Original subtitles

NARRATOR: FRONTIERSMAN JOE WALKER HAS SPENT YEARS SCOUTING

AND EXPLORING AMERICA'S VAST WESTERN WILDERNESS.

BUT AFTER LEADING A DARING EXPEDITION IN SEARCH OF

A ROUTE TO CALIFORNIA, HE STUMBLED INTO A POTENTIALLY

DISASTROUS CONFRONTATION.

LOOK ALIVE FELLAS.

NARRATOR: FOLLOWING A VIOLENT CLASH WITH MEMBERS

OF THE PAIUTE TRIBE...

WALKER: HEY, HEY STOP IT STOP IT.

HOLD YOUR FIRE!

NARRATOR: WALKER'S MEN ARE NOW SURROUNDED BY DOZENS

OF WARRIORS EAGER FOR REVENGE.

THERE'LL BE NO FIRIN' UNTIL I GIVE A COMMAND. - ALL RIGHT.

NARRATOR: PUTTING HIS LIFE ON THE LINE, WALKER ATTEMPTS

TO DEFUSE THE CONFLICT BEFORE ANY MORE LIVES ARE LOST.

[SIGN LANGUAGE] TELL YOUR WARRIORS TO STAY BACK.

NARRATOR: BUT DESPITE HIS EFFORTS TO KEEP THE PEACE,

JOE WALKER IS NOW FACING THE DEADLIEST FIGHT OF HIS LIFE.

[WAR CRIES]

FIRE!

[GUNFIRE]

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

ANDREW P. NELSON: IN THE ANNALS OF MOUNTAIN MAN LORE,

FEW HAD AS ECLECTIC A CAREER

AS DID JOSEPH WALKER.

A CAREER THAT LITERALLY GOES FROM THE WAR

OF 1812, UP TO AND BEYOND THE CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH.

HE WAS SUCH A STABLE FORCE.

HE WAS SO DEPENDABLE.

HE WAS SO CALM, COOL, AND COLLECTED

THAT HE NEVER REALLY GOT ANYBODY'S ATTENTION.

SAMUEL K. DOLAN: HE SHOULD STAND SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER

WITH FIGURES SUCH AS DAVID CROCKETT,

KIT CARSON, JIM BRIDGER -- AND YET HE'S STILL

RELATIVELY UNKNOWN TO MANY PEOPLE NOW.

NARRATOR: JOSEPH WALKER GROWS UP ON THE FRINGE OF

THE WILDERNESS, WITH A LONGING FOR ADVENTURE.

JUST AS A NEW CHAPTER OF AMERICAN HISTORY

IS BEING MADE.

ANDREW P. NELSON: WALKER IS FROM TENNESSEE,

AND HE'S THE MIDDLE CHILD OF SEVEN.

A LARGE FAMILY.

[HORSE NEIGHS]

NARRATOR: JOE WALKER MIGHT HAVE FOLLOWED IN ONE OF THE FAMILY

TRADES, EXCEPT FOR HIS COUSIN SAM HOUSTON, WHO WILL ONE DAY

MAKE AMERICAN HISTORY OF HIS OWN.

HEY, JOE!

YOU HEARD, RIGHT?

YOU GONNA JOIN UP?

YOUNG WALKER: HOLY COW, SAM.

WHEN'D YOU JOIN?

NARRATOR: WALKER'S COUSIN HAS ARRIVED WITH THE NEWS

OF WAR BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES

AND THE NATIVE AMERICAN CREEK NATION.

LIKE EVERYONE IN TENNESSEE,

THE WALKER FAMILY IS HORRIFIED BY THE NEWS

THAT COMES UP FROM ALABAMA.

500 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED, THE CREEKS HAVE JOINED

HANDS WITH THE BRITISH IN THE WAR OF 1812.

HARD TO IMAGINE YOU IN THE ARMY, SAM.

WELL, IT'S "ENSIGN HOUSTON" NOW.

I'VE JUST ENLISTED, AS SHOULD YOU.

TELLIN' MA WON'T BE EASY.

JOE, THIS IS YOUR TIME.

NARRATOR: SAM HOUSTON CONVINCES JOE WALKER TO JOIN

IN WHAT SOUNDS LIKE A PATRIOTIC ADVENTURE.

[CHAOTIC YELLING, GUNFIRE]

WHICH TURNS OUT INSTEAD TO BE A BLOODY

AND HORRIFYING EXPERIENCE.

SAMUEL K. DOLAN: JOSEPH WALKER IS ESSENTIALLY

A TEENAGER, A BOY SOLDIER IN THIS BATTLE AT HORSESHOE BEND.

IT HAD TO HAVE MADE A HUGE IMPRESSION ON WALKER.

[GUNFIRE, YELLING]

SOLDIER: SET, FIRE!

SET..!

[GUNFIRE, WAR SOUNDS]

STAND BACK SOLDIERS!

[GUNFIRE]

NARRATOR: THE BRUTAL BATTLE OF HORSESHOE BEND LEAVES DOZENS

OF CREEK INDIANS AND AMERICAN SOLDIERS DEAD OR WOUNDED.

[BOY GROANING]

AND IT TEACHES JOE WALKER AN ABHORRENCE FOR VIOLENCE

THAT STAYS WITH HIM THE REST OF HIS LIFE.

HOUSTON: JOE!

I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU AMONG THE LIVING'!

I THOUGHT FOR SURE YOU'D COPPED IT IN THAT LAST CHARGE!

BUT LORD, WASN'T IT GLORIOUS?

I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WE'D WON.

WELL, OF COURSE WE DID!

THE GENERAL SAYS SO.

WE CAN TELL OUR GRANDCHILDREN WE FOUGHT WITH "OLD HICKORY."

I'M GONNA FETCH SOME WATER FOR THOSE POOR FELLAS.

WALKER WOULD HAVE SEEN

A LOT OF THIS BLOODSHED, A LOT OF THIS BLOODLETTING.

WHICH AT TIMES WAS VERY, VERY BRUTAL.

AND CERTAINLY IT MADE AN IMPRESSION ON JOSEPH WALKER.

JACKSON: READY OUR HORSES.

LET'S GO UP RIVER FIVE MILES

TO MEET WITH THE COMMANDER OF THE MILITIA.

THIS ARMY HAS ACHIEVED A GREAT AND FORTUNATE VICTORY.

YOU HAVE EARNED THE GRATITUDE OF YOUR COUNTRY.

NO MEN HAVE EVER ACTED MORE GALLANTLY

OR FELL MORE GLORIOUSLY.

SOLDIER. THANK YOU, SOLDIER. - SOLDIER: THANK YOU, SIR.

ANDREW P. NELSON: IT SEEMS REASONABLE THAT THIS MIGHT'VE

BEEN THE MOMENT WHEN HE REALIZED THAT HE WASN'T DESTINED

TO BE AN INDIAN FIGHTER.

HE WAS DESTINED FOR SOMETHING ELSE.

PERHAPS TO BE AN EXPLORER.

NARRATOR: SAM HOUSTON'S JOURNEY WILL EVENTUALLY TAKE HIM

TO TEXAS AND LASTING FAME.

BUT WALKER'S FUTURE LIES IN THE UNCHARTED REACHES

OF THE FARTHEST WEST.

FOLLOWING THE CREEK WAR, WALKER COMES OF AGE

AS A RESPECTED TRAPPER AND SCOUT ON THE RUGGED

FRONTIER OF MISSOURI.

ALONG THE WAY, HE MAKES A LIFE-LONG FRIEND

OF A ONE-TIME MINISTER TURNED MOUNTAIN MAN, BILL WILLIAMS.

TOGETHER, WALKER AND WILLIAMS RANGE ACROSS THE FRONTIER,

EVEN TRAVELING INTO SPANISH TERRITORY.

AND AS TWO OF THE FEW AMERICANS EVER TO HAVE

EXPLORED THE SOUTHWEST, THEY ATTRACT THE ATTENTION

OF A COLORFUL CHARACTER NAMED WILLIAM BECKNELL.

BECKNELL: YOU JOE WALKER?

WALKER: THAT DEPENDS WHO'S ASKING.

WILLIAM BECKNELL, SIR.

AND MAY I SAY, IT'S A PLEASURE TO FINALLY MEET YOU.

I SEARCHED YOU OUT OVER HALF OF MISSOURI.

WELL, RECKON YOU FOUND HIM.

THAT'S OLE BILL WILLIAMS.

CHARMED.

WHY DON'T WE SIT AND HAVE A TALK?

ALL RIGHT.

ANDREW P. NELSON: WILLIAM BECKNELL WAS AN

ALL-AROUND COLORFUL CHARACTER.

HE HAD DONE MANY THINGS IN HIS LIFE, INCLUDING

LOSING A RACE FOR A SEAT IN THE MISSOURI LEGISLATURE.

BECKNELL WAS ABOUT $20,000 IN DEBT.

HAD BEEN IN DEBTOR'S PRISON, HAD BEEN THREATENED WITH GOING

BACK IF HE DIDN'T MAKE MORE MONEY TO PAY OFF HIS-

HIS CREDITORS.

ANDREW P. NELSON: SO HE BEGINS LOOKING FOR A WAY

TO GET RICH AND- AND MAYBE FAMOUS.

AND SO HE BEGINS LOOKING TOWARDS THE SOUTHWEST.

SANTA FE IS MEXICAN NOW, NOT SPANISH.

AND THE DOOR IS OPEN FOR TRADE TO WHOEVER CAN GET THERE FIRST.

NOW, I HAVE WAGONS AND I HAVE TEAMS,

BUT I NEED MEN.

WILLIAMS: WE BEEN THERE ONCE.

ALMOST STARVED ON THE WAY BACK.

YA EVER ATE A MULE'S EAR?

WALKER: UH, PARDON MY FRIEND, MR. BECKNELL.

THE ROAD TO NEW MEXICO IS UH LONG, DRY, AND WELL,

JUST PROWLIN' WITH INDIANS OF THE FIERCEST SORT.

PRECISELY WHY I NEED INTREPID MEN LIKE YOURSELF

BY MY SIDE, MR. WALKER.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: BECKNELL WAS KEEPING UP ON THE NEWS.

HE KNEW THAT THE SPANISH EMPIRE WAS FINISHED AND, OF COURSE,

THE SPANISH RESTRICTIONS ON TRADE COMING FROM

THE UNITED STATES WERE GOING TO END.

SO THIS WAS THE TIME TO BE THE FIRST

TO UH OPEN UP SANTA FE TO AMERICAN COMMERCE.

NOW, ANYONE WHO GUIDES ME SAFELY TO SANTA FE

WILL SHARE IN THE PROFITS AND THE RECOGNITION

MY ENTERPRISES WILL EARN.

ALL RIGHT, MR. BECKNELL,

WE WILL THINK ABOUT IT.

WE'LL LET YOU KNOW.

NARRATOR: NEITHER WALKER NOR WILLIAMS TRUSTS

THE FAST-TALKING TRADER,

BUT THE LURE OF EXPLORATION IS DIFFICULT FOR WALKER TO RESIST.

HE COULDN'T FIND HIS HAT WITH TWO HANDS.

[LAUGHS]

YEAH, MAYBE SO.

FIRST ONES THROUGH SANTA FE WITH A PACK TRAIN.

THEY'LL MAKE THEIR PILE FOR SURE.

AND WHO KNOWS?

MAYBE WE'LL GET TO CALIFORNIA THIS TIME.

OR MAYBE WE'LL BURY OUR BONES IN THE DESERT.

WALKER: NAH.

AH, COUNT ME IN.

SOMEONE'S GOTTA LOOK AFTER YA.

BOTH: [LAUGH]

NARRATOR: IN SEPTEMBER, 1821, WALKER LEADS THE FIRST

TRADING EXPEDITION DOWN WHAT WILL BECOME LEGENDARY

AS THE SANTA FE TRAIL.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: THE SANTA FE TRAIL BECAME ONE OF

THE BLOODIEST ROADS IN ALL

OF HUMAN HISTORY.

IT'S LIKE A- A "MAD MAX" MOVIE.

ONCE YOU GET THROUGH ONE GROUP THAT'S LIKELY TO ATTACK YOU,

YOU'RE GONNA RUN INTO ANOTHER ONE.

NARRATOR: FOR WALKER, IT'S THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME.

BUT FOR BECKNELL, IT'S TORMENT, MADE WORSE BY THE FACT THAT

BILL WILLIAMS, A FORMER MINISTER, HAS A LINE OF

SCRIPTURE FOR EVERY OCCASION.

WAS THE JOURNEY QUITE THIS DIFFICULT LAST TIME, BILL?

"THE LORD HIMSELF WILL GO BEFORE YOU.

HE WILL BE WITH YOU; HE WILL NOT LEAVE YOU OR FORGET YOU."

UH HUH.

WISH IT WASN'T SO BLASTED HOT, THOUGH.

SHH, SHH, SHH.

HO, HO, HO, HO, HO.

SHH, SHH, SHH.

[CLICKS] COME ON.

COME ON.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

APACHE WARRIORS: [WAR CRIES]

NARRATOR: THE APPEARANCE OF A HOSTILE APACHE WAR PARTY ISN'T

ENTIRELY UNEXPECTED.

BUT NEITHER BECKNELL NOR BILL WILLIAMS EXPECT WALKER

TO PLACE HIMSELF DIRECTLY IN ITS PATH.

HO,.

SHH, SHH, SHH.

NARRATOR: FRONTIER SCOUT AND EXPLORER JOE WALKER

IS LEADING ONE OF THE FIRST EXPEDITIONS

TO EVER TRAVEL THE SANTA FE TRAIL.

BUT WHEN HOSTILE APACHES CHARGE OUT TO ATTACK,

HE DOESN'T HESITATE TO CONFRONT THEM HEAD-ON.

WALKER: FRIENDS. FRIENDS?

NARRATOR: BUT WHAT STARTS AS A VICIOUS ATTACK,

QUICKLY TURNS INTO A CAUTIOUS CONVERSATION INSTEAD.

WALKER: THEM?

ONE'S ABILITY TO NEGOTIATE WITH NATIVE PEOPLES,

TO TRY TO STAY OUTTA TROUBLE WAS REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND AT THIS, JOE WALKER WAS A MASTER.

BECKNELL: JOE, HOW ON EARTH DID YOU DO THAT?

WALKER: AW, THAT WAS EASY.

I JUST TOLD 'EM I WAS ROBBIN' YOU MYSELF.

TOLD 'EM YOU WERE A BUNCH O' GREENHORNS

WITH NOTHIN' WORTH STEALIN'.

WELL, WE BEST GET ON, IN CASE THEY DECIDE

TO TAKE SOME SCALPS FOR FUN, HUH?

"WHEN A MAN'S WAYS ARE PLEASING TO THE LORD,

HE MAKES EVEN HIS ENEMIES TO BE AT PEACE WITH HIM."

BECKNELL: SUPPOSE SO, BILL.

TELL YOU WHAT, THOUGH, WHEN WE GET BACK,

I'M GONNA TALK TO THAT FELLA ABOUT RUNNIN' FOR OFFICE.

NARRATOR: THANKS TO WALKER, BECKNELL'S PARTY SURVIVES

THE SANTA FE TRAIL, AND ARRIVES TO A WARM WELCOME IN

THE SETTLEMENTS OF NEW MEXICO.

TRADERS: [SPEAKING SPANISH]

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: HERE WAS A NEW ROUTE THAT WAS GOING TO

UH ESSENTIALLY BRING, YA KNOW, A GIANT WALMART SUPERSTORE

RIGHT TO THEIR DOORSTEP.

TRADERS: [SPEAKING SPANISH]

NARRATOR: AND BY GETTING BECKNELL TO SANTA FE,

WALKER'S HELPED CREATE THE MOST FAMOUS TRAIL

OF THE FRONTIER ERA.

AND SO, VERY QUICKLY, THE SANTA FE TRAIL

BECAME THIS HUGE ROAD OF COMMERCE.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, IT BECAME A MILITARY

ROAD OF EMPIRE AND CONQUEST.

WALKER: [SIGN LANGUAGE] WE GO PAST

THE MOUNTAINS TO CALIFORNIA.

NARRATOR: BUT JOE WALKER HASN'T COME THIS FAR

JUST TO TURN A PROFIT.

INSTEAD, HE'S EAGER TO TALK TO MEMBERS

OF THE NAVAJO TRIBE...

WALKER: [SIGN LANGUAGE] HOW FAR?

HOW LONG? THE MOUNTAINS.

NARRATOR: AND LEARN FROM THIS ANCIENT PEOPLE WHAT

NO AMERICAN OF THE TIME KNOWS: AN OVERLAND ROUTE

TO FAR-OFF CALIFORNIA.

THREE MONTHS?

OKAY. [LAUGHS]

THANK YOU.

SEE THAT, JOE?

SPANISH SILVER.

COME UP ALL THE WAY FROM PERU.

PERU?

WHERE IS THAT, EXACTLY?

WILLIAMS: ALL THE WAY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD.

UH HUH.

WILLIAMS: EVEN FARTHER THAN CALIFORNIA.

BEYOND THAT, THE GREAT WESTERN OCEAN.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: WALKER HAD THE WANDERLUST.

CALIFORNIA, YA KNOW, THAT'S ALWAYS THE GOLDEN LAND.

THERE'S ALWAYS THE DREAM OF WHAT-

WHAT LIES OVER THOSE MOUNTAINS.

NARRATOR: IN THE YEARS FOLLOWING HIS ADVENTURE TO SANTA FE,

WALKER WORKS FIRST AS A LAWMAN, AND THEN AS A HORSE TRADER,

BEFORE AN UNEXPECTED REUNION AT A FRONTIER TRADING POST

REAWAKENS HIS EXPLORER'S SPIRIT.

WELL, IF IT ISN'T SAM HOUSTON!

- JOE WALKER! - WALKER: HEY, HEY, HEY!

I HOPED I'D MEET YOU HERE.

WELL, LAST I HEARD YOU'D GONE TO UH LIVE WITH

THE CHEROKEE OF ALL THINGS. - HOUSTON: I DID.

I'VE GOT A WORLD OF THINGS TO TELL YOU, JOE,

MAYBE SOMETHING OF AN OPPORTUNITY, TOO.

WELL, LET ME JUST GO TALK TO MY PARTNER REAL QUICK.

I'LL BE RIGHT BACK FOR YA, 'KAY, SAM?

NARRATOR: AND AS HE DID SO MANY YEARS BEFORE, SAM HOUSTON HAS

AN EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURE TO OFFER HIS COUSIN, JOE.

HERE YOU ARE.

HOUSTON: THANK YOU. I READ ALL ABOUT THAT

"BECKNELL EXPEDITION," BUT YOUR NAME WAS NEVER

WRITTEN IN IT ONCE.

WELL, BECKNELL WANTED ALL THE GLORY.

HE CAN HAVE THE HEADACHES TOO.

WELL, LISTEN, JOE.

THERE'S THIS ARMY CAPTAIN NAME OF BONNEVILLE,

FRENCH BY BIRTH.

HE'S LOOKIN' TO TAKE LEAVE AND LEAD A TRAPPING

EXPEDITION UP THE MOUNTAINS.

WELL, HE NEEDS A GUIDE.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: BENJAMIN BONNEVILLE IS

ONE OF THE MOST MYSTERIOUS CHARACTERS

IN ALL OF WESTERN HISTORY.

HE'S FRENCH, BORN IN FRANCE DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY ERA.

EVENTUALLY, GOES TO WESTPOINT, BECOMES AN ARMY OFFICER.

HE'S, THOUGH, GOT AN AIR OF ARISTOCRACY ABOUT HIM.

YEAH, I HAD MY FILL OF MILITARY WAYS

IN THE CREEK WAR, SAM.

AND I DON'T THINK I TAKE ORDERS PARTICULARLY WELL, SO.

JOE, YOU DUMMY, YOU DON'T HAVE TO JOIN THE ARMY.

HE'D HIRE YOU AS A CIVILIAN SCOUT.

AT A HANDSOME SALARY, TOO.

SO, IF YOU WANT TO EXPLORE THE DISTANT WEST,

AND I KNOW YOU DO, THIS IS A FIRST CLASS TICKET.

JOE WALKER SAW A REAL OPPORTUNITY

TO GO INTO NEW LANDS THAT HE HAD ALWAYS DREAMED ABOUT.

WALKER CERTAINLY SAW HIMSELF AS SOMEONE WHO COULD BE

RIGHT ALONGSIDE LEWIS AND CLARK

IN TERMS OF OPENING UP THE WEST.

MAYBE I'LL GIVE WILLIAM A CHAT.

NARRATOR: BUT BY DECIDING TO MEET WITH BONNEVILLE,

WALKER'S ABOUT TO GET ENTANGLED

IN THE AMBITIOUS DESTINY OF THE UNITED STATES ITSELF.

♪ ♪

A WEEK AFTER HIS ENCOUNTER WITH SAM HOUSTON,

WALKER ARRIVES AT THE BUSTLING EXPEDITION CAMP

OF BENJAMIN BONNEVILLE.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: BONNEVILLE WANTED TO- TO SORT OF IMPRESS

EVERYBODY WITH HIS SORT OF BONAFIDES.

I MEAN, HE- WHO HE WAS, HE'S AN IMPORTANT ARMY OFFICER.

HE'S OBVIOUSLY GOT CONNECTIONS WITH THE GOVERNMENT.

BONNEVILLE: BEFORE I UNFOLD MY PLAN, I SHOULD SAY THAT

I'VE NEVER HEARD OF YOU BEFORE.

WELL, THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

NEVER HEARD OF YOU EITHER.

IF YOU PLEASE, TELL ME OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

WALKER: LOOK, CAPTAIN.

I BEEN TO SANTA FE AND BACK.

RANGED UP AND DOWN THE MISSOURI FRONTIER SINCE I WAS A BOY.

I GET ALONG WITH INDIANS BETTER THAN MOST.

AND UH WHEN I GIVE MY WORD I KEEP IT.

NOW, I THINK THAT'S "ACCOMPLISHED" ENOUGH.

IF IT DON'T SUIT, I WISH YOU LUCK.

I WILL GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVE

YOURSELF, MR. WALKER.

WALKER: SURE.

SOON AS WE TALK TERMS.

AND UH I'LL BE CHOOSING THE OTHER SCOUTS.

UH, WHOM ELSE WOULD YOU EMPLOY?

NO ONE "EMPLOYS" BILL WILLIAMS.

BILL!

♪ ♪

SO, THIS IS HIM, IS IT?

MMM HMM.

WALKER, YOU WILL MAKE CERTAIN OF THIS... PERSON?

"WHOM EVER WALKS WITH THE WISE BECOMES WISE,

BUT THE COMPANION OF FOOLS WILL SUFFER HARM."

HE USED TO BE A MINISTER.

NARRATOR: AND AS BONNEVILLE'S FRONTIER GUIDE, WALKER NOT ONLY

GETS A CHANCE TO SEE A NEW WORLD, HE'LL HELP CREATE AN

AMERICAN EMPIRE STRETCHING TO THE PACIFIC SHORE.

♪ ♪

BONNEVILLE'S EXPEDITION TO THE FAR WEST SETS OUT IN MAY, 1832.

ANDREW P. NELSON: WALKER IS CHARGED WITH HELPING TO MOUNT AN

EXPEDITION WHOSE SIZE AND

SCALE ARE ALMOST UNPARALLELED

IN THE HISTORY OF THE AMERICAN FRONTIER.

NARRATOR: BUT SOON THE EXPEDITION LEAVES

THE RELATIVE SAFETY OF MISSOURI.

TRAVIS BOLEY: ONCE YOU CROSS THE MISSOURI RIVER,

YOU START TO LEAVE WHAT WAS THEN THE ESTABLISHED UNITED STATES.

NARRATOR: AND AS HE DID ON THE SANTA FE TRAIL,

WALKER IS ABLE TO TURN POTENTIAL ENEMIES INTO FRIENDS.

MARK BROWN: THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT UH

GO INTO COMMUNICATION.

THAT HAS TO BE DONE IN A THOUGHTFUL MANNER,

BECAUSE IF IT'S PERCEIVED

AS AN AGGRESSIVE APPROACH IT'S GONNA HAVE

NEGATIVE UH RAMIFICATIONS.

WALKER: THEY SAY THE CHEYENNE ARE RIDIN' IN NUMBERS AGAINST

THE CROW, BUT THEY HAVEN'T COME THIS FAR DOWN SOUTH YET.

VERY GOOD, WALKER.

WELL DONE. WALKER: ALL RIGHT.

COME ON! [CLICKS] LET'S GO.

NARRATOR: BUT ON SUCH A LONG, DIFFICULT JOURNEY,

FRIENDS CAN ALSO TURN INTO ENEMIES.

- MEN: [GRUNT] - WALKER: THAT'S IT!

THAT'S IT!

COME ON!

IT'S ALMOST THERE, ALMOST THERE!

COME ON, MEN!

YOU STUPID OX, WHY CAN'T YOU WATCH YOUR STEP?

WALKER: NOW, COME ON! [MEN YELLING]

WALKER: ALL RIGHT, BILL. HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY!

ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT. HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY!

NARRATOR: JOE WALKER ALWAYS TRIES TO KEEP THE PEACE...

LET'S CALM DOWN, CALM DOWN.

[MEN YELLING]

BONNEVILLE: I WILL HAVE THAT MAN IN IRONS!

NARRATOR: BUT THIS TIME, THE PROBLEM IS

HIS OWN BEST FRIEND.

WAL!

LET'S CALM DOWN, CALM DOWN.

NARRATOR: FRONTIERSMAN JOE WALKER HAS LED AN

AMBITIOUS EXPEDITION HALFWAY TO THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.

NOW HE MUST DEFUSE A SUDDEN CONFLICT BEFORE

THE ENTERPRISE DESCENDS INTO CHAOS.

BILL, STOP PITCHIN' A FIT.

OKAY?

YOU'RE LIABLE TO HURT SOMEONE WITH THAT THING.

IF I DO, IT'LL BE THAT LUMMOX WHO CAN'T KEEP

HIS FEET OFF OF MINE!

[MEN YELLING] ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT!

BILL, WE'RE TUCKERED OUT, WE'RE TUCKERED OUT.

NOW, JUST PUT YOUR KNIFE UP, HUH?

YOU KNOW YOU'VE GONE TOO FAR, C'MON.

NARRATOR: BUT HAVING SETTLED ONE CONFLICT,

WALKER IMMEDIATELY FACES ANOTHER.

NOW, AS I SAID, PLACE THAT MAN IN IRONS.

WALKER: NOPE.

NO ONE WILL BE PUNISHED THAT WAY, CAPTAIN.

YOU FORGET I AM YOUR EMPLOYER AND THE LEADER OF THIS BRIGADE.

WALKER: OH, I REMEMBER JUST FINE.

THING IS, ME AND BILL WILL UP AND QUIT THIS WHOLE OUTFIT.

AND THAT LIL' OLE MAP THAT YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON

FOLLOWING MY TRAILS...

WELL...

YUP, I RECKON IT STOPS RIGHT ABOUT HERE.

NARRATOR: BONNEVILLE QUICKLY REALIZES THAT HIS EXPEDITION

WILL GRIND TO A HALT WITHOUT WALKER'S HELP.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: JOE WALKER WORKED THE SANTA FE TRAIL.

HE UNDERSTOOD WESTERN TRANSPORTATION IN WAYS THAT

BONNEVILLE DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE ABOUT.

ANDREW NELSON: IN WALKER, BONNEVILLE HAS FOUND

THE BEST GUIDE HE COULD HAVE HOPED FOR.

♪ ♪

IF YOU ARE SATISFIED THAT YOUR MAN CAN CONTROL HIMSELF,

WE CAN PROCEED.

WHATCHA SAY, BILL?

"BLESSED BE THE MERCIFUL,

FOR THEY SHALL RECEIVE MERCY."

♪ ♪

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET THIS WAGON, BOYS.

♪ ♪

SPIRITUALITY IS FINE AND ALL, BILL, BUT I THINK

LESS IS MORE IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

NARRATOR: WALKER IS STEADILY PROVING HIS

VALUE TO BENJAMIN BONNEVILLE.

JOE: ON THREE... ONE, TWO, THREE!

NARRATOR: AND NOW HE'S ABOUT TO LEARN WHAT THIS MYSTERIOUS

FRENCH CAPTAIN IS REALLY DOING ON THE FRONTIER.

♪ ♪

AFTER WEEKS OF WESTWARD TRAVEL WITH BENJAMIN BONNEVILLE,

WALKER IS SUSPICIOUS OF HIS TRUE MOTIVES.

THAT FANCY FRENCH SO-AND-SO WANTED TO SEE

STRANGE SIGHTS, WELL...

IT DON'T GET MUCH STRANGER THAN THIS.

YEAH.

I DON'T THINK THAT BONNEVILLE IS EITHER A TRAPPER OR AN EXPLORER.

I THINK THIS WHOLE THING'S GOT A PURPOSE.

SO WHAT IS IT THEN?

I DON'T RIGHTLY KNOW.

MR. WALKER.

I RECKON I'M ABOUT TO FIND OUT.

♪ ♪

MR. BONNEVILLE.

♪ ♪

I AM SURE YOU ARE AWARE

THAT NO WAGON TRAIN HAS EVER ATTEMPTED TO

CROSS THE SOUTH PASS. - OH, I AM.

BILL SUBLETTE SAYS IT CAN BE DONE THOUGH SO...

I WOULD LIKE YOU TO GUIDE ME OVER THE PASS

AND THROUGH THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE WITH MY WAGONS.

JOE: HMM...WOW.

THE SOUTH PASS WAS THE LONG DREAMED-FOR OVERLAND

ROUTE ACROSS THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE THAT WAS

WIDELY RECOGNIZED AS BEING THE KEY TO WESTWARD MIGRATION.

THE QUESTION IS: WHY?

BRIDGER AND FITZPATRICK HAVE BEEN TRAPPING OVER THERE

FOR YEARS WITH NOTHING BUT HORSES AND MULES.

THERE'S NO NEED FOR A TRAPPER TO BRING WAGONS OUT THERE, CAPTAIN.

I TRUST I MAY SPEAK IN CONFIDENCE?

I AM ATTEMPTING TO BUILD A FORTIFICATION ON

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN.

THAT IS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW.

♪ ♪

I'LL GET YOUR OUTFIT OVER SOUTH PASS, CAPTAIN,

ON THE HONOR OF YOUR WORD THAT ANY FUTURE EXPLORATION

TO CALIFORNIA IS MINE TO LEAD.

I HAVE NO INTEREST REGARDING THE PACIFIC SHORE.

ALL RESPECT, BUT AIN'T THIS MAP RIGHT HERE

OPEN TO CALIFORNIA?

ANDREW NELSON: BONNEVILLE'S EXPEDITION WAS IN FACT

A COVER STORY FOR A SECRET MISSION TO FIND AN OVERLAND

ROUTE ACROSS THE SIERRAS TO CALIFORNIA.

BECAUSE, IF THAT CAN BE DONE THEN SOUTH PASS

CAN BECOME THE GREAT ROAD TO THE FAR WEST...

TO OREGON AND TO CALIFORNIA.

EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE SANTA FE TRAIL.

IT'S REALLY A SPY MISSION ON A GRAND SCALE.

IT'S MOSTLY BLANK TOO.

I'D LIKE TO SEE IT FILLED IN JUST AS MUCH AS YOU WOULD.

AND I'D LIKE TO BE THE MAN THAT DOES IT.

WELL DONE, JOSEPH.

YOU... ARE PERCEPTIVE.

AND YOU HAVE MY WORD.

BONNEVILLE WANTED TO HELP AMERICA REACH

ITS CONTINENTAL DESTINY AND SO WALKER'S GOING TO HAVE

A ROLE IN BOTH OF THESE GREAT TRAILS OF THE WEST.

NARRATOR: IN JULY OF 1832,

THE MAN WHO HELPED BLAZE THE SANTA FE TRAIL

MAKES HISTORY FOR A SECOND TIME.

HOLDING UP HIS END OF THE BARGAIN WITH BONNEVILLE,

HE HAS LED THE FIRST WAGON TRAIN

TO EVER CROSS THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.

[RIVER STREAMING]

WALKER'S ACCOMPLISHMENT MARKS A

MAJOR TURNING POINT IN AMERICA'S DESTINY.

THE GREEN RIVER VALLEY, BILL.

GOTTA BE HONEST, I NEVER THOUGHT I'D MAKE IT OUT HERE.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: IF YOU COULD TAKE WAGONS WEST,

YOU COULD TAKE YOUR FAMILIES WITH YOU,

SOMETHING THAT SEEMED ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE.

HE AND JOE WALKER OPENED UP THE GATES,

AND NOW THAT FLOOD IS GOING TO COME AND NOTHING'S

GOING TO BE ABLE TO STOP IT.

A FLOOD OF HUMANITY.

CAPTAIN BONNEVILLE!

WE MADE IT!

THIS IS HOW EMPIRES ARE MADE! BY MEN LIKE US!

[MEN CHEERING]

NARRATOR: BUT JOE WALKER HASN'T FORGOTTEN HIS ULTIMATE GOAL

OF REACHING CALIFORNIA AND NOW HE'S HALFWAY THERE.

♪ ♪

THIRTY DEGREES. FIFTEEN MINUTES.

GOT A GOOD WINTER CAMP, CAPTAIN, IF YOU PLAN TO STAY.

I WILL CONSIDER MY PLANS.

JOSEPH, THIS IS YOUR DOING AS MUCH AS MINE OR ANYONE ELSE.

I HOPE TRULY YOU TAKE PRIDE IN OUR ACCOMPLISHMENT.

JOE: SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE DONE IT SOONER OR LATER,

BUT I'M... I'M GLAD I COULD HELP.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: THERE IS NOTHING IN BENJAMIN BONNEVILLE'S

WHOLE CAREER THAT SHOWS HE HAD

THE COMPETENCE TO ACHIEVE THIS,

SO IT WAS JOE WALKER WHO WAS INSTRUMENTAL

IN GETTING THAT WAGON ACROSS SOUTH PASS.

YOU RECKON IT'S TIME I HELP YOU FILL IN THE REST OF THAT MAP?

[SAYS SOFTLY] YES...

[SAYS LOUDER] VERY MUCH, YES!

[CHUCKLES]

JOSEPH...

GODSPEED.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: IN JULY 1833, BONNEVILLE KEEPS HIS WORD

TO WALKER BY SENDING HIM TO DISCOVER

AN OVERLAND ROUTE TO CALIFORNIA.

THIS IS IT, BILL.

CALIFORNIA'S THAT WAY.

THE GREAT WESTERN OCEAN BEYOND.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: BONNEVILLE GIVES

WHAT TO JOE WALKER IS A DREAM ASSIGNMENT.

HE WANTS HIM TO FIND A TRAIL TO CALIFORNIA,

AND EXPLORE THE TRAPPING POSSIBILITIES OUT THERE.

OH GO AHEAD. I KNOW YOU WANNA.

WELL, THERE IS ONE I'VE BEEN SAVING.

♪ ♪

"WHEN THE LORD IS PLEASED WITH US,

HE WILL BRING US INTO THIS LAND,

A LAND WHICH FLOWS WITH MILK AND HONEY."

I THINK THAT'S THE BEST ONE YET, BILL.

NARRATOR: BUT AS WALKER SETS OUT IN PURSUIT OF HIS DREAM,

HE LITTLE EXPECTS THAT IT WILL TURN INTO A NIGHTMARE.

WALKER HAS JUST MADE HISTORYE

BY LEADING THE FIRST WAGON TRAIN ACROSS THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.

NOW HE'S SETTING OFF ON HIS LIFELONG DREAM OF

EXPLORING CALIFORNIA, LITTLE KNOWING HOW

DIFFICULT THE TREK WILL BE.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT BONNEVILLE'S EXACT

INSTRUCTIONS TO WALKER WERE,

BUT WE KNOW THAT WALKER IS NOW ON HIS OWN.

BUT THERE'S ALWAYS A DREAM OF

ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT WATER ROUTE

THAT WILL CONNECT THE INTERIOR OF THE UNITED STATES

TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

IT'S LIKELY THAT HE WAS INSTRUCTED TO SEARCH FOR

THE FAMOUS BUENA VENTURA RIVER.

NARRATOR: THE BUENA VENTURA RIVER HAS BEEN A PRIZE SOUGHT BY

EVERY EXPLORER SINCE LEWIS AND CLARK AND WALKER

IS EAGER TO CLAIM IT.

WALKER LEADS THIS PARTY DOWN TO

THE GREAT SALT LAKE AND THEN HE

DECIDES TO CUT IMMEDIATELY TO THE WEST AND THAT LAND IS

INCREDIBLY INHOSPITABLE.

NARRATOR: BUT AFTER WEEKS OF WEARY TRAVEL,

ALL HE'S FOUND IS MORE DESERT.

I SUSPECT YOU'RE ABOUT TO SAY

THAT THERE AIN'T NO WESTERN RIVER.

I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND, BILL.

EVERY EXPLORER THROUGH HERE SINCE CORONADO THOUGHT

THERE'D BE A GREAT RIVER GOING OVER TO THE WESTERN OCEAN.

[SIGHS]

I WAS HOPING I'D BE THE ONE TO DISCOVER IT.

NARRATOR: YET AS DISAPPOINTING AS THIS IS,

FAR WORSE IS YET TO COME FOR

WALKER'S EXPEDITION TO CALIFORNIA.

♪ ♪

ANDREW NELSON: TO GO FROM THE INTERIOR ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS

TO CALIFORNIA IS ONE OF THE MOST

TREACHEROUS, INDEED HELLISH,

ROUTES ONE COULD IMAGINE TAKING.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: AND VERY QUICKLY THEY REALIZED

THAT THERE'S NO WATER

ANYWHERE TO BE FOUND.

NARRATOR: SEVERAL WEEKS INTO HIS TREK, WALKER'S EXPEDITION

REACHES AN AREA KNOWN AS THE HUMBOLDT SINK...

WHERE THEY ENCOUNTER THE FIRST NATIVE TRIBE THEY HAVE SEEN

SINCE ENTERING THE GREAT BASIN DESERT.

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

LOOK ALIVE, FELLAS, WE GOT SOME FOLKS HERE WITH US.

WHEN WALKER AND HIS MEN FINALLY

REACH THE HUMBOLDT SINK, THEY ALSO CONFRONT THE

NATIVE PEOPLES THAT LIVE IN THE AREA, THE PAIUTE TRIBE.

AND THE PAIUTES ARE A TERRIBLY IMPOVERISHED PEOPLE.

PAIUTES HAVE NOT HAD SIGNIFICANT CONTACT WITH AMERICAN EXPLORERS.

JOE: WE WANT NO FUSS, FELLAS.

NARRATOR: TIME AND AGAIN, WALKER'S MANAGED TO KEEP

RELATIONS WITH NATIVE TRIBES PEACEFUL.

BUT THE FEARSOME PAIUTES ARE UNLIKE ANY

TRIBE HE HAS ENCOUNTERED BEFORE.

WALKER: [SIGN LANGUAGE] WE...WE'RE ALL FRIENDS.

PAIUTE CHIEF: [SIGN LANGUAGE]

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: WALKER WANTS TO HAVE A GOOD

RELATIONSHIP WITH THESE FOLKS.

AND THE PAIUTES CAN'T BELIEVE ALL THE WONDERS THAT THESE

WHITE MEN HAVE BROUGHT IN.

AND VERY QUICKLY, THEY'RE ROAMING AROUND THE CAMP.

THEY MIGHT KNOW A GOOD WAY TO THE MOUNTAIN.

♪ ♪

HEY, HEY... STAY CALM. STAY CALM, FELLAS.

HEY, HEY, HEY! STOP IT, STOP IT!

WE'RE FRIENDS, WE'RE FRIENDS.

STAY CALM, STAY CALM. [WHOOPING SOUNDS]

NARRATOR: FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HIS FRONTIER LIFE,

WALKER'S MET A NATIVE TRIBE

HE CAN'T BEFRIEND. [WHOOPING CONTINUES]

JOE: LET 'EM GO. LET 'EM GO.

NARRATOR: AND THE PROBLEM IS ABOUT TO GET FAR WORSE.

AS WALKER'S MEN ATTEMPT TO TRAP

BEAVER NEAR THE HUMBOLDT RIVER,

THE PAIUTES BECOME INCREASINGLY BOLD.

MAN: BILL, BILL!

HEY, SHOVE OFF NOW YA HEAR?

THE PAIUTES HAD BEEN PILFERING THE TRAPS.

THEY WERE GETTING THE BEAVER OUT OF THE TRAPS.

AND WALKER'S MEN ARE CONSTANTLY TRYING TO SHOO THEM OFF,

AND THEY JUST KEEP KINDA PESTERING THEM.

- COME ON, NOW. - NO!

HEY YOU DARN PESTS! GET OUTTA THERE! GET OFF OF THERE!

GO! GET! NOW! HEY YOU THIEVIN' SCOUNDREL!

SHOVE OFF! SHOVE OFF! GET! GET! [WHOOPING]

NO, NO BOYS COME ON! BOYS, HOLD YOUR FIRE!

[FIRES GUNSHOTS] HOLD YOUR FIRE! HOLD YOUR FIRE!

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: AND INDEED THREE PAIUTES ARE KILLED.

SO EVERYTHING WALKER HAS DONE TO KEEP PEACE HAS NOW

JUST GONE TO SMASH.

NARRATOR: WALKER HAS MANAGED TO AVOID CONFLICT WITH EVERY

NATIVE PEOPLE HE HAS EVER MET.

JOE: BILL, FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, WHAT HAPPENED HERE?!

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: HE IS FURIOUS WITH HIS MEN WHICH

IS VERY UNUSUAL FOR WALKER.

WE'RE SORRY, JOE.

THINGS JUST WENT SIDEWAYS.

AND WE'RE IN A HEAP OF TROUBLE NOW.

COME ON, WE GOTTA GET BACK TO CAMP! BOYS, COME ON!

NARRATOR: BUT NOW A DEADLY TRAGEDY MAY PROVOKE

A PITCHED BATTLE THAT HE HAS NO WAY TO AVOID.

[WHOOPING] HEY BOYS, HOLD YOUR FIRE!

[FIRING GUNSHOTS] HOLD YOUR FIRE!

NARRATOR: THE EXPEDITION OF FRONTIERSMAN JOE WALKER

HAS BLUNDERED INTO A VIOLENT CLASH WITH THE PAIUTE TRIBE.

FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, BILL, WHAT HAPPENED HERE?!

NARRATOR: AND NOW WALKER MUST SOMEHOW PREVENT MORE VIOLENCE

WHILE KEEPING HIS MEN SAFE FROM RETRIBUTION.

WE'RE IN A HEAP OF TROUBLE NOW.

COME ON, WE GOTTA GET BACK TO CAMP! BOYS, COME ON!

WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?

BILL: NO...

NOT UNTIL WE BURY THESE POOR SOULS, JOE.

♪ ♪

BEST DO IT QUICK.

AS SOON AS THE OTHERS FIND OUT,

THEY'LL BE BACK FOR REVENGE.

NARRATOR: FOR A FEW TENSE DAYS, THE PAIUTES KEEP

THEIR DISTANCE FROM WALKER'S MEN.

BUT THE FRAGILE TRUCE DOESN'T LAST.

PAIUTE WARRIORS: [WAR CRIES]

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: WALKER HAS A GREATER PROBLEM

NOW BECAUSE THE PAIUTES ARE INFURIATED

AND SEVERAL HUNDRED OF THEM COME.

JIM HARDEE: THEY HAVEN'T ATTACKED BUT THEY'RE

CERTAINLY ACTING LIKE THEY'RE GOING TO.

YOU HAPPY, BILL?

I DON'T RECKON WE CAN GET OUT OF THIS FIX.

BILL: WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO FIGHT, JOE.

JOE: NOT UNLESS WE HAVE TO.

WE HAVE TO SETTLE THIS WITH NO MORE KILLING.

I DON'T THINK THEY KNOW WHAT THESE RIFLES

WILL DO IF WE HAVE TO FIGHT.

NARRATOR: DESPITE BEING HEAVILY OUTNUMBERED,

WALKER REALIZES THAT HE HAS A TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANTAGE.

THE PAIUTES HAVEN'T SEEN VERY MANY WHITE MEN,

AND THEY'RE NOT SURE WHAT THIS THING CALLED A GUN IS.

MARK BROWN: THE ONLY FIREARMS

THEY MAY HAVE SEEN WERE PROBABLY

IN THE HANDS OF OTHER RIVAL

INDIAN TRIBES TRADED TO THEM.

ANDREW NELSON: WALKER EVEN MAKES A POINT OF

DEMONSTRATING TO THE PAIUTE CHIEF

WHAT A RIFLE IS AND WHAT IT CAN DO.

JOE: CAN YOU KNOCK ONE OF THOSE OFF?

BILL: EASY AS PIE.

[GRUNTING]

♪ [SUSPENSE MUSIC] ♪

[FIRES GUNSHOT]

HE THINKS THAT THAT'S ENOUGH BUT IT ISN'T.

SOMETIMES YOU ARE WALKING INTO A NIGHTMARE;

YOU'RE WALKING INTO ABSOLUTE DANGER.

HE SENSED THAT NOW.

JOE COULD SENSE THE SORT OF NERVOUSNESS

OF HIS TOUGH COMPATRIOTS.

I DON'T THINK WE'RE GETTING OUT OF THIS ONE, JOE.

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

THERE WILL BE NO FIRING UNTIL I GIVE A COMMAND.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: THE PAIUTES ARE READY TO FIGHT.

WALKER AGAIN PLEADS WITH THEM NOT TO AND WARNS THEM THAT

THIS IS GOING TO BE TERRIBLE FOR THEM.

WALKER: [SIGN LANGUAGE] TELL YOUR WARRIORS TO STAY BACK.

WE DO NOT WANT TO KILL THEM.

OUR RIFLES...POWERFUL.

TELL YOUR WARRIORS,

PUT THEIR WEAPONS DOWN.

NARRATOR: JOE WALKER'S DESIRE FOR PEACE CAN'T OVERCOME

THE FIRST LAW OF THE FRONTIER:

SOMETIMES IT'S EITHER KILL OR BE KILLED.

PAIUTE WARRIORS: [WAR CRIES]

FIRE!

[FIRING GUNSHOTS]

EXPLORER JOE WALKER HAS: FD

ABHORRED VIOLENCE SINCE HIS BOYHOOD EXPERIENCE IN WAR.

[WAR CRIES] DESPITE DOING EVERYTHING HE CAN

TO AVOID BLOODSHED, HIS MEN OPEN FIRE ON A PAIUTE WAR PARTY.

FIRE!

[FIRING GUNSHOTS]

YOU HAVE A STANDOFF BETWEEN

BOWS AND ARROWS AND RIFLES.

[FIRING GUNSHOTS]

YOU CAN IMAGINE...

[FIRING GUNSHOTS]

WHO WINS THAT PARTICULAR STANDOFF.

JOE: STOP FIRING! [GUNSHOTS CONTINUE]

CEASE FIRE! [GUNSHOTS CONTINUE]

STOP FIRING! CEASE FIRE! [FINAL GUNSHOT]

NARRATOR: THE ONE-SIDED BATTLE ENDS AS QUICKLY AS IT STARTED,

LEAVING DOZENS OF PAIUTES LYING DEAD.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: WALKER HATED TO BE IN CONFLICT

WITH NATIVE AMERICANS BECAUSE HE

JUST HAD SO MUCH EMPATHY FOR THEM.

[SIGHS]

WHAT HAVE WE DONE, BILL?

WHAT HAVE WE DONE?

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: 39 PAIUTES WERE KILLED.

IT'S A TERRIBLE CATASTROPHE

FOR WALKER WHO WANTS TO MAKE PEACE EVERY CHANCE HE CAN,

BUT IS NOW A WARRIOR.

NARRATOR: THE SENSELESS MASSACRE WILL HAUNT WALKER

THE REST OF HIS LIFE.

BUT FOR NOW, HIS JOURNEY MUST CONTINUE.

WEEKS INTO THEIR GRUELING TREK ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN,

WALKER AND HIS MEN ARE EXHAUSTED AND TORMENTED BY THIRST.

♪ ♪

I THINK I SEE WATER, BILL.

A FULL LAKE A FEW MILES OFF.

AIN'T NO WATER THERE, JOE.

I SAW PHANTOM LAKES LIKE THAT IN SANTA FE FROM THE TRAIL.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE HOTTEST PLACE ON EARTH...

UNTIL I CAME HERE.

SOME PLACES MAN JUST AIN'T MEANT TO BE AND I THINK

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE. - WE BEST GET ON, THEN.

NARRATOR: BUT WALKER IS CLOSER TO THE END OF HIS JOURNEY

THAN THE BEGINNING AND HE'S ON THE VERGE

OF AN AMAZING ACHIEVEMENT.

JIM HARDEE: HE GOES ON TO CALIFORNIA, CROSSES THE SIERRA

AND MOST HISTORIANS THINK HE

PROBABLY CAME DOWN THROUGH THE YOSEMITE VALLEY.

[JOE PANTING]

BILL...

BILL!

YOU'RE NOT GONNA BELIEVE THIS.

NARRATOR: TODAY THE YOSEMITE VALLEY DRAWS MILLIONS

OF YEARLY VISITORS BUT WALKER MAY HAVE BEEN THE VERY

FIRST AMERICAN TO SEE IT.

♪ ♪

[LAUGHING]

JOE WALKER DESERVES ENORMOUS CREDIT FOR

DISCOVERING YOSEMITE WHICH OF COURSE WOULD BECOME

ONE OF OUR GREAT NATIONAL PARKS.

NARRATOR: AND HAVING REACHED HIS GOAL AT LAST,

WALKER WITNESSES A FINAL MARVEL...

THE GREAT LEONID METEOR SHOWER OF 1833.

WE DID IT, BILL.

WE'RE ON THE GOLDEN SHORE.

♪ ♪

"AND AMAZEMENT SEIZED THEM ALL AND FILLED THEM WITH

AWE SAYING 'WE HAVE SEEN EXTRAORDINARY THINGS TODAY.'"

NARRATOR: FOR WALKER, MANY ADVENTURES STILL LIE AHEAD,

BUT HIS TREK TO CALIFORNIA WILL ALWAYS BE HIS GREATEST.

WALKER WAS RIGHT THERE IN THE THICK OF IT

AT MANY OF THE SEMINAL MOMENTS.

IT WAS SAID THAT HE DIDN'T

FOLLOW TRAILS, HE BLAZED THEM.

SAMUEL DOLAN: IN MISSOURI, THE SANTA FE TRAIL...

THE GREAT PLAINS...

THE SOUTHWESTERN DESERTS OF WHAT IS NOW NEW MEXICO

AND ARIZONA, ALL THE WAY TO CALIFORNIA.

HE WAS AN INSTRUMENT OF BRINGING PEOPLE INTO THE WEST.

THIS WAS A MAN WHO HAD HIS HAND

IN MANY GREAT WESTERN ADVENTURES.

♪ ♪