Original subtitles

Well, there'’s your salt. Six pounds.

You sure that'’s all you need now?

I think that does it.

Got a good, uh, gun?

Bullets?

Ammunition'’s scarce, but I, uh,

I could spare a few rounds

till the freight wagon gets here.

Well, thank you, but we don'’t use guns.

MAN: Don'’t use 'em?

Everybody needs a gun in this country, mister.

The Indians been givin'’ a lot of trouble

to miners up the river.

My husband and I are not people of violence.

But these are Modocs.

They'’re out for blood!

You gotta have protection!

Oh, we have.

Oh, then you-- you are armed.

With the strongest weapon a man could ask for.

In that box you brung with you?

I thought it appeared mighty heavy.

Oh, no,

right here.

The Holy Word.

♪♪ [ Trumpet ]

Howdy, folks. I'’m the Old Ranger.

This could be almost any gold town

on the mother lode in the year 1850,

but it happens to be the town of Murphy'’s Flat,

on the upper reaches of the Sacramento River.

It is here that Dan and Mary Bartlett,

armed with nothing but faith in God and their fellow men,

arrived to join the throng of gold-seekers

along the river bar that was to be known as...

You'’re a minister.

Just a man of peace.

But when you'’re dealin' with savages--

We'’ll take our chances.

We don'’t believe in the use of firearms.

Well, it'’s your funeral, friends.

Mr. Merritt, uh, would you please send these supplies over

to the blacksmith shop? Our mules are there.

Sure. Alf, take this stuff over to Jake'’s, huh?

Mmm, I'’ll get that.

Well, you finish at Merritt'’s?Yes.

JAKE: He outfit you all right?

Yes, we got everything we needed.

Yeah. At a price, huh?

Well, you can'’t haggle when there'’s only one store.

Yeah, that man'’s a highbinder.

Oh, Mr. Higgins, uh, while we'’re loading up,

I--I have something for you to fix for me.

Oh?

What in tarnation?

Mr. Merritt! Hank!

Hey, come on out here and take a look at this!

Take a look at what?That!

Well, that bolt won'’t give you any more trouble, Mr. Bartlett.

Oh, thank you, Mr. Higgins.

MERRITT: What in tarnation is that?

Some kind of newfangled underwear?

[ chuckles ]

It'’s a diving suit, Mr. Merritt.

Diving suit?

Well, good luck, Mr. Bartlett.

Thank you very much.

[ birds chirping ]

Can you make out what you'’re doin'?

Looks like he'’s got some kind of a pump.

Hey, he'’s got on that divin'’ suit.

Let'’s go down a little closer.

Take a good look.Yeah, let'’s.

Ah, that'’s just right, Mary.

Did you, uh, check the pump?

[ exhales ] Yes, dear,

but you will be careful, Dan?

Well, now, don'’t worry, Mary.

Don'’t forget, I'’ve been thoroughly trained in this equipment.

[ rustling ]

Did you hear something?

Oh, probably one of the mules.

It could be Indians.

Well, if so, we shall simply make them welcome.

You'’re right, dear.

They'’ll have to be friendly if we show them

the spirit of brotherly love.

[ rustling ]

Ah, a couple of prospectors, I guess.

They seem familiar.

Afternoon, gentlemen.

What can we do for ya?

Oh, we were just passin'’ by. Thought we'’d say howdy.

Glad you did.

Haven'’t we seen each other before?

Yes, ma'’am, in town.

My name'’s Alf and this is my friend, Hank.

Uh, what are you aimin'’ to do with this rig anyways, folks?

Oh, well, I'’m gonna do some prospecting on that riverbed.

You mean, you'’re gonna sit right at the bottom

of that river and pan for gold?

[ chuckles ]

Well, I wouldn'’t say exactly that.

Uh, but if the gravel is rich enough,

I'’m gonna build a sluice box

on the top of that little ridge, right here,

and wash it out.

Well, I'’ll be danged.

Uh, what ever give you that idea?

Well, my study of alluvial deposits.

You see-- you see, at the bottom of that river,

there might be nuggets washed down--

big ones-- washed down to the mountainside.

Well, if you gentlemen will excuse me,

I'’d like to get started.

Oh, go right ahead.

Don'’t let us hold you up.

Now, Mary, uh, remember, if anything goes wrong

or if you need anything, just-- just tug on this line here a couple of times.

I understand.

Well, what do ya know.

Well, I think I'’ve seen everything now.

That'’s it! Hold it!

Ah, doggonit.

What is it, Dan?

I'’m not so sure.

Well, look here, Mary.

Well, seems like metal of some kind.

Isn'’t this one of the rocks I brought up

from the river bottom?Yes.

Well, there must be tons of it down there.

Mary, we'’re going into the assay office.

But it can'’t be gold.

I know that.

But it just might be silver.

Oh, Dan! Do you really think that--

I think we ought to go to town with some samples.

[ exhales ]

And then, he walked right into the water,

just like he'’s takin' a stroll down some avenue.

Pretty soon, he'’s up to his neck,

then his eyes,OTHERS: No.

and then, the water swallows him up.

I'’ll have a Red Eye, Merritt.Out of Red Eye, friend.

you mean, you ain'’t got no liquor?

That'’s right.[ people chattering ]

Oh, no. You mean I walked them three miles for nothin'’?

When will you have some?

Freight wagon was due in yesterday.

That'’s all I know. And whiskey'’s goin' up, friend.

It'’ll be two bags of dust.

[ people chattering ]

Well, it got me more to get it up here.

I ain'’t in business to lose money.

ALF: Hey, Mr. Merritt.

Those tenderfeet are back in town.

MERRITT: The Bartlett'’s?

[ dog barking ]

They'’re goin' into the assay office.

What do you think it is?

Can'’t say for sure, but soon I'’ll let you know.

Looks like you got lucky, Mr. Bartlett.

Maybe, just-- just maybe.

We'’re hoping it's silver.

What'’s it look like, Carl?Did he make a strike?

Yeah, you made a strike, all right.

Found one of the purest deposits of lead I ever seen.

ALL: Lead?[ all laughing ]

Now, ain'’t that a downright dirty shame

Mr. Bartlett, I think you ought to study them "alluva" deposits,

or whatever you call '’em, again.

Then maybe you'’ll learn the difference between silver and lead.

[ all laughing ]

Better luck next time, friend.

So, are you sure it'’s lead, Carl?

There'’s no doubt about it.

[ sighs ]

[ gasps ] Dan, look.

[ man collapses ]

It'’s all right, friend. We'’ll help you.

[ moaning ]

What--what happened?

Indians attacked freight way.

Charlie--

Charlie killed.

Then horse camp wiped out.

You'’ve lost a lot of blood.

You'’ll have to rest,

but you'’re going to be all right.

Thanks, ma'’am.

Are you in any shape to tell us more, Luke?

Like I said, the Indians are on the warpath.

They'’re armed to the teeth.

Roarin'’ drunk on your whiskey.

[ people murmuring ]

Well, were they aimin'’ this way, you think?

They'’re aimin'

to clean the white man out of this whole valley.

You said they were armed to the teeth.

Where'’d they get the guns?Oh, lots of places.

How do I know?

We gotta stop '’em somehow.

I ain'’t goin' on no posse.

Well, we'’ll be on our way now.

Come now, Mary.Yes, dear.

Now, remember, just stay quiet

and those wounds should heal nicely.

Thank you, ma'’am.

And where are you folks goin'’?

Back to camp.

It'’s time to do a little more dredging before sundown.

Listen, young fella,

are you crazy?

You just hear Luke tell you

that the Indians are comin'’.

Your camp will be one of the first they'’ll hit.

[ people murmuring ]

Well, if the Indian should come,

we shall extend the hand of friendship.

The hand of--Come on now, Mary.

There'’s a nice couple.

Gonna wind up dead.

Folks is crazy.

All right, men. All right.

Never mind the Bartlett'’s.

We'’ve gotta figure out a plan of defense.

Now, listen, if we'’re half smart,

we'’ll collect all the guns and ammunition

and we'’ll hold up right in this store.

Maybe we'’d better clear out of here

and ride for Spring Lake.

We haven'’t got time for that, I tell ya.

We'’re practically surrounded.

Look, now, wait a minute.

I make a motion we get a rough idea

as to how much ammunition we got.

That'’s a good idea.

Now, I got about five boxes over in the shop.

Alf?Six or seven.

About the same as Alf.

And I got a couple of bullets.

And two boxes, maybe.

Being in the assay office, I never needed much.

Oh, that ain'’t more than 100 boxes among all of us.

Look, now don'’t get panicky.

Merritt'’s got plenty.I ain'’t got plenty.

I'’m out. Clean out.[ people chattering ]

But you had 20 boxes just last week.

What happened to it?What do you happened to it?

I mean, miner comin'’ through here bought some.

I ain'’t got, oh, 50 rounds left.

That means that the Indians have got more lead than we have.

What are we gonna do?Well, let'’s make a run for it,

before the lead starts flyin'’.Lead. Wait a minute.

Maybe we ain'’t so bad off, after all.

Carl, didn'’t you say that Bartlett struck pure lead?

Yeah, that'’s right.

All right. If Bartlett will give us that lead,

we can make our own bullets in Jake'’s forge.

Then we can take '’em right here and stand those Indians off.

I don'’t think Bartlett will give us any lead, Merritt.

ALF:Why not?

Well, you heard him. He--He'’s against violence.

I know them fellers.

Well, I, for one, I'’m against dyin'.

Right. I say we ride out there

and take that lead if Bartlett likes it or not.

I agree.We got a right to protect ourselves.

Well, yes we do, but suppose he gives us an argument. And I think he will.

Well, that'’ll be just too bad for him

because we'’re goin' out there and get that lead

one way or the other. Now, come on, men.

[ men shouting ]

Afternoon, Mrs. Bartlett.

We'’d like to have a word with your husband.

Already signaled him.Good.

Well, good afternoon, Mr. Higgins.

Gentlemen, pleasure to see ya.

Afternoon, Mr. Bartlett.

Sorry to interrupt your work.

There'’s a big emergency. We need your help.

Oh.

Well, I presume you mean the Indians.

How can I be of help?

We need ammunition to defend ourselves.

Well, I certainly don'’t have any.

We need your lead, Mr. Bartlett.

My lead?

The town'’s near out of ammunition.

We'’re gonna defend ourselves against the Indians,

we need bullets.

And the lead on your strike

is pure enough ores to melt it down

and make bullets in Jake'’s forge.

Oh, no, gentlemen.

You can'’t have my lead for that purpose.

Mr. Bartlett, you and your misses

are in worse danger here than we are in town.

MAN: That'’s right. We heard on our way up here

two more camps wiped out.

Yeah, the miners all leavin'’ their diggin'’s,

up and down the river.

Well, I'’m sorry, gentlemen...

but I'’m against violence.

I will not knowingly participate in it,

either directly or indirectly.

You may not use my lead.

We'’re taking it.

Violence breeds more violence, gentlemen.

Taking that lead will only mean more bloodshed.

The Lord has told us in clear terms

"Thou shalt not kill."

Then, you tell that to the Indians.

Our lives are in danger.

Let'’s get that lead so we can start to make them bullets.

Now where is it?

Down there, under the water.

Yeah, but how do we get it?

The same way Bartlett does, I suppose.

That'’s right. Somebody gotta put on that suit and go down.

Well, I ain'’t be good at that kind of thing.

I wouldn'’t know nothin' about it, either.

You--you gotta be trained to use that contraption.

Well, you'’re trained, Mr. Bartlett.

Get that helmet back on. You bring up the lead.

I will not.

You'’ll go or regret it.

We'’re a lot stronger than you are.

You'’re wrong, Mr. Merritt.

I have an ally that you can'’t even see.

You get that helmet on and do as we tell you.

No.

Maybe--maybe we can figure out something else, Merritt.

What'’s the matter? You gettin'’ yellow?

I tell you, men, it ain'’t good to go

against a man that has them kind of convictions.

Yeah, it-- it might be bad luck.

CARL: What good it'’ll do to shoot him?

You--you all backin'’ down?

It makes me kind of leery to go against a man

that'’s got the Lords word behind him.

Yeah. Fightin'’ the Almighty

is like fightin'’ against somethin'’ you can't see

but you know is there.

[ growls ]

All right, you fools.

I'’m ridin' back into town.

From there, I'’m high-tailin' it to Spring Lake.

Come on.

DAN: I'’m sorry I couldn't be more help to you, Mr. Higgins.

[ horses neighing ]

But I feel very strongly about this.

I hope you never have to face the Indians, Mr. Bartlett,

but if you do, you'’ll always be welcome in my place,

with or without the lead.

Oh, Dan.

I wonder if--If we should be partners

to shooting and killing?

[ sighs ] No.

Of course not, Dan.

[ men shouting ]

Well, it'’s about the only thing I see to do.

And once more, we'’re gonna organize our defense right now.

The main thing is not to panic.

We ought to barricade ourselves in the store.

It'’s the strongest buildingin town.

No. No, them redskins

are liable to burn that store first thing.

Why, we'’d be roastin' alive![ people chattering ]

The safest thing to do

is to get right here in the middle of my corral

and barricade ourselves, where we can seem '’em comin'.

We'’ll make every bullet count.

[ people chattering ]

All right. Now, the first thing, let'’s get

the ammunition and the arms organized.

Here.

Everything'’s loaded, Merritt.

You just get these pelts into the wagon.

If you hadn'’t given the Indians the ammunition for these pelts,

we wouldn'’t be in the fix we'’re in right now.

Will you shut up and get moving?

Come on, come on![ mutters ]

It was a wonderful supper,Mary.

I think I have time for one more try in the water before dark.

Wait a minute, Dan.

I have something to tell you.

It'’s this.

Even if we have found only lead so far,

I'’ve enjoyed every minute of it.

♪ Diving

♪ Dive well

♪ Said the farmer in the dell ♪

♪♪ [ humming ]

♪ Daniel Bartlett

♪ Dove for gold

♪♪ [ humming continues ]

MARY: ♪ Mary had a wife named Dan

♪ And she loved to study

♪ And she loved to play

♪ Daniel Bartlett

♪ Dove for gold

♪ La da de de dum da dum ♪

[ gasps, screaming ]

[ water bubbling ]

[ speaking foreign language ]

[ screaming ]

You all right, Mary?

Yes, I'’m all right.

I wonder what happened.

I tried to gesture to them

that I wanted to talk and make friends,

but instead, they ran away.

[ exhales ] Sometimes, Daniel,

I think the Lord works in strange ways.

What do you mean, Mary?[ deep breath ]

Well, I wonder if they-- if they didn'’t mistake you

for the devil.

Oh. [ chuckles ]

[ sighs ]I do believe you'’re right.

[ chuckles ]

So, that'’s about all there was to it, Mr. Higgins,

except for this morning.

When we got up, we came out

and we found all these goods piled all around.

A peace offering from the Indians.

You know, there'’s no question about it.

They mistook you for some kind of devil-god.

But where did they find all these supplies?

Why, there'’s flour, sugar,

yard goods, even fur pelts.Mmm.

They belong to Merritt.

The furs, he got from the Indians

for sellin'’ 'em guns and ammunition.

Merritt and Alf and Hank took off for Spring Lake yesterday

with all this stuff from the store.

I guess the Indians caught up with them after all.

Oh, that'’s too bad.

I'’m sorry to hear that.So am I,

but what on Earth are we gonna do with all this stuff?

That kind of ties in what we wanted to talk to you folks about.

How'’s that?

You know, Merritt'’s store is empty.

We'’d like you and Mrs. Bartlett to set up a business in there.

Why, these supplies will

more than enough to get you started.

What do you say?

[ sharp exhale ]

Why, it'’s a wonderful idea, fine idea,

except that, uh, just doesn'’t seem right somehow to get a store,

entire business for nothing.

For nothing? [ chuckle ]

You know, Mr. Bartlett,

we all laughed at you in that there divin'’ suit.

But that'’s what saved Murphy'’s Flat from the Indians.

That'’s right.You know,

we need a storekeeper.

What do you say?

Well, as long as you put it in those terms,

a man could do a lot worse for himself.

Like you said, Mary...

ways of the Lord are sometimes strange.

Mighty strange.

You'’ve just heard the story of how a diving suit,

the first ever used in the West,

protected the Bartlett'’s and the town of Murphy'’s Flat

from the Indian.

From then on, the section of the river they worked

would be known as the Devil'’s Bar.

And the suit, just like this one,

which was used at this time,

became an historic museum piece for posterity.