Original subtitles

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: CHRISTOPHER GIST HAS MADE HIS NAME EXPLORING

THE WILDS OF NORTH AMERICA FOR ENGLAND'S GROWING

COLONIAL EMPIRE.

BUT IN 1753, HE FACES

THE GREATEST CHALLENGE OF HIS LIFE:

GUIDING A YOUNG MAJOR ON A PERILOUS MISSION,

AND RETURNING HIM SAFELY DOWN THE ICY ALLEGHENY RIVER.

WASHINGTON: AH!

GIST: MAJOR WASHINGTON!

NARRATOR: SUDDENLY, GIST'S MISSION BECOMES NOT ONLY

A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH, BUT ONE THAT COULD

DETERMINE THE COURSE OF HISTORY.

GIST: TAKE MY HAND!

NARRATOR: BECAUSE THIS ISN'T JUST ANY MAN...

THIS IS GEORGE WASHINGTON.

♪ ["THEME"] ♪

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: CHRISTOPHER GIST IS ONE OF THE GREATEST EXPLORERS

AND SCOUTS OF THE COLONIAL ERA.

BUT HIS IMPORTANCE TO AMERICAN

HISTORY IS OFTEN OVERLOOKED.

ANDREW NELSON: GIST WAS A REMARKABLE SURVEYOR, SCOUT,

FRONTIERSMAN, AND EXPLORER WHOSE DETAILED RECORDS

PUBLISHED LONG AFTER HIS DEATH OFFERED

A VIVID AND COMPREHENSIVE ACCOUNT OF FRONTIER LIFE.

♪ ♪

ERIN HOLMES: HE IS REALLY THE ORIGINAL FRONTIERSMAN,

GOING INTO THESE WESTERN TERRITORIES

LONG BEFORE ANY OF THE PEOPLE WE THINK OF AS FRONTIERSMEN.

GIST IS, IN MANY WAYS, THE EMBODIMENT OF

WHAT WE TEND TO THINK OF AS THE FRONTIER HERO.

♪ ♪

[GUNSHOT]

NARRATOR: IN THE WILDERNESS OF NORTH CAROLINA'S REMOTE

YADKIN RIVER VALLEY, CHRISTOPHER GIST IS

A MAN IN HIS ELEMENT.

♪ ♪

DESPITE HIS EASE AT NAVIGATING THE WILDERNESS,

GIST IS NOT BORN TO THE FRONTIER.

GIST: AH!

NELSON: UNLIKE MANY OF HIS MUCH YOUNGER

CONTEMPORARIES, GIST WAS

BORN IN ONE OF THE LARGEST, MOST WELL-DEVELOPED

CITIES IN THE AMERICAN COLONIES,

THE CITY OF BALTIMORE.

NARRATOR: GIST AMASSED A FORTUNE, AND LOST IT ALL

WHEN A WAREHOUSE STORING ALL HIS GOODS BURNED DOWN.

SEEKING A FRESH START, HE MOVES HIS FAMILY TO

THE NORTH CAROLINA FRONTIER.

MOVING TO THE FRONTIER IS- IS NOT

A SIMPLE PROPOSITION AT THIS TIME.

YOU LITERALLY HAVE TO FIND A NEW PIECE OF LAND AND START

TO HACK A LIFE OUT OF THE WILDERNESS.

SO, IT HAD TO BE A HUGE ADJUSTMENT FOR THE FAMILY.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: GIST QUICKLY ESTABLISHES HIMSELF AS A TRADER.

SIRS.

NARRATOR: DEALING WITH THE CHEROKEE,

CATAWBA, AND OTHER LOCAL TRIBES.

THE BLANKETS I BRING YOU ARE ENGLAND'S FINEST.

COME, FEEL.

COME WINTER, THEY WILL KEEP YOU WARM AS YOU SLEEP.

OR CAN BE MADE INTO A FINE COAT FOR THE HUNT.

♪ ♪

STAN BUMGARDNER: GIST DEFINITELY BUILT UP A REPUTATION

OF BEING ONE OF THE WHITE

EUROPEAN SETTLERS THAT DIFFERENT INDIAN GROUPS COULD TRUST.

NELSON: HE BECOMES A KIND OF RESPECTED INTERMEDIARY.

THIS IS YET ANOTHER SKILL THAT WILL SERVE HIM WELL

IN THE LATTER STAGES OF HIS CAREER

WHEN HE'S CALLED UPON TO LEAD

LESS EXPERIENCED MEN INTO THE WILDERNESS.

NARRATOR: GIST IS SOON OFFERED AN OPPORTUNITY THAT COULD

CHANGE HIS FORTUNES OVERNIGHT: TO EXPLORE AND

SURVEY THE OHIO TERRITORY, AN EXPANSE OF LAND

WEST OF THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS.

NELSON: THE OHIO TERRITORY

COMPRISED ALL OF MODERN DAY OHIO, AS WELL AS PARTS

OF INDIANA, PENNSYLVANIA, AND WEST VIRGINIA.

NARRATOR: AS THE CITIES ON THE EAST COAST GROW MORE

CROWDED, COLONISTS ARE LOOKING TO THE WIDE-OPEN

SPACES FARTHER WEST.

THE OHIO COMPANY WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1748

TO EXPLORE THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY,

AND TO PAVE THE WAY FOR SETTLEMENT.

♪ ♪

YOU MUST NOT WORRY.

NARRATOR: GIST IS SOMEONE WHO CAN NOT ONLY MAP

THE UNCHARTED TERRITORY, BUT BEFRIEND LOCAL TRIBES

TO ENSURE THE SETTLERS' SAFETY.

DANIEL BARR: AND GIST BECOMES, IN MANY WAYS,

THE PERFECT CANDIDATE.

HE ALSO HAS THE EXPERIENCE DEALING AND NEGOTIATING

WITH INDIANS THROUGH HIS TRADING VENTURES,

SO THAT HE CAN APPROACH THEM SENSITIVELY.

NARRATOR: THE JOURNEY WILL NOT BE AN EASY ONE.

BUT GIST SEES AN OPPORTUNITY TO CREATE A BETTER FUTURE

FOR HIS FAMILY - AND FOR HIS COUNTRY.

♪ ♪

WORKING HIS WAY ACROSS ROUGH, MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, IT DOESN'T

TAKE LONG FOR GIST TO REALIZE THE DAUNTING TASK

HE'S TAKEN ON.

DAVID MCCOY: WHEN GIST COMES OVER THE MOUNTAINS,

THAT'S A PRETTY RUGGED LANDSCAPE.

THERE'S A LOT OF HILLS, THE- THE RAVINES ARE

EXTREMELY UH SHARP AND DEEP.

BARR: LARGELY HE'S ON HIS OWN HERE, TRYIN'

TO GET OVER THE MOUNTAINS AND SURVIVE.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: NEARLY A MONTH INTO HIS JOURNEY, GIST FINALLY

DESCENDS INTO THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY.

♪ ♪

BUMGARDNER: WHEN CHRISTOPHER GIST ARRIVES AT

THE FORKS OF THE OHIO, IT'S ENTIRELY WILDERNESS.

HE SEES THE POTENTIAL OF WHERE TWO MAJOR RIVERS COME

TOGETHER TO FORM THIS GREAT OHIO RIVER.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: CONVINCED THE AREA WOULD BE IDEAL FOR

SETTLEMENTS, GIST KNOWS HE MUST BE CAUTIOUS AS HE

TAKES MEASUREMENTS.

♪ ♪

ERIN HOLMES: MOST OF THE NATIVE GROUPS THAT OCCUPY

THE OHIO TERRITORY, THEY HAVE A LONG EXPERIENCE WITH BEING

PUSHED OUT OF THEIR

ANCESTRAL LANDS.

AND SURVEYORS LIKE CHRISTOPHER GIST ARE

THE FIRST SIGN THAT THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

♪ ♪

STEPHEN BRUMWELL: INDIANS ACTUALLY REFER TO THE COMPASS

AS THE "LAND STEALER."

GIST HAD TO BE FAR MORE CAUTIOUS ABOUT HIS BEHAVIOR

WHEN HE WAS IN INDIAN COUNTRY.

NARRATOR: THE AREA GIST HAS SCOUTED IS NOT FAR FROM AN

IMPORTANT NATIVE AMERICAN SETTLEMENT, KNOWN AS LOGSTOWN.

♪ ♪

NELSON: LOGSTOWN WAS ONE OF THE MOST

POLITICALLY SIGNIFICANT

INDIAN COLONIES IN WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA.

IT WAS A

LINGUISTICALLY AND CULTURALLY DIVERSE COMMUNITY.

LAURA KAMOIE: OF COURSE, THERE WERE NATIVE AMERICAN

DWELLINGS, BUT THERE WERE ALSO

LOG CABIN DWELLINGS BUILT IN THE FRENCH STYLE.

NARRATOR: GIST IS LOOKING FORWARD TO RESTING HIMSELF

AND HIS HORSES, BUT HE ALSO NEEDS TO BEGIN REACHING

OUT TO NATIVE LEADERS.

♪ ♪

GOOD MORROW.

PRAY PARDON, DOES ANY MAN SPEAK ENGLISH?

LENAPE WARRIOR: WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS HERE?

HOLMES: SO, THE PEOPLE OF LOGSTOWN

ARE USED TO SEEING STRANGERS.

BUT MOST STRANGERS SAY WHY THEY'RE THERE

AND CHRISTOPHER GIST DOESN'T.

BARR: HE HAS NOTHING TO BARTER WITH.

THAT IMMEDIATELY RAISES SOME SUSPICION AMONG THE LENAPES

BECAUSE IF HE'S NOT A TRADER,

THEN WHY IS HE HERE?

LENAPE WARRIOR: WHAT IS YOUR BUSINESS HERE?

GIST: I AM SIMPLY LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO REST.

I HAVE HAD A LONG JOURNEY.

NO, I COME IN PEACE.

I AM A FRIEND.

CHIEF KAKOWATCHEKY LIVES HERE.

MAY I SPEAK TO HIM?

LENAPE WARRIOR: WE HAVE HEARD WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.

YOU MUST LEAVE THIS PLACE.

NOW!

NARRATOR: IF GIST DOESN'T

MAKE THE RIGHT MOVE NOW,

HIS MISSION COULD END HERE - IN BLOOD.

GIST IS ON A MISSION TO

ER

SURVEY THE OHIO TERRITORY FOR SETTLEMENT...

LENAPE WARRIOR: YOU MUST LEAVE THIS PLACE.

NOW!

NARRATOR: BUT IN THE NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITY

OF LOGSTOWN, THAT MISSION HAS

TAKEN A POTENTIALLY DEADLY TURN.

I COME IN PEACE.

I'M A FRIEND.

GIST WAS IN A TRULY DESPERATE SITUATION.

SO, TO GET OUT OF IT,

HE BASICALLY HAD TO TELL A LIE.

GEORGE CROGHAN!

HE IS A FRIEND.

HE WILL VOUCH FOR MY GOOD NAME.

NELSON: GEORGE CROGHAN WAS A FUR TRADER.

HE COMES TO KNOW, RESPECT, AND BEFRIEND

MANY AMERICAN INDIAN TRIBES.

BRUMWELL: HE INVOKED THE NAME OF GEORGE CROGHAN

AS A WAY OF KIND OF CLAIMING HIS FRIENDSHIP,

AND ALMOST CLAIMING HIS PROTECTION.

LENAPE WARRIOR: CROGHAN IS A GOOD MAN.

IF HE IS YOUR FRIEND, YOU MAY STAY.

NARRATOR: WELCOME INTO LOGSTOWN, GIST STAYS OVER NIGHT,

DEPARTING THE NEXT MORNING TO CONTINUE HIS

EXPEDITION FOR THE OHIO COMPANY.

OVER SEVERAL MONTHS, GIST SURVEYS AND MAPS THE UNCHARTED

OHIO TERRITORY...

♪ ♪

ALWAYS WARY OF FURTHER ENCOUNTERS WITH HOSTILE TRIBES.

GIST IS INFORMED THAT THERE IS A FRENCH ALLIED

HUNTING PARTY DIRECTLY IN HIS PATH, ESSENTIALLY.

AND HE'S TOLD IN NO UNCERTAIN TERMS THAT IF THEY CAPTURE

HIM, HE'S VERY LIKELY TO BE KILLED.

[GUNSHOTS]

NARRATOR: FOR A SOLO TRAVELER, GUNSHOTS IN

THE DISTANCE ARE A BAD OMEN.

TED BELUE: HE KNOWS IMMEDIATELY THAT THIS IS NOT

A WHITE MAN'S GUN.

NATIVE PEOPLE ALWAYS LOADED LIGHT.

THEY HAD TO PRESERVE LEAD AND THEY HAD TO PRESERVE,

MOST ESPECIALLY, POWDER.

♪ ♪

BRUMWELL: THEN HE SAW THE TRAPS

THAT THEY HAD SET, AND THEN

HE KNEW THIS WASN'T THE SITUATION WHERE

HE WANTED TO HANG ABOUT.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: IF DISCOVERED, GIST WILL BECOME

THE HUNTING PARTY'S NEXT PREY.

♪ ♪

GIST KNOWS THAT ONE SOUND COULD MEAN HIS DEATH.

♪ ♪

BARR: BUT HE'S SAVVY ENOUGH,

KNOWLEDGEABLE ENOUGH TO HIDE AND CONCEAL

SIGNS OF HIS PRESENCE.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

AND SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE

HIS MISSION AND WITHDRAW

WITHOUT FALLING INTO THEIR HANDS.

NARRATOR: AFTER MORE THAN SEVEN MONTHS AWAY,

GIST HAS COMPLETED HIS SURVEY FOR THE OHIO COMPANY,

AND FINALLY MAKES HIS WAY BACK HOME.

BUT HE REALIZES IMMEDIATELY THAT SOMETHING ISN'T RIGHT.

♪ ♪

BELUE: HIS IMMEDIATE THOUGHT,

"WHERE'S MY FAMILY?

WHAT HAPPENED?"

IT MUST'VE BEEN GUT WRENCHING.

NARRATOR: FEARING THE WORST,

GIST SETS OFF IN SEARCH OF NEWS

ABOUT THE WHEREABOUTS,

OR FATE, OF HIS FAMILY.

HE GOES OUT, AND HE HEARS THAT THERE'D

BEEN AN INDIAN ATTACK.

FIVE PEOPLE WERE KILLED.

BUMGARDNER: WHEN YOU LIVED ON THE FRONTIER BACK THEN,

YOU COULDN'T HELP BUT THINK THE WORST.

SO, I'M SURE THAT'S THE FIRST THOUGHT THAT WENT THROUGH

HIS MIND IS THAT HIS FAMILY HAD BEEN KILLED.

NARRATOR: GIST GETS WORD THAT HIS FAMILY MAY HAVE ESCAPED

TO ROANOKE, VIRGINIA.

HE CAN ONLY RIDE NORTH, HOPING THAT THE RUMOR IS TRUE.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

THEY'D BEEN DISPLACED BECAUSE OF INDIAN RAIDING.

AS IT TURNED OUT, HIS FAMILY HAD ACTUALLY

MANAGED TO GET AWAY SAFELY.

NARRATOR: GIST'S FIRST EXPEDITION ENDS WITH A JOYFUL

REUNION, BUT HE WILL SOON BE CALLED TO LEAD A MISSION

THAT COULD DETERMINE THE FATE OF THE BRITISH COLONIES.

♪ ♪

WITH HIS FAMILY SAFE, GIST RETURNS TO PRESENT HIS

FINDINGS TO HIS EMPLOYERS AT THE OHIO COMPANY.

HE REALLY JUST PROVIDES THEM WITH A WEALTH OF

INFORMATION ABOUT THE TERRITORY, THE REGIONS,

THE POSITION OF INDIAN VILLAGES.

IT'S REALLY EVERYTHING THAT THE OHIO COMPANY

COULD HAVE HOPED FOR.

NARRATOR: OFF THE STRENGTH OF THAT SUCCESS, GIST IS HIRED

TO LEAD AN URGENT DIPLOMATIC MISSION INTO

THE OHIO TERRITORY.

♪ ♪

HIS CRUCIAL CHARGE IS A TWENTY-ONE YEAR OLD

MAJOR IN THE VIRGINIA MILITIA: GEORGE WASHINGTON.

MARTIN MORGAN: WHEN WE THINK OF GEORGE WASHINGTON,

THIS IS THE GEORGE WASHINGTON WE THINK OF.

THE GEORGE WASHINGTON THAT ACCOMPANIES CHRISTOPHER GIST

INTO WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA IS ONE WHO'S YOUNGER

AND MORE IMPULSIVE.

PRIDEFUL, A LITTLE NARCISSISTIC.

NARRATOR: GIST WILL LEAD WASHINGTON'S EXPEDITION INTO

DISPUTED FRONTIER TERRITORY.

BOTH THE BRITISH AND THE FRENCH HAVE LEGAL

CLAIMS TO THE LAND IN THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY.

THE FRENCH MEANWHILE HAD BEGUN TO ESTABLISH A SERIES OF FORTS.

THE VIRGINIA GOVERNOR WHO CLAIMED THIS TERRITORY,

SOUGHT AND RECEIVED APPROVAL FROM THE CROWN

TO DEMAND THAT THE FRENCH VACATE, AND IF THEY DIDN'T,

HE ALSO HAD APPROVAL TO DRIVE THEM OUT BY FORCE OF ARMS.

MAJOR, THERE'S A CREEK UP AHEAD.

WE SHOULD STOP TO WATER THE HORSES. '

TIS A LONG CLIMB TILL WE MAKE CAMP.

WASHINGTON: I AGREE.

I COULD USE A DRINK MYSELF.

NARRATOR: WASHINGTON'S MISSION

IS BOTH A DANGEROUS AND A

DELICATE ONE: TO DELIVER A MESSAGE TO THE FRENCH

COMMANDER AT FORT LE BOEUF DEMANDING THEIR

RETREAT FROM BRITISH LAND.

BARR: DINWIDDIE AS A GOVERNOR, HAS TO SEND SOMEONE

WILLING TO MAKE THIS DANGEROUS 500 MILE

TREK THROUGH THE WILDERNESS.

BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, THERE'S A VERY REAL POSSIBILITY

THAT THE INDIVIDUAL YOU SEND IS NOT COMING BACK.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

TWO DAYS TO LOGSTOWN?

I HAD HOPED WE WOULD BE FURTHER ALONG.

IN THIS WEATHER, ON THIS TERRAIN,

WE ARE MAKING GOOD PROGRESS.

YES, BUT MY ORDERS FROM THE GOVERNOR WERE CLEAR:

OBTAIN A REPLY WITH GREAT HASTE.

I UNDERSTAND.

BUT IF WE PUSH TOO HARD NOW, THE HORSES

MIGHT FAIL ON THE RETURN.

♪ ♪

BARR: SENDING A 21 YEAR OLD

INTO THE WILDERNESS IS NOT

A RECIPE FOR SUCCESS AT THIS TIME, ESPECIALLY ONE WITH

VERY LITTLE PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE IN THE WOODS,

LIKE GEORGE WASHINGTON.

NARRATOR: WITH SO MUCH RIDING ON HIS MISSION, GIST HOPES

TO REACH FORT LE BOEUF AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

BUT THE WEATHER SOON BRINGS THE MISSION TO A HALT.

♪ ♪

IT IS NOT PASSABLE.

WASHINGTON: THAT LITTLE CREEK?

THE RAINS HAVE HAD THEIR WAY WITH IT.

TOO DEEP TO WALK THE HORSES ACROSS.

BARR: WASHINGTON'S VERY IMPATIENT.

IT WAS VERY HEAVILY PRESSED UPON HIM TO MOVE WITH ALL DUE

DISPATCH TO GET THIS MISSION ACCOMPLISHED

AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

GIST: WE'LL BUILD A RAFT

AND FERRY EVERYTHING ACROSS TOMORROW MORNING.

WASHINGTON: TOMORROW?

GIST: I'M SORRY.

WE HAVE NO CHOICE.

I HAVE BEEN RIDING SINCE I COULD WALK.

AND I HAVE CROSSED COUNTLESS CREEKS, AND RIVERS, I CAN-

MAJOR, I DO NOT DOUBT YOUR HORSEMANSHIP.

BUT IF A PACK HORSE DROWNS, IT WILL ONLY DELAY

OUR PROGRESS FURTHER.

NARRATOR: GEORGE WASHINGTON ISN'T A MAN

WHO TAKES NO FOR AN ANSWER...

BUT TO BE CERTAIN, I SHALL SEE HOW DEEP IT IS.

GIST: MAJOR, NO!

NARRATOR: BUT HIS OVERCONFIDENCE COULD SPELL HIS DOOM.

ST IS G

GEORGE WASHINGTON TO A CRUCIAL MEETING,

BUT WASHINGTON IS ENDANGERING THE MISSION AND HIS

OWN LIFE WITH HIS IMPULSIVENESS.

MAJOR, NO! MAJOR!

GIST!

GIST: MAJOR!

I HAVE CROSSED THIS CREEK MANY TIMES.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN IT THIS HIGH.

OUR PACK HORSES WILL DROWN!

CRYTZER: CHRISTOPHER GIST,

HE WAS THE PERFECT PERSON TO PAIR UP WITH

A 21 YEAR OLD, NAIVE,

INEXPERIENCED GEORGE WASHINGTON.

CHRISTOPHER GIST COMES FROM A SIMILAR CLASS,

SO HE'S SOMEBODY THAT WASHINGTON WILL LISTEN TO.

GIST: MAJOR, I UNDERSTAND YOUR IMPATIENCE, BUT THE WILDERNESS

FOLLOWS ITS OWN RHYTHMS.

NO ONE MAN'S DESIRE CAN INTERFERE WITH IT.

I HAVE SPENT MY LIFE LEARNING TO WORK WITH IT.

HOLMES: BUT, HE'S ALSO SOMEBODY WHO IS GOING TO HAVE

A LOT OF PATIENCE WITH THIS HOTHEADED, HARD HEADED,

21 YEAR OLD

MILITARY OFFICER WHO IS DETERMINED TO PROVE

HIMSELF IN THIS SITUATION.

WASHINGTON NEEDS A STEADYING HAND AND HE FINDS THAT

IN CHRISTOPHER GIST.

NARRATOR: AFTER A GRUELING FIVE DAY JOURNEY,

THEY FINALLY ARRIVE AT FORT LE BOEUF, WHERE WASHINGTON

DELIVERS HIS MESSAGE.

♪ ♪

[WARMING HANDS]

MORGAN: GEORGE WASHINGTON HAD TO DELIVER AN

ULTIMATUM TO THE FRENCH:

"THIS IS OUR PROPERTY.

YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE HERE.

YOU MUST VACATE YOUR FORTS AND GO AWAY."

NARRATOR: BUT THE FRENCH ARE SLOW IN RESPONDING.

BARR: THEY'RE STALLING.

AND WASHINGTON HAD TO BE WELL AWARE THAT THE

ANSWER IS GOING TO BE, "NO, WE'RE NOT LEAVING."

AND SO, HE'S EAGER TO JUST GET ON WITH IT.

STILL NO WORD?

AT THIS POINT, IT'S SIMPLY GAMESMANSHIP.

HE'S WILLFULLY TRYING TO DELAY US.

FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN, HIS ANSWER SHOULD BE CLEAR.

AND THE NUMBER OF CANOES I COUNTED IS ASTOUNDING.

HIS ARSENAL IS EQUALLY AS IMPRESSIVE.

COME SPRING, THERE WILL BE NOTHING TO STOP THEM FROM USING

THE RIVERS TO FLOOD THIS REGION WITH TROOPS AND SEIZE CONTROL.

I MUST GET BACK TO WILLIAMSBURG AS SOON AS POSSIBLE...

[DOOR OPENS]

♪ ♪

SO THAT THE KING MAY HAVE TIME TO MOBILIZE A PROPER DEFENSE.

AYE.

IN THOSE FEW DAYS,

WASHINGTON'S BEEN

GOING AROUND THE FORT ESSENTIALLY SPYING ON

WHAT THE FRENCH HAVE GOING THERE.

HE'S BEEN ABLE, ALONG WITH- WITH GIST, TO MAKE SOME NOTATIONS

ON THE SIZE OF THE FORT,

THE RELATIVE STRENGTH OF THE BASTIONS,

RIGHT DOWN TO COUNTING HOW MANY BOATS THEY HAVE

AVAILABLE TO GO DOWN THE RIVER IN THE SPRING.

NARRATOR: THE FRENCH COMMANDER'S RESPONSE IS UNEQUIVOCAL:

THEY WILL NOT RETREAT.

THAT IS EFFECTIVELY A DECLARATION OF WAR.

IT'S BASICALLY SAYING,

"IF YOU WANT TO GET RID OF US,

YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO SEND TROOPS TO DO SO."

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: THERE'S NO TIME TO WASTE IN DELIVERING THE MESSAGE

TO THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA.

BUT BEFORE THEY CAN EVEN LEAVE,

THE MISSION IS DEALT A SETBACK.

MAJOR, WE HAVE A PROBLEM.

THE PACK HORSES ARE STILL TOO WEAK.

IT'LL TAKE ALL WE CAN DO TO KEEP THEM ALIVE

FOR THE JOURNEY HOME.

♪ ♪

AND WE ABSOLUTELY MUST.

NARRATOR: THE BURDEN ON THE HORSES

WILL HAVE TO BE LIGHTENED

OF BOTH SUPPLIES AND RIDERS.

WASHINGTON DOESN'T LIKE THIS ANSWER.

THIS IS WHERE HIS INEXPERIENCE STARTS TO COME ON.

VERY WELL, THEN. LET US WASTE NO MORE TIME.

NARRATOR: WITH THEIR HORSES WEAKENED, PROCEEDING ON FOOT

WILL ADD PRECIOUS DAYS TO THE JOURNEY.

AND THE WEATHER IS ONLY GETTING WORSE.

THIS IS WHEN THE WEATHER REALLY GETS NASTY.

THIS IS DECEMBER, THESE ARCTIC STORMS BLOW IN.

THE COLD TEMPERATURES ARE MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT

TO FIND FORAGE FOR THE ANIMALS.

AND HORSES NEED TO EAT CONSIDERABLE AMOUNTS

IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN THEIR STRENGTH.

♪ ♪

MAJOR.

WE SHOULD STOP HERE AND MAKE CAMP.

THE TREES OFFER SHELTER FROM THE WIND.

THERE'S A STREAM NEARBY TO WATER THE HORSES.

IT BECOMES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

BUT WASHINGTON DOESN'T WANT TO HEAR THAT.

GRAB AN AX, WE'LL CHOP SOME WOOD.

WE'LL GET A FIRE STARTED AND-

MAJOR!

♪ ♪

THEY'RE NOT MOVING FAST ENOUGH FOR WASHINGTON.

HIS AGE AND INEXPERIENCE ARE BEGINNING TO SHOW,

AND HIS PATIENCE FINALLY BUBBLES OVER.

MAJOR!

PERHAPS YOU DID NOT HEAR ME.

WE ARE STOPPING TO MAKE CAMP.

I HEARD YOU QUITE CLEARLY, MR. GIST.

WHAT I DESIRE IS TO DELIVER THIS LETTER

TO GOVERNOR DINWIDDIE WITH GREAT HASTE.

A TASK THAT YOU AND I BOTH KNOW IS IMPOSSIBLE

AT OUR CURRENT PACE. - MAJOR.

I MUST INSIST, THE HORSES ARE SPENT-

MR. GIST, I HAVE FOLLOWED YOUR GOOD ADVICES

AT EVERY TURN IN THIS JOURNEY.

I HAVE LEARNED FROM YOU.

BUT, NOW, I MUST INSIST THAT YOU FOLLOW MY ORDERS.

YOU AND I ARE TO CONTINUE ON OUR OWN

BY THE MOST DIRECT ROUTE POSSIBLE.

SO, THIS IS A- A PIVOTAL MOMENT.

WASHINGTON SAYS, "WHY DON'T WE LEAVE THE HORSES AND WALK?

LET'S GO BY COMPASS BEARING."

GOING OFF KNOWN TRAILS, IN THESE CONDITIONS IS NOT SOMETHING-

NOT SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE ACCUSTOMED TO.

THEN I SHALL BECOME SO.

THE COLONIES' FATE HANGS IN THE BALANCE,

AND CRISIS DEMANDS ACTIONS.

♪ ♪

ENSIGN!

♪ ♪

NOW. NARRATOR: AT A CRUCIAL MOMENT

IN THEIR PERILOUS EXPEDITION,

THE UNTRIED YOUNG MAJOR IS PULLING RANK.

♪ ♪

ENSIGN! NARRATOR: RETURNING FROM A

DIPLOMATIC MISSION ACROSS TREACHEROUS WILDERNESS,

MAJOR GEORGE WASHINGTON AND FRONTIERSMAN CHRISTOPHER GIST

ARE AT ODDS OVER WASHINGTON'S INSISTENCE

TO CONTINUE THEIR JOURNEY ALONE, AND ON FOOT.

HIS HORSES ARE WEAK,

THEY'RE NOT MOVING FAST ENOUGH FOR WASHINGTON.

HE'S NOT PATIENT. BUT, CHRISTOPHER GIST

UNDERSTANDS THAT GEORGE WASHINGTON IS MAKING

A TERRIBLE DECISION WITH THIS ORDER.

BUT HE IS THE COMMANDING OFFICER,

SO GIST DOES OBLIGE.

DEEP DOWN, HOWEVER, HE KNOWS THIS IS A PERILOUS MISTAKE.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: WASHINGTON HAS MADE UP HIS MIND,

AND GIST HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO GO WITH HIM.

♪ ♪

LEAVING THE PACK HORSES BEHIND,

GIST AND WASHINGTON WILL HAVE TO WALK NEARLY 150 MILES.

♪ ♪

THEY HAD TO PARE DOWN TO AN ABSOLUTE MINIMUM.

PUT ON WHAT THEY CALLED "INDIAN DRESS",

THAT WERE FASTER, LIGHTER, MORE MANEUVERABLE.

THIS ALSO IS RISKY BECAUSE IF ONE OF THEM BECOMES INJURED,

THEY'RE ENTIRELY DEPENDENT ON THE OTHER.

THERE'S NO LARGER GROUP TO HELP THEM,

THERE'S NO HORSE TO CARRY THEM.

NARRATOR: AFTER COVERING 18 MILES IN ONE DAY,

WASHINGTON, UNACCUSTOMED TO TRAVELING IN THE WILDERNESS,

IS FALLING BEHIND.

MR. GIST!

WE HAVE BEEN WALKING SINCE WELL BEFORE FIRST LIGHT.

PERHAPS WE CAN- - MAJOR!

WE CANNOT WASTE THE DAYLIGHT.

SO, WASHINGTON VERY QUICKLY STARTS TO REALIZE

TRAVELING ALL DAY BY FOOT

WITH YOUR PROVISIONS ON YOUR BACK

THROUGH SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES

IS A LOT MORE MAYBE THAN HE BARGAINED FOR.

WASHINGTON NOW BECOMES THE ONE SLOWING THEM DOWN.

♪ ♪

THERE IS A FRIENDLY INDIAN VILLAGE, NOT FAR.

PERHAPS WE CAN REST THERE BRIEFLY.

AH! THAT'S A RELIEF.

WHAT VILLAGE?

MURDERING TOWN.

COME.

THEY COME ACROSS THIS INDIAN VILLAGE,

WHICH IS CALLED MURDERING TOWN.

AND IT'S LIKE, WELL, THAT'S A BAD OMEN.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: "MURDERING TOWN" IS THE COLONISTS' NAME

FOR A SMALL CLUSTER OF LENAPE VILLAGES NEAR LOGSTOWN.

♪ ♪

THEY GET A SMALL STROKE OF GOOD FORTUNE

NEAR A SMALL SETTLEMENT CALLED MURDERING TOWN.

MAYBE ONE OF THE MOST OMINOUSLY NAMED INDIAN VILLAGES EVER.

THERE'S ONE INDIAN WHO OFFERS

TO PROVIDE THEM SERVICES AS A GUIDE.

♪ ♪

MAJOR, WHERE WE BE HEADED,

THERE WILL BE AN ABSENCE OF REASON.

ONLY INSTINCT AND SURVIVAL RULE THERE.

YOU MUST LISTEN TO ME.

♪ ♪

YOU SEEK A GUIDE?

'TIS A GENEROUS OFFER, BUT...

WE HAVE NO NEED OF YOUR SERVICES.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING, MR. GIST?

OUR PRAYERS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED.

LENAPE GUIDE: SIR, YOU WILL EAT LIKE KINGS.

AND I WILL CARRY THE MAJOR'S PACK.

♪ ♪

DO AS YOU PROMISE,

AND YOU WILL BE WELL COMPENSATED FOR YOUR EFFORTS.

MAJOR!

FOLLOW ME.

WE MUST HAVE FAITH, MR. GIST. FAITH.

WASHINGTON SEEMED TO BE GLAD OF THIS OFFER OF SUPPORT.

GIST WAS FAR MORE SUSPICIOUS

AND HE WAS FAR MORE WARY OF THIS OFFER OF HELP.

AND IT TURNED OUT WITH VERY GOOD CAUSE.

NARRATOR: THEY FOLLOW THEIR LENAPE GUIDE FOR HOURS,

BUT EVEN AS WASHINGTON TIRES, GIST HAS BIGGER CONCERNS.

♪ ♪

GIST BECAME INCREASINGLY SUSPICIOUS BECAUSE IT SEEMED,

TO HIM, THAT THEY WERE HEADING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION;

THAT THEY WERE BEING LED ASTRAY.

GIST: FRIEND! IT IS NIGHTFALL.

WE MUST STOP AND MAKE CAMP.

LENAPE GUIDE: THE OTTAWA ROAM THESE WOODS,

HUNTING FOR SCALPS.

WE MUST HEAD FOR MY LODGE.

IT IS SAFE THERE.

GIST: HOW MUCH FURTHER? - JUST AHEAD.

ONLY AS FAR AS THE SOUND OF A GUNSHOT.

WELL, THEY KEEP WALKING AND THE LODGE DOESN'T SHOW UP.

AND SO, GIST STARTS SUSPECTING THAT THIS IS A TRAP.

SOMETHING IS AMISS. WE'VE BEEN WALKING NORTH FOR THREE MILES.

NORTH? WHY WOULD HE BE TAKING US NORTH?

I DO NOT KNOW. BUT I MOST ASSUREDLY INTEND TO FIND OUT.

AND IT'S GOOD PERHAPS THAT THEIR, YOU KNOW,

THEIR RADAR STARTED TO BECOME A LITTLE BIT AWARE NOW,

BECAUSE THINGS WERE GONNA GET

PROGRESSIVELY WORSE VERY QUICKLY.

[GUNSHOT]

WASHINGTON: ARE YOU SHOT? GIST: NO. ARE YOU?

HE MISSED,

BUT HAD THAT BULLET HIT 10 INCHES IN EITHER DIRECTION,

WE'D ALL HAVE DIFFERENT PASSPORTS RIGHT NOW.

NARRATOR: GIST AND WASHINGTON'S GUIDE HAS TURNED ON THEM,

AND HE SEEMS INTENT ON FINISHING THEM OFF.

HOW HAVE YOU TAKEN US NORTH? - I DO NOT KNOW,

BUT I MOST ASSUREDLY INTEND TO FIND OUT.

NARRATOR: ON A GRUELING TREK ACROSS THE WILDERNESS,

CHRISTOPHER GIST AND GEORGE WASHINGTON

FACE AN UNPROVOKED ATTACK FROM THEIR NATIVE GUIDE.

ARE YOU SHOT? GIST: NO, ARE YOU?

♪ ♪

GIST GOES AFTER THE INDIAN,

AND HE'S READY TO KILL HIM.

DON'T SHOOT! I WAS FIRING AT A DEER

THAT FLASHED FROM THE TREES. - DO YOU TAKE ME FOR A FOOL?

YOU TOOK DEAD AIM.

LENAPE GUIDE: PLEASE, DON'T.

WASHINGTON: GIST, NO!

♪ ♪

PERHAPS HE TELLS THE TRUTH?

THE MOONLIGHT PLAYS TRICKS ON THE EYES.

A MAN LOADS A MUSKET BALL FOR ONE TARGET:

ANOTHER MAN.

WASHINGTON HAD A CERTAIN CODE OF HONOR,

A CODE OF BEHAVIOR, WHICH DIDN'T REALLY SANCTION

THE KILLING OF SOMEONE WHO WAS AT YOUR MERCY.

WE'LL TAKE HIM PRISONER THEN. - AND DO WHAT?

DRAG HIM ALL THE WAY TO WILLIAMSBURG?

NOW, THIS PUTS GIST IN A PRETTY,

YOU KNOW, DIFFICULT SITUATION HERE.

HOW DO WE RESOLVE THIS?

THIS GUY JUST TRIED TO KILL US,

BUT YOU WANNA LET HIM GO?

NARRATOR: GIST HAS A FATEFUL CHOICE TO MAKE:

DO AS WASHINGTON SAYS AND LET THE MAN GO,

OR FOLLOW HIS OWN INSTINCTS AND KILL HIM.

♪ ♪

YOU ARE LUCKY I AM NOT ALONE.

MAJOR, WAIT HERE. GO.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: GIST SPARES THE GUIDE'S LIFE,

DISARMING AND RELEASING HIM INTO THE WOODS,

BUT HE REMAINS WARY OF ANOTHER AMBUSH.

GIST?

♪ ♪

MAJOR. HE IS GONE,

BUT I WOULD WAGER MY PAY HE WILL BE BACK

WITH REINFORCEMENTS.

WE MUST START WALKING.

NOW.

THEY'RE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY PUSH THROUGH

WITH NO REST OVER SEVERAL DAYS AND REACH

THE WEST BANK OF THE ALLEGHENY RIVER,

WHERE THEY'RE PRESENTED WITH YET ANOTHER CHALLENGE.

♪ ♪

MY HANDS BE FROSTBITTEN, YET THE RIVER STILL FLOWS.

♪ ♪

IT'S BEEN SO COLD, THEY EXPECT

THE ALLEGHENY TO BE FROZEN ACROSS SOLID.

AND THEY CAN JUST WALK ACROSS THE ICE.

BUT WHEN THEY GET THERE, IT'S NOT.

SWIMMING THE RIVER WAS ESSENTIALLY NOT AN OPTION.

HYPOTHERMIA WOULD HAVE SET IN.

THEY WOULD HAVE PERISHED.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: THE ONLY WAY TO CROSS THE RIVER

IS TO BUILD A RAFT,

BUT THEIR TOOLS ARE LIMITED.

THANKS TO MAJOR WASHINGTON'S INSISTENCE,

THEY'VE LEFT THE GOOD EQUIPMENT BEHIND.

THEY HAVE ONLY WITH THEM ONE LITTLE HATCHET.

♪ ♪

CONSTRUCTING A RAFT FROM LOGS TOOK THEM A WHOLE DAY.

SO, IT WAS SUNSET BEFORE THEY COULD START

RAFTING THEIR WAY ACROSS THE RIVER.

NARRATOR: USING POLES MADE FROM BRANCHES,

GIST AND WASHINGTON SET OUT INTO THE ALLEGHENY RIVER.

♪ ♪

BUT CROSSING THE RIVER QUICKLY PROVES DIFFICULT,

AS THEIR MAKESHIFT RAFT IS CAUGHT UP

IN THE TREACHEROUS DOWNSTREAM CURRENT.

♪ ♪

THE PROBLEM WAS THIS

FREEZING COLD RIVER'S RUNNING VERY SWIFTLY.

AND THE RIVER, AT THIS STAGE,

WAS CHOKED WITH FAST MOVING ICE FLOES.

WASHINGTON HAS NEVER BEEN IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS.

HE'S NOT UNDERSTANDING THE POWER OF THE RIVER

AND THE COLD AND THE FORCES OUT HERE.

♪ ♪

MAJOR WASHINGTON!

WHEN THE ICE FLOE CONNECTED WITH HIS SETTING POLE,

THE IMPACT WAS ENOUGH TO KNOCK HIM OFF BALANCE.

NEXT THING HE KNOWS, HE'S IN 10 FEET OF FREEZING WATER.

[YELLING]

♪ ♪

TAKE MY HAND!

MAJOR WASHINGTON!

♪ ♪

[GRUNTING]

NARRATOR: GIST PULLS WASHINGTON FROM THE ICY RIVER,

SAVING HIS LIFE, BUT THE DANGER ISN'T OVER.

THE RAFT IS BEING SWEPT DOWN RIVER,

AND WITH THEIR POLES WASHED AWAY,

THEY HAVE NO WAY TO CONTROL IT.

GIST: THERE!

♪ ♪

FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS A SMALL ISLAND

EXPOSED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RIVER.

♪ ♪

[GASPING]

♪ ♪

[GASPING]

NARRATOR: THEY'VE ESCAPED THE FREEZING RIVER,

BUT NOW THEY'RE STRANDED,

AND THE TEMPERATURE IS DROPPING.

GEORGE WASHINGTON IS SOAKED FROM HEAD TO TOE.

HE COULD PROBABLY BARELY STAND UP.

♪ ♪

[STRIKING FLINT]

♪ ♪

THE FUTURE FATHER OF THE COUNTRY IS, IN FACT,

IN DANGER OF FREEZING TO DEATH.

♪ ♪

GIST IS NOT THAT MUCH BETTER,

HIS TOES AND FINGERS ARE PROBABLY FROSTBITTEN.

AND SO THEY NEED TO FIND SOME WAY

TO SURVIVE THROUGH THE NIGHT.

[STRIKING FLINT]

♪ ♪

THEIR HANDS ARE FROZEN,

ALMOST USELESS AT THAT POINT.

GIST TRIES TO START A FIRE USING A FLINT AND STEEL,

IT'S THE CLASSIC WAY, BUT TO NO AVAIL.

HIS FINGERS JUST AREN'T WORKING THE WAY HE NEEDS THEM TO.

AND GEORGE WASHINGTON WILL DIE

IF THEY DON'T GET A FIRE GOING FAST.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: AFTER A DISASTROUS MISHAP

ON THE ICY ALLEGHENY RIVER,

MAJOR GEORGE WASHINGTON AND FRONTIERSMAN CHRISTOPHER GIST

ARE IN DANGER OF FREEZING TO DEATH.

FOR GEORGE WASHINGTON AND CHRISTOPHER GIST,

A FIRE AT THAT MOMENT WAS THEIR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.

AND IF THAT FIRE DOESN'T GET STARTED,

YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW HISTORY CHANGES.

[STRIKING FLINT]

NARRATOR: WITH FLINT AND STEEL FAILING,

GIST'S LAST HOPE IS, LITERALLY,

A SHOT IN THE DARK.

♪ ♪

WHEN HE'S NOT ABLE TO START A FIRE THE TRADITIONAL WAY,

HE RESORTS TO AN OLD FRONTIER TRICK USING HIS MUSKET,

BY PUTTING A PIECE OF CLOTH INTO THE FIRING PAN,

SO THAT WHEN YOU FIRED THE GUN YOU WOULD GET A SPARK,

AND INSTEAD OF IGNITING THE GUNPOWDER,

WOULD IGNITE THE CLOTH AND, IN TURN -

[EXPLOSION]

FIRE.

♪ ♪

HE SUFFERED MIGHTILY WITH HIS FROZEN FINGERS TO- TO MAKE-

TO GET THIS FIRE GOING TO SAVE GEORGE WASHINGTON.

BUT THEY GOT A GOOD FIRE GOING,

AND THEY MANAGED TO SURVIVE THE NIGHT.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

WE SHOULD GET SOME SLEEP.

NEED TO BUILD A NEW RAFT IN THE MORNING.

WITHOUT THE FIRE, IT'S LIKELY THAT

WASHINGTON PROBABLY WOULD HAVE DIED OF HYPOTHERMIA.

I THINK THIS IS THE MOMENT THAT REALLY

CEMENTED THE FRIENDSHIP, AT LEAST FOR WASHINGTON,

BECAUSE THIS MAN SAVED MY LIFE RISKING HIS LIFE.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: THE NEXT MORNING, GIST AWAKENS TO A WELCOME SIGHT.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

THEY SAW THAT THE RIVER HAD FROZEN ACROSS TO THE FAR SIDE.

AND, SUDDENLY, THEY REALIZED THEY WERE SAVED.

I SHOULD THINK THAT I WAS DREAMING.

IF YOU ARE, DO NOT OPEN YOUR EYES

UNTIL WE ARE SAFELY ACROSS.

THEY WERE ABLE TO WALK OFF THE ISLAND,

YOU KNOW, GOIN' STRAIGHT ACROSS IT.

THAT WAS ONE BIT OF LUCK THEY HAD.

NARRATOR: TWO MONTHS AFTER SETTING OUT ON THEIR JOURNEY,

GIST AND WASHINGTON FINALLY MAKE IT BACK, EXHAUSTED, BUT ALIVE.

♪ ♪

WASHINGTON: IF ALL GOES WELL,

I SHOULD MAKE IT TO WILLIAMSBURG

IN 10 DAYS' TIME.

GIST: PERHAPS FEWER.

FOUR LEGS WILL SERVE YOU BETTER THAN TWO.

WASHINGTON: INDEED. NARRATOR: HERE THEY SEPARATE,

GIST TO RETURN TO HIS FAMILY,

AND WASHINGTON TO DELIVER THE MESSAGE

TO THE GOVERNOR IN WILLIAMSBURG.

I SHALL BE...

INFORMING GOVERNOR DINWIDDIE OF YOUR EXEMPLARY WORK ON HIS BEHALF.

ENGLAND OWES YOU A GREAT DEBT.

IT WAS AN HONOR, MAJOR.

♪ ♪

I, HOWEVER...

OWE YOU AN EVEN GREATER ONE.

MY VERY LIFE.

♪ ♪

I SHALL NEVER FORGET WHAT YOU HAVE DONE.

WASHINGTON, OF COURSE, PARTING WAYS WITH A MAN

WHO'S LITERALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR KEEPING HIM ALIVE

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS.

IF YOU SHOULD EVER NEED ME,

I'LL ALWAYS BE AT YOUR SERVICE.

♪ ♪

I SUSPECT THAT DAY MAY BE SOONER THAN YOU THINK.

THE HARDSHIPS THAT WASHINGTON ENCOUNTERED

IN COMPANY WITH CHRISTOPHER GIST WERE A-

A KIND OF A DEFINITIVE MOMENT IN HIS LIFE,

BECAUSE BY OVERCOMING THEM,

IT GAVE HIM A SENSE OF WHAT HE COULD ACHIEVE.

NARRATOR: HE MAY NOT KNOW IT YET,

BUT CHRISTOPHER GIST HAS PLAYED A CRUCIAL ROLE

IN AMERICAN HISTORY,

AND IT WON'T BE HIS LAST.

CHRISTOPHER GIST REALLY EMBODIED

THE EXPANSION OF COLONIAL AMERICA.

HE WAS REALLY, IN MANY WAYS,

THE POINT OF A SPEAR OF WESTWARD EXPANSION

INTO THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY.

HIS TIME WITH WASHINGTON OVERSHADOWS

SO MUCH OF WHO GIST WAS.

BUT, GIST WENT INTO THE UNKNOWN

IN A WAY THAT VERY FEW PEOPLE HAD DONE IN THAT ERA.

GIST IS THE FIRST PERSON

TO DESCRIBE THE OHIO TERRITORY

FOR BRITISH COLONISTS IN NORTH AMERICA.

AND THESE DESCRIPTIONS AND SURVEYS ARE A REALLY

CRITICAL PART OF CONVINCING PEOPLE TO MOVE WEST.

WHILE HIS NAME MAY NOT RESONATE LIKE DANIEL BOONE

OR DAVY CROCKET, IT SHOULD.

HE SERVES AS A DOORWAY TO OPEN THE REGION

FOR ALMOST EVERYONE ELSE WHO COMES AFTER.