Original subtitles

[ ax blows landing ]

It'’s time to eat. [ sighs ]

Ah, oui, oui.

[ grunts ]

Almost enough log, Matthew.

One day, two day more cutting,

and then we'’ll build two fine houses.

By wintertime, we get the women and children, oui?

Would be nice to have our wives here.

Good stew, but woman make better.

[ chuckles ]

♪ [ trumpet ]

Howdy, folks. I'’m the Old Ranger.

This is the Oregon Country-- unsettled, wild, and free

in the early fall of 1842,

when Oregon was a pawn in the struggle

between the powerful Hudson'’s Bay Company

and early American settlers.

The issue of who was to rule between the United States

and the British Crown had to be settled.

And for all practical purposes, it was,

when one American-- Joe Meek, by name-- shouted...

If it ain'’t them, it'’s the Cayuses.

Four of them. A war party.

Couple of hours ago.

Must be after us. Ain'’t no settlement around here.

'’Course there is. I can smell a campfire.

I don'’t smell nothing.

About four miles, north by northwest.

You just got a nigglin'’ nose, that'’s all.

How you expect me to smell a campfire four miles away with you standing next to me?

Come on.

[ Indians whooping ]

Well, you'’re right, if you want to call a few logs

and a couple of settlers about to be scalped a settlement.

[ whooping continues ]

Cham-cham!

[ shouting in native language ]

We owe you much, Joe Meek.

Don'’t thank me, Lucier.

Thank my rifle gun Sally here.

You know, that oughta be a lesson to both of you. And to him too.

He'’s always thinking of building himself a cabin and settling down.

My, just look at him.

Measuring himself for a coffin. [ laughing ]

It is not too bad. There is not too many Indians around.

Oh, them four Indians was a small hunting party from way west of here.

Someday you will settle down.

Nice cabin, a wife...

Me settle down?

Only roof you ever gonna find over my head'’s these here treetops.

Sally here is the only woman in my life.

Eventually, I'’m building too.

See, Joe Meek? Even your friend will build.

Slim, you'’re the lyingest mountain man I ever did know.

No, I mean it. I got my eye on a nice piece of bottomland

over in Willamette Valley.

"Bottomland"?

Danged if you don'’t sound like one of them dirt farmers.

Well, that'’s just what I aim to be.

I'’m gonna put in my claim right soon now.

When they settle whose land this is-- British or American--

this wilderness is gonna be mighty valuable.

You'’re gonna see thousands of settlers and hundreds of settlements.

Settlements? You know how I feel about settlements, Slim,

and them good-for-nothing dirt farmers.

Well, if that'’s what you aim to be,

you aim to be it without me.

Doggone it, boy, you serious?

I sure am.

Come on, Slim. This ain'’t no place for you.

You'’re getting crazy ideas.

Can you use a third hand to help your building?

You help us, we'’ll help you build your cabin.

Slim!

After all these years, why, I just can'’t believe it.

You...

Well, this ain'’t no place for no self-respectin'’ mountain man.

He will come back, by and by.

Someday maybe.

Hey, what means that "Cham-cham" he hollered there?

All the Indians call Joe Meek that.

Means "man of the mountain."

There I was, plumb dab in the middle of that clearing.

Now, beyond in them piney woods was three bears,

staring down at me like I was the first meal they'’d seen in a week.

Three bears, Joe?

Of course there was three,

and all of '’em ready to pounce.

You know what? For the first time in my life,

old Sally wasn'’t by my side.

Well, you know what I did?

Well, I-- I ride back and defied them bears to come on down--

all three of them-- and fight to a finish.

Three, Joe?

One, two, three.

And there was more of '’em back in the woods there, watchin'’ the goings-on.

I know they was there.

"Come on down, you ignorant critters," I hollered up at '’em.

Well, that made '’em good and mad.

And they come down on me all at once.

Why, I just stepped aside as nice and limp

as one of them fancy French dancing masters.

Them three bears come a-chargin'’ in,

pointed their heads together, fell down dead in a heap,

and there they be.[ laughter ]

There'’s a bullet hole in this one.

Clean through the back.

Why, I don'’t shoot nothing in the back, mister.

No critters nor Injuns.

But you did hunt them on Hudson'’s Bay Company land?

You don'’t deny that, do you?Whose land?

You'’re on Her Majesty's soil when you walk through these forests,

and we have laws against private hunting and trapping.

Oh. Afternoon, Mr. Kittridge. [ door closes ]

This man has broken the laws against private hunting and trapping.

Me? Why, I warn'’t trappin' and a-huntin'’.

Them three bears just naturally discombobulated theirselves.

[ laughter ]

Now, I warn'’t about to let Her Majesty'’s forest

get all cluttered up with tasty bear meat, was I?

No, sir. I skinned them critters,

had me some bear steak, brung in them three pelts to do some tradin'’.

Coffee and salt for myself. Powder and ball for Sally.

That'’s my rifle gun.

I am John Benjamin Kittridge,

Her Majesty'’s factor for Oregon Country, Mr. Meek.

I represent the law in this territory,

and I am holding you for trial.

Bind him.

I said, "Bind him!"[ grunts ]

We got him. We got him.

[ grunts ]

What in tarnation'’s this all about?

You destroyed the queen'’s property without authorization.

In my territory, that is breaking the law.

By the authority vested in me by Her Majesty'’s government,

John Benjamin Kittridge, factor,

do hereby declare this court now open.

God save the queen.MEN: God save the queen.

The evidence is here, defendant admits guilt--

I don'’t admit to nothin'.

I brought peace to Oregon

by a solemn pledge that only Indians

would hunt and trap on my lands.

You have violated that pledge.

Your act could'’ve stirred up a massacre.

Your lands, Mr. Factor?

You stole them Injun lands, and you didn'’t give nothin'’ for 'em.

Nothin'’ but the right to hunt and trap, and they had that before you got here.

Those woods are free for all of us.

Not as long as I say they aren'’t. And I say they are not free.

I could hang you, Meek, as an example to others.

And if you were a British subject, I would.

I don'’t know what you are.

You'’re a man without any kind of allegiance to anything.

Except yourself, I suppose.

Well, we don'’t want your kind in Oregon Country.

You tellin'’ me I can't hunt and trap as much as I please?

Settle down to farming, and I can offer you the protection of the Crown.

I can give you seed, tools, and food on credit.

But hunt just once, and I'’ll hang you.

Suppose I don'’t want the pleasure of your hospitality?

Then get out of British Territory, and stay out.

And that means all of Oregon.

Out of Oregon?

Oregon has no place for a man like you, Meek.

Settlers, home-builders are what we want.

Free the prisoner.

She'’s the property of the Crown now.

Big Joe Meek.[ grunts ]

Big Mountain man. Huh! [ grunts ]

[ cocks ]

I just don'’t take no one holdin'’ a cuttin' knife on my back.

You'’re asking for trouble.

Looks like I found it without askin'’.

Now, you just give me them pelts.

Give '’em!

First man puts his head through this door, I'’m gonna blow it off.

We won'’t be that foolish.

But I warn you, this is open defiance of the Crown,

and punishable by death.

And as of this moment, there'’s a price on your head.

You just better make it a big one.

I'’m gonna make it mighty tough to collect.

Joe Meek.

Slim.

Welcome to Willamette.

To what?

Willamette!

[ chuckling ] Well, doggone.

If he ain'’t gone and given a name to this here parcel of rain sheds.

[ laughing ]

Told you this place is gonna grow.

Yeah, that'’s what I come to talk to you about.

Well, sit.

[ laughing ]

Well?Uh, Slim,

just what'’s the political situation in these parts?

What'’d you say?

I mean, how does a man go about voting against Kittridge?

You mean voting for the United States?

Well, I guess you could put it that way.

Well, you was never interested in highfalutin matters like politics.

Well, I'’m interested in being a free man,ain'’t I?

And doing what I please and respectin'’ the rights of others, and still be free.

Now, that'’s politics, ain'’t it? Well--

You'’re doggone right it is. Now, look, Slim,

Now, if Oregon'’s gonna be the kind of a place you and me want it to be,

we gotta get it away from the Kittridges

and make it a part of the United States.Well, that'’s right.

There'’s gonna be a big election this spring.

Every settler'’s gonna get a chance to vote which way he wants Oregon to go--

British or American.

Only trouble is, the likes of you can'’t vote.

What do you mean I can'’t vote?

Well, everybody decided only settlers can vote.

Settlers?

Why, I been here in Oregon longer than any of '’em.

Now, Joe, everybody agreed-- British and American.

Only settlers are gonna have the right to vote.

That'’s a fact?Yeah.

[ hat thuds on ground ]

Well, doggone it. I'’m gonna build me a cabin.

I'’m gonna settle down. I-I-I may even farm.

You mean that?Ain'’t never lied to you yet.

What'’s come over you, Joe?

Why, the good old days, you hated government.

"Civilization," you called it. You changed.

Nah, just a minute. I said I was gonna farm,

but I'’m still gonna save a little time for hunting and trapping.

I ain'’t changed. It'’s you that changed, Slim.

You just ain'’t as ignorant as you used to be.

[ laughing ]

Not bad, Joe. It'’s not bad at all.[ laughs ]

You know, come next week, I'’m gonna be planting my early wheat.

What do you think of that, huh?

"Civilization!"[ laughing ]

Aw, it ain'’t as bad as all that.

Fella'’s gotta be a useful citizen if it'’s gonna be the United States.

Meeting'’s on May 4 at Champoeg.

We need your vote, Gus. We'’re counting on it.

Dave, your vote counts at Champoeg.

I want you to vote for the United States.

Of course there'’s advantages.

For one thing, no corporation can hold land.

That means no company can, only an individual can.

And they got something called habeas corpus. That'’s mighty important.

It means no man can be arrested without a fair trial.

I'’ve tallied 'em three times.

We'’re one vote behind. We need two votes.

How about those two new settlers at Dallas mission?

Oh, I counted '’em for us. I'’m pretty sure of 'em.

Wait. There'’s one chance we can pick up two votes. At Fort Victoria.

That'’s British settlement.

Lucier and Matthew-- they'’d be hard to reach, but if we could get to '’em--

I can get to him.Ah, you don'’t know Kittridge.

He'’d yank their tongues out if he thought his people voted against him.

You'’ll never get through.

He warned you. There'’s a price on your head.

Whatever it is, he'’s overpayin'.

Well, maybe we'’re a vote or two ahead, but it'’s mighty close.

One single vote could mean the difference.

With whom do you think we'’re weak, Ivey?

It all fits. Lucier and Matthew, the French Canadians.

And that reporter heard about Joe Meek

being in company territory, heading for their place.

Meek? Why, he'’s an enemy of the Crown.

He'’s my enemy, as well.

Of course. He'’s after those two votes.

Well, he'’s got to be stopped. It'’s those two votes that could mean the difference.

I'’ll head for Lucier and Matthew first thing in the morning.

You'’ll head for them tonight.

Meek must be stopped.

And I don'’t care what means you use to stop him.

[ sighs ]

[ grunts ]

[ grunting ]

[ grunts ][ cries out ]

[ cocks ]

[ breathing heavily ] What are you gonna do?

Now, what in tarnation you think I'’m gonna do?

Kill me?

I ain'’t never left no wounded critter to suffer yet.

Please don'’t. D-Don'’t-- Don't kill me, Joe.

You weren'’t so sugar-mouthed when you come at me with that knife.

No, it'’s Kittridge.

He-- He gave me orders to kill you if necessary.

He'’s afraid you'd-- you'’d get to Lucier and Matthew.

I'’m hurt bad. Don'’t leave me here.

I'’ll never make it. [ continues breathing heavily ]

All right.

I gotta get you down to the creek and get that wound washed.

And I guess you just have to go along with me to Lucier'’s and Matthew's.

Yeah. [ whimpers ]

[ groans ]

[ groans ]

Hey, Lucier! Matthew!

You old bourgeois, come on out! It'’s me, Joe Meek!

It'’s Joe! Joe Meek!

[ laughing ]Hello, Joe.

Allo,Joe.

You'’re from Mr. Kittridge, the factor at Fort Victoria.

Yeah. Had himself a little accident.

Now, him and me don'’t exactly see eye to eye on what I come to see you boys about.

I want you to vote for Oregon joining up with the United States.

But we are British subject, Canadien.

That is right. Do you not think so, Mr. Ivey?

You got something to say, go ahead and say it.

Mr. Kittridge expects you to vote for the Crown and the Hudson'’s Bay Company.

We'’d be giving you implements, seed and food over the winter.

Credit and protection against the Indians.

That is the truth.

The company mighty good for the settler.

What you say, Joe? What you offer?

Well, I ain'’t so good with the words,

but I know what I think is important.

It'’s freedom.

Now, I know that don'’t stack up against seed

and a plow and flour on credit in the wintertime.

The way I see it'’s this: There'’s a lot of fellas died for it.

That makes it pretty good and pretty important.

Now, in the next few years, there'’s a lot of American settlers

coming out West to Oregon.

You ask any one of '’em, "Neighbor, what'’s this freedom?"

Most likely, he can'’t tell you.

But you just try and take it away from him,

and he'’s gonna give up his life for it.

I know I'’d give up mine.

We don'’t know.

JOE:Slim!

Well, you sliced it thin, all right.

They'’re just about ready to vote. Did you get to Lucier or Matthew?

When I left '’em, they were still in a quandary. I guess they'’re gonna stay that way.

We need them votes.Well, you ain'’t gonna get 'em.

But it looks like the other side ain'’t gonna get 'em either, so we'’re even.

MAN: You have all heard the report of the committee

which would seek to separate Oregon from the Crown

and make it a part of the United States.

We have now been in debate over two hours,

and the time has now come to vote.

Will all those in favor, say, "Aye"?

MEN: Aye!

All those against, say, "No."

MEN: No.

The nays seem to have it.

[ men shouting ]

[ chattering ]

Now, just hold on, Mr. Chairman.

That man has no voice here.

I put a price on his head.

Well, you better take it off, Kittridge,

leastwise till this voting'’s over.

I say the devil with them ayes and nays.

We'’ll divide.

Who'’s fer divide?[ men shouting in agreement ]

This is very irregular! This meeting is--

Any voting member can ask for a divide, Mr. Chairman.

MEN: Yeah!

All those in favor of Oregon becoming part of the United States, follow me!

[ men shouting ]

[ chattering ]

That'’s Whitfield of Salem, our last vote.

Counting you and me, that'’s 50,

and if the chairman casts the deciding vote

the way I'’m sure he will, we lose.

Well, gentlemen, we have 50 votes.

Without mine, how many do you have?Well, counting Joe--

You can'’t count him any more than you can a Cayuse or a stray dog.

He'’s no real settler.

There'’s a land deed to show Joe Meek

is a bona fide-y settler just like the rest of us.

In fact, Mr. Kittridge, you bought some of his spring wheat.

Mr. Meek is a matter of no importance.

Even including him, I figure that you have 50 votes. We have 50 votes.

According to parliamentary procedure, I cast the vote to break the tie,

and I shall therefore declare that the Oregon Territory will be--

Wait a minute!

Lucier and Matthew-- they got a vote.

Fort Victoria settlers are loyal to the Crown.

Ah, gentlemen, you'’re just in time to cast a vote for the Crown.

Remember, you are British subjects.

If it not be for Joe Meek, we'’d be no subject. We'’d be dead.

So, uh...

We think and think.

For me, Joe Meek, I vote like you--

for freedom and the United States.

[ laughing ]

[ Joe, Slim laughing ]

For the United State.

Yahoo!

[ laughing ]

Three cheers for our side!

For Oregon! For freedom! [ men cheering ]

For the United States! [ cheering continues ]

Within minutes after that election,

Joe Meek, whose quick thinking had saved the day,

was elected the first sheriff of Oregon.

"Who'’s fer divide?" was the clarion call to freedom

for the sons of the West.

Here'’s a picture of Joe Meek. Now, as far as I know,

the only one that has come down to us

of this famous mountain man.