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Advocate for Tobacco Free Kids
Nearly 90% of kids who vape say flavors are why they do it. A lot of the flavors that I've heard are like peach, mango, watermelon. It makes it seem like more childlike and innocent. Oh, if I try this once, it won't be that much of a problem. But then eventually it becomes a problem. It's time to restrict the sale of flavored tobacco products in Oregon and protect our kids from nicotine addiction. Urge lawmakers to Pass Senate Bill 702A. Take action at flavorshookoregonkids.org paid for by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids Action Fund.
Captain Lee Quince
At the Gall.
Narrator
Fort Laramie. Fort Laramie. Starring Raymond Byrd as Captain Lee Quince. Specially transcribed Tales of the dark and tragic ground of the wild frontier, the saga of fighting men who rode the rim of empire, and the dramatic story of Lee Quince, captain of cavalry.
Sergeant Gorse
Looks like they're about ready to pull out, Captain.
Captain Lee Quince
Yeah. Walk back with me, Sergeant.
Sergeant Gorse
I never did see such a mangy collection of stock.
Captain Lee Quince
It's not a cavalry outfit, Gorse.
Sergeant Gorse
It sure ain't.
Captain Lee Quince
Most of these wagon trains heading west get through one way or another. But I sure don't know how.
Sergeant Gorse
I talked with Mr. Brown a couple of times. He seems like a good man.
Captain Lee Quince
He is. But I wonder how much luck a Missouri farmer is going to have taking a couple of hundred women and children through Indian country.
Sergeant Gorse
He'll make out, Captain.
Captain Lee Quince
I hope so. Hello, Sergeant Gorse.
Sergeant Gorse
I beg your pardon, miss. I was afraid we'd leave without seeing you again. Oh, well, I.
Captain Lee Quince
And I wanted to thank you for last night.
Sergeant Gorse
Yeah, sure, miss.
Captain Lee Quince
Goodbye, Sergeant. And thank you. Still water runs deep, Gorse.
Sergeant Gorse
How's that, Cap' N?
Captain Lee Quince
Never mind.
Sergeant Gorse
All I did was give her a little old knife. I. I bought it at the sutler.
Captain Lee Quince
Never mind. Never mind.
Sergeant Gorse
That's all it was, Captain. I. I just give her a little old present.
Captain Lee Quince
Sure, Sergeant.
Mr. Brown
Keep them wagons in line two abreast.
Major Daggett
Till we hit the river.
Captain Lee Quince
You're late Getting started, Mr. Brown.
Mr. Brown
Oh, hello, Captain Quince. Only about an hour.
Captain Lee Quince
You're wasting daylight.
Mr. Brown
We're pulling out now, Captain, any of your men going to ride along with us?
Captain Lee Quince
No, but you won't have any trouble.
Mr. Brown
Like they say, Captain, Oregon or bust. You guarantee no trouble, Captain?
Captain Lee Quince
Out here we don't guarantee anything, Mr. Brown, but you should at least get through to Salt Lake without trouble.
Mr. Brown
Yeah, I hope you're right. It's mighty lonely out there once you're out of sight of the fort.
Captain Lee Quince
Yeah, I know.
Mr. Brown
Well, thank the Major for His hospitality, will you?
Captain Lee Quince
No thanks necessary. Well, good luck.
Mr. Brown
Thanks. See you in Oregon sometime, Captain.
Captain Lee Quince
All right. Well, Gors, what are you staring at?
Sergeant Gorse
Oh, nothing, Captain. Just a train heading out.
Captain Lee Quince
You've seen a few hundred of them before, Sergeant.
Sergeant Gorse
Yes, sir.
Captain Lee Quince
What's her name?
Sergeant Gorse
Who?
Will Granby
The girl.
Sergeant Gorse
Emily. Emily McCutcheon. Going to Oregon with her, Pa.
Captain Lee Quince
She.
Sergeant Gorse
Was put up real good.
Captain Lee Quince
You're all cavalry, Gors.
Sergeant Gorse
Yes, sir. Long way to Oregon. I hope they make it.
Captain Lee Quince
So do I. Yeah. Come on. I missed coffee this morning. Let's find some.
Sergeant Gorse
There's a rider coming in.
Captain Lee Quince
Yeah?
Sergeant Gorse
Looks like a white man dressing bucksky Hunter. Maybe.
Captain Lee Quince
It'S Will Granby.
Sergeant Gorse
He's a squaw man, eh?
Captain Lee Quince
Yeah. Lives with the Arapaho.
Will Granby
Captain.
Captain Lee Quince
How are you, old horse?
Will Granby
Tolerable.
Captain Lee Quince
Well, it's good to see you. You haven't been in in two or three years.
Will Granby
Nope.
Captain Lee Quince
You come for supplies?
Will Granby
Come to parley? Got a proposition, huh?
Captain Lee Quince
All right, come on in.
Will Granby
Will oblige.
Captain Lee Quince
Sergeant Gor, would you have Mr. Granby's horse stabled?
Sergeant Gorse
Yes, sir. Come on, come on.
Captain Lee Quince
Sit down. Will oblige. All right, now, what is it? What's your proposition?
Will Granby
I figured maybe they'll hire out to you.
Captain Lee Quince
You want a job?
Will Granby
Cavalry always need scouts.
Captain Lee Quince
Maybe. You saying you want the job?
Will Granby
Why not? I know this country better than the hairs of my head. Better than any man. Except old Gabe Bridger. There's some few places I've been. Even Gay Bent.
Captain Lee Quince
You're a mountain man, Will. You lived wild and free all your life. Why do you want to tie yourself down now?
Will Granby
Yeah. Ain't like the old times anymore, Captain. Ain't pleasurable now. It's hard. Maybe it's doing you cavalry fellers. Or maybe it's our own fault. Maybe we trapped too much, took too much buffalo. I don't know, but I got to be a young squaw. Prettiest you ever seen. I figured if I was to work, her and me'd eat regular.
Captain Lee Quince
At least right now we have peace. We don't need any more scouts.
Will Granby
I figure you do, Captain. Tell me, Will, am I hired?
Captain Lee Quince
I haven't got the authority to hire you. That'll have to come from the major.
Will Granby
No, I'd rather deal with you. I know you.
Captain Lee Quince
I can't hire you. But if you've got information, I'll make you a promise. At least I'll feed you and send you back with meat.
Will Granby
Meat I could carry. Wouldn't last long.
Captain Lee Quince
Then we'll go see the major.
Will Granby
Now, wait. I'd Rather tell you, but you gotta promise me one thing.
Captain Lee Quince
What's that?
Will Granby
It'll be settled peaceful. They're my people.
Captain Lee Quince
Well, I'll do all I can.
Will Granby
All right. There's gonna be trouble. Tribes are getting restless, all of them. Arapaho, even. Government promised them if they'd go to the agencies, they'd get food, meat. And that promise ain't been kept.
Captain Lee Quince
Yeah, I know. Supply train comes through now and then, but it's not enough.
Will Granby
I know that Arapaho are starving, captain. Eating bark and roots. Game on. Agencies played out. If they can't get food from the government or from the land then they got to go looking for it wherever they can. We gotta eat.
Captain Lee Quince
Will have.
Will Granby
They left the agency or camped at Silver Springs.
Captain Lee Quince
That's on the Oregon Trail.
Will Granby
You gotta eat, captain. They went looking for buffalo, but there ain't no buffalo. So they'll get food where they can from the wagon trains.
Captain Lee Quince
Well, we gotta talk to the major.
Will Granby
Did you promise?
Captain Lee Quince
I said I'd do all I could, and I will. Not much time for talking. There's a wagon train headed for Silver Springs right now.
Will Granby
Yeah, I know. I saw it.
Captain Lee Quince
All right, come on. We'll see the major.
Major Daggett
How do we know this man's telling the truth?
Captain Lee Quince
I've known him for a long time, major. He doesn't lie.
Major Daggett
Could be a trap.
Captain Lee Quince
If it is a trap, then there's trouble for sure.
Major Daggett
I don't trust a man, lives with Indians, marries him.
Will Granby
No, no. Look here, major.
Captain Lee Quince
There's a wagon train on the trail to Silver Springs right now. They gotta be warned. I can still ride out with a detachment to turn them back.
Major Daggett
Captain Quince, our orders are to keep the trail open to Oregon and to keep the Indians on the agencies. If anything, we'll send a company to escort the train through and run those Arapaho back where they belong.
Captain Lee Quince
Couldn't do that without fighting.
Major Daggett
Major, that's one of the functions of the cavalry.
Captain Lee Quince
In this case, there's no cause for it.
Major Daggett
The Arapaho have broken their treaty, captain.
Captain Lee Quince
The way they see it, we're the ones who broke the treaty by not keeping our.
Major Daggett
All I know is they're off the agency and they'll have to go back.
Captain Lee Quince
If we go out in force, there's bound to be trouble. If I take a small detachment, maybe I can talk to them.
Major Daggett
This is a hostile action, captain. It's gotta be met as such.
Will Granby
Major, the Arapaho are starving. They gotta eat.
Major Daggett
Mr. Granby, I'm sorry that they're starving, but I Can't do anything about it. At least not until the supplies come through to me. My orders are to keep the Arapaho on the agency, and I can do something about that.
Captain Lee Quince
Those are people out there, major, and they're hungry. They only want food.
Major Daggett
Captain Quince, you'll take Company B and escort the wagon train until you meet the Arapaho. You'll send the wagon train on and escort the Indians to the agency and use whatever measures are necessary. That's all, Captain.
Captain Lee Quince
Yes, sir. One thing, sir.
Major Daggett
What is it?
Captain Lee Quince
Have I your permission to hire Will Granby as a scout?
Major Daggett
I don't see why it's necessary, but if you want them, take him.
Captain Lee Quince
Thank you, sir.
Will Granby
What kind of a man is that?
Captain Lee Quince
Oh, he's all right, Will. He's an officer. He's got his orders. He goes by the book. He understands the situation, all right, but he can't admit it. Listen, can you be ready to move out in an hour?
Will Granby
I can't ride with you, Captain. They're my people.
Captain Lee Quince
Well, I said I'd do what I could. Captain. I need your help. Ride with me.
Will Granby
You know what you're asking. You know what it might mean for me if there's trouble.
Captain Lee Quince
There won't be trouble if I can prevent it.
Will Granby
Afraid you can't, Captain. But I'll go with you.
Sergeant Gorse
We should see him just over this hill, Captain.
Captain Lee Quince
If the Arapaho didn't see him first.
Sergeant Gorse
You figure they'd attack?
Captain Lee Quince
I don't know, Sergeant, but I'll feel easier when we spot that wagon train.
Sergeant Gorse
I was right, Captain. There they are.
Captain Lee Quince
All right, Sergeant, let's ride out. Company, at the gallery.
Sergeant Gorse
These ginas. They're pulling up.
Captain Lee Quince
Sergeant's linemen would have known we were here. Company.
Mr. Brown
What's the matter, Captain?
Captain Lee Quince
I want you to stop here, Mr. Brown, for the night.
Mr. Brown
Why? We figured to camp at Silver Springs, just over the pass there. Not more than two or three miles. We can make it easy before dark.
Captain Lee Quince
This will make an all right camp. This water and wood.
Mr. Brown
If there's trouble, Captain, I want to know.
Captain Lee Quince
It may be nothing, Mr. Brown, but I want to find out. You to camp here and stay here till I give you the word to go on.
Mr. Brown
It's Indians, ain't it? There is trouble.
Captain Lee Quince
Maybe, maybe not. But there's no use worrying all your folks. You'll be safe here. I'm leaving most of my men to guard you.
Mr. Brown
Well, why can't you escort us over the pass to Silver Springs?
Captain Lee Quince
Because if there were to be trouble, it would happen there in the pass with the wagon trains all strung out and hard to defend.
Mr. Brown
All right, Captain. Whatever you say.
Captain Lee Quince
I'll come back or send word back to Lieutenant Seiberts as soon as I know it's safe for you to cross. Sergeant Gorse.
Sergeant Gorse
Yes, sir.
Captain Lee Quince
You and two men will accompany Mr. Granby and myself. Pick him and fall out. Mr. Brown. Lieutenant Seiberts is in charge here till I get back.
Sergeant Gorse
I don't see a doggone thing, Captain.
Captain Lee Quince
Now, keep a sharp eye. Move the troopers further out the flank.
Sergeant Gorse
Yes, sir. Jenkins, I look to your right.
Will Granby
You need to hear somewhere. I can feel it.
Captain Lee Quince
Yeah. They must have seen the train, Will.
Will Granby
Yeah, they have. But they also saw the soldiers. Might be making tracks already. They disappear pretty fast.
Captain Lee Quince
I don't think they've had that much time. They'll probably stand for a fight and.
Will Granby
Captain, what are you gonna do?
Captain Lee Quince
Will, a few miles back, did you notice anything on the trail?
Will Granby
Sure. Buffalo sign.
Captain Lee Quince
Right. The first I've seen this close to Laramie in a year.
Will Granby
Mm. Big herd, too, across the trail going south.
Captain Lee Quince
It'd make a lot of Arapaho meat.
Will Granby
Yeah, it might work.
Captain Lee Quince
Worth a try.
Will Granby
Wait.
Captain Lee Quince
You see anything, Will?
Will Granby
Yeah, one of the scouts. Leave it to me. All right. He'll take us in.
Advocate for Tobacco Free Kids
Use of flavored tobacco by teens is a crisis. Tobacco companies use flavors like cotton candy, watermelon ice and cool mint to hook kids like me. They seem harmless, but they aren't. Addiction to nicotine sets us up for a lifetime of health problems. Organ legislators can do something about it. Passing Senate Bill 702A will keep flavored tobacco away from kids. But there are just a few short weeks left for lawmakers to act. Take action to protect kids like me. @ flavorshookorgankids.org paid for by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids Action Fund.
Captain Lee Quince
This is the first Indian village I ever been in and wasn't full of barking dogs.
Will Granby
They had to eat him. You notice how it is, captain?
Captain Lee Quince
Yeah, I see. I'd say they're not very happy to see us.
Will Granby
No.
Captain Lee Quince
I'm sorry, Will. To turn them against you.
Will Granby
Can't be helped. This is it. Hi. Daddy, too.
Greyfeather
Why do you bring white soldiers to fight your people?
Will Granby
They don't come to fight, Greyfeather. This Captain Quinn, she comes as a friend.
Greyfeather
White soldier is not a friend of our apaho. White soldiers break promise. They do not give meat.
Captain Lee Quince
I think I can get you meat, Grayfeather. I think I can take your hunters to buffalo a big herd.
Greyfeather
You think? You do not know Arapaho have ride from agency in north. Hunt buffalo all through wide valley.
Captain Lee Quince
No buffalo, Greyfeather. On my way here from Fort Laramie, I saw much buffalo sign. You hunted only the north side of the river. You haven't been south of the Platte. I have. There are buffalo there to hunt.
Greyfeather
Take many days. Wagon train is here. Now.
Captain Lee Quince
If you attack that wagon train, it'll mean much fighting. Many dead among the Arapahoe. Great mourning among the Arapaho.
Greyfeather
There will be morning for the white soldiers too.
Captain Lee Quince
The army will keep on sending soldiers rifles until the Arapaho is no more. You know I speak the truth.
Greyfeather
My people are hungry.
Captain Lee Quince
Then ride back towards the fort with me. I'll show you buffalo sign. Then you can track from there.
Greyfeather
Take many days.
Captain Lee Quince
It's the only way you can be sure to find buffalo and food.
Greyfeather
If you find buffalo in two days, Grayfeather does not attack wagon train.
Captain Lee Quince
Two days isn't very long.
Greyfeather
Two days.
Captain Lee Quince
If we do find buffalo, I want your promise to go peacefully back to the agency. If you find all right, your hunters will come with me. But meantime, you must let the wagon train go through in peace.
Greyfeather
This one, maybe, not. Next one.
Captain Lee Quince
It is agreed, then. Greyfeather.
Greyfeather
Ayna.
Will Granby
Captain. Two days ain't very long. We gotta be awful lucky.
Captain Lee Quince
We don't have much choice.
Will Granby
You know what'll happen if we don't find buffalo? Yeah. There'll be just the five of us out there with the Gray feathers hunters.
Captain Lee Quince
Like I say, we don't have much choice. We gotta guess where the buffalo will be. We don't have time to backtrack him. Sergeant Gorse.
Sergeant Gorse
Yes, sir.
Captain Lee Quince
I'm sending you back to the wagon train with a message for Mr. Seiberts.
Sergeant Gorse
Uh, private Jenkins. Horse is fresher, Captain. I ain't been on no buffalo hunt in a long time.
Captain Lee Quince
All right, Sergeant. Jenkins. Jenkins, you'll go back to the wagon train. Tell Mr. Seiberts to escort the train past Silver Springs, then return here in bivouac. If I should not return, he's to get clear if he can and report to the fort for reinforcements. Move out. Well, we got 48 hours, Will. Let's find those buffalo. You see anything, Will?
Will Granby
Nothing, Captain. Not on that side.
Captain Lee Quince
Nothing this way either. You can see a long way.
Will Granby
I don't like the look of them back there. Gray feather's getting anxious.
Captain Lee Quince
I know. I just don't understand it. Will is not a sign.
Will Granby
I've been thinking, Captain. We're too far south.
Captain Lee Quince
Buffalo. We're headed south, maybe.
Will Granby
Not as fast and as far as we thought.
Captain Lee Quince
Maybe they veered east.
Will Granby
No. I've been thinking. It's been hot and dry for these last few days, and no wind. Buffalo don't travel much in the heat. They just stand and graze and suffer with thirst.
Captain Lee Quince
But there's wind now.
Will Granby
Well, some from the southwest. But if they's up north are here. It'll bring them the smell of water from the Laramie River. Yeah.
Captain Lee Quince
Yeah, the river's still high.
Will Granby
Yeah, and they'd probably be craving for water about now. And they'd stick their noses into the wind and make a run for it like they do.
Captain Lee Quince
You might be right, Will.
Will Granby
So if we cut back northeast to the Laramie, we'll find them.
Captain Lee Quince
He might be there. There's only one trouble.
Will Granby
What?
Captain Lee Quince
Look who's coming.
Will Granby
Uhhuh.
Greyfeather
Captain. It is as Gray Feather spoke. You promised buffalo two days. Now two days are gone. There is no buffalo. Your promise is like all promises of white soldier.
Captain Lee Quince
We've been looking a long time, Greyfeather. But now we know where the buffalo are.
Greyfeather
Captain give much talk. We want buffalo, not talk.
Captain Lee Quince
Grayfeather. My soldiers are at Silver Springs. If we do not return there, it will mean war for the Arapahoe.
Greyfeather
Maybe you return, but he not.
Captain Lee Quince
It is not yet evening of the second day. There is little time, maybe, but enough. We're going to the waters of the Laramie and find your buffalo.
Will Granby
On this next rise, we ought to be able to see.
Captain Lee Quince
That's right, Will.
Sergeant Gorse
What if they ain't there, Captain?
Captain Lee Quince
If not, maybe we can get to the river, find some cover. So stay close watch for my signal.
Sergeant Gorse
Yes, sir.
Captain Lee Quince
You. You should have gone back to that wagon train, Sergeant.
Sergeant Gorse
I guess I ain't much of a garrison soldier.
Captain Lee Quince
All right, look sharp.
Sergeant Gorse
Captain ain't at the river. There's nothing.
Will Granby
Wait. Look there. Coming over the hills beyond. Running for the river.
Sergeant Gorse
Look at him. Thousands of noses in the wind and running belly bent for breakfast.
Captain Lee Quince
There go your buffalo, Gray Feather. All you can eat. Well, go on, get him.
Sergeant Gorse
He sure was mighty hungry, Captain. Yeah.
Will Granby
Well, I guess our luck held.
Captain Lee Quince
Guess it did.
Will Granby
Yeah.
Captain Lee Quince
Let's. Let's ride on down to the river. I could do it with a drink.
Will Granby
Coming in.
Captain Lee Quince
Sergeant Gorse, dismiss the company.
Sergeant Gorse
Yes, sir. Company, prepare to dismount.
Major Daggett
Well, you're back.
Captain Lee Quince
Yes, sir.
Major Daggett
Did you have any trouble?
Captain Lee Quince
No, sir. No casualties either side.
Major Daggett
You took long enough.
Captain Lee Quince
The Oregon Trail's still open, Major. The Arapaho are back on the agency.
Major Daggett
What took the time.
Captain Lee Quince
Why? Why We. We found some buffalo, stopped to hunt the Indians. Took enough meat back to the agency to keep him quiet all summer.
Major Daggett
I see.
Will Granby
Well, that.
Major Daggett
That was fortunate.
Captain Lee Quince
It was mostly Will Granby's doing. He found the buffalo.
Major Daggett
Oh, maybe I was wrong about him, Lee. Maybe he can be useful to us.
Captain Lee Quince
I think he can. I brought him back with us. His wife, too. You like to meet her?
Major Daggett
An Arapaho.
Captain Lee Quince
She's sure not St. Louis.
Will Granby
Sure.
Major Daggett
All right, Captain. Mr. Granby.
Will Granby
How to meet you.
Captain Lee Quince
This is Will's wife, Major Lark. Woman.
Major Daggett
How do you do?
Captain Lee Quince
Yeah. Lawyer.
Major Daggett
Mr. Granby.
Will Granby
Yes, sir.
Major Daggett
If she's to stay around the post, she'll. She'll have to wear something more than that, huh?
Will Granby
Oh, yeah. She's got a shirt somewhere in the baggage. She. Arapahoe women aren't like Cheyenne or the Sioux or Crow. They don't wear much except when it's right cold.
Captain Lee Quince
There are a lot of men on the post, Will.
Will Granby
Huh? Oh, yes, sir, Captain. I'll see to it.
Major Daggett
Oh, and Mr. Granby.
Will Granby
Yes, sir?
Major Daggett
My compliments on your work with Captain Quince. As of now, you may consider yourself on the army payroll. As scout. It'll be in tomorrow's special order.
Will Granby
Yes, sir.
Major Daggett
The quartermaster will house you.
Will Granby
Obliged, Major. Come on, child.
Major Daggett
She's kind of pretty, isn't she, Lee?
Will Granby
Yeah.
Captain Lee Quince
They make pretty good wives, too. Clean, quiet, hard working, nice people.
Major Daggett
You wouldn't be trying to soften me up, would you, Lee? Win me over to your way of thinking?
Captain Lee Quince
I figure a man's gotta make up his own mind about things, Major.
Major Daggett
Captain Quince.
Captain Lee Quince
Yes, sir.
Major Daggett
Don't get too smart. Just be thankful I don't ask how you happen to run into buffalo and turn a serious police duty into a pleasure trip hunting.
Captain Lee Quince
My striker's cooking up some buffalo steaks. Major Daggett, you like to come over to my quarters and try some?
Will Granby
Sure.
Major Daggett
Let's go, Lee.
Narrator
Fort Laramie is produced and Directed by Norman McDonnell and stars Raymond Burr as Lee Quince, captain of cavalry, with Vic Parin as Sergeant Gorse. The script was specially written for Fort Laramie by John Dunle with sound patterns by Bill James and Ray Kemper, musical supervision by Amerigo Marino. Featured in the cast were Jack Moyles, Ralph Moody, Edgar Barrier, Frank Katie and Eleanor Tann.
Captain Lee Quince
Company tension. Dismiss.
Narrator
Next week, another transcribed story of the Northwest frontier and the troopers who fought under Lee Quince, captain of cavalry. If people were money, life would be simple indeed. We could enter them in books in nice regular columns. One for credit, another for loss. And as long as we kept the credit column higher, the losses wouldn't matter. Money spent can be re earned, but people are not money. Every individual is irreplaceable. The time to care about them is now, before another victim is hurt. Obviously, heart researchers may not find the cures and preventatives to all heart ailments the moment you contribute to the heart fund. But the sooner you do your part, the closer they'll come to answering the mysteries of the heart. Send your contribution to Hart, care of your local postmaster. That's Hart H E A R T Hart, care of your local postmaster.
Advocate for Tobacco Free Kids
Use of flavored tobacco by teens is a crisis. Tobacco companies use flavors like cotton candy, watermelon ice and cool mint to hook kids like me. They seem harmless, but they aren't. Addiction to nicotine sets us up for a lifetime of health problems. Oregon legislators can do something about it. Passing Senate Bill 702A will keep flavored tobacco away from kids. But there are just a few short weeks left for lawmakers to act. Take action to protect kids like me@ flavorshookorgankids.org paid for by the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids Action Fund.
Harold's Old Time Radio Episode Summary: Fort Laramie 56-02-05 03 Squaw Man Release Date: June 7, 2025
Harold's Old Time Radio transports listeners back to the Golden Age of Radio, capturing the essence of pre-television family entertainment with timeless stories and memorable characters. In the episode titled "Fort Laramie 56-02-05 03 Squaw Man," listeners are immersed in the dramatic saga of Captain Lee Quince and his interactions with both settlers and the Arapaho tribe.
The episode opens with a brief description of Fort Laramie, establishing it as a pivotal outpost on the wild frontier. Raymond Byrd voices Captain Lee Quince, the steadfast leader of the cavalry stationed at the fort. The narrative paints a picture of the rugged and often perilous environment that Quince and his men navigate daily.
Narrator [01:06]: "Starring Raymond Byrd as Captain Lee Quince. Specially transcribed Tales of the dark and tragic ground of the wild frontier..."
Early in the episode, Sergeant Gorse and Captain Quince discuss the progress of a wagon train led by Mr. Brown, a Missouri farmer. The wagon train consists of women and children heading westward through Indian country, a route fraught with dangers.
Sergeant Gorse [02:00]: "I never did see such a mangy collection of stock."
Captain Lee Quince [02:03]: "It's not a cavalry outfit, Gorse. Most of these wagon trains heading west get through one way or another."
The narrative introduces Will Granby, a "squaw man" who has been living with the Arapaho. Granby approaches Captain Quince with a proposition to become a scout for the cavalry, leveraging his deep knowledge of the land.
Will Granby [06:05]: "I figured maybe they'll hire out to you."
Captain Lee Quince [06:10]: "Maybe. You saying you want the job?"
Granby brings pressing concerns to Quince: the Arapaho tribes are starving due to broken promises of food and meat from the government. This desperation threatens to ignite conflict as the tribes consider taking food from the wagon trains.
Will Granby [07:23]: "It's gonna be trouble. Tribes are getting restless... If they can't get food from the government or from the land then they got to go looking for it wherever they can."
Captain Lee Quince [07:32]: "What's your proposition?"
In response to the looming threat, Captain Quince and his men, including Granby, embark on a mission to locate buffalo herds to provide sustenance for the Arapaho. The search is fraught with challenges, including harsh weather conditions and the urgency imposed by the Arapaho's dwindling resources.
Captain Lee Quince [20:36]: "Buffalo. We're headed south, maybe."
Will Granby [20:44]: "Yeah, the river's still high."
After days of searching, Quince and his team successfully locate a buffalo herd. This triumph allows them to negotiate peace with Greyfeather, a representative of the Arapaho, ensuring the wagon train's safe passage and securing food for the tribe.
Greyfeather [21:15]: "Captain give much talk. We want buffalo, not talk."
Captain Lee Quince [21:33]: "If we attack that wagon train, it'll mean much fighting. Many dead among the Arapahoe."
The episode concludes with Major Daggett acknowledging Granby's invaluable contribution, highlighting a shift in perspective towards integrating Granby into the cavalry as a scout. The successful mission not only averts immediate conflict but also fosters a sense of camaraderie and mutual respect among the characters.
Major Daggett [26:22]: "My compliments on your work with Captain Quince. As of now, you may consider yourself on the army payroll. As scout."
Captain Lee Quince [27:25]: "Mr. Granby. She's sure not St. Louis."
"Fort Laramie 56-02-05 03 Squaw Man" masterfully intertwines themes of duty, survival, and cross-cultural understanding. Through Captain Quince's leadership and Will Granby's unique position between two worlds, the episode underscores the complexities of frontier life and the fragile balance between conflict and cooperation.
Listeners are left reflecting on the delicate interplay between authority and empathy, showcasing why Harold's Old Time Radio remains a cherished portal to the storytelling traditions of yesteryear.