Original subtitles

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: DANIEL BOONE, AMERICA'S MOST STORIED

FRONTIERSMAN, HAS BEEN HELD CAPTIVE

BY THE SHAWNEE FOR MONTHS,

UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF A FORMER SLAVE

ADOPTED BY THE TRIBE NAMED POMPEY.

BUT AFTER HEARING OF PLANS TO ATTACK HIS

HOME SETTLEMENT OF BOONESBOROUGH...

[SPEAKING SHAWNEE]

[SHAWNEE WAR CRIES]

HE SETS OUT TO ESCAPE.

[GUNFIRE]

[SHAWNEE WAR CRIES]

BOONE RIDES OUT TO SOUND THE ALARM

AND ENSURE THE SURVIVAL OF HIS HOME,

[GUNFIRE]

THE LAST REMAINING STRONGHOLD ON THE WESTERN FRONTIER.

♪ ♪

AFTER CROSSING MORE THAN A HUNDRED MILES

OF UNFORGIVING TERRAIN ON HORSEBACK, ON FOOT

AND ACROSS RIVERS, THE SHAWNEE ARE STILL IN PURSUIT.

IF BOONE IS CAPTURED, BOONESBOROUGH

AND ALL WITHIN ITS WALLS, INCLUDING HIS OWN FAMILY,

WILL BE LOST.

CORNERED, AND FACED WITH A CHOICE BETWEEN

ALMOST CERTAIN DEATH OR A RETURN TO CAPTIVITY,

BOONE TAKES A DESPERATE LAST CHANCE.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

FEW LEGENDS LOOM LARGER IN AMERICAN FRONTIER HISTORY

THAN DANIEL BOONE.

BOB DRURY: WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT DANIEL BOONE,

HE WAS A LEGEND, A LITERAL LEGEND,

IN HIS OWN TIME.

ROBERT MORGAN: BOONE WAS AT EASE IN THE WILDERNESS.

HE WASN'T AFRAID OF INDIANS,

HE WASN'T AFRAID OF NEW PLACES.

HE REPRESENTS WHAT MANY AMERICANS WOULD LIKE TO BE.

♪ ♪

BRADY CRYTZER: WHEN HE WAS IN THE WILDERNESS,

HE WAS AT HIS BEST.

AND WHEN THE HEAT WAS ON,

HE WAS THE KIND OF PERSON

YOU WANTED TO BE IN CHARGE.

THERE'S NO ONE LIKE DANIEL BOONE

AND THERE PROBABLY NEVER WILL BE AGAIN.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: 1777 IS A CRITICAL TIME IN KENTUCKY.

THE FIRST SETTLEMENTS WEST OF THE APPALACHIANS

ANCHORED BY BOONESBOROUGH AND HARRODSBURG,

ARE AT WAR WITH THE SHAWNEE.

MORGAN: THE INDIANS, OF COURSE, RESENTED THESE PEOPLE

MOVING INTO THEIR HUNTING LAND,

SO, IT WAS NATURAL TO ATTACK

THE SETTLEMENTS IN KENTUCKY.

WELL, OF COURSE, DANIEL BOONE WAS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF THAT.

NARRATOR: THE ASSAULT ON THEIR FRONTIER HOMES

IS LED BY THE RELENTLESS CHIEF BLACKFISH.

ANDREW NELSON: BLACKFISH WAS A LEADING SHAWNEE CHIEF

WHO LED AN OFFENSIVE AGAINST EUROPEAN SETTLEMENTS,

REACHING A BOILING POINT IN WHAT'S CALLED

"THE YEAR OF THE BLOODY SEVENS".

CRYTZER: BLACKFISH UNDERSTOOD THAT IF YOU COULD

TAKE OUT BOONESBOROUGH,

IF YOU COULD TAKE OUT HARRODSBURG,

ALL OF KENTUCKY WOULD BE YOURS.

[BIRDS CHIRPING]

NARRATOR: AS THE LEADER OF BOONESBOROUGH,

IT'S UP TO BOONE TO SPEARHEAD THE DEFENSE.

♪ ♪

SURE AM GLAD TO SEE YOU, COUSINS.

BELUE: BOONE NATURALLY WAS CHARISMATIC,

PEOPLE LOOKED TO HIM FOR GUIDANCE.

HE HAD THE REAL ADMIRATION AND RESPECT

OF THE PEOPLE THAT LIVED THERE.

THEY KNEW WHEN THEIR LIFE WAS IN DANGER,

HE WOULD PUT HIS ON THE LINE TO SAVE THEIRS

AND THAT MEANT ALL THE WORLD.

NARRATOR: BOONE HAS MADE THE DANGEROUS JOURNEY

TO CONSULT WITH HIS COUNTERPART AT HARRODSBURG,

LEGENDARY FRONTIERSMAN JAMES HARROD.

I HOPE YOU TRAVELED WITHOUT INCIDENT.

BOONE: YES, COMPLETELY.

COULDN'T HAVE ASKED FOR A FINER DAY AND THIS

INVITATION CAME AS A MOST WELCOME SURPRISE.

I'M GLAD YOU CAME.

WE'RE ALL IN THIS SCRAP TOGETHER NOW.

NARRATOR: LIKE BOONE, JAMES HARROD IS THE LEADER

OF ONE OF KENTUCKY'S MOST IMPORTANT SETTLEMENTS

AND THE TWO MEN HAVE A FRIENDLY RIVALRY GOING BACK YEARS.

MORGAN: WELL, BOONE HAD KNOWN JAMES HARROD.

THEY HAD BEEN RIVALS FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF KENTUCKY.

BUT AT SOME POINT, IN THE SPRING OF 1777,

THE TWO LEADERS REALIZE, "WHATEVER OUR DIFFERENCES ARE,

WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF GUNPOWDER,

WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF MUSKET BALLS

LET'S PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER."

NARRATOR: THE FRONTIERSMEN KNOW THAT IF

THEIR SETTLEMENTS FALL, IT WILL OPEN A

A SECOND VIOLENT FRONT IN THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.

THEY REQUEST AID FROM THE COLONIES.

PRECIOUS GUNPOWDER THAT WILL GIVE THEM

A FIGHTING CHANCE.

HARROD: THE GOVERNMENT OF VIRGINIA HAS SEEN FIT

TO GIVE US MORE THAN 500 POUNDS.

WELL, THAT'S MORE THAN I HOPED FOR.

LOOKS LIKE THEY FINALLY COME TO UNDERSTAND

THAT WE'RE THE LAST THING STANDING

BETWEEN THEM AND THE SHAWNEE.

HARROD: YEP, IT SHOULD HOLD US A WHILE.

BOONE: FOR A YEAR AT LEAST.

THIS IS WHAT A FIGHTING CHANCE LOOKS LIKE, BOYS.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: THE GUNPOWDER IS CRUCIAL

FOR THE DEFENSE OF KENTUCKY.

BUT FIRST, BOONE HAS TO TRANSPORT

THE PRECIOUS POWDER BACK TO BOONESBOROUGH.

CRUM: CARE HAD TO BE TAKEN WITH POWDER NOT TO GET IT WET.

IF YOU'RE CARRYING POWDER AND IT GOT WET,

IT TURNS SOLID AND LIKE A CAKE.

AND THEN, THERE'S NOTHING YOU CAN DO WITH IT.

KENTON: WHERE'D THE RAFT GO?

THE RAFT'S GONE.

HERE.

NARRATOR: THE THEFT OF THEIR RAFT IS AN OMINOUS SIGN.

BUT THEY HAVE TO CROSS THE RIVER,

EVEN IF IT MEANS THEY'RE WALKING INTO AN AMBUSH.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO FORD ACROSS.

ALL RIGHT? PICK UP YOUR BARRELS HIGH

AND BE CAREFUL. GO SLOW.

ALL RIGHT? I'LL LEAD.

[GRUNT]

FOLLOW ME.

NARRATOR: EXPOSED AND VULNERABLE TO ATTACK,

THEY ALSO CAN'T AFFORD TO LOSE A SINGLE POUND

OF THEIR PRECIOUS COMMODITY.

THERE'S AN EXPRESSION THAT'S STILL USED TODAY,

CALLED, YOU KNOW, "KEEP YOUR POWDER DRY."

IF YOUR GUN POWDER GOT WET,

YOU'RE PRETTY MUCH DEAD.

[WATER SPLASHING]

NARRATOR: WITH ALL OF BOONESBOROUGH COUNTING ON THEM,

THEY SAFELY CROSS THE RIVER,

AND FOR THE MOMENT, IT SEEMS LIKE THEY'RE IN THE CLEAR.

[WATER SPLASHING]

CRUM: PROVIDING FOR YOUR FAMILY ON THE FRONTIER

WAS NOT ONLY COMPLICATED, BUT DANGEROUS.

CHANCE ENCOUNTERS WITH NATIVE HUNTING PARTIES

WERE TO BE AVOIDED AT ALL COSTS.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: BOONE MAKES IT BACK TO BOONESBOROUGH,

BUT HIS HUNTER'S SENSES TELL HIM SOMETHING IS WRONG.

KENTON: SOMETHING'S NOT RIGHT.

NARRATOR: AS HE APPROACHES THE FORT,

THE ATTACK HE'S BEEN DREADING FINALLY COMES.

♪ ♪

THE ONLY THING THAT MATTERS IS THAT POWDER.

GET GOING, I'LL COVER YOU.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: BOONE KNOWS THAT THE GUNPOWDER

IS VITAL TO SAVING HIS HOME.

BOONE: COME ON. ALMOST THERE. LET'S GO!

NARRATOR: AND HE IS READY TO DEFEND IT WITH HIS LIFE.

[SCREAMING]

[GUNFIRE]

[SCREAMING, GUNFIRE]

[SCREAMING, GUNFIRE]

NARRATOR: RETURNING TO HIS HOME OF BOONESBOROUGH,

LEGENDARY FRONTIERSMAN DANIEL BOONE

IS AMBUSHED BY SHAWNEE WARRIORS.

[SCREAMING, GUNFIRE]

DRURY: A MUSKET BALL SHATTERS DANIEL BOONE'S ANKLE.

THE NEXT THING HE KNOWS, A SHAWNEE IS ABOUT

TO TAKE HIS SCALP.

[SCREAMING, GUNFIRE]

AND SIMON KENTON, WHO WAS AT THE GATE OF THE STOCKADE,

SHOOTS THE INDIAN DEAD.

KENTON: COME ON CAP, LET'S GO.

BOONE: I AIN'T IN NO SHAPE TO RUN.

I'LL DO THE RUNNING FOR THE BOTH OF US.

BELUE: SIMON KENTON PICKS HIM UP,

SLINGS HIS OVER HIS SHOULDER,

RUNS BACK INTO BOONESBOROUGH UNDER A HAIL OF GUNFIRE.

[SCREAMING, GUNFIRE]

MORGAN: IT'S AMAZING THAT THEY BOTH WEREN'T KILLED

AS THE INDIANS WERE FIRING AT THEM.

BUT THEY GOT BACK TO THE FORT AND

BOONE'S DAUGHTER JEMIMA RAN OUT AND HELPED HIM.

[SCREAMING, GUNFIRE]

I'LL BE OKAY. I'LL BE OKAY.

♪ ♪

COULD YOU FETCH KENTON FOR ME?

OF COURSE.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

YOU BEHAVED LIKE A MAN TODAY.

INDEED, YOU ARE A FINE FELLOW.

NARRATOR: IT IS EFFUSIVE PRAISE FROM THE

FAMOUSLY UNDERSTATED DANIEL BOONE.

BELUE: BOONE WAS NOT THE KIND OF MAN TO OVERSTATE ANYTHING.

AND FROM THEN ON, OF COURSE, SIMON KENTON

AND DANIEL BOONE WERE FAST, GREAT, GOOD FRIENDS.

NARRATOR: BOONE AND THE SETTLERS ARE LUCKY,

NOT A SINGLE LIFE IS LOST IN THE ATTACK.

BUT WITH WINTER LOOMING, AND A HOSTILE FORCE

OUTSIDE THE WALLS, BOONE KNOWS WORSE DAYS ARE AHEAD.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

WINTER HAS HIT KENTUCKY HARD,

AND THE PEOPLE OF BOONESBOROUGH

ARE STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE.

BELUE: NOW THEY ARE LACKING THE COMMODITY OF SALT.

WITHOUT SALT, YOU'RE GOING TO STARVE

BECAUSE YOUR DIET IS PRIMARILY MEAT NOW.

YOU COULDN'T GET THE CROPS IN.

THIS IS LONG BEFORE REFRIGERATION.

SO SALT IS THE ONLY REAL MEANS OF

PRESERVING MEAT.

IT WAS VITAL ON THE FRONTIER

WHERE MEAT WAS SCARCE AND NEEDED TO BE

PRESERVED AT ALL COSTS.

NARRATOR: BOONE KNOWS HIS SETTLERS ARE IN

DANGER OF STARVATION,

UNLESS HE CAN FIND A SOURCE OF SALT.

♪ ♪

STAY SAFE.

I WILL.

KENTON: GOOD LUCK OUT THERE, CAPTAIN BOONE.

DON'T WORRY.

THE WARRING SEASON IS OVER.

THE SHAWNEE HAVE PROBABLY GONE BACK ACROSS THE RIVER.

FROSTBITE AT NIGHT MIGHT BE THE WORST OF IT, OKAY?

STILL. STAY SAFE.

IT'LL BE EASY GOING.

DON'T YOU WORRY.

LET'S GO GENTLEMEN.

♪ ♪

DRURY: THERE HAD BEEN A SALT LICK OUTSIDE

OF BOONESBOROUGH, BUT THE SHAWNEE,

IN THE SUMMER AND FALL HAD POISONED IT

BY THROWING DEAD ANIMALS DOWN THERE.

BELUE: BOONE LOOKS AT HIS LIMITED MANPOWER.

HE TAKES STOCK, KNOWING HE'S GOING TO LEAVE

THE FORT UNDERMANNED,

BUT HE MUST HAVE SALT.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: NOW, THE NEAREST SALT LICK

IS NEARLY 60 MILES AWAY.

NO EASY JOURNEY UNDER THE BEST CONDITIONS.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

THINK WE FOUND OUR SALT LICKS, BOYS.

[LAUGHTER]

♪ ♪

SURE DOES HAVE A PARTICULAR SMELL, DOESN'T IT?

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: GATHERING SALT IS DIFFICULT TEDIOUS WORK,

BUT IT'S ESSENTIAL ON THE FRONTIER.

NELSON: ONE METHOD OF ACQUIRING SALT WAS TO USE A SALT BOIL

AND YOU WOULD BOIL BRACKISH WATER UNTIL

ALL OF THE LIQUID HAD EVAPORATED

AND THEN, YOU WOULD SCRAPE THE CRYSTALIZED SALT

FROM THE INSIDE OF THE POT.

YOU GOT TO CHOP DOWN A LOT OF TREES,

YOU'VE GOT TO BRING IN BIG, CLANGY SALT KETTLES,

AND YOU GOT TO HOIST THEM OVER A FIRE,

YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP THE MEN FED.

IT'S A BIG FOOTPRINT.

YOU NEEDED ABOUT 5, 600 GALLONS OF SALT WATER

TO BOIL DOWN TO MAKE

A 50 POUND BUSHEL OF SALT.

AND THEY PLANNED TO BE OUT THERE FOR A MONTH.

HE'S GOT TO FIND FOOD.

♪ ♪

WELL, I RECKON WE'VE SCARED EVERYTHING OFF

FROM HERE TO THE LICKING RIVER.

SO, DON'T YOU BOYS EXPECT ME BACK FOR A FEW DAYS, YEAH?

ALL RIGHT, NOW.

BELUE: THE MEN HAVE TO EAT, AND SO,

BOONE GOES OUT TO HUNT BUFFALO.

THE BUFFALO HAVE TURNED SKITTISH

AND GONE FURTHER AND FURTHER.

♪ ♪

[COCKS RIFLE]

♪ ♪

[GUNSHOT]

♪ ♪

DRURY: HE'S OUT AND HE HAS ALMOST BUCKLED

HIS HORSE'S TOPLINE PILING BUFFALO MEAT.

NARRATOR: ALTHOUGH HAPPY NOT TO SEE ANOTHER SOUL WHILE HUNTING,

BOONE HAS MADE A MISCALCULATION.

MORGAN: BOONE FIGURED THAT IF HE WAITED UNTIL

THE MIDDLE OF WINTER, THAT WAS THE TIME

THEY COULD SAFELY GO OUT AND BOIL SALT.

[FOOTSTEPS]

NARRATOR: BUT THE SHAWNEE HAVE NOT

RETURNED HOME ACROSS THE RIVER.

THEIR LEADER, CHIEF BLACKFISH,

PLANS TO CATCH THE SETTLERS OFF GUARD.

[SHAWNEE WAR CRIES]

WAIT! WAIT!

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: BOONE DOESN'T PANIC BUT QUICKLY REALIZES

HIS OPTIONS ARE FEW.

BOONE'S FATE IS NOW IN THE HANDS OF HIS MOST RELENTLESS ENEMY.

NARRATOR: AMBUSHED BY THE SHAWNEE,

DANIEL BOONE IS SURROUNDED AND OUTGUNNED.

HE HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO SURRENDER

TO THE FEARSOME SHAWNEE CHIEF BLACKFISH.

DRURY: BOONE IS SHOCKED TO SEE THAT BLACKFISH

HAS RECROSSED THE OHIO RIVER IN THE DEAD OF WINTER

WITH A PARTY OF WARRIORS.

NARRATOR: AMONG BLACKFISH'S INNER CIRCLE

IS A MAN NAMED POMPEY, A FORMER SLAVE FROM VIRGINIA.

DRURY: POMPEY WAS CAPTURED BY THE SHAWNEE AS A CHILD AND

HE GREW UP TO BE ONE OF THEIR MOST ILLUSTRIOUS WARRIORS.

SO, POMPEY IS DOING THE TRANSLATING FOR BOONE.

CHIEF BLACKFISH GREETS YOU, DANIEL BOONE.

CHIEF BLACKFISH WISHES TO KNOW HOW MANY

WHITE MEN ARE WORKING DOWN THE RIVER.

WHAT MAKES BLACKFISH THINK THERE ARE ANY MEN ON THE RIVER?

[SPEAKING SHAWNEE]

OUR SCOUTS HAVE SEEN THEM AND WATCH THEM STILL.

SPEAK...

TRUTH.

NARRATOR: BOONE KNOWS A LIE WILL BE HARSHLY PUNISHED.

HE HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO TELL BLACKFISH THE TRUTH.

[SPEAKING SHAWNEE]

THEY WILL BE KILLED

AND BOONESBOROUGH RAZED.

DRURY: AND BOONE KNOWS BOONESBOROUGH

IS NOT PREPARED FOR THIS.

BUT HE ONCE SAID TO ONE OF HIS EARLY BIOGRAPHERS,

"WHEN YOU ENCOUNTER INDIANS,

THERE ARE TWO WAYS OUT.

ONE IS LUCK AND THE OTHER IS QUICK THINKING."

WELL, THAT WON'T BE SO EASY.

A DIRECT ASSAULT ON THE FORT WOULD BE HOPELESS.

THERE'S STILL PLENTY OF DEFENDERS THERE.

NARRATOR: NONE OF BOONE'S STORY IS TRUE,

BUT HE HAS TO HOPE THAT BLACKFISH BELIEVES HIM.

WE HAVE MAGAZINES BURSTING WITH GUNPOWDER.

WE'VE GOT A LOT OF FOOD-

[SPEAKING SHAWNEE]

MOST OF THE MEN AT BOONESBOROUGH ARE GONE.

THEY'RE BOILING SALT.

AND SO, IT'S OLD PEOPLE, WOMEN AND CHILDREN.

NARRATOR: ON THE SPOT, BOONE COMES UP WITH A PLAN

TO SAVE THE LIVES OF HIS MEN,

WHILE ALSO PROTECTING THE SETTLEMENT AND HIS FAMILY.

WHY DON'T YOU TAKE THE MEN GATHERING SALT?

TAKE THEM PRISONER, OKAY?

AND THEN, RETURN TO BOONESBOROUGH IN THE SPRING.

AND WHEN THE WEATHER GETS GOOD,

WE'LL GO BACK TO THE FORT.

I'LL NEGOTIATE A FULL SURRENDER OF THE FORT.

ALL RIGHT?

YOU JUST HAVE TO PROMISE ME,

PROMISE ME, YOU WILL NOT HURT ANY OF MY MEN.

BELUE: NOBODY KNOWS HOW THIS IS GOING TO PLAY OUT.

BUT THE PRIMARY THING AT THIS POINT,

IS TO KEEP THE MEN FROM BEING SLAUGHTERED.

DRURY: AND BLACKFISH IS THINKING TO HIMSELF,

"THIS IS NOT A BAD DEAL.

I GET TO WALK INTO MY VILLAGE WITH CAPTIVES

AND THEN, IN A FEW MONTHS, I GET TO GO BACK

AND TAKE CARE OF BOONESBOROUGH."

SO, HE AGREES TO IT.

NARRATOR: BOONE HAS BOUGHT HIMSELF

AND HIS FAMILY PRECIOUS TIME.

BUT CONVINCING BLACKFISH IS ONLY HALF THE BATTLE.

♪ ♪

NOW, HE HAS TO CONVINCE HIS OWN MEN

TO SURRENDER WITHOUT A FIGHT.

DRURY: SO, BOONE SHOWS UP AND THE SALT BOILERS ARE ALL,

"HEY, HE'S BACK, BUT WAIT A MINUTE,

WHERE'S THE GAME? WHERE'S THE MEAT? WE'RE HUNGRY."

NARRATOR: BEFORE HE CAN EXPLAIN, BLACKFISH AND HIS MEN

MAKE THEIR PRESENCE KNOWN.

BOONE: HEY, HEY! NO, NO, NO.

DON'T DO NOTHIN' STUPID.

ANYBODY FIRES

AND WE'RE AS GOOD AS DEAD TO A MAN.

NARRATOR: IF BOONE CAN'T PERSUADE HIS MEN TO

LAY DOWN ARMS, BLACKFISH WILL NOT HESITATE TO KILL THEM.

BOONE: LISTEN, I PROMISE YOU THIS IS ALREADY OVER.

BUT I'VE MADE A DEAL TO SAVE OUR LIVES.

NOW, THESE MEN, THEY'RE GOING TO TAKE US,

AND THEY'RE GOING TO TRADE US AS PRISONERS.

ALL RIGHT? I GET IT.

BUT IN EXCHANGE, THEY'RE GONNA LEAVE OUR FORT

ALONE FOR THE WINTER.

CAP, I'D RATHER BE KILLED THAN BE TAKEN ALIVE.

BELIEVE ME, I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT THIS ISN'T ABOUT SAVING

OUR HIDES RIGHT NOW, OKAY? THIS IS ABOUT

EVERYBODY ELSE AT HOME,

OUR FAMILIES IN BOONESBOROUGH.

YOU UNDERSTAND ME? THERE'S NO OTHER WAY.

JUST TRUST ME.

HAND 'EM OVER.

♪ ♪

BELUE: BOONE IS ABLE TO CONVINCE HIS MEN TO SURRENDER

SO, ON BOONE'S WORD, ON BOONE'S TRUST,

THEY SURRENDER TO THE SHAWNEE.

♪ ♪

[WATER SPLASHING]

NARRATOR: BOONE HAS SAVED HIS MEN'S LIVES, FOR NOW.

BUT THE SHAWNEE HAVE MORE IN MIND

THAN JUST TAKING PRISONERS.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

BELUE: BOONE LOOKS AND HE SEES THE SHAWNEE

ARE BRUSHING OFF THE GROUND

AND HE UNDERSTANDS THIS IS GOING TO BE

A GAUNTLET RUN FOR HIS MEN.

♪ ♪

DRURY: ALL WHITE CAPTIVES ALWAYS HAD TO RUN THE GAUNTLET,

WHICH IS WHERE INDIANS LINE UP ON EITHER SIDE OF A PATH,

AND YOU HAVE TO RUN DOWN THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF IT

AND THEY'LL WHIP YOU, THEY'LL HIT YOU WITH WAR CLUBS.

YOU GAVE ME YOUR WORD.

YOU SAID THAT NONE OF THESE MEN WOULD BE HARMED.

[SPEAKING SHAWNEE]

♪ ♪

THE GAUNTLET IS NOT FOR YOUR MEN.

IT'S FOR YOU.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: DESPITE THE DEAL HE MADE WITH BLACKFISH,

BOONE KNOWS THAT THE FUTURE OF BOONESBOROUGH NOW RESTS ON

HOW WELL HE RUNS THE GAUNTLET.

IF HE SURVIVES AT ALL.

IF YOU COULD MAKE IT THROUGH THE GAUNTLET YOU MIGHT

BE WORTH SHOWING SOME MERCY.

OR, IT COULD BE JUST THE OPPOSITE,

WE'RE GONNA KILL YOU ANYWAY.

♪ ♪

[MEN WHOOPING]

BOONE IS KNOCKED DOWN,

HE GETS BACK UP.

HE'S HIT FROM BEHIND, HE GETS BACK UP.

HE'S FIGHTING BACK WITH ONLY HIS FISTS

AGAINST CLUBS.

[SHAWNEE WHOOPING]

[FIGHTING]

BUT THEN, AT THE END HE LOOKS UP AND HE SEES

ONE OF THE SHAWNEE BRAVES BRANDISHING A TOMAHAWK, BUT

THERE'S NO GOING BACK IN THE GAUNTLET.

NARRATOR: WITH THE LIVES OF EVERYONE HE LOVES AT STAKE

BOONE MUST FIND A WAY TO CHEAT DEATH ONE MORE TIME.

♪ ♪

[YELLING]

[FIGHTING]

NARRATOR: A CAPTIVE DANIEL BOONE IS FORCED TO RUN

A DEADLY GAUNTLET WITH THE END JUST A FEW FEET AWAY

HE FACES A FINAL, FORMIDABLE OBSTACLE.

THERE'S NO ESCAPING LEFT OR RIGHT SO BOONE DOES

THE ONLY THING THAT HE CAN.

[SHAWNEE YELLING]

HE GOES FORWARD AS FAST AS HE CAN...

[THUD]

BOWLS OVER THE SHAWNEE BRAVE.

NARRATOR: BOONE'S VICTORY IS A PRECARIOUS MOMENT.

HIS LIFE NOW DEPENDS ON CHIEF BLACKFISH'S REACTION.

[BOONE YELLS]

[BOONE YELLS]

[SHAWNEE WHOOPING]

[ALL MEN SHOUTING]

RUNNING THE GAUNTLET IS CONSIDERED,

YOU KNOW, THE FATES WILL DECIDE.

IF YOU CAN RUN THE GAUNTLET

THEN YOU CAN BE ONE OF THEM.

[SHOUTING]

BLACKFISH IS PLEASED WITH BOONE.

HE'S A GREAT WARRIOR.

[SHOUTING]

NARRATOR: BUT THE CAPTIVE SETTLERS ARE FAR FROM SAFE.

♪ ♪

BLACKFISH FEARS THAT MANY WANT TO SLAUGHTER YOU AND YOUR MEN.

AND TAKE BOONESBOROUGH WITH ITS FULL LARDERS NOW.

LET ME SPEAK TO THEM.

NARRATOR: BOONE HAS SHOWN HIMSELF TO BE A WORTHY FIGHTER,

EARNING THE SHAWNEE'S RESPECT.

UNLIKE MANY WHITE SETTLERS

BOONE HAD A RESPECT FOR THE INDIANS AND EVEN THEIR LEADERS.

AND RESPECTED THEIR WAYS.

NARRATOR: NOW, HE MUST MAKE HIS CASE FOR THE LIVES OF HIS MEN.

THESE ARE STRONG, CAPABLE MEN.

THEY WILL SOON PROVE THEIR WORTH.

LET THEM ALL LIVE, LET US ALL LIVE.

IT WILL BRING YOU GOOD FORTUNE.

NARRATOR: BOONE KNOWS THAT IF HE FAILS TO CONVINCE THE SHAWNEE

HIS WHOLE GAMBLE WILL HAVE BEEN FOR NOTHING.

♪ ♪

THE SHAWNEE VOTE.

WILL THE MEN LIVE OR DIE?

NARRATOR: A SINGLE VOTE COULD DECIDE THEIR FATE.

♪ ♪

BELUE: THE VOTE IS QUITE CLOSE,

BUT THE MEN OF BOONESBORO WILL SURVIVE.

NARRATOR: BOONE PREVAILS BUYING HIS MEN A FEW MORE DAYS TO LIVE

AND KEEPING BOONESBORO SAFE FOR NOW.

SOON, BOONE AND HIS MEN ARE CARRIED FARTHER FROM HOME

DEEP INTO SHAWNEE TERRITORY.

♪ ♪

DRURY: SO THE SHAWNEE AND THEIR CAPTIVES FINALLY REACH

CHILLICOTHE, THE MAIN SHAWNEE VILLAGE.

♪ ♪

AND THE AMERICANS ARE A LITTLE

WAIT A MINUTE, I THOUGHT INDIANS LIVED IN WIGWAMS AND TEEPEES.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

BECAUSE CHILLICOTHE

WAS ACTUALLY A CIRCULAR TOWN

WITH CABINS AND A LONGHOUSE.

NARRATOR: CHILLICOTHE IS THE CAPITAL OF NOT ONLY THE SHAWNEE

BUT MANY REGIONAL TRIBES WHO HAVE BEEN FORCED TO UNITE

AGAINST THE RISING TIDE OF EUROPEAN SETTLERS.

♪ ♪

HERE, THE SETTLERS WILL BE ADOPTED INTO THE TRIBE.

MORGAN: THIS IS AN INDIAN CUSTOM

TO ADOPT FORMER ENEMIES

BECAUSE THEY WERE RUNNING SHORT OF PEOPLE,

BECAUSE OF WARS AND DISEASES.

AND THEN THEY JOIN YOUR FAMILIES, BECOME A PART OF

THE VILLAGE, PART OF THE COMMUNITY.

NARRATOR: BLACKFISH'S PLAN FOR BOONE IS PERSONAL:

TO REPLACE THE SON HE LOST IN BATTLE AGAINST THE SETTLERS.

DANIEL BOONE IS ADOPTED BY BLACKFISH HIMSELF.

MORGAN: HE NEEDED A SON, HE WAS ADOPTING

SOMEBODY WHO WAS ALREADY A PROVEN LEADER - A HERO,

A LEGEND IN THE WEST.

SO, YOU- YOU COULDN'T IMPROVE ON THAT.

NARRATOR: BOONE KNOWS THAT TO SURVIVE, HE MUST JOIN

THE SHAWNEE AND BLACKFISH'S FAMILY.

♪ ♪

MORGAN: THE ADOPTION BY A PRISONER INTO

THE COMMUNITY, THE TRIBE, WAS A RITUALISTIC THING.

IT WAS A RELIGIOUS CEREMONY, IT WAS A SOLEMN CEREMONY.

DRURY: SHELTOWEE THEY NAMED HIM -

THE BIG TURTLE.

BECAUSE IN THE SHAWNEE CULTURE AND RELIGION

THE EARTH SAT ON THE BACK OF A TURTLE.

AND THAT'S HOW MUCH THEY RESPECTED BOONE, THAT THEY NAMED

HIM THE BIG TURTLE.

♪ ♪

MY SON.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: AS WEEKS AND MONTHS PASS, BOONE IS EXPECTED

TO PARTICIPATE IN THE EVERYDAY LIFE OF THE TRIBE.

BUT HE'S CONSTANTLY WATCHED.

CRUM: BOONE LEARNED TO LIVE WITH THE

SHAWNEE, TO DRESS LIKE THEM, TO HUNT WITH THEM,

AND TO BE A PART OF THEIR CULTURE.

AND BOONE KNEW HE NEEDED TO DO THAT IN ORDER TO SURVIVE.

DRURY: THEY PRESENT BOONE WITH A RIFLE,

AND ONE BALL,

AND ENOUGH POWDER TO FIRE ONE BALL.

♪ ♪

AND EVERY TIME HE GOES OUT-

[GUNSHOT]

HE BRINGS BACK GAME,

HE BECOMES KNOWN AS THE BEST HUNTER IN THE TRIBE.

THEY STILL DON'T TRUST HIM, SO BLACKFISH IS SENDING OUT

SCOUTS TO KEEP AN EYE ON BOONE ON THESE HUNTING TRIPS.

NARRATOR: FOR BOONE THESE HUNTING TRIPS SERVE

ANOTHER PURPOSE: THEY ARE A KEY PART OF HIS PLAN TO ESCAPE.

[SPEAKING SHAWNEE]

DRURY: BUT WHAT HE MANAGES TO DO IS EVERY TIME

HE BRINGS DOWN GAME, HE'LL GUT IT AND WHAT NOT,

AND HE'LL SECRET THE BALL.

AND THIS IS HOW HE KINDA GETS A STASH,

THINKING, "ONE DAY I'M GONNA HAVE TO MAKE MY BREAK,

AND I'M GOING TO NEED THIS."

[GUNSHOT]

NARRATOR: BUT IF HE'S CAUGHT, HE RISKS LOSING

ANY CHANCE TO ESCAPE.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: AFTER MONTHS IN CAPTIVITY, DANIEL BOONE IS

PLOTTING HIS ESCAPE FROM THE SHAWNEE.

IF HE'S CAUGHT, HE'LL BE SEVERELY PUNISHED OR KILLED.

♪ ♪

DRURY: SO, THE ENTIRE TIME BOONE IS SECRETING

THE UH- THIS BLACK POWDER,

THE MUSKET BALLS, THE BARREL OF A GUN, THE LOCK OF A GUN,

A HUNTING KNIFE.

AT THE SAME TIME

HE IS LIVING IN BLACKFISH'S LODGE,

AND HE DEVELOPS A FRIENDSHIP WITH BLACKFISH.

THEY WOULD SIT AND DISCUSS GEOGRAPHY,

ABOUT WHICH HE KNEW QUITE A BIT.

SHOW ME.

NARRATOR: HE LEARNS THE LAY OF THE LAND FROM CHIEF BLACKFISH,

PIECING TOGETHER THE BEST WAY

TO NAVIGATE HOME TO BOONESBOROUGH.

I THINK THESE WERE THE TRIBUTARIES FLOWING

INTO THE KENTUCKY RIVER.

NARRATOR: WHILE BOONE HAS SUCCEEDED IN WINNING

BLACKFISH'S TRUST, HE YEARNS FOR

HIS OWN FAMILY BACK IN BOONESBOROUGH.

♪ ♪

[SPEAKING SHAWNEE]

[SPEAKING SHAWNEE]

[SPEAKING SHAWNEE]

[SPEAKING SHAWNEE]

[SPEAKING SHAWNEE]

NARRATOR: WHEN BOONE OVERHEARS PLANS TO ATTACK HIS HOME,

HE KNOWS HE CAN'T DELAY HIS ESCAPE ANY LONGER.

AND HE'S SAYING, "THIS IS IT.

I'M GOING TO HAVE TO FULFILL THE PROMISE I MADE TO BLACKFISH

THAT I WOULD GET BOONESBOROUGH

SETTLERS TO SURRENDER."

SO HE REALIZES, "I GOTTA GET OUT OF HERE AND WARN THEM."

NARRATOR: BOONE BIDES HIS TIME.

WHEN BLACKFISH AND HIS WARRIORS LEAVE TO GO HUNTING,

HE MAKES HIS MOVE.

♪ ♪

BOONE IS CONFLICTED HERE.

UH, OF- OF COURSE HE WOULD LOVE SHAWNEE LIFE.

BUT HE UNDERSTANDS THAT HIS FAMILY, KITH AND KIN,

EVERYTHING THAT IS SACRED, IS SOUTH OF THE OHIO.

NARRATOR: BOONE WASN'T ABLE TO PREPARE EVERYTHING HE NEEDS,

BUT BLACKFISH'S THREAT TO BOONESBOROUGH

HAS FORCED HIS HAND.

IT'S NOW OR NEVER.

♪ ♪

DRURY: HE TAKES OFF,

HE RIDES AND THE WARRIORS CHASING HIM.

NARRATOR: BOONE IS BEYOND THE POINT OF NO RETURN.

ALL HE CAN DO NOW IS RUN.

♪ ♪

WITH THE SHAWNEE NOT FAR BEHIND, BOONE MUST COVER

AS MUCH DISTANCE AS HE CAN.

BOONE'S UH ESCAPE FROM CHILLICOTHE IS

THE ULTIMATE SURVIVAL TEST.

HE'S ON HORSEBACK FOR ABOUT

THE FIRST UH 70 TO 80 MILES.

NARRATOR: BOONE RELEASES HIS HORSE ON THE BANKS OF

THE OHIO RIVER, HOPING THE CURRENT WILL PUT SOME

DISTANCE BETWEEN HIM AND HIS PURSUERS.

BELUE: THEN HE BUILDS A RAFT.

NOT FOR HIMSELF, BUT FOR HIS ITEMS THAT HE'S CARRYING.

PUT THE GOODS ON THE RAFT, INCLUDING THE RIFLE BARREL,

AND KICK ACROSS THE OHIO.

HE HAS LITTLE TIME TO SPARE.

NARRATOR: BOONE HAS BEEN RUNNING WITHOUT REST.

HE'S GROWING WEAK, AND SLOWING DOWN.

BELUE: BOONE HAS BEEN ON THE TRAIL FOR TWO DAYS.

HE'S UNDER TREMENDOUS STRESS.

HE REALLY NEEDS SUSTENANCE, HE REALLY NEEDS NUTRITION.

NARRATOR: BUT THERE'S LITTLE FOOD TO BE FOUND

GROWING IN LATE WINTER.

AND BOONE DOESN'T HAVE A RIFLE, ALTHOUGH HE'S STOLEN

PARTS - LOCKS AND BARRELS -FROM BLACKFISH.

DRURY: HE DOESN'T HAVE A STOCK.

HE SEES ONE FALLEN TREE BRANCH THAT KINDA IS

ABOUT THE SAME SIZE

AS A LONG RIFLE STOCK.

HAWKE: BACK IN THE OLD DAYS, YOU WOULDA HAD TO BE

FAIRLY GOOD AT WOODWORKING,

MAYBE MAKE THE BARREL FOR YOUR WEAPON.

DANIEL BOONE WAS APPARENTLY VERY GOOD AT KNOWING HOW TO DO

THE THINGS NECESSARY TO MAKE HIS OWN RIFLE.

AND HE FITS IT TOGETHER WITH THE BARREL

AND THE LOCK THAT HE ALREADY HAS.

NARRATOR: BOONE'S MAKESHIFT RIFLE ISN'T GUARANTEED TO WORK.

A SINGLE SHOT COULD DESTROY IT.

DRURY: BOONE, AT ONE POINT,

SEES A BUFFALO CALF AND BRINGS IT DOWN WITH ONE SHOT.

[GUNSHOT]

NARRATOR: BUT THE ECHOING SOUND OF HIS GUNSHOT HAS BROUGHT

THE SHAWNEE WARRIORS DOWN ON HIM.

♪ ♪

[SHAWNEE YELLING]

MORGAN: IF HE'S CAUGHT, HE WILL BE KILLED.

BUT HE IS ABSOLUTELY DETERMINED

TO GET THERE BEFORE THE INDIANS GET THERE.

♪ ♪

[SHAWNEE SHOUTING]

NARRATOR: KNOWING HIS CHOICE IS TO RISK DEATH

OR RETURN TO CAPTIVITY, BOONE TAKES A DESPERATE LEAP.

NARRATOR: THE SHAWNEE WARRIORS IN PURSUIT,

AND NO PLACE TO RUN, DANIEL BOONE TAKES

A LITERAL LEAP OF FAITH.

[SHAWNEE YELLING]

♪ ♪

ONCE MORE, BOONE HAS CHEATED DEATH, SCRAMBLING INTO

A NARROW CREVICE UNSEEN BY HIS PURSUERS.

♪ ♪

BOONE MANAGES TO AVOID CAPTURE AND CONTINUES ON HIS

JOURNEY BACK TO BOONESBOROUGH.

BUMGARDNER: HE TRAVELED SOMETHIN'

LIKE 160 MILES IN FIVE DAYS,

WHICH IS JUST REMARKABLE.

AND HE KNEW THE ENTIRE TIME THE SHAWNEE WERE CHASING HIM.

NELSON: BOONE CONTINUES ON FOOT, MOTIVATED,

HAUNTED,- BY THE THOUGHT OF THE TERRIBLE FATE THAT MAY BE

AWAITING BACK IN BOONESBOROUGH.

NARRATOR: BOONE HAS BEEN ON THE RUN FOR DAYS ACROSS MORE

THAN ONE HUNDRED SIXTY MILES OF UNFORGIVING WILDERNESS,

WITH LITTLE FOOD OR WATER, AND IS BEGINNING TO LOSE HIS WAY.

♪ ♪

[GRUNTING]

NELSON: TO GO OUT INTO THE WILDERNESS

AND TO MAKE CLAIMS ON NEW TRACKS OF LAND, THE WAY THIS WOULD WORK

IS YOU WOULD CARVE YOUR INITIALS INTO A TREE.

BUMGARDNER: AND THAT WAS

ACTUALLY ONE OF THE THINGS THAT DANIEL BOONE DID TO

LEGALLY OWN THE LAND.

I'LL BE.

NARRATOR: SEEING THE MARK HE MADE SO LONG AGO, BOONE KNOWS

HE'S GETTING CLOSE TO HOME, AND WITH RENEWED STRENGTH,

HE REFUSES TO GIVE UP.

AFTER TRAVELING FOR 160 MILES,

BOONE REACHED BOONESBOROUGH.

AND WHEN HE SHOWED UP AT THE FORT, SOME THOUGHT THEY WERE

SEEING A GHOST, AND OTHERS THOUGHT

THEY WERE SEEING A SHAWNEE.

♪ ♪

HOLD IT RIGHT THERE!

NELSON: WHEN BOONE ARRIVES

AT THE TOWN THAT BEARS HIS NAME, HE IS DISHEVELED,

HE IS UNSHAVEN, HE IS RAGGED.

THEY WEREN'T SURE WHAT TO THINK.

KENTON: NAME YOURSELF, STRANGER!

WE'RE NOT WELCOMING ANY SHAWNEE OR THE LIKE.

[PANTING]

AND THEN JEMIMA GOES, "IT'S DADDY!"

DADDY?

IT'S HIM!

HE'S BACK, IT'S HIM!

IT'S OKAY, DADDY. COME ON.

YOU'RE SAFE. YOU'RE SAFE.

SHE JUST HAD A FEELING HER FATHER WOULD ONE DAY RETURN.

HE'S ABLE TO PROVE HIS IDENTITY TO HIS FRIENDS AND FAMILY

AND WARN THEM OF THE IMMINENT ATTACK.

NARRATOR: WITH BOONE'S TIMELY WARNING, THE SHAWNEE

HAVE LOST THE ADVANTAGE OF SURPRISE.

BELUE: ULTIMATELY, BOONESBOROUGH IS

SAVED THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP OF DANIEL BOONE.

SAVING BOONESBOROUGH MEANT THAT KENTUCKY WOULD BE SAVED.

NARRATOR: WITH BOONE'S LEADERSHIP, THE PEOPLE

OF BOONESBOROUGH FACE DOWN BLACKFISH.

UNDER SIEGE FOR TWELVE DAYS, THE FORT HOLDS,

AND WITH IT, THE PROMISE OF AMERICA.

MOST OF THE OTHER ADOPTED SETTLERS FROM THE SALT

LICKS WILL ALSO EVENTUALLY ESCAPE,

AND RETURN SAFELY TO BOONESBOROUGH.

♪ ♪

DANIEL BOONE'S LEGEND LIVES ON TODAY.

HIS EXPLOITS AND ADVENTURES,

HIS COURAGE AND RESTLESS SPIRIT,

HIS KINDNESS AND HIS DETERMINATION DEFINE HIM.

HE HAD BIOGRAPHERS, HE HAD HAGIOGRAPHERS,

AND HE DESPISED THE FACT THAT HE WOULD PROBABLY

GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS AN INDIAN FIGHTER.

MORGAN: HE WAS A LEADER.

AND HE'S CONSIDERED INSTRUMENTAL IN

THE OPENING OF KENTUCKY AND- AND IN FACT THE FURTHER WEST.

HE BECAME A FOLK HERO.

AS A DIRECT DESCENDENT OF DANIEL BOONE, I'M CONSTANTLY

AMAZED AND IMPRESSED BY THE LEGACY HE LEFT.

DRURY: HE WAS A MAN WHO HAD A VISION

OF WHAT THIS NATION COULD BE.

IN HIS LIFETIME,

HE INADVERTENTLY CREATED WHAT WE NOW KNOW AS THE UNITED STATES.