Original subtitles

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

Howdy, folks. I'’m the Old Ranger,

with an exciting new story of real life in the Old West.

In 1890, a gold strike exploded the silence

of California'’s dry desert canyons.

Now, gold hunters stampeded through the diggings

on spring wagons, buckboards-- anything on wheels.

Among them was an immigrant from Europe, Charley Koehn,

who cut across the trackless wastelands

on an ordinary bicycle.

Now, some people call this intrepid cyclist "Dutch Charley."

Others referred to him as "Bismarck of the Desert."

He and his bicycle were inseparable,

even after he converted it into an armed fortress.

A primitive juggernaut of war.

A...

[ dog barking ]

[ horse whinnying ]

Be careful, here, huh?

Don'’t scare the man's horse.

She don'’t know she'’s a bicycle.

Leo!

Here I am.

I know you'’re here.

I can smell you even before I heard you.

Now, there'’s a tub and water in the back.

Soap. Who needs soap?

When you see what I found,

we can take baths in cologne.

You know, the last time I grubstaked you,

you said we were gonna be swimming in gold.

Gold! Who needs gold? I got somethin'’ better.

Oh? [ chuckles ]

This is better than gold?

Well, it'’s just as good.

It'’ll make you and me a bundle.

It'’s rock salt!

Charlie, I have got five sacks full of better

and purer salt than that right here.

Sure you got it,

but from where?

From a wholesaler who charges you big profits.

I found a whole mine of this stuff!

The wholesaler will buy it from us,

and we make the profits.

Oh, don'’t be a hard-headed Dutchman.

Look, finding a salt mine'’s one thing, running it'’s another.

First, you gotta dig the salt out.

Then you gotta find a market for it.

Then you gotta find a way to get it to the market--

Stop mixin'’ me up with all your "gottas".

I got sold a whole dry lake of it,

ready to dig up.

How come up stopped chasin'’ after gold?

You can get rich quicker diggin'’ that up.

Salt in the hand is worth more than dreams in your head.

You ought to see the dry lake.

Miles and miles of salt.

I dug up some already,

and I build a house and a supply shack on it.

Leo, we'’re gonna get rich.

I-- I don'’t know, Charley.

Now, you'’re-- you'’re into me for quite a lot of supplies already.

Now, not that I'’m complaining, but I'’d just rather see you

settle down to a regular business like this.

You know, towns around here are growing.

Me, a storekeeper?

Why not?I could help you get started.

Now, take Randsburg, for instance. It'’s booming.

You'’re not talkin' to Dutch Charley Koehn

when you talk about inside work.

I had enough of that in the Old Country

fixin'’ bicycles, smellin' oil, gettin'’ dirt in my lungs.

All right, all right.

Now, I will grubstake you one more time.

Flour, tools, some dynamite...

And a horse and wagon.

Well, don'’t tell me that Johanna'’s finally got the best of you.

Oh, I'’m gonna be riding the bicycle, all right.

I'’m talking about a freight wagon.

Big enough to haul salt from the mine

to the biggest salt companies in Bakersfield, Fresno,

and maybe even to San Francisco.

I-- I don'’t know, Charley.

That'’s a pretty big investment.

Here.

I'’ll show you something on this map.

No, don'’t show me.

You might talk me into giving you two wagons.

That'’ll come later,

when the money comes in.

I'’ll go and wash up.

Oh, Dutch, I almost forgot.

A letter came for you about a month ago.

Letter?

Yeah. There you are.

Bad news, Dutch?

For years, I was trying to find gold...

to send for my wife and children to come to America.

This place.

Now, if I was covered with gold,

she'’ll never be with me.

She'’s dead.

Dutch, I didn'’t even know you were married.

My wife, Hilda.

My son and my daughter, Peter and Anna.

They was that high when I left the Old Country.

Well, that'’s all the more reason

why I think you ought to try to get a steady job.

Steady job.

It'’d take 100 years to save and send for them.

Besides, this letter--

it'’s from my wife's uncle,

a poor man.

He can'’t keep Peter and Anna.

He wants to know why I don'’t send for them.

I'’m here, where plenty of gold is.

And salt, Dutch.

Don'’t forget. Salt can be as good as gold.

Yeah.

You keep a place in that safe

for the money you'’re gonna hold for me.

When I have enough...

I'’ll send for Peter and Anna.

[ door opens, closes ]

That'’s about it. [ chuckles ]

Well, Leo,

every time I sell a load of salt,

I'’ll send you the money.

You don'’t have to. We'’ll make an accounting

next time you come in for supplies.

Good-bye, partner.

Good luck.

I am sending some money to you

to buy tickets on a boat

to send Anna and Peter to America.

I would send more,

but I have a partner.

A fine man

who does much for me.

In the morning,

I take another load of salt

to sell to a very big company in Bakersfield.

Thank you for everything.

[ grunts ]

♪♪ [ singing ]

[ grunts ]

♪♪ [ singing resumes ]

[ speaks Dutch,grunts ]

[ speaks Dutch ]

[ shouting ]

[ door opening ]

Here are the records you asked for, Mr. Shannon.

Dutch Charley sold us three loads of salt so far.

Somethin'’ wrong?

Something wrong? Hmm.

The only thing wrong is that he'’s bringin' us better salt

than we'’re gettin' from company-owned properties.

Oh, I don'’t think Great West has to worry

about old Charley turning into a competitor.

No, but just the same,

he'’s makin' me look bad.

I got a letter from our San Francisco office,

from Mr. Bellingham himself,

wanting to know why we can'’t dig up

as good a quality salt from our own properties.

[ scoffs ]

Wherever you see a pin is where we'’re operatin'.

And an old desert rat finds top-grade salt right under our noses.

Last time he was in, he said he found a dry salt lake,

big enough for him to work 100 years.

A dry lake?Mm-hmm.

Well, that ought to be worth checkin'’ on.

Knowin'’ Dutch Charley as I do,

he probably just stumbled across it

and started diggin'’ up salt

without botherin'’ to file a legal claim.

You can bank on that.

But what I wanna know is where it is.

If I could make a deal to take it over,

Mr. Bellingham would be mighty pleased.

Hello, partner.Hello, Dutch.

I'’ll be right with you.

I'’ll put it on the account, Bert.

Looks like we'’re gettin' more prosperous every day.

She'’s a relative. I'’d have to support her anyway.

So? With all the money coming in

from the salt, it'’ll pay her wages.

Here'’s your half, Leo.

Where'’s yours?

On its way to Holland.

I'’ve sent for Peter and Anna.

I divided it even.

Dutch, you-- you'’ve been workin'’ that salt mine

for better than four months.

Four months, two weeks, and one day.

And twice this is all we have to show for it.

That'’s right, 50-50.

Well, Dutch, that'’s just not enough for two people.

Every business is slow when it starts out.

Well, you, uh-- you hang onto the money.

We'’ll figure out the accounting later.

You pullin'’ out?

Well, I'’m a merchant.

What do I know about salt mining?

And you'’d be better off if you got a steady job.

Look, there'’s a lot of bicycles in San Francisco that need fixing.

You'’re an expert.

I ain'’t gonna quit for all the bicycles in the world.

It'’ll be cheaper for me in the long run,

and, uh, continue letting you have supplies.

Now, this is your share for the salt,

whether you want it or not. Dutch.

I never could say no to you. Why should I start now?

Especially since you'’re a family man.

What do you need?

You had me scared for a while.

I don'’t know anybody else who would grubstake me.

Now, I wanna make one thing clear.

I'’m gonna give you credit for three months,

and then make it or break it, not one day more.

Oh, by that time, I'’ll be a cash customer.

[ chuckling ] I hope so.

I hope you'’re getting a good price for that salt.

Oh, pretty good.

Last time, when I was in Bakersfield,

Mike Shannon promised to be better

if I bring in bigger loads.

You mean Mike Shannon, that sharpshooter?

Well, why do you say that? He'’s a nice fellow.

He asked me up to his house, and we had dinner together.

Dutch, Mike Shannon wouldn'’t give his own grandmother dinner

unless he wanted to get something out of her.

Do I look like his grandmother?

Now, what would he want from me?

I don'’t know,

but he'’s always shooting angles.

Mike, have you filed a claim on that dry lake?

Claim?

I'’ve been working that land for years.

Besides, I didn'’t think you have to file on salt.

Maybe you don'’t. I'’ll check into it.

Look, you come back later, and I'’ll fix you up with the supplies.

Yeah, sure.

You betcha.

[ door closes ]

Sophie, bring me my hat and coat!

Keep your eye on the store.

I'’m gonna run down to the land office.

Maybe we oughta go look around for Charley, Sheriff.

No use knockin'’ ourselves out, Mr. Shannon.

Especially in all this heat.

[ both sigh ]

Well. Company.

This is a big surprise.

Come inside, out of the sun.

I'’ll fix you a little lunch.

Uh, this isn'’t a social call, Charley.

Uh, serve him.

I don'’t understand. What does this mean?

This means you'’re being evicted.

This property you'’ve been working doesn'’t belong to you.

Well, that'’s a mistake.

That'’s my house. I built it myself.

And that'’s my mine!

I work it now for a long time!

I sell the salt to Mr. Shannon!

Yes, well, you'’d never have sold it to me

if I knew it was comin'’ off of this property.

Our company filed on it a long time ago.

So, if you'’ll just get your things together

and clear out, huh?

You clear out!

This is my land!

Nobody'’s gonna take it away from me. I shoot first.

Hold on now. This is the law you'’re talkin' to.

In one minute, if you'’re not off this land,

my gun will be talkin'’ to you.

Charley,I'’m comin' back here with a posse,

and we'’ll get you off of this land if we have to drag you off feet first.

I kill anybody who'’s going to take this land away from me!

This is for Peter and Anna!

Hyah! Come on!

Whoa. Whoa!

What in the name of--

CHARLEY: I give you fair warning.

Get off my property.

It'’s Dutch Charley.

He'’s fixed himself a fort on wheels.

Darn fool.

All he'’s fixed is a rolling coffin, if he doesn'’t listen to reason.

CHARLEY: Maybe you don'’t understand my English so good.

Clear out, or I start shootin'’.

Now, see here, Charley, come on out of there.

If you don'’t, we'’ll blast you out.

I warned ya.

Quit talkin'’! I'’m finished!

[ whinnying ]

Let'’s get out of here!

[ yelling ]

You come back, I shoot straighter.

Whoa! Whoa! Hold it!

What did we run for?

There'’s only one of him, plenty of us.

That one of him in that fort could hold off a regiment.

Besides, we didn'’t come here to kill him, just to evict him.

A little taste of dynamite

would evict him right out of that fort and off of this property.

Mr. Shannon, you got a court order, and I'’m carrying it out.

But I ain'’t aimin' to shed any blood.

Mine or anybody else'’s.Hey, he'’s turnin' back.

Well, as long as he knows we'’re here,

he'’ll stay inside there, and that'’s just where I want him.

Well, sooner or later, he'’ll run out of ammunition or water,

and he'’ll have to come out.

Okay, rest yourselves and your horses.

And the more water I drink, the more parched I feel.

Yeah, it'’s hotter than blazes now.

Come nightfall, we'’ll be chilled to the marrow.

I'’ll be hanged if I'’ll broil and freeze for that old desert rat.

Now, here, Sheriff. We'’re all gettin' petrified,

sittin'’ around here like bumps on a log.

I'’ll warrant Dutch is even more petrified.

Yeah.

If I can get to that supply shack without being noticed,

I'’ll put an end to all this nonsense but fast.

None of the posse are lookin'’ your way.

What good'’d gettin' to the shack do us?

An old prospector like Charley

is bound to have a couple of sticks of dynamite

stashed away someplace.

[ crunches ]

DUTCH: Drop that dynamite,

or my next shot blows you to pieces!

That fool Charley'’s after Mr. Shannon!

[ gunshots ]

There. That ought to hold you till we get you to jail.

Jail.

Mr. Shannon steals my life, and you take me to jail.

Nobody stole anything from you, Charley.

This land legally belongs to Great West.

They'’ve got men exploring for salt all over the country all the time,

buying and leasing everywhere.

They never operated this land before.

Didn'’t even have a marker.

They'’d have got around to operating it when they were ready.

They just never figured on you beating '’em to it.

Yeah.

Uh, don'’t you worry,Charley.

I'’ll have your stuff hauled to wherever you want it.

Mr. Shannon says I shouldn'’t worry.

With my own hands, I built every piece of it--

the furniture, the house.

A place for my son and daughter.

Oh, cut it out, Charley. Let'’s go.

[ stagecoach approaching ]I wish you luck, Mr. Shannon.

LEO: Charley!

Well, looks like Mr. Bellingham and me

missed the best part of this chivalry.

Uh, Mr. Bellingham, I--

Why--What'’s going on here, Shannon?

Uh, this squatter tried to steal our property.

Oh, now, "steal" is a hard word, Shannon.

Oh? And what would you call

diggin'’ up our salt and then selling it to us?

Well, it'’s... an honest mistake,

but not as big a mistake as accepting a dinner invitation from you.

Yeah. Yeah.

Leo told me you'’d have made your own grandmother pay.

I should have listened to you.

Well, the harm was already done, Charley.

You see, after you left, I checked with the land office,

and I found out this place already belonged to Great West.

So I went to San Francisco to explain things to Mr. Bellingham.

Oh. I'’m sorry I caused you trouble.

I guess I am a big fool.

I belong in jail.

Mr. Koehn, Great West doesn'’t approve

of Shannon'’s high-handed action.

We'’re not going to press any charges.

What'’s the difference?

I got nothing left anyhow.

Why, you hard-headed, good-for-nothing Dutchman, you got plenty left.

You got two good arms, you'’ve got a strong back,

you'’ve got this whole wide world to work in and live,

and you got two beautiful kids who'’ll be here any day now.

But I have nothing to give them.

Not even a roof over their heads.

You can supply that.

The Great West Salt Company has some land near Cane Springs,

which we'’re never going to work.

It isn'’t worth much,

but I'’m certain I can get the company to turn it over to you

to compensate for this house you built.

It'’s not a bad parcel of land, Charley.

With the water from Cane Springs, you could farm it.

And, uh, as for that roof over your head,

the company can'’t build you a house,

but nobody can stop me

from personally advancing you some cash of my own.

And whatever supplies you need,

your credit'’s still good at my store.

Yeah. Yeah.

You betcha.

Fine!

Where you going?

Johanna, my bicycle--

she'’s busted up.

I gotta put her together again.

Thank you, gentlemen. Thank you.

[ chuckling ]

That hard-headed Dutchman.

There'’s no stopping him.

There was no stopping Dutch Charley Koehn.

He turned that land of his into a successful gold farm.

Then, a couple of year later, he made a gold strike

right in the middle of his farm.

He became one of the legends of Kern County.

Years later, General Patton'’s crack Sherman tank corps

trained in the desert.

Perhaps their caterpillar tracks

crossed the thin bicycle marks of their predecessor--

Dutch Charley Koehn'’s one-man tank.