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 start of the 20th century found Nevada

in the depths of a 20-year depression.

The great old bonanza days of the Comstock were over.

A third of the population had moved away.

No wonder a man like John Butler,

who never cracked a book in his life,

could hold down the job of district attorney of Nye County,

for there was nothing to do.

So, on May 18, 1900,

we find him camping at Tonopah Spring

on a little prospecting trip.

I call this story...

[ wind howling ]

Ambrose! Ambrose!

Confound that burro!

Maybe I should'’ve fed him more flapjacks last night,

he'’d have stayed closer to camp.

Now I gotta waste hours hunting for him.

Wind'’s blowing. It'’s gonna get worse.

Ambrose!

Ambrose!

Ambrose!

Ambrose. [ laughing ]

You ol'’ lop-eared, sawed-off son of a gun.

So you took shelter here, too, huh?

Yep. By golly, I guess you know I wasted a half a day

looking for you, don'’t you?

[ wind continues howling ]Yep.

This is as good a place as any.

Might as well stay right here till the wind dies down.

[ grunts ]

Hey, Rondo.

You keep your hands off that ore.

I wouldn'’t have your filthy ore. [ rock thuds ]

I wouldn'’t trust you as far as I could throw

a red-hot anvil with my bare hands.

If you'’re looking for a fight...

Hello!

Jim Butler.

How ya doin'’?

Well, we'’re taking out a few dollars a day here, Jim.

Nothing more.

[ chuckles ] You stay, and all you'’re gonna do

is wear off some of that fat.

Well, now, thanks. But I got something

a little closer to home myself

and a lot more promising.

Uh, Frank.Yeah?

You'’re an assayer. What do you think of this?

Nah, it'’s good for nothing but ballast.

I'’d swear that black was silver.

Nah!

Run me an assay on it, and I'’ll give you an interest.

You got a dollar?Nope.

Then I can'’t be bothered.

I'’m tired of making assays for free.

This here stuff'’s worthless, Jim.

Well, Ambrose,

looks like this has just been a wild-goose chase.

Might as well head back home.

MAN: Say, Jim, uh, will you be seeing Gert?

I'’m likely to. She'’s my neighbor.

Well, uh, give her my, uh-- my regards, will you?

All right.

Come on, Ambrose. Let'’s go.

I don'’t care what Frank Higg says, Ambrose.

I still think there'’s value in this ore.

Yeah, I was about as welcome in South Klondike

as a polecat at a garden party.

Oh, uh, your young man sent his regards, Gert.

Which one?

"Which one"?

How many you got, gal?

You take these ore samples into town and show '’em to Tasker Oddie.

Oddie? He ain'’t no mining man.

He'’s a lawyer. And from New Jersey, at that.

And doing all right in Nevada.

Better than some native sons I know.

Now, I'’ve been district attorney for two terms, Ma,

and that ain'’t doing bad.

Hey, there'’s an election coming up soon, ain'’t there?

The election was held last week, Jim.

Tasker Oddie was elected.

Tasker Oddie?

Little late, ain'’t I?

[ laughing ]

That'’s a joke on me.

Jim, ain'’t you got any ambition whatsoever?

Well, sure I have, Ma.

I'’d like to strike it rich, and I'’d like to buy a bigger ranch,

and I want some hired hands so we can rest a little more.

You take these in to Tasker Oddie, or I'’ll take 'em myself.

Now, don'’t go getting your neck bowed, Ma.

I'’ll drive into Belmont first thing tomorrow.

I wanna congratulate him, anyhow.

Well, I'’m no mineralogist, Jim.

Your judgment is better than mine.

Well, I'’d say it'’s likely looking ore.

Then let'’s run a report on it.

[ chuckles ] I'’m broke.

You pay for an assay on it, and I'’ll give you an interest.

How'’s that?

Oh, fine, except, uh, I'’m broke too.

Ain'’t even got a dollar?Not till payday.

Yep. Oh, uh, congratulations on winning the election.

Oh, that'’s very nice of you, Jim.Oh, no, it ain'’t.

The county needs a district attorney that studied law.

And me-- I just go by guess and by gosh. [ laughs ]

Well--Jim, I'’ll tell you what I'’ll do.

I'’ll send these samples up to an assay man in Austin-- Walter Gayart.

Will he do it for nothing?

No, but I'’ll offer him half interest of my interest.

You talk like a real Nevadian.

I'’ll write a letter tonight, and we'’ll send the samples up on the morning stage.

Well, good, good.

Oh, uh, I'’ll be at the ranch.

Much as I dread it, I gotta start hayin'’.

[ laughs ] So long, Jim.

So long.

Confound wind! Just won'’t let up.

Mr. Butler! Mr. Butler!

Hello, Red Dog.

Got a letter for you.Oh?

Thanks.

I'’ll read it as soon as I get this darn dust out of my eyes.

Mr. Oddie say, "Run fast. Very important."

Mr. Oddie? Yeah.

Oh, well.

Sufferin'’ snake bites!

Hello, Red Dog.

What happened?

Read letter, dropped dead.

[ coughing ]

Over $500 a ton,

gold and silver.

Jim, it'’s another Comstock.

How much ground did you stake?

Didn'’t stake nothin'.

You put up a location marker?No.

Jim! No monument at all?

Don'’t worry. I can find the place again.

Well, you get right out there and locate.

I will, as soon as my haying'’s done.

Jim Butler!First thing'’s first, Ma.

If you don'’t hustle right out there, somebody else will beat you to it.

You know how news like this gets out.

Oh, I won'’t tell anyone, Mrs. Jim.

Not a living soul.

Shoshone Pete told me.

He got it from an Injun they call "Red Dog."

$500 a ton. I can'’t believe it.

Higgs, you blasted idiot, not to run an assay!

Well, I'’ll get the samples and run an assay right now.

I know just where I threw '’em.

Rondo took '’em.Eh?

Well, what if I did?

Higgs said they was worthless.

Well, you fish '’em out pronto.

And you and Johnny start grinding them up

while I fire my furnace.

If that stuff assays anything like he said,

there'’s gonna be a stampede at Tonopah Spring.

Well, get '’em.

All right! Let'’s go!

Hyah! Yah!

Gold! Silver!

Strike!

It'’s a strike! Gold and silver!

[ chattering ]It'’s a strike!

All right, Jim. The haying'’s done.

Now will you locate?

No use getting all steamed up, Ma.

Nobody but me knows where that outcropping is.

And by now, I bet you'’ve forgotten.

This'’ll turn out to be another of them lost mines.

The lost Butler Mine.

I can walk straight to it.

We ain'’t walking. We'’re riding.

"We"? Now, look, Ma, me and Tasker--

Tasker Oddie'’s tied up with legal business in Austin.

We'’ll stake for him.

But we ain'’t waiting. We'’re headed for Tonopah.

Now get out there and hitch up that buckboard.

Ma, let me finish my dinner.Don'’t argue with me.

Get out there and hitch it up. First things first.[ muttering ]

Whoa.

I told you I could find the place, Ma.

There'’s the ledge right there.Let'’s start locating, quick.

All right.

[ whinnies ]

Desert Queen-- that'’s in Ma's and my name.

And, uh, Burro-- that'’s in yours.

And the Mizpah.I located that.

Don'’t know where she got that name.

But, Jim, it'’s engraved inside my wedding ring.

It is?Yes.

It means, um...

"The Lord watch between me and thee,

when we are absent one from another."

I'’ll be darned. I stake out eight claims in all.

Good. Then the next thing is to start development work.

I got a good, strong back, Jim.

Johnny Regan'’s got a wagon outfit

we can use for hauling, if we give him an interest.

Regan? JIM: One of the boys down at South Klondike.

Nice fella.Then we'’ll cut Regan in.

I'’ll cook for ya.Well, Ma-- All right.

I think I know where I can get $25 capital.

We'’ll pay it back on our first lode of ore.

Hyah! Yah!

Well, Jim, there goes our first lode to the smelter.

Nothing to do now but go home and wait for the returns.

[ men yelling ]

[ horse whinnying ]

Hello, Rondo.

What do ya got in there?

You can see for yourself.

Ore? From Tonopah?Yep.

You dirty double-crosser, leaving us in the lurch.

They took me in because I have this wagon outfit.

Don'’t look like much of a wagon to me.

Looks to me like it'’s liable to break down anytime. What do you think, boys?

[ laughter ][ whinnying ]

Hey, what are you doing?Stay right where you are.

[ men yelling ]

[ whinnying ]

[ laughter ]

[ men yelling ]

Well, folks, here it is--

a check from the smelter for two tons of ore.

$800.

Yes, sir. $800.

Take a look at that, Ma.

$400 a ton. [ sniffles ]

[ voice breaking ] From the Mizpah.

Now, Ma... [ chuckling ]

We owe a vote of thanks to our young partner here.

He got some pretty rough treatment on the way to the smelter.

Wagon attacked and overturned.

Johnny! Who?

Well, it-- Oh, it was just some soreheads.

JIM: You see, Ma, your worries are over.

I told you I'’d be a success, didn'’t I?

We'’re really in business now. Nothing can stop us.

Here.This means fortunes for all of us.

But it means more than that.

It means that the long slump in Nevada is broken.

There'’s gonna be a boom, I predict.

A rush as great as the Comstock rush.

To Jim Butler.

To Tonopah.

To Nevada.

To Gert and Johnny.

[ laughing ]

Gert, what are you doing here?

Same as everybody. I wanted to see the activity.

Buildings are certainly going up fast.

Johnny bring you down?

No. He'’s much too busy at the mine.

I hear he'’s really making a lot of money.

He'’s got nothing on me.

I'’ve staked the richest claim in Tonopah,

right in the heart of the main lode.

Tony, that'’s wonderful.

And, uh, speaking of hearts...

Tony, this is no time to talk of love.

I'’ve got $5,000 cash.

I'’ll give it to you for a wedding present.

And there'’s more where that came from.You better hang on to it.

Gert--I'’m not ready to make up my mind about anyone just yet.

Come on.

I never dreamed I'’d live to see the day

when I could just sit back and have the money rolling in.

You know Jim would fix it so he didn'’t have to lift his hand.

Got all my ownings leased till the end of the year.

Somebody else does the work, and I get 25% of the output.

And I still own the mines.

Who drew up the contracts, Jim?

Contracts? Shucks, I just told '’em to go ahead.

You got nothing in writing?

No. You think I wanna be bothered

signing 116 different documents?

MRS. JIM: Jim can trust them. And they trust Jim.

My husband is the most honest man on the desert.

Mr. Oddie, Mr. Butler, word from Tonopah.

Somebody jumped the Mizpah.The Mizpah?

My mine!Let'’s go.

Come on, Red.[ mutters ]

Nobody here.

Lucky for them.What are you gonna do?

That'’s the stuff! Burn it up!

That'’ll learn him not to monkey with our claims.

[ chattering ]

So, when I got back, I found that the tent had been burned down.

Burned the tent down? But I can'’t believe

Mr. Oddie or the Butlers would'’ve done such a thing.

Well, then, who does that leave? Your friend, Johnny Regan.

But why would he? Why?

Because he'’s got it in for me.

He knows I'’m in love with you, and he'’ll stop at nothing.

Oh, I have witnesses.I'’m absolutely shocked.

Well, not as shocked as he'’ll be

when he learns there was $5,000 hidden in that tent.

$5,000?

The 5,000 I told you about.Oh, Tony.

But I'’ll sue him for it, and I'’ll collect.

I hope you do.

How do you do, sir?

Nice to have you with us, Mr., uh...

You'’re Wyatt Earp?I am.

The marshal of Dodge City and Tombstone?

I was.

Well, welcome to Tonopah, Mr. Earp.

It'’s really nice to have you with us.Thank you.

I'’ll give you a very nice room-- number 101, right down in front.

$336,000

for the eight original discovery claims.

That'’s the offer our syndicate made you,

and I understand from Mr. Oddie you'’ve decided to accept it.

That'’s right, sir.Here'’s a check for $200,000

representing your share, Mr. Butler.

Thank you.

Here'’s a check for $63,000

for your interest, Mr. Regan.

Mr. Oddie has elected to take part of his payment

in the stock of our new company,

the Tonopah Mining Company,

and, I'’m happy to say, has agreed to be its first manager.

I thank you all,

and may the year 1902 be a happy one for you.

I guess we all know what Johnny'’s gonna do with his money--

get married. Congratulations, Johnny.

She'’s a wonderful gal.

Well, I can'’t thank you folks enough

for cutting me in on this deal.

Oh, there she is now.

Hey, Gert!

Look at this.

Uh, Mr. Turner.Yes?

My name is Rondo, and I have a small claim

against your company for some property damage.

Take it up with our manager, will you?

Well, it'’s, uh, only a matter of $5,000.

Mr. Oddie takes care of all such cases. Oddie?

You'’ll find him in our office just two doors down the street.

I'’ll go out with anybody I please.

Gert, he'’s a low-down thief.

You'’re a fine one to talk, you incendiary.

If you'’re talking about that tent we burned, I can--And the money.

You didn'’t know he had 5,000 in there, did you?

I don'’t believe it. Just another of his lies.

Just wait till he sues you.

A claim jumper bringing suit? That'’s a laugh.

"Claim jumper"?Yes! He was on our ground.

The Mizpah.I don'’t believe it.

Ask the Butlers. Ask Oddie.

Look, Gert, please...

I'’ll be in Philadelphia if you need to reach me.

Well, everything'’s pretty well set now. I don'’t anticipate any trouble.

By the way, did a fellow named Rondo come to see you?

No. Why? He claims the company owes him damages.

I referred him to you.Good.

I'’d like a chance to tell him to go to blazes.

Whatever arises, I'’m sure you can cope with it.

Believe me, Tasker, it'’s a great satisfaction

to be leaving the company affairs in such good hands.

Thank you, sir.

Turner, the big cheese of the outfit, has gone back East.

This is our chance to jump the Desert Queen.

All we gotta do is dig a hole ten feet down on the vein proper,

and we got a valid location, according to the mining laws in Nevada.

All right. Get your horses.

Making pretty good time. We'’ll soon be down ten feet, and the ground will be ours.

[ whinnies ]

What'’s this?

You'’re too late, Oddie.

Oh, no, I'’m not!

You'’re not sinking this shaft one inch deeper.

Now get out of there.

We'’re six-to-one, and you ain'’t even armed. Get out.

I don'’t take orders from claim jumpers.

I'’ll give you five to get out.

One.

Two. You got both feet in the grave, Oddie.

Three.

[ clicking ]Four.

Wait a minute.

This ground belongs to the Tonopah Mining Company.

Ah, now, ain'’t that interesting.You'’ll have to get off.

Who says so?I do.

And who the devil are you?

I'’m Wyatt Earp.

[ chuckles ] And I'’m Wild Bill Hickok.

And this is Bat Masterson.[ laughing ]

And this is, uh...

By gosh, it is Earp.

Pick up your stuff and clear out.

And if you know what'’s good for you,

you'’ll be out of Tonopah by sundown.

Thanks, Marshal.

Just plain "Wyatt Earp."[ chuckles ]

THE OLD RANGER: On the Fourth of July,

Tonopah staged a big celebration.

The parade was led by Jim Butler and Ambrose.

Hi, Pa!

Jim bought a big ranch over near Bishop,

where he and Mrs. Jim lived happily

for the rest of their lives.

Speaking of being happy...

[ cheering ]

And men like Wyatt Earp made Tonopah an orderly camp.

Tasker Oddie was elected to the Nevada Senate,

later became governor of the state,

and finally, United States Senator from Nevada.

And that'’s the story of Tonopah,

the discovery that lifted Nevada out of a 20-year depression

and launched the great bonanza of our century.