endured.

"I look forward, hopefully,

"to the time
when these noble brutes

would be in general use
in all parts of our country."

I was appointed
Superintendent of Indian Affairs
for California,

and moved my wife and son
to Rancho Tejon, near the fort.

Then came war.

[ gunfire continues ]

Any mail?Not yet.

[ scoffs ]
Why does it take so long to get
an answer from Washington?

I still find it hard
to think of Jeff Davis
as an enemy.

President of the Confederacy!

You'’re really egging to go,
aren'’t you, Ned?

You read my letter
to President Lincoln.

I meant every word of it.

Everything I have in this world
I owe to my country.

My one wish now
is to offer my life
for the flag.

[ knock on door ]Come in.

Hi Jolly.
You'’ve brought mail.

Yes, effendi.

Excuse, please.Here it is.

An answer
from the White House.Oh!

The president
declines my offer.Ned...

He believes I can do
more good for our cause
right here in California,

where the danger
of secession
is so great.

He may be right, Ned.

But I'’ve waited so long
for active service!

But if you can help save
California for the Union...

You have great influence here.

I'’ll do my best.

Effendi?

Yes? What is it?

Hi Jolly say good-bye.

So you'’re going
to the gold fields at last?

No, effendi.

I join American Army.What?

They use me.
Carry dispatch
cross desert.

Wear uniform.[ chuckles ]

You'’re a very lucky fella,
Hi Jolly.

Congratulations.

MAN:
I said it once,
and I'’ll say it again!

I don'’t have time
to be bothered!

We'’re fighting a war,
not running a zoo!

Those camels are a nuisance!

I don'’t care
what you do with '’em!

Get rid of '’em!
Sell '’em!
Auction '’em off!

Give '’em away!
Turn '’em loose!

Do anything,
but get rid of them!

Ned, I'’m sorry.

I never heard
of anything so stupid,

so shortsighted.

And after the way the camels
have proved themselves!

Well, I know how you feel, dear,
but war changes everything.

We have thousands of acres
of land here.

I think nothing of buying
a hundred head of cattle.

Ned.

Just a passing thought, Mary.Oh, no, it isn'’t.

You'’re going to buy
those camels yourself.
Your mind'’s all made up.

Well, only those
at Fort Tejon.

How did you guess?

Well, I'’ve been married to you
for quite a few years, darling.

Then you don'’t mind?
I mean, if I give the camels
a home here till after the war?

They can stay here
the rest of their lives
if you like.

Oh, Mary,
you make me very happy.

And I know somebody else'’ll
be very happy too.

Truxtun.

[ both laugh ]

[ grunting ]Oh, boy!

Do you really mean I can have
a camel of my own to ride, Papa?

Well, if you
treat him right, son.

And if you can
stay on him.

Come on, boy.
Come on, boy.[ shouting ]

[ laughing ]

[ shouting continues ]

[ laughing continues ]

And was that really
the end of the camel?

Well, some were sold
to circuses,

some to mines
in Virginia City,

and some remained
at army posts.

General Douglas MacArthur
can remember,

as a little boy in 1885,

seeing camels at Fort Selden
in Arizona

where his father
was a commanding officer.

Now, many of the camels
were turned loose on the desert.

Have they any descendents?

Well, your guess
is as good as mine.

If you see one,
let me know.

♪♪ [ trumpet ]