Original subtitles

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.

The war with Mexico in 1846

added half a million square miles of new territory

to the United States.

It made a national hero of the American general Zachary Taylor

and carried him to the White House in the election of 1848.

The Gold Rush was in full swing

when he took the oath of office as our 12th president.

Known affectionately the country over as...

Actually the story isn'’t about me at all.

It'’s about my namesake.

In the spring of 1849,

just at the time of my inauguration,

a wagon train of young men left Wisconsin

for the gold fields of California.

Their leader was Captain A.A. Townsend,

who had served under me in one of my Indian campaigns.

As a compliment to me, they called themselves

"the Rough and Ready Company."

About time they got here.

Yeah, it certainly is about time.

Ain'’t he gonna be surprised.

Yeah, they look plumb tuckered out too.

Hi, Captain.Hi.

Good to see you.How was your trip?

[ overlapping greetings ]You look fine.

Got any venison for us?

Ain'’t even shot a squirrel.

Been too busy digging for gold.

Gold?Sure! Show him, Slim!

I was trailing a grizzly up a ravine yonder,

stopped to get a drink from the creek,

and found this nugget staring me smack in the face.

The whole ravine'’s a bed of gold.

We took out a good $400 worth while we were waitin'’ for ya.

We'’ve reached the promised land.

Looks like it, Dominee.

This is it. We'’ll camp here.

We'’ll camp here! Unhitch!

Gold! This is it!

Unhitch it, boys!

But the main thing is to keep this to ourselves.

And don'’t let anybody else horn in on it.

Right!Good idea.

Wait a minute. You'’re not gonna keep this secret very long.

Then we'’ll have to work fast.

Locate everything in sight regardless of value.

Take out the whole ravine. Post notices to claim jumpers.

Run '’em off with a gun. It'’s our discovery.MEN: Yeah!

Wait a minute! Wait a minute!

There'’ll be a rush here the minute they hear that there'’s gold at...

Say, what are we gonna call the camp anyway?

Wisconsin Flat.[ men jeering ]

God'’s Acre.

[ murmuring ]

There'’s only one fitting name to give it.

Already painted on the side of our wagons.

The name of that great soldier who helped win California for United States,

now Commander in Chief of us all,

Zach Taylor, Old Rough and Ready.

[ cheering ]

All in favor?

MEN: Aye!

Opposed?

Good.

Come on. We'’ll christen her.

Yeah!Come on, boys!

I christen this camp Rough and Ready!

[ cheering ]

Boys, we really got it made, haven'’t we?

All I did was hold that bag open, and Brundage here pours in the gold.

Laying it thick. Right at the grass roots.

Look at that. Just while I was eating lunch today on my claim.

Imagine picking that up...Still can'’t nothing equal

that nugget I picked out of Squirrel Creek last September.

MAN: Is that it? The original nugget?

That'’s right, stranger.

Worth $1,200.

You dare leave it out on display like that?

You ain'’t been in Rough and Ready very long.

No, I just came.

We got laws here about stealing.

Got '’em all writ. On paper.

Anybody steals another man'’s gold gets hanged.

Unless he makes...

Hey, what is that word?"Restitution."

Yeah. Yeah, that'’s it. Hey, you'’re pretty smart.

What happens to him then?

He gets 50 lashes on his bare back and 24 hours to get out of camp.

We don'’t stand for no nonsense here in Rough and Ready.

I take it I have the honor of addressing the founders?

That'’s right.The original Rough and Ready Company.

Which one'’s Captain Townsend?

He ain'’t here. Went back to Wisconsin

to sign up men who'’ll come out here and work under contract.

You really have got this place staked out, haven'’t you?

We ain'’t exactly stupid, mister.

MAN: You, uh, want to work for wages,

we'’ll be glad to hire you.

No, thanks. I'’ll locate something for myself.

Yeah? If you'’re lucky.

Well, Yankees generally are.

Silas Begg from Massachusetts.

Brundage, Wisconsin.

Joe Sweigart, ditto.To Rough and Ready!

Darn best camp in California!

And to America!

And to America!And to America.

[ men chattering ]

Hey! A lady.

Oh, please don'’t let me break up your game.

Game'’s over, miss.

May I, uh-- May I help you, ma'’am?

I'’m looking for the hotel proprietor.

That'’s me. What can I do for you?

Oh. Vamoose, fellas.

See ya later.

Now.

Would you like to register?

I'’m looking for a place to open a barbershop.

A barbershop?

You want to open a barbershop?

Well, I know it'’s unusual for a woman.

It'’s unheard of.

Well, there'’s no law against it, is there?

Oh, good gracious, no. This here'’s a free country.

Part of the United States.

If trimming men'’s beards is your idea

of the pursuit of happiness, you got a right.

I thought I'’d do better in a camp like this

than in San Francisco where we'’d planned to settle.

My husband was a barber, you see.

Oh. You'’re a widow?

Yes, he... He died coming overland.

There was nothing for me to do but carry on, and...

Well, here I am.

Well, you'’re--you're a mighty plucky little woman,

Mrs., uh...Jessie Babcock.

Mrs. Babcock.

You'’re gonna do very good here in Rough and Ready.

I'’ve got a room right here on the ground floor

you can use as a shop.

That'’ll do very nicely, thank you.

[ Sweigart laughing ]

Yeah, we sure beat out all those other guys.

Located everything for miles around here.

Why, I got claims I ain'’t even touched yet.

Don'’t you have to do assessment work?

Come the time, I'’ll hire someone by the day.

Might even unload some of my claims, the poorer ones.

[ chuckles ]

Got me a nice cabin.

All I need now is a woman.

[ laughs ]

The news must be very absorbing.

Hmm? Oh.

Federal government'’s proposing a tax on miners.

[ chuckles ]

That'’ll raise a howl from here to Washington.

The citizens of Rough and Ready can certainly afford it

with the gold they'’re taking out.

Present company excepted.

Aren'’t your claims panning out?

I don'’t own any.

No ground at all?

Not a square foot. But I'’m still looking.

And here a man like Joe Sweigart-- Oh, sorry.

Sweigart, boasting they'’ve got claims

they haven'’t even touched.

They got here first.

It just doesn'’t seem right they should locate everything,

good, bad and indifferent.

And some of it is indifferent.

Mm. Bound to be.

Joe says those are the claims he'’ll unload.

Hmm, naturally.

You don'’t like Joe very much, do you?

It'’s just that...

Well, he'’s too fresh.

Well, aren'’t they all?

Present company excepted.

Thank you, ma'’am.

Thank you.

Can'’t get away with something like that.

Come all the way out here from...

It'’s an outrage.Outrage, it'’s an insult.

Here we name the camp after the president,

and what'’s he do? Slaps a tax on us.

That'’s why we left Wisconsin.

Was to get away from that sort of thing.

Well, our Yankee friend.

You, uh, looking for a job?

No, I'’m still looking for a claim.

You want to buy a claim, I'’ll sell you one.

Where is it?

Got any money?

Would I be interested in buying if I didn'’t?

I'’ll take you out there and show it to you.

It'’s a bargain.

All right. Let'’s go.

[ water flowing ]

How about letting me work it on trial?

On trial? You mean for wages?

Not exactly.

Let'’s go back to camp where we can talk over a drink.

I'’ll work the ground for a day.

If I take out $200 worth of gold

I'’ll buy the claim.

If I take out less, the deal'’s off

and I just keep what I'’ve done.

You'’ll take out 200 easy.

Then you get your price, cash on the barrelhead.

It'’s a good sporting offer, isn'’t it?

You got nothing to lose.

I'’ll want it in writing. Black and white.

[ chuckles ]

Nobody'’s gonna put anything over on you.

Business is business.

All right. We'’ll draw up a contract.

And we'’ll both sign it.

"Agreement."

"If the party of the second part..."

That'’s me.

"recovers more than $200 in gold during the day,

"he promises to buy the claim."

Mm. I get the proceeds of the first day'’s work.

Agreed.

"If the party of the second part

"takes out less than 200,

"he keeps it,

"and is not obligated to buy.

"Signed in Rough and Ready, California,

"March the 4th, 1850."

There'’s my name on it.

You go to work tomorrow?

At sun-up.

I'’ll have a friend posted there to watch the claim.

[ laughs ]

You think of everything, don'’t you, Joe?

Hmm. [ laughs ]

Yeah, here I sit in a comfortable chair,

with a beautiful girl hovering over me,

and getting richer by the hour.

By sundown I'’ll have $3,000 more to my name,

besides the gold that that Yankee

is digging out of my claim,

at least $200 worth.

Not bad for a day'’s work. Huh, sweetheart?

[ laughs ]

Hey, Yank.

What are you doing here? It'’s only noon.

Just weighing what I'’ve dug so far.

Oh?

Well... $180.

He struck a rich pocket.

Well, at this rate, you'’ll take out

4 or $500 before sundown, it'’s a cinch.

No, I'’ve got all I want.

What do you mean, you ain'’t quitting now?

Why not?

You agreed to work a full day.

Oh, no, I didn'’t.Oh, yes, you did.

It'’s in that contract, I can show it to you.

The contract reads whatever I take out in a day.

Doesn'’t say how long a day.

Could be one hour, two hours, a morning.

Why, you shyster, give me that gold.

No! It belongs to me, brother.

Less than $200, you read the scales yourself.

That'’s about the easiest money I ever made.

And I suppose you won'’t buy the claim.

[ laughs ] Don'’t make me laugh.

You can'’t get away with this.

We have ways of dealing with fellas like you.

Men have been hung for less.

I abided strictly by the terms of the contract.

And you can'’t touch me.

You don'’t know Rough and Ready!

He'’s a slicker and a crook!

A double-dealing son of a gun.

[ all agreeing ]

Let him be and he'’ll swindle the rest of ya'’.

Wind up by owning the camp.

[ all chattering ]

Wait a minute, wait a minute!

Where'’s that contract, Joe? Let'’s see what it says.

Never mind the contract.

What he done was worse than stealing.

And you know the penalty for that!

[ all shouting ]

Ouch!Oh, I'’m sorry, Reverend.

My hands have been shaky tonight.

What'’s wrong?

I'’m worried about Silas Begg.

You heard how he outsmarted Joe Sweigart?

Yes. [ chuckles ]

It'’s not funny, Reverend, Joe'’s out to get him.

Why, he'’s lined up all your Wisconsin men,

and a lot of others.

They'’re over in the saloon now getting drunker by the minute.

Where'’s Si?

In his own tent, I suppose.

I'’ll go warn him.

He'’d best get out of town while the going'’s good.

Tie him to a tree and give him 50 lashes!

Yeah, 50 lashes!

[ cracking ][ all shouting ]

Come on!

Let'’s go!

But there'’s no time to lose, Si.

I haven'’t broken any law.

They want to get rid of you.

I have as much right here as they have.

That isn'’t the point.It is the point.

I'’m an American citizen, I'’m gonna stand on my rights.

And lose your neck, perhaps.

Why must you be so pigheaded?

In New England they call it "strong-minded."

Whatever it is, forget it. Clear out.

I'’ll give you my buckboard.

Hitch up and drive to Timbuktu.

Or back to Grass Valley, or--

[ men in distance ]

It'’s too late. Here they come.

You stay in here out of sight.

Step aside, Dominee. This is our party.

You have no legal ground.

He swindled me. REVEREND: Then sue him.

Take him to court.But we know he'’s guilty!

He has the right to be heard.

That'’s the right of every American citizen.

Don'’t preach to us, Dominee, this ain'’t Sunday.

MAN: The Yankee'’s got to go.

Then find a legal way to get rid of him, but not this.

Go back and talk it over.

So he can skip camp, huh?

I'’m not budging.You'’re dang right you'’re not!

I'’ll take custody of him until you make up your minds.

Guarantee to deliver him when you'’re ready.

Well, I guess we can trust Dominee.

Let'’s go.

You were a fool, Joe, to ever sign that contract.

Never mind about the contract.

How we gonna get rid of that Yankee?

Pass a law saying anyone from Massachusetts

is not allowed in Rough and Ready.

Sure!We can'’t do that.

You know well as I do, California'’s open to everybody.

Can'’t we do nothing on our own?

Not if it goes counter to the laws of the territory.

All right, then we'’ll get out.

We'’ll withdraw from California.

We'’ll set up our own free independent state.

Yeah![ all agreeing ]

The state of Rough and Ready!

Rough and Ready, that'’s it!

Wait, wait, wait.Yeah, that'’s what we'’ll call it!

We'’d have to get approval from Congress.

We can'’t wait for Congress.

Congress is the only one who creates new states in the Union.

Rough and Ready will have nothing to do with the Union.

We'’ll secede.

[ muted chatter ]Huh?

Secede? From the United States?

Sure.Well, well...

That-that'’s sort of revolutionary, isn'’t it?

Well, if you mean shooting and bloodshed, no.

We'’ll do it peaceful as you please.

We'’ll just announce that Rough and Ready

has become an independent republic

with its own constitution and its own president.

Yeah, yeah! That'’s a good idea.[ all agreeing ]

Say, Brundage, you'’d make a right fine president.

MAN: Yeah, he would, wouldn'’t he?

Well, if I was elected,

I'’d appoint you Secretary of State, Mr. Roberts.

Well, thank you! SWEIGART: We'’ll pass a law

eliminating all undesirable citizens.

[ all agreeing ]We'’ll do it.

And we'’ll eliminate all taxes.

[ all shouting ]

And that'’s when all this came to the desk

of the President of the United States.

I received word here at the White House

that Rough and Ready had formally seceded from the Union,

that they had elected Mr. Brundage as president,

and drawn up this manifesto.

When, in the course of human events,

it becomes necessary for a people to unite

in a common cause

for the protection and benefit of all...

Has a kind of a familiar ring, hasn'’t it?

Let'’s hear the rest of it.

BRUNDAGE: When they are at the mercy

of soulless and mercenary speculators,

reduced to seeing their property taken over

by the sharp practices of those who are not of them,

unable to deal with them in a manner

befitting so great and able a people

as those of Rough and Ready.

Therefore, we deem it necessary and prudential

to withdraw from the territory of California

and from the United States of America

to form, peacefully if we can,

forcibly if we must,

the great republic of Rough and Ready.

"Announcement this seventh day of April,

in the year of our Lord, 1850."

Well, there it was. An independent republic,

ironically named for Zachary Taylor,

the President of the United States,

comprising a few square miles and a few hundred citizens.

The first break in the solidarity of the Union.

A mere pinprick when compared to the welter of problems

which came to me from our new Western territory.

But what if every settlement

with a chip on their shoulder did likewise?

Where would the United States of America be?

I had no wish to send troops to fight our own people,

so I gave them a little time to come to their senses.

Meanwhile...

As president of this great republic of Rough and Ready,

it is my official duty to inform you

that you'’ve been declared an undesirable alien,

and are hereby ordered to be deported before sundown.

A military escort will see you across the border.

In uniform, I hope.

Our army and our navy haven'’t been organized as yet.

But every citizen has pledged to fight to the last drop

of his blood if necessary.

It won'’t be. I'’ll start packing.

You'’ve got five minutes.

Well, at least you'’re getting out with a whole skin.

And $180 in gold the Secretary of Treasure overlooked.

All I know is, she paid her rent up to noon today.

MAN: You mean she'’s leaving?You bet I am.

I'’m an American. I don'’t like the idea

of living in a foreign country.

Rough and Ready ain'’t foreign.

You'’re no longer part of the United States.

We'’re still Americans.Oh, no, you'’re not.

You'’re ex-patriots.

Well, we still speak English.

I wouldn'’t feel comfortable for one minute here, under a strange flag.

We'’re drawing up a constitution.

Thanks. I'’ll stick to the one our forefathers drew up.

There'’s no country in the world

that'’s been able to improve on it.

[ door slams ]

JESSIE: May I give you a lift, Mr. Begg?

You going my way?

Across the border, into the United States of America.

I'’d be delighted, Miss Jessie.

My forbearance proved to be a wise course.

As the Fourth of July drew near,

and all the neighboring camps prepared to celebrate

in a big way,

Rough and Ready could hold out no longer.

The republic folded.

My namesake came back into the fold,

and once again ran up the stars and stripes.

And that'’s the true story of the secession

of Rough and Ready from the Union.

And how it came back voluntarily

to seek the benefits of belonging to our great republic.