Original subtitles

Two more this morning, Captain De La Mar.

Well, don'’t look at me. You'’re the doctor.

It'’s not a doctor's problem.

Well, what am I supposed to do?

Change the geography of this valley?

Remove the mountains so the wind can blow through?

Nobody has to work here if they don'’t want to.

But they do want to

because De La Mar pays well.

Oh, Doc.

Tell their families the company will pay the funeral expenses.

Yeah.

♪♪ [ trumpet ]

Howdy, folks. I'’m the Old Ranger.

Gold mining in Nevada reached a low ebb

towards the end of the last century.

The only place where there was any real activity

was in the desert mining camp of Delamar,

named for Captain John De La Mar,

who owned the mines, the mills, the whole town.

If a miner wanted work in Nevada,

it was Delamar or nothing.

So, to Delamar they went,

in spite of its sinister reputation as the...

De La Mar Mining Company.

Delamar Weekly Lode.

De La Mar Hardware.

Delamar Hotel.

You know what, Frank?

I think we'’ve reached Delamar.

I knew I married a bright girl.

[ chuckles ]

Oh, Frank. [ explosion ]

What was the noise?Blasting.

Is the mine that close?Must be.

There'’s the mill.

Over there, where we see all that smoke?

It'’s not smoke, it'’s dust from the tailings.

[ dog barking ]

[ man coughing ]

Good afternoon.Good afternoon.

We'’d like a room, please.

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Gibbs.

How long do you plan to be with us, Mr. Gibbs?

Until we can find a house of our own.

You'’re gonna live here?

That'’s the idea.

You see, my husband is a mining engineer.

Oh.

Then nobody can tell you nothing you don'’t already know.

What do you mean?

I was just a common mucker.

[ coughs ]

Eh, I'’ll give you number seven.

It'’s a nice corner room.

Thank you.

You won'’t have any trouble finding a house.

There'’s plenty of empty ones.

In a boom camp? That'’s odd.

Well, uh, there'’s a big turnover.

This way, please.

Phew! It'’s stifling in here.

I'’ll open a window.

Oh, I wouldn'’t, sir. The dust.

We'’ll die of suffocation with everything tied shut.

Well, that'’s better than dying of...

I'’ll get you some water.

[ grunts ]

FRANK: There it is.

It'’s not really what I expected.

Mining camps aren'’t noted for their beauty, darling.

I didn'’t mean that.

I just thought it would be lively and full of excitement.

I mean, a camp that'’s producing gold by the millions.

The streets just seem so quiet, like on Sunday.

The men are all at work.

Where I'’ll soon be, I hope.

I'’m gonna go see Captain De La Mar just as soon as I get cleaned up.

[ knocking on door ]

Come in.

Thanks.

Hey, wait a minute.

Is this all we get?

Water'’s scarce, sir.

There'’s not enough here to wash a canary.

Well, I can fetch you some more water, sir, but it'’s extra.

Two bits.

Here'’s 50 cents.

Fill it up, huh? And bring me another one.

Yes, sir.

Malingering. That'’s what they're doing. Malingering at my expense.

But the doc says--Yeah, yeah, I know.

Now, look, I worked on the ground myself,

12 hours a day, 7 days a week.

It'’s no picnic, but what do you expect in mining?

You tell these fellas either to stick to their jobs or go back to the farm.

Now, get going.

What do you want?

Well, my name'’s Frank Gibbs.

I-- I have a letter of introduction here.

I don'’t know what we'’re coming to.

A man sneezes, and he says he'’s sick, he can'’t work.

Hmm.

Graduate engineer, huh?Yes, sir.

Suppose you got your eye on my job.

Why, I'’m willing to start anywhere.

I'’ll swing a pick, pound a drill.

In my mine, we don'’t pound drills.

I'’ve installed pneumatic drills.

Well, you are up to date.

They cost a pretty penny,

but they sure speed up production.

If I only had the men to match them.

You'’re pretty young.

You think you'’d be able to drive men?

Well, I can drive them as hard as I drive myself,

and that'’s pretty hard.Mmm.

I need a foreman.

Last one just quit on me. To take a rest.

Can you start tomorrow?

Yes, sir!

Pays $5 a day.

I'’d heard Delamar wages were good.

Yeah?

What else have you heard?

Nothing.

Well, you will.

There'’s folks who will tell you I run a bad luck camp,

but don'’t you believe them.

The work here isn'’t hard as work goes.

The pay is the highest in the country.

Some folks are unfortunate.

Well, it happens everywhere.

Report tomorrow at 8:00,

and I'’ll take you through the mine myself.

I-I don'’t know how to thank you, Captain De La Mar.

Maybe I'’m the one who ought to thank you.

I need young men with brains and ambition who aren'’t afraid to work.

Glad to have you with us, Gibbs.

[ explosions ]

Oh. Howdy.

My name'’s Frank Gibbs.Jim Logan.

My wife and I just arrived in Delamar.

We'’re staying over at the hotel until we can find a house.

Well, I thought you might have a real estate section in your paper.

Oh, we sure do.

You know of anything for rent?

Oh, there are plenty for sale.

Sale?

We hadn'’t thought of buying just yet.

I suppose we could.

I just landed the job as foreman.

So we could afford the down payment all right.

Look, I don'’t want to push you into anything you might regret.

What do you mean?

It just might be wise to wait and see if you like it here.

Is there any reason why I wouldn'’t like Delamar?

You know, if I don'’t get that press going,

Delamar'’s not gonna have a paper tomorrow.

The listings are on the back page.

Oh, no. First one'’s on the house.

Thank you.

So this little chambermaid, who was not more than 13,

left school to support her widowed mother.

Frank?Hm?

Were you listening to me?

Why, sure. I heard you, honey.

What did I say?

You were talking about a little girl who was supporting her mother.

Well, what happened to her father?

Well, I asked her what happened to him, and she said he was a miner.

He died like all the rest of them.

What do you suppose she meant by that?

I don'’t know.

Was there an accident here, or a cave-in,

or an explosion, or something?

I wouldn'’t have any idea.

The way she said it gave me a funny feeling.

Well, what are we talking about such gloomy things for?

My husband just landed a wonderful job,

and we'’re gonna buy our first new home.

Do you see anything good on the list?

Well, this one reads the best,

but we better wait till we see it, huh?

Huh.

[ explosions ]

[ men coughing ]

I'’m looking for Captain De La Mar.

I was to meet him here at 8:00.

You'’re early.

I know.

[ coughing continues ]

Cambrian quartzite.

Yeah. [ chuckles ]

We just call it "pay dirt."

It'’s close to 80 percent silica.

[ chuckles ] Whatever it is,

it'’s making old man De La Mar rich.

Where does he bring in his water?

Water?For his mining and milling.

He... [ coughing ]

don'’t use water.

[ coughing continues ]No water?

You mean it'’s a dry process?

Sure.

No wonder there'’s so much dust from the tailings.

Not a breath of air stirring today.

Never is.

Not in this valley.

Hemmed in by them mountains on all sides.

No clean wind can blow through.

"Devil'’s dust," we call it.

DE LA MAR: Oh, there you are, Gibbs.

I'’m sorry to keep you waiting.

Well, what are you standing around for? Come on, get moving!

[ coughing ]

Devil'’s dust.

Now, look, I told you, don'’t believe everything you hear.

Come on.

[ door opens, closes ]

Hello, Frank. Playing hooky?

Been to a funeral.

One of my men.

That'’s too bad.

[ coughing ]

Tell me, Logan,

what'’s the mortality rate here?

Mortality rate?

I'’m not quite sure.

You been here since this camp started?

Yeah.

You publish obituaries, don'’t you?

Well, sure.

Can I see your file?

Yeah. Come here.

What are you after, Frank?

Just trying to fit some pieces into a puzzle.

Well, if you'’re so interested in the dead,

why don'’t you visit the cemetery?

I already have,

but the headstones don'’t state occupation.

I thought so.

What?

Most of the dead were employed in the mine or the mill.

Most of the population are either miners or mill workers.

The average age was under 30.

Frank, there'’s always violence in a boomtown.

These men didn'’t die suddenly.

I don'’t see one death here by shooting.

What are you driving at?

Oh, come, now, Logan.

You'’re too good a newsman not to know

what'’s really going on in Delamar.

Half the women in town dressed in black.

The cemetery growing.

Men coughing their lives away, just as I'’m beginning to.

You'’ve heard of silicosis?

Miner'’s consumption?

Sure.

One of the hazards of mining. Claims victims in every camp.

In most places, it takes years.

In Delamar, they'’re gone in a few months!

The captain'’s doing all he can for his men.

He'’s installed the latest machinery.

Pneumatic drills. That'’s one of the causes.

They kick up a terrific dust unless they'’re operated with water.

Look, Frank, I'’m no engineer.

De La Mar'’s the man to talk to.

That'’s just where I'm going, now I'’ve got my facts together.

I'’m sure he'll listen to reason.

If he doesn'’t...

will you run this for me in the paper?

"Truth About Silicosis."

The folks here should know.

[ sighs ]

Frank, I'’ll, uh, have to check this with the captain.

After all, you know...

Yeah. Yeah, I know.

Captain De La Mar owns this newspaper too.

So you'’re telling me how to run my business.

No, sir.

Just explaining that it'’s your dry process

that'’s the source of this devil'’s dust.

Stop calling it "devil'’s dust"!

That'’s what the men call it.

Well, they ought to know. Their lungs are full of it.

It hasn'’t stopped them from coming here, begging for jobs.

Men will come wherever there'’s gold and high wages.

Now, look, son,

I handed you a pretty good job

the first day you came to town, right?

Yes, sir, and I'’m grateful for that.

We were doing pretty well up to that time.

Without your help. No complaints.

I'’m not trying to cause trouble, sir.

I'’m trying to get at the root of it.

If you'’d pipe water into the mine

and run the ore wet through the mill,

this deadly dust would be eliminated.

And I'’d be financially ruined!

You realize what water costs in this town?

What'’s that compared with men'’s lives?

Ahh!Don'’t you care anything about human beings?

I do everything for my men. Oh, sure.

You give us medical care when we'’re sick, credit at the company store.

You even bury us!

I ought to fire you right on the spot.

You'’re young, Gibbs. You'’re inexperienced.

Look, boy,

I know we'’ve got problems.

Why don'’t you let me worry about them, huh?

We'’ll have them licked one of these days.

But they could be licked immediately if you'’d just listen to me.

I have listened to you. For exactly 25 minutes, Mr. Mining Engineer.

Now, don'’t you think we'’d both better get home and get some supper?

Let'’s go, boy.

[ coughing ]

You know, he wouldn'’t listen to me at all. [ scoffs ]

He seemed to think I was trying to interfere or something.

I was in that--Frank, I'’ve been doing some serious thinking.

Don'’t.But, Frank, I wan--

To borrow a phrase from Captain De La Mar,

"You let me be the one to do the worrying."

Then you are worried?

Well...

Frank, you realize your cough is getting much worse?

Oh, that?Yes, that.

Frank, let'’s pack up and get out of this place.

Let'’s go back East.What?

Oh, we got a little money saved up by now.

Well, just-- just give up everything

we'’ve worked for all these months?

Our home?

My job?

Look, Frank, darling, nothing in the world matters to me but you.

I wanna keep you with me.

You couldn'’t lose me if you tried.

This town frightens me, Frank.

It'’s filled with women in black.

I know.

Well, I don'’t want it to happen to us. I won'’t let it.

We'’ve gotta get out.Just desert?

Oh, but that'’s Captain De La Mar'’s responsibility.

It'’s not yours.

But I have the answer.

You tried talking to him before. It doesn'’t do any good.

I can keep trying.

But, Frank, this disease doesn'’t wait for anybody.

It'’s just one of those horrible galloping things.

[ sighs ]

You'’re right, Jeanie.

Then you will go?

Yeah, I'’ll go.

I'’ll go to the men themselves.

Maybe they'’ll listen.

[ coughing ]

I'’m telling you straight, men.

This dust is killing us all.

The captain won'’t admit it, the newspaper won'’t print it,

and nobody wants to talk about it.

But the simple truth is, we'’re working ourselves...

[ coughing ] to death.

Well, what can we do about it?

We can strike. That'’s what we can do about it.

How do you mean, strike?

Walk off our jobs.

Refuse to work.

No more mining, no more milling

till De La Mar pipes in water to abolish the dust.

[ men murmuring ]We strike, he'’ll fire us.

If we strike, he can'’t produce one ounce of gold!

That'’s the only way we can force him to take some action!

Oh, I don'’t know. He'’s the boss.

Well, men, if you won'’t think of yourselves,

think of your families.

Think of... [ coughing ]

Get a doctor.

I'’m all right. [ spits ]

I don'’t know about you, men, but Gibbs here has convinced me.

I'’m willing to strike.Me too!

[ chattering ]

[ coughing ]

Frank, honey, I'’m going to the store

to see if any fresh beef has come in.

You need some good broth.

What would I do without you, Jeanie?

Well, can I get you anything else while I'’m there?

Sure. Any news of the strike.

[ chattering ]

Afternoon.Afternoon, Mrs. Gibbs.

Do you have any fresh beef in today, please?

Yes'’m. A whole carcass come in this morning.

Well, that'’s very good. Would you please give me two pounds of meat?

And, uh, I'’d like you to fill this list of groceries.

Gonna pay cash for this, ma'’am?

Why, no. Just put it on our bill, as usual.

I'’m sorry, ma'am. I'’ll have to tell you

the same thing I told the others.

Captain De La Mar laid down the law to me.

No work, no credit.

You mean we can'’t get any more food?

Cash only.

But these people live from payday to payday.

That'’s the point.

So, he'’s gonna starve you out.

Not me, he ain'’t.

I'’ll steal before I let my kids go hungry.

We'’ll mob this store and string you up if you get in the way.

I'’m only taking orders from the captain.

Yeah, that'’s right. De La Mar'’s the one to go after.

We ought to drag him out of town on the end of a rope.

Not before we tar and feather him. Lynch him.

[ shouting in agreement ]

What is it?The men.

They'’re talking of lynching Captain De La Mar.

What?He'’s cut off all their credit

because of the strike.

Frank, you can'’t go out there. You'’re not strong enough yet.

Honey, I started this thing.

I'’ve gotta stop it before there'’s violence.

No.

Frank, don'’t.Please, honey.

[ men shouting ]

Frank, you can'’t stop a mob like that.Well, I'’m gonna try.

Come on out![ shouting continues ]

Come on out!Wait a minute! Listen to me!

De La Mar'’s had this coming for a long time. Get out of the way.

[ murmuring in agreement ]Just let me talk with the captain.

We can'’t eat talk. He cut off our credit.

MAN: We want food.

FRANK: He was just trying to scare us.

He'’ll listen to reason. You'’ve gotta give him a chance.

[ chattering ]Come on out, De La Mar!

[ gun cocking ]

FRANK: No!

Frank!

Get the doc.Frank!

Frank, darling.

I didn'’t mean to hit you, Frank. You got right in the way.

Why did you do it, son?

Strike?

Save my life just now.

I-I don'’t know about that, sir...

but I never wanted violence.

All I wanted was our rights as human beings.

[ coughing ]

I understand.

I tried to tell you, but you wouldn'’t listen.

Then they didn'’t listen.

I heard you, son. I heard you all the time.

I knew you were right, too. I--

I just wouldn'’t admit it.

I'’m sorry, son.

[ footsteps approaching ]

He'’s lucky.

Not much more than a flesh wound. He'’ll be all right.

I'’m telling you right now, Captain De La Mar,

my husband'’s never going into your mine again.

By the time your husband'’s ready to come back to work, Mrs. Gibb--

How long will it be?Well, it won'’t be long before this

and that lung condition is all cleared up.

By then, there'’ll be pipelines bringing water to the mine and the mill!

You can print that in the paper, Logan.

Yes, sir!

[ cheering ]That'’s all we need!

[ cheering continues ]

The old captain was as good as his word.

The deadly silica dust was conquered,

and Delamar lost its nickname as "City of Widows."

This is what Delamar looks like today.

Among its ghostly remains,

you can still see the tailings from which the dust rose.

And here'’s a sample of quartzite.

No longer a menace to miners,

thanks to modern safeguards against silicosis.

Among them, a law that prohibits the operation

of pneumatic drills underground

without the use of water.