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.

Back in 1851,

soon after California became a state,

a strange and astonishing figure appeared

among the Mokelumne Indians.

He was called El Rey Guero, which means...

Mr. Trask.

Yeah, no doubt about it.

We'’ve tapped one of the richest veins in California.

Don'’t this land belong to the Indians?

What'’s the difference?

I'’m not gonna let a bunch of ignorant savages

keep us from a claim like this.

Saddle up. I want you to take some samples of this ore

to the Black Rock Mining Company in San Francisco.

Hey, look.

Don'’t get us murdered, Mr. Trask.

They got the jump on us.

White man steal Indian gold.

I'’m not stealing anything.

I'’ve staked this property in the name of the Black Rock Mining Company.

You come with us to see El Rey Guero.

Hear what he say.Take your hands off of me.

I'’m not going anyplace.You come.

My company in San Francisco will have the government send troops.

Many soldiers. When they hear about this.

Maybe they not hear.

[ speaking foreign language ]

You come.

I bring man like you say, El Rey Guero.

You'’re a white man.

Is that so strange?

Now, look here. I'’m the chief engineer

of the Black Rock Mining Company.

I was looking for a new vein of gold.

On land ceded to the Mokelumne tribe by the government.

You were aware of that, weren'’t you?

Gold is where you find it.

So is death. You'’re lucky you'’re still alive, Mr. Trask.

You know me?Better than you think.

Your kind of man says that gold is where you find it.

Meaning that it'’s yours to take.

Look, this company I work for

is always ready to talk business, El Rey Guero.

I'’m sure they'd be glad to, uh, figure you in on a healthy percentage.

And give the short end of the stick to the Indians, is that it?

That bunch of savages? They don'’t even know the value of this gold.

Not as you and your friends know it.

As a fever that puts greed into a man'’s veins.

You see, to the Indians, it'’s a gift from the Great Spirit.

Something to make this life better.

Let me show you a few things that this gold has done

for these "savages," Mr. Trask.

We'’ve imported the finest Merino sheep.

Do our own dyeing and our own spinning.

Have you ever seen a finer blanket?

It'’s an Indian blanket.

Something else I want to show you.

We bought the best seed we could find and crossbred our corn

for four seasons until now it'’s the finest grown in the entire country.

Did you know there are many varieties of wheat, Mr. Trask?

Of course, we'’re still experimenting to find the type

that best suits our region, but already we'’re starting to yield

almost 15 bushels an acre.

And if you were really interested,

you could see some of our breeding stock from here.

You see, Mr. Trask, we plan to raise one of the finest herds of beef cattle

in California.

Once, the Mokelumnes had nothing to eat but roots and acorns.

Now, you might think that these are the cruder arts of civilization.

But they are a beginning.

You play your hand real well, El Rey Guero.

Friend of the Mokelumne.

King of the Indians.

With your hand on the goal.

Yes. I'’ve got my hand on the goal.

And now I'’ve got a message for your friends in San Francisco.

If they send you back here or anyone like you,

you'’ll be driven out of these mountains at gunpoint.

I warn you, you'’re bucking the odds.

A man with an idea always has to buck odds, Mr. Trask.

I can go? As soon as you

and your friends pack up your mining gear.

You'’ll have an escort as far as Deep Valley Road.

After that, I would suggest you travel fast.

Oh, Paso.

We will have to hold council.

I'’m afraid that soon there'’ll be much trouble.

I have investigated this El Rey Guero.

His name'’s Jim Savage.

They say he started with an Indian trading post.

Just how did he get himself made king?

According to his story, he'’s shown the Indians

how to use the gold to better their lot.

Judging by this sample, there must be millions going to waste.

Yeah, while ours is pretty well worked out.

Mr. Smythe, with the proper backing,

we can get those millions.

How?

I think an Indian war might turn the trick.

Suppose white men were being killed.

The homes of settlers burned.

Can you see the newspaper headlines?

Confine all Indians to government reservations.

Pull in the troops.

Drive the Indians out of California.

Then we could move in and file on the land we want.

But, uh, what would cause an outbreak

among tribes already bound by peace treaties?

Guns and whiskey.

Won'’t this El Rey Guero stop you?

I'’m gonna stay as far away from him as I can.

Go on.

In the country bordering the Mokelumnes,

there'’s another tribe called the Yosemites.

When they come down from the mountains to trade,

they'’re looking for whiskey and trouble.

When the trouble begins, all Indians will be blamed.

I'’m beginning to like your idea.

[ whooping, gunshots ]

[ horses whinnying ][ whooping continues ]

[ horse whinnies ]

As chairman of the Committee on Interior Affairs,

I have been sent by the legislature

to demand that action be taken against these Indian outrages.

The senator is right, governor.

The people of California need protection.

Gentlemen, I'’m quite aware

of the situation.

But I'’ve been informed that so far,

only one Indian tribe has broken the peace.

But it will spread.

Unless something is done, the entire frontier will be in flames.

The readers of my paper want the Indian situation settled once and for all.

In the Senate, we favor calling the militia

and placing a competent man at its head.

Yes. I'’ve heard the idea.

And that, governor, is just why I brought along my friend,

Major Warren.

With him in command, our Indian troubles would be over.

I understand you served under General Taylor.

I'’ve resigned from the army, sir.

But in a crisis like this, I'’d be willing to offer my services.

Major Warren would be an excellent choice, sir.

Yes, I suppose so.

Well, Henry, what is it?

I'’m sorry, sir, but there's a person who demands to see you.

Later. I'’m busy with these gentlemen.

He says he won'’t wait.

I came here to represent the Mokelumnes.

Jim.

I didn'’t recognize you for a moment.

Well, it'’s been a long time.

You know this man, governor?

Know him? He and I served together under General Fremont.

Gentlemen, may I present Major James D. Savage.

Your servant, gentlemen.

You old scoundrel. What are you doing in that getup?

These are the clothes of my people.

What a front-page story.

Major Savage, this is State Senator Halsey,

Major Warren, Mr. Smythe--

Of the, uh, Black Rock Mining Company.

Yes. I'’ve had dealings with one of your men.

And I'’m Larry Gray of the Sacramento Daily.

Now that we all know each other, should we sit down?

Jim, we'’ve been discussing the Indian situation.

Yes. We'’ve talked about it, too,

around our council fires.

Then you know that something has to be done.

Governor McDougal is calling out a battalion of militia.

And Major Warren is going to lead the expedition.

Isn'’t that right, governor?

We'’ve heard of that plan.

That'’s why I'm here, sir. To oppose it.

People are demanding protection, Jim.

The sovereign state of California--

Never mind the political speeches, senator.

Why do you oppose a military expedition?

Because it will be directed against all Indians

when only the Yosemites are to blame.

Be battles between red men and white men all over the state.

Innocent men will be killed,

when only the guilty should be punished.

I know you'’re an authority on Indian affairs, Jim.

What do you think we should do?

Keep the soldiers at home, sir.

Let the Mokelumnes and me put a stop to this outbreak.

Major Savage, it will take trained soldiers

and a properly prepared military campaign to put an end to this revolt.

The people of California are demanding

some sort of official action.

I cannot leave this to tribal warfare.

Governor, the Yosemites live somewhere in a hidden valley.

Even I don'’t know where their village is.

But with the help of Chief Paso of the Mokelumnes,

I believe I can find it.

Soldiers never would.

You'’re wasting time, governor.

Maybe not, senator.

You'’ll get your expedition. I think it'’s necessary.

Good. I knew we could depend on you, governor.

I'’ll have a battalion ready to take the field in a week, sir.

But there'’ll be one change in plan.

Major Warren, the state appreciates your offer to serve.

You shall have your commission.

But the expedition will be commanded by Major James D. Savage.

Thank you very much, sir.

Howdy, major.

Zeke. Zeke, you old reprobate.

I got word you was looking for me.

Where'’ve you been all these years?

Oh, I'’m on the go all the time, major.

I'’ve been across the Plains four times since I'’ve seen you.

Is that right?Been back to Missouri once.

Say, uh, what'’s all this talk that I hear

about an Indian war?

Some people seem to want one.

Well, I thought you was on the side of the Indians.

If my plan works, Zeke, there'’ll be no war.

But I do need a scout.

Oh? To track down Indians?

No.

No. To track a-- [ tent fabric rustles ]

I'’d like a word with you, major.

What'’s on your mind?

I'’m here to request four days'’ leave.

You are aware, aren'’t you, major, that the battalion moves at the end of the week?

I'’m quite aware.

Unfortunately, some, um, some personal business has come up.

In San Francisco, Major Warren?

Well, yes. I, uh, I might have to go into San Francisco.

However, I shall be back here in plenty of time to take the field.

Permission'’s granted.

There'’s your man, Zeke.

What, him?

Now, what'’s he up to?

That'’s what I want to find out.

Don'’t let him out of your sight.

Well, suppose he overstays his leave in San Francisco

and you'’ve marched before we get back?

Then you'’ll follow me.

By then, I will have moved the battalion straight into the Mokelumne country.

Any word from Major Warren?No, sir.

Then you'’ll take command while I'’m gone.

You mean you'’re leaving the battalion, Major Savage?

Soon as you set up camp.

That looks like a good spot over there.

But, sir--

Something wrong?

Well, no, sir.

It just seems strange, that'’s all.

This is a strange war, captain.

Yes, sir.Tonight I'’ll hold council

with the Mokelumnes.

If Major Warren shows up, get word to me.

My place is just over that ridge.

Yes, sir.

PASO: No good.

White soldier camp in Indian country.

There'’ll be no trouble as long as you keep your people away from them.

Why you bring?Because as long as they stay in camp,

there'’ll be no war.

Maybe in a week or so, I can-- I can take them away from here.

In the meantime, you and I have work to do.

Now, while the white soldiers are staying in camp,

you and I will take ten of our best warriors

and go and find the Yosemites.

Yosemite very hard catch.

But you do know their country.

Ah. Bad country. Very big.

No white men go there, ever.

Paso, you'’ve got to take me there.

Unless we make the Yosemites see the folly of what they'’re doing,

every Indian tribe in California will suffer.

More white soldiers will come.

We'’ll lose our land, our cattle, our homes, everything we'’ve worked for.

You want that to happen?

[ murmuring ]

People say El Rey Guero wise man. We go with him.

I have to see Major Savage.

Let the captain come in.

Major Warren'’s back, sir.

He says he'’s taking over command of the battalion.

I'’ll send a messenger.

I'’ve been looking for you, captain.

At sunup, we attack the Mokelumnes.

Send in Lieutenant Rogers.What'’s the meaning of this, major?

You'’re no longer in command of the Mariposa Battalion.

By whose orders?

Mine. By the authority of army regulation,

which requires the immediate replacement of any officer proved incompetent.

You'’re a fool.

Major Savage, a war is not prosecuted

with an army encamped while you consort with the enemy.

I'’m placing you under arrest and sending you back to Sacramento.

One more step and I'’ll fire. Captain.

Seize this man.He'’s my superior officer, sir.

I wouldn'’t do that if I were you, captain.

If you won'’t guard Savage, I'’ll have to put you under arrest too.

I'’ve got him covered, major.

I'’ll prefer charges for this. Against you, too, captain.

I could put a stop to all this nonsense mighty easy.

Put the gun down, Zeke.

Now, tell us, who did Major Warren consult with in San Francisco?

With an outfit called the Black Rock Mining Company.

That'’s a lie.

What else, Zeke?

Well, him and a fellow name of Trask left town together.

Where is Trask?

I don'’t know anybody by that na--

Where'’s Trask?

Where is he?All right.

All right, I'’ll tell.

He'’s--

Some crossing. I--

Where?

Big Pine Crossing.

You know where that is, Zeke?

Yep. Yosemite country.

The Indians come there to trade.

That means Trask will be waiting there to stir up more trouble. Is that it?

Smythe told him to.

I had nothing to do with it.

This man'’s under arrest. I want him here when I get back.

Yes, sir. He'’ll be here.

We'’ll have to move fast.

How many men will you need, sir?

We have all the men we need. The Mokelumnes.

Major, if you please.

Big Pine Crossing right ahead.

Paso, you stay here.

No sign of Indians.

We may still be in time.

El Rey Guero.

Keep him covered, Pete.

What do you want?

Throw down your guns. Both of you.

Stand easy, Trask.

Zeke, empty every one of those barrels on this wagon.

Yes, sir.

What are you going to do with me?

I'’m taking you to the Yosemites you'’ve been waiting for,

and you'’re gonna tell them the truth.

The reason you bribed them to kill the white men.

[ water splashing ]

Zeke, look at that.

I thought I'’d seen everything in California.

No white man ever come here.

[ hoofbeats ]

Uh-oh. Lookie here.

Yosemites. [ speaking foreign language ]

All right, get down.

I, El Rey Guero, have traveled many marches

to make talk with the Yosemites.

This man Trask gives the Yosemites much whiskey

so they will not know that he speaks with a crooked tongue.

He say kill white men.

He say that white men are afraid to come here to fight you.

He lies. It'’s him that lies.

I am friends. Bring many presents.

Mm.

He wants pony soldiers to fight all Indians.

They come this place.

Many of your braves will die.

Very bad for everybody.

You say he talk crooked tongue.

You say he talk crooked tongue.

We find out who have crooked tongue.

How is that, chief?

Yosemite way.

And what is the Yosemite way?

El Rey Guero and man called Trask

both go top great water.

Only one come back.

Chief of the Yosemites speaks with wisdom.

This should settle things.

If that'’s the way you want it, lead the way.

[ grunts ]

[ grunting ]

[ screaming ]

THE OLD RANGER: And so, peace came to California,

thanks toEl Rey Guero,

the first white man to ever see the fabulous land of the Yosemites,

now known as the Yosemite Valley.