Original subtitles

♪ [ trumpet ]

Howdy, folks. I'’m the Old Ranger,

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

When you talk about pirates,

you usually think of black flags,

with a skull and crossbone.

And men seizing ships on the high seas.

But there was a time in the California Gold Rush days,

when pirates operated right in one of our own harbors.

They were the...

No one is leaving this ship.

Get back, you bilge rats!

We got a cargo to unload. Nobody else is deserting this ship

till the job is done!

Then you can go to the gold fields and be hanged with ya.

[ wood creaking ]

I'’m warning you. I'’ll crack the skull

of the first mother'’s son who comes close.

[ grunts ]

[ blow lands ]

[ groans ]

[ oars sloshing ]

[ groans ]

Well, what happened to you?

[ sighs ] We lost the crew.

Deserted, huh?Every stinkin'’ one of 'em.

Second and third mates, too?

Nobody left on board but me and you, cap.

I'’ll have 'em flogged. I'’ll have 'em put in irons--

They-- They won'’t be back.

By now, they'’re well on their way to the diggings.

Darn this-- this rheumatism.

I'’ll go ashore, round up another crew.

Enough men, anyway, to move the cargo.

You'’re-- You're a good man, Tom.

To stick by me.

And don'’t forget, I got an interest in the cargo myself.

You better take some money with you.

Show '’em you can pay. Pay wages.

Yeah. Good.In the chest.

I'’ll be back by dark.

[ chattering ]Hi, matey!

Headin'’ for the gold fields?

Get you everything you need-- half-price.

Well, I want a crew to unload a ship'’s cargo.

Hit the beach on ya, did they?

Every stinkin'’ one like the devil was chasin'’ 'em.

Well, it'’ll take plenty of money to get men along this waterfront.

I'’ve got it.

In that case, I'’d try the Apollo Saloon.

A lot of seafaring men hang out there.

Ask for Jake Handley.

Tell him Salty sent you.

Thanks.My pleasure, matey.

♪ [ piano ][ chattering ]

Excuse me, sailor.That'’s quite all right.

Can you tell me where I can find Jake Handley?

Right here!

I understand you might be able to get me a crew to unload a ship.

Oh, I can pay.

Well, I think we can do business.

What'’ll you have? It'’s on the house.Rum, straight.

Straight rum, Joey. Private stock.

Make mine the usual.Sure, Jake.

Where'’d you hear about me?

I ran across a man down the street.

He said his name was Salty.

Salty. Oh, sure, I know Salty.

He'’s an old friend of mine. [ laughs ]

Gwen.

For Jake and his friend.

This one'’s for Jake.

Well, I thank you.

Now, how many men do you need?

About 20.Mm-hmm.

What kind of cargo you carrying?

Rum, molasses, tea, coffee, flour.

And there'’s nobody left onboard to unload it?

Not a hand.

Well, you came to the right place.

How long will it take you to get the men?

Oh, an hour, maybe two.

I wanna get back to the ship, the sooner the better.

The captain is down with rheumatism, and...

[ groaning ]

What'’s the matter, matey?

It'’s kind of warm in here.

I'’ll be all right.

I just don'’t like to leave him alone too long.

[ dog barking ]

[ sighs ]

[ grunts ] What'’s going on?

Who are you?Bill Wilson, San Francisco Courier.

I saw you from the dock up there. I thought you were dead.

What happened?

I don'’t know. I... I seem to...

[ stammering ]

I had a drink...

Apollo Saloon... Jake Handley...

It'’s the last thing I can remember.

How much?

$500.Ooh!

Too bad.

I'’ll get it back.

If I were you, I'’d forget this and count yourself lucky.

Lucky?Yeah, that you'’re still able to bellyache.

There are plenty of bodies found under this dock.

And a lot of them come from the Apollo, I'’d say.

But you'’re the first I'’ve seen that could get up and walk away.

What'’s the matter with your police?

There aren'’t any.No police?

No police, no courts, no jail,

and nobody much caring.

What kind of a town is this?

This is a town sick with the gold plague, friend.

If you'’re, uh, interested in hearing more about it,

I'’ll, uh, stake you to a breakfast.

Breakfast?

Tsk. I'’ve been here all night.

Well, I wouldn'’t know where else.

I better get back to my ship. The captain will think

I ran off to the gold fields too.

Uh, say, how '’bout coming along?

Having breakfast on me?

Well, I don'’t mind if I do.

Why, I haven'’t eaten aboard ship in quite a time.

Good.

[ ship bells ]

[ groans ]

Hey, it'’s not bad. [ laughs ]

Thanks. I'’m glad you're along to back up my story.

That hatch wasn'’t open when I left.

It'’s empty. My, my cargo'’s gone.

Well, it looks like those harbor pirates got here ahead of ya.

Harbor pirates?

Harbor pirates.

This port'’s just crawling with '’em.

Captain, what happens to the--

What are you up to?

To pay Jake Handley a visit.

Oh, what makes you think Jake Handley had anything to do with this?

He'’s the only one to know about the ship'’s cargo

and the captain being alone onboard.

I told him myself. God forgive me.

That doesn'’t prove anything.

I'’ll get proof.Not that way.

Jake Handley'’s a pretty bad one to tangle with.

So am I.

Wait a minute.

If you go barging into the Apollo looking for trouble,

and you'’ll wind up under that pier again.

And this time, you won'’t walk away.

All right, hothead, I can see I'’m not gonna stop you ya.

But do you have to go looking like that?

What'’s the matter with the way I look?

Jake and his boys have gotten quite a look

at that uniform and that beard.

You wouldn'’t get anywhere before they'’d spot you.

Well, it makes sense, doesn'’t it?

Yeah, it makes sense.

Well, go ahead and use it.

[ patrons chattering ]

I'’m checking out, Joey.

Goodnight, Gwen.Goodnight.

Oh.

Shoving off for home, Gwen?

Yeah.Want me to pilot you?

No, thanks.

Oh, a pretty girl like you

shouldn'’t be cruising these streets all alone.

Get your hands off me.

MAN: Now, why do you wanna be unsociable for?

Listen, wharf rat...

Thanks.

Oh, uh...

I thought I'’d tag along just in case.

Look, sailor, you did me a good turn.

Now don'’t spoil it by expecting more than thanks.

I just want to talk to you.

My talking hours are 12:00 noon to 3:00 A.M. in the Apollo.

You'’re talking to me right now, and I want straight answers.

Who killed the captain of the Mystic and looted the cargo?

Who did what?A ship was pirated last night.

The captain murdered. Jake Handley was behind it, wasn'’t he?

Why ask me?Because it started with you!

Serving a man a knockout drink.

Oh... So, it was you.

Well, serving drinks is my job.

But I don'’t mix them.

And anything else that goes on around there

I make it my particular business not to know about.

Look, I may not be choosy where I make a living,

but I am choosy how.

I'’m no party to murder.

Oh, Tom, come in.

So did you find out anything?

Mm-mm.

Well, didn'’t you talk to her?

Yeah, but she didn'’t know anything.

Don'’t ask me why, but I believe her.

[ sighs ] Well, that'’s that.

Now, let'’s see what our next move will be.

The only thing left is a showdown with Jake Handley.

Oh, now, don'’t talk that way.

Now, if I were you-- [ door opens ]

Big news for you, Mr. Wilson.

There'’s a ship on fire in the harbor.

Ship? [ people clamoring ]

PEOPLE: Fire! Fire!

What ship is that?

The Windward out of Gloucester.

Just dropped hook this afternoon.

TOM: You remember the crew?Captain.

What happened to the other men?

They went over to the side for the gold fields,

soon as we anchored.

How'’d the fire start?

Pirates.

Pirates?

There was a whole slew of them.

I was in the galley getting coffee

when they come swarming aboard.

I couldn'’t do nothing but hide.

While they took everything they could lay theirs hands to.

When they were leaving,

one of them threw a lamp into the hold.

By the time I could get to it, there was no putting it out.

So I had to take to the water.

Is that the Windward?That'’s right, Mr. Richards.

You got some cargo aboard?

It was all mine.

Well, it belongs to those harbor pirates, now.

If something isn'’t done about those thieves,

nobody'’s property will be safe in this town.

You willing to do something about it?

I certainly am.How many more merchants feel the way you do?

All of them.

Mr. Wilson, that may be the answer.

Sorry, mister, they'’re not open.

I just want to place an ad.

The Courier isn'’t open today.

Look, all I want to do is--I'’m sorry.

You'’ll have to come back tomorrow.

Okay. Okay.

Hello, Mr. Richards.

Are they in there?

Yes, they are. They'’re waiting for you, sir.Thank you.

Well, you know why I asked you merchants to come here today.

If we'’re gonna scuttle those cutthroats, we'’re gonna need men.

Men to patrol the docks and the warehouses

and watch the saloons and dives.

Do you think you can get '’em?

The shopkeepers have been pretty hard hit.

They oughta be willing to help.

I have a ship coming down from Stockton. Euphemia.

She'’d be laying over here until we can get a cargo east.

I know I can depend on the captain and some of the men.

Good. The more, the better.

Just remember, pick men you can trust.

And who aren'’t afraid of a fight.

I guess that battens down the hatches for now.

We'’ll meet here again tonight at eight bells.

Map out areas and assign patrols.

That'’s right. Good for me.

[ murmuring ]

Now, this is the kind of headline

I'’ve been waiting to print.

"Merchants organize against harbor pirates."

No headlines. No headlines?

Tell that bunch what we'’re gonna do,

we might as well not do it.

But I'’m a newspaper man.

And a good one.

Only you'’re a good citizen.

I'’m going back to my ship. I'’ll see you tonight.

[ thumping, rattling ]

What are you up to?

Ease off, sailor. I already know you'’re big and strong.

Well, what are you doing here?

I came to see you.

There'’s not boat alongside. How did you get out?

A friend rode me out.

He'’ll be back for me later.

A friend like Jake Handley maybe?

I don'’t blame you for being suspicious.

But you'’re off course.

You usually snoop around while you'’re waiting for somebody?

When I can.

Helps me get a line on them.

For instance, this letter you'’re writing

to the captain'’s widow

proves you'’re not as rough and tough as you act.

And that entry you made in the ship'’s log about the captain'’s death

proves what you told me was true.

So...

So I want to prove what I told you was true, too.

I'’m no party to murder.

Jake Handley is behind that pirate gang.

How do you know?

I pick up things.

Now they seem to know everything about the ships they rob.

Where? How do they get their information?

Well, you know one way.

TOM: [ chuckles ]

Look, would you be willing

to do one more thing to help?

Within reason.

Good.

I'’m gonna be at the Apollo Saloon tonight...

with some very interesting information.

Now, I wanna make sure that it get'’s

to Jake Handley'’s ears.

Well, seein'’ the size of '’em,

that ought to be easy.

♪ [ piano playing ]

[ people chatting ]

It'’s the truth, so help me.

[ laughs ]

All right, get me another drink.

Sure, sailor.

Hey, Joey, double whiskey here.

All right, Gwen.

Say, Jake,Hmm.

you ever hear of a ship called the Euphemia?

No, can'’t says I have. Why?

Sailor over there says she just came down from Stockton today

with over a million dollars in gold on her bound for the East.

What sailor is that?

One over there by himself.

[ man laughing ]

Hey, Joey, where'’s my double whiskey?

Coming up.

[ giggling ]

[ laughs ]

Havin'’ a good time, sailor?

[ giggling ] Al--Always have a good time.

[ both laughing ]

Understand you came down from Stockton today?

Yep, that'’s right. That'’s right.

How are things in the gold fields?

Oh, couldn'’t be better.

[ laughs ]

Gold everywhere. [ laughs ]

Even got it on my ship.

Over a million dollars worth taking it East, you know.

[ chuckles ]That'’s a lot of gold.

Oh, you bet it'’s a lot of gold.

What did you say the name of the ship was?

The Eu--Euphemia,yeah.

That sails on noon tide tomorrow.

Cruise ashore to last drunk, huh?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, last drunk.

[ both laughing ]

Hey, where'’s that gal with my drink?

[ giggles ]

Ah, there she is. [ laughs ]

Let'’s see your money there, sailor.

I'’ll see you around, sailor.[ chuckles ]

[ door closes ]

♪ [ harmonica playing ]

[ gunshot ]

[ door opens ]

Put up your hands. All of you.

Billy, collect their guns.

All right, we'’re all gonna go ashore now.

Move along!

Sobered up pretty fast, didn'’t you sailor?

It'’s the salt air.

[ grunts ]

Toss those guns away

or I open up his skull.

All right. Over there with the rest of them.

Come on.

[ grunting ]

[ groans ]

[ grunts ]

[ blows hit ][ grunts ]

[ grunts ]

[ grunting ]

[ grunts ]

[ grunting ]

Ow. [ grunts ]

[ mumbles ]

Handley, you and your men

are under arrest for piracy.

And murder.

And you'’ll be held in jail

until a court can be set up to trial you for your crimes.

Jail? [ snickers ]

What jail?

That'’s right.

There is no jail in San Francisco.

[ chuckles ]We'’ll find a brig somewhere.

Brig.

There'’s one on this ship!

Right here'’s a jail made to order.

Mr. Fraser, the ship belongs to you.

Would you be willing to sell it to the city of San Francisco?

Why, yes, but the city has no money.

You think the merchants would buy the ship for the city?

I'’m willing to put up my share;

and I'’m sure the others will, too.

Then I'’ll see that the price is right.

Take a look around you, Jake.

This ships gonna be your home for quite a while.

In 1922, when steam shovels were excavating

for the foundation of the Federal Reserve Bank in San Francisco,

they unearthed the oaken hull of the Euphemia,

the ship that served as the city'’s first jail,

back in the early Gold Rush days.