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And Doug, there's nowhere I wouldn't go to help someone customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual. Even if it means sitting front row at a comedy show. Hey, everyone, check out this guy and his bird. What is this, your first date? Oh, no. We help people customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual Together. We're married. Me to a human, him to a bird. Yeah, the bird looks out of your league anyways. Only pay for what you need@libertymutual.com Liberty, Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. Day or night, VRBoCare is here 24. 7 to help make every part of your stay seamless. If anything comes up or you simply need a little guidance, support is ready whenever you reach out. From the moment you book to the moment you head home. We're here to help things run smoothly. Because a great trip starts with the right support. And hey, a good playlist doesn't hurt either. Welcome to the Old Time Radio Westerns. I'm your host, Andrew Rines, and I'm excited to bring you another episode. This is one of over 80 episodes released monthly for your enjoyment. You can find more western shows at our website by going to otrwesterns.com now let's get into this episode. Kellogg's, the greatest name in cereals, presents Whale Bill Hickam. Hi you folks. Hold on your hats and class those cat Kellogg Sugar Pops. Cause here comes Guy Madison as Wild Bill Hickok in his pal Jingles. Which is me, Andy Devine. We've got another Rootin Tootin Wild Bill Hickok adventure story for you. From this cereal you can eat out of the bowl or out of the box. The cereal with the sweetenin already on it. Kellogg Sugar Pop. Today, Kellogg's Sugar Pops, the cereal with the sweetening already on it, brings you Wild Bill Hickok, transcribed in Hollywood and starring Guy Madison as Wild Bill and Andy Devine as his pal jingles. In just 30 seconds, you'll hear the exciting story. 800ft down, Kellogg Sugar Corn Pops are tops. Tops as a cereal with a little milk or cream. Tops as a snack right out of the box. Either way, you don't add sugar. Cause the sweetening's already on them. They're shot with sugar. Yes. Either way you'll get plenty of pleasure eating those golden nuggets of ready sweetened corn. Enjoy Sugar Pops. Often have mom look for the package of Kellogg's Sugar Corn Pops with the pictures of Guy Madison and Andy Devine riding on the front with the words shot with sugar. And Doug there's nowhere I wouldn't go to help someone customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual. Even if it means sitting front row at a comedy show. Hey everyone. Check out this guy and his bird. What is this your first date? Oh no. We help people customize and save on car insurance with Liberty Mutual. Together we're married. Me to a human, him to a bird. Yeah, the bird looks out of your league anyways. Only pay for what you need@libertymutual.com Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. Liberty. Gold and greed led United States Marshal Wild Bill Hickok and Jingles into many action packed adventures. One started when the flickering light of a miner's lamp fell on a new gold vein deep in the famous Yellow Jacket Mine. Because of that discovery, two men were to die. And Wild Bill and Jingles were to fight for their lives in the inky blackness of a tunnel 800ft. I just can't believe the Yellow jacket's played out. Mr. Stallo, I know it's hard but you've gotta face it Betty. We've gotta close down. This is the last shift coming up now. But why didn't you tell dad before he went east? Well I couldn't bring myself to do it. He was too sick. But you're partners. He should have known. Maybe. But it's hard to give a man news like that when he's already down. Do the miners know? Not yet. Kearney's gonna tell em when he comes up. He's the mine boss. That's his job. Evenin Ms. Betty. Hello Matt. Wonder why Matt Cruz never speaks to you Mr. Stallo. He's a sour old tunnel rat. Should have fired him years ago. Oh no. He's the best miner we've got. Dad swears by him. Well that's about all. We might as well head back to the office. Betty. What was that? An explosion down in the mine. I knew this would happen. That mine was too dangerous. The men, Are they all out? I don't know. Matt. Matt Cruz. Is anybody left down there? I'm afraid so, Miss Betty. Oh no. Jack Finch and Pete Adams were down on the 800 foot level with Carney. I ain't seen him come up yet. Mr. Stallow. We've got to see about them. Impossible. Look. Black smoke rising out of the shaft. The timber ends up higher now. Another explosion. Matt, isn't there something we can do? There may be more. Betty. Come on. I'd better get you out of here, man. See that nobody goes near that shaft. Three dead men's enough. We don't want to lose any more. I just didn't know what to do. And that's when Matt said it was time to send for Wild Bill Hickok and Jingle. Yes, Jingle's a new. We've known Matt for a long time, Ms. Benny. Yeah, the old goofers popped up in every mining section we ever got into. Ain't you, Matt? I worked a few before I came to the Yellow Jacket. Betty, you say Stallo tried to buy out your dad last year, huh? Yes, before dad got sick and went east. But Stallo's offer was ridiculous, so dad turned it down. But I thought Stallo said the mine was play down. Oh, that's where he's wrong. There's more gold in the Yellow Jacket than ever come out of it. You believe that, Matt? Just as sure as I believe Stallo and Kearney are up to something. How did Kearney get out after the explosion? Nobody knows. Because Kearney ain't talking. Stallow won't let anybody go back down in the mine yet. Would you be willing to go down in that mine now, ma'? Am? Well, I would. Good. And so would I, Bill. No, better. You better stay here. Matt, you dig up some lamps, wait for us at the mine shaft. I'm on my way, Bill. Now we're getting some action. You know, Bill, before this action through, I got a feeling there's gonna be some gun smoke mixed up in it someplace. That's possible. Pardon? Right now we're going over to get Stallo's permission to go down in the tunnels. Get his permission? Now there's something that just might take a little persuading, Bill. Stall ain't likely to take to that idea one little bit. No, Hickok. It would be suicide for anybody to go down in that mine. You absolutely do not have my permission. I told you you'd be right stubborn about it, Bill. Stalo. You seem to forget the two men Carney left behind him down there. I didn't leave him down there. I didn't even see him. That's your story? Let it go, Jingle. I ain't believing nothing the varmint says, Bill. We're gonna find out what happened to those two men, Stella. Yeah. You ain't doing anything about it. And you're blocking a rescue in case they're still alive. No. You sending good men after dead men. That place is a death trap. Himburn's gone and the pumps are knocked out so the water is rising fast. We'll worry about that. You force me to do this, Hickok. Nelly's, got a gun. I'm not going to be held responsible for your death. Now get off this mine property and don't come back. Your hand shaking, Stallo? Well, you made a real big mistake doing that, Stallo. Yeah, you better stick to mining, mister. Gunplay's not your game. And don't you get no similar ideas, Mr. Carney. Guns ain't my weapon, big boy. I got other ways better. All right, Hickok, you got the upper hand. You gonna let him go down on that mine, boss? I got no choice, Carney. I'll leave it to you to get everything ready for him. Sure, boss. I'll get everything ready. Just leave it to me. But I'm still warning you, Marshall, the minute you and Jingle start down that mine shaft, you're signing your own death warrants. Get that Amex gold cart ready. I'm way too tired to cook tonight. You read my mind. With the gold cart, we can get up to $120 a year in statement credits. Are you feeling the Cheesecake Factory? Five guys. Either of those sound good? Yes. Which one? Both pay with the gold card to receive up to $10 a month in statement credits at participating partners. Uncover more ways to reward yourself@americanexpress.com Explore enrollment required Terms apply. You're jamming your favorite song, and while you aren't missing a beat, you could be missing a signal from your body. It's an SOS from your kidneys, and it doesn't sound like music at all. It's silent. High blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and other risk factors can quietly stress the kidneys, leading to negative impacts on the heart. That's why you should ask your doctor about a simple urine test called uacr. Most miss the signal for hidden kidney disease and related heart risk. You shouldn't visit detectthesos.com today to learn more. You know, if I could stop in your living room now and ask you whether you like Kellogg's Sugar Corn Pops better as a breakfast cereal or as a snack. I'll bet it'd come out pretty even. Most folks like them fine both ways. Some like them a mite better as snacks. Others like them more as a cereal. But all in all, just about everybody likes them both ways. Yes, sir. Mom loves Pops. Kids love Pops. Pops love Pops. As a cereal or as a snack. Those golden nuggets are ready sweetened. Popsicorn sure are popular with everybody. And remember, no matter how you enjoy Kellogg's Sugar Corn Pops, you never have to add any sugar because the sweetening's Already on them. They're shot with sugar have mom get some. Get the package. With Guy Madison and Andy Divine thundering down the trail on their horses and look for the words shot with sugar. That's Kellogg's Sugar Corn Pops Yippee. Sugar Pops Their sugar coated Tastes so sweet Just pour on some milk Boy, they're neat Kellogg's Sugar Corn Pops Sugar Pops are tops Now Sugar Pops you know are sweets but cowboys know there's an extra treat right out of the box Take a handful out, Pop them into your mouth as you run about Kellogg's Sugar Corn Pops Sugar Pops are pops. When Wild Bill and Jingles were ready to start down the shaft with Matt Cruz, they met Stallo at the shaft head. Bill had some definite instructions for the big mine owner. Keep steaming the boiler, Stallow. And get somebody busy fixing those pumps. Those two men are still alive. I mean to bring them up. Sure, Marshall, sure. I'll see that everything's kept ready for you if I ever hear from you again. I don't like the way you said that, Bill. How are we gonna get down that shaft, Matt? In the cage. That little platform with the cable on top. Hold it. What's the matter, Matt? Those wood chunks Bill hammered in between them iron safety dogs. Somebody's been tampering with this cage. Well, what's he mean, Bill? I don't see any dogs. Those heavy iron fingers, Jingles. Oh, if the cable breaks, those fingers spring out and dig into the side of the shaft. What for? Oh, to keep you from falling 800ft to the bottom of the shaft, you big buffalo. Somebody was going to see if we could bounce. Pardon then. I ain't taking that thing at all. Although. Where's the stairs? I'm walking the stairs happen to be a ladder. There it is, in the man way. Help yourself, jingles. Good luck. 800ft of ladder. Oh, on second thought, I'll take a chance on riding out. Let me get in that cage. Wait till I get these wood chunks out. Now. A good thing we saw that in time. I'd sure like to know. Hold it. Here comes Stallo. Well, Hickok, everything's just like you ordered it. They're heading up the boilers now, but you can still back out. This is your last chance. I don't think so, Stallo. The cage is ready. Let's go be. Come on, Jingles. You get in the middle of the platform. All right, Charlie, let her go. 800 level. So long. Hick may slow this thing down. My stomach's under my chin. Hang on to it. Jingle. What in the heck happened? Cable broke, Jingles. It fell about 100ft. I thought we stopped awful quick. Yeah, it's a good thing we fixed those dogs so they'd stop us or we'd all be at the bottom of the shaft dead by now. Carney, you lame brained nuthead. I thought you said everything was fixed. It was. I filed that cable myself and wedged a single jack between those safety dogs. They couldn't possibly have worked. Well, they did. Hickok's still alive. And I'll bet he's as suspicious as a cougar with the hair singed off. Where does that leave us now? There's no way out of it now. We've got to get rid of Hickok and Jingles for good. Yeah, and Matt Cruz, too. If they get down to that 800 level and start nosing around, they're gonna find out too much. Yeah, like Finch and Adams did. If you hadn't killed him in the first place. I had to, boss. I couldn't buy them off. Like you said they were gonna tell Betty o'. Neill. Right. All right, but no more mistakes. Are you. Wait. Here's somebody outside. I never climbed so much ladder in all my life. Never mind, Jiggles. Well, Stala, what have you got to say? Well, a most regrettable accident, Marshall, but I warned you. All the equipment's in bad shape. That's why I shut down. Get that jam cage out of the shaft and have it fixed. $. Next time we go down, we want to be sure things are in better shape. I forbid you to try it again, Hickok. If Hickok wants to see what kind of trouble he's headed for, I'll give him a sample right now. No, Carney. Look out, Bill. Yeah, look out, law man. I'm gonna mess up your face. I'd like to give you the satisfaction, Carney, but I'm kind of short on time. We Bill's old one two is sure working good today, ain't it? Carney's a blunder and idiot. Yeah, you ought to teach him better manners, Stow. He ain't even scarcely housebroke yet. That's good advice, St. Come on, Jingles. Oh, what happened? You tackled Hickok and led with your chin. Another mistake, huh, Carney? Bill, I'm getting plumb wore out. Seems like we've climbed down these doggone ladders more than a mile. Keep working at it, Jingles. It's all right now, Jingles. We're at the bottom. I'm standing on the 800 level right now. Watch your step, Bill. That's it, partner. I thought I'd never make it, Bill. Sure. Long haul all right. Well, the cage was fixed. Why didn't we use that? Well, Matt figured it was better this way. This is the bottom of the mine so far. Except for some experimental shafts that are half full of water. Yeah, the water's going to fill this tunnel soon at the rate it's going. Let's look for the place those experiments explosions came from, Matt. Shield those candles on your lamps, James. They blow out mighty easy down here, and this is no place to stumble. It sure ain't. Hold it, Matt. What is it, Bill? There's somebody else down here. Then unlimber that six gun and let's go. Don't shoot. It's only me, Bill. Betty. Betty. Now, this ain't no place for a g. He's right, Betty. This whole thing's just as much my responsibility as it is yours, Bill. I'm staying. Then stay close to us. Say, Matt, these timbers don't look in bad shape to me. I was thinking the same thing, Bill. Matt, what are these barrels of tar for? Well, we usually use them for coatin timbers, Betty. Looks to me like they've been burning. Then that's where the smoke's been coming from. Bill, I'm running into a big pile of rocks right in the middle of this tunnel. This the end of it? Let's take a look, Matt. Watch your step now, Betty. I'm all right, Bill. You go right ahead. This is where we get the bad news, Marshall. Well, what do you mean by that? This is where Finch and Adams were working. Most likely they were buried under this rock slide by those explosions. They're under there now. Nothing we can do for them. Bill, don't you think this water's getting kind of deep? Yeah, partner. You notice those pumps, Matt? Yeah. I don't see any reason why they wouldn't work. Long as there's steam up in the boilers. You know how to start them from down here? Sure. Been part of my job. Then go ahead. We'll get over these rocks to the other end of the tunnel. I think there's room up there. I'll get right with it. Marshall, you climb over here. All right, Betty? Certainly. I haven't spent my whole life around a mine for nothing. Spunky little gal, ain't he, Bill? He sure is. Now, be careful coming down this other side, Bill. That was Matt. Something's happened to him. All that timber's given away. Slide Down. Come on, Jiggle. Now. Our candles have gone out. I can't see a thing. I'm here on a job site with Tim who owns his own electrical contracting business. Three employees and two work trucks. Tim traded up to Geico Commercial Auto Insurance. We're positively here where he needs us most. They sure are. With step by step help on all his insurance needs. All for shockingly low rates. Shockingly low, huh? Just a little bit of electrician humor. Do you get it? I got it. You know, it feels like we have a real connection. Alright, I'll stop. 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Every average bowl full of Sugar Pops supplies the daily minimum adult requirements of sunshine vitamin D. And remember, you can enjoy Kellogg's Sugar Corn Pops most anytime. For breakfast, after school or in the evening when you're sitting around listening to the radio. And whether you eat them out of a bowl with a little milk or cream or right out of the box, you don't need any sugar because the sweeteners already on them, they're shot with sugar. You try this. Rip Snort and cereal and Rootin Tootin snack tomorrow look for the packages with Guy and Andy riding their horses full tilt with a word shot with sugar right on front. Kellogg's Sugar Corn Pops. Yippee. Sugar Pops. They're sugar coated. Tastes sweet. Just pour on some milk. Why, they're neat. Kellogg Sugar Corn Pops. Sugar Pops are tops. Now Sugar Pops, you know our sweets, but cowboys know there's an extra treat right out of the box. Take A handful out. Pop em into your mouth as you run about. Kellogg's Sugar Corn Pops. Sugar Pops are pop. Just as Bill, Jingles and Betty climbed over the top of the pile of rocks, they heard a choked off call from Matt. And a big rock slide cut them off from the rest of the mine. Bill, we're sealed off from the other end of the tunnel. But I didn't hear no explosions. That timber above us just seemed to give way. Sure looked that way, Betty. Well, wait till I get a match here and we'll set these candles to burnin again. Then maybe we can see something. Hiccup, can you hear me, Bill? That Stallo's voice. Where's it coming from? There's a pipe somewhere here. Jingles. Acts like a speaking tube. Yes, they're all through the mine. It was Dad's idea. Can you hear me, Hiccough? Yes, Stallo, I can hear ya. Are you folks all right? For the moment. What's on your mind, Stallo? Listen to me. It's very important. Do not strike a match in that tunnel. Fire damp is spreading through the mine. It's an explosive gas. Jumping June bugs, Bill. I almost blew us to Timbuktu. Go on, Stallo. There's only one way out of your end of that tunnel. A narrow slope leads up to the 600 level. Feel along the wall till you hit it. But don't strike the match. It would be short, Bill. Maybe we had Stallo pegged wrong. Sure is trying to help us out now. Maybe, partner. We're gonna see. Hand me a match and be quiet. A match with Bill? Doggone it, Bill. You heard Stallo. One little old match truck in here and we'd be blown to bit. Give me the match, Jingles, and just simmer down. All right, but I think you're local here. Give me time to say my prayers. Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord. There you are, Jingles. Huh, Jingles? Nothing happened. Well, Stallo said this tunnel was full of fire damp. You only find fire damp in coal mines, pudding. Stallo doesn't give us much credit for knowing anything. Well, doggone his hide, he scared me half to death. He had plans for the other half, too. Pardon me. Here's that narrow slope he was talking about. Well, let's head on up. Hey, Jingle. Don't go near there. Come on. Get back. What's got into you, Bill? You want to stay down here for the rest of your life? Shine your light down that little tunnel, Jingle. Watch your step, Bill. It's a Hole. A deep hole, partner. And there's water at the bottom. Yeah. Drop this little rock down there and you'll see. Well, here it goes. Why that two faced sidewinder wanted all three of us to walk right off into that hole. Bill. Bill. What can. There must be another way out of this tunnel. Then let's start hunting for it right this minute. Hold a jingle. Let's let Stallo find it for us. When I give you the word, you yell. Just let me get three of these big rocks near the edge of that hole. I don't know what you're doing, but I'll help you there. Now Jingles, you and better yell like you just fell into that hole. Make it right convincing and you'll push the rocks in so Stallo will think we fell for his trick. We'll raise the hair on the back of Stallo's neck. Ready? All right. Shoot. Jingles. And we'll see what their next move is. We'd better kill these candles again. Yeah. Get back out of their way. Might have been still alive. Don't worry, that got all three of them. Carney, bring that old gopher Matt Cruz and we'll throw him down the same hole. Head on down there, Matt. You ain't got too loud to live, but you can walk. For now that's what I call a nice clean job. Not a ripple on that pool down there. Thought you didn't like killing. I don't. But Hickok had it coming. Getting that gal in the bargain leaves this mind of me alone. You're adding that up too fast, Stallo. Hickok? Yes. And I'm not quite dead yet, Mr. Stallo. Gosh, all three of them. They didn't fall for your trick. Fire damp, huh? Anybody knows fire damp only happens in coal mines. You didn't fool nobody much. Well, I'm not fooling this time. Blast him, Carney. Bill, his gun. I ain't using guns to fix these timber jacks. Stand back, Bill. I'm going to bulldog this deer this time. Hold that right there, Stone. Yeah, and stand right there and I'll put this salamander right in your pocket, Dude. Nice work, Jingles. You got Matt untied Betty? Yes, Bill. He's coming around. Thank goodness. Bill. Ms. Betty, look on the tunnel wall. Back of you. Snakes. I knew it. Let me out of here. Jingles. Jingles, settle down. Take a look where Matt's pointing. A new vein of gold, Matt. Would you look at it? Yeah, I'll bet it's the richest one so far. Oh, the yellow jacket's not out of business yet, Ms. B. Betty. Not by a long shot. Well, it's gonna have to get along without Stallo and Carney. They're going to jail for two murders. Carney killed Finch and Adam. He did it by himself. Why, you double crossing stuff shirt? Stallo planned the whole thing after they discovered this new vein. Hickok. Well, thank you, gents. You know, sometimes it's so easy for me to get a confession out of lame brain varmints like these bills. I come near getting myself a case of the big head. And now here are the stars of Wild Bill Hickok, Guy Madison and Andy Devine. Andy, I know there's more gun smoke and excitement in our show for Friday, so why don't you tell our friends about it next Friday? Jingle strives to be a great detective. Leads Wild Bill into plenty of adventure and danger in the case of the dead man's dollar. So long, kids. See you Friday. Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile with a message for everyone paying big Wireless way too much. Please, for the love of everything good in this world, stop with Mint. You can get premium wireless for just $15 a month. Of course, if you enjoy overpaying. No judgments. But that's weird. Okay, one judgment anyway. Give it a try@mintmobile.com Switch upfront payment of $45 for 3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month required intro rate first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See full terms@mintmobile.com say why not choose variety for tomorrow? Yes, ask mom to get your Kellogg's Variety package. There are 10 generous servings, 10 fresh packed to you. Individual servings of your favorite Kellogg's cereals in Kellogg's Variety Pack. Why, there's Kellogg's Corn Flakes. There's Rice Krispies and Sugar Frosted Flakes or Sugar Pops and many other delicious kinds too. Tomorrow have the Tuesday special Kellogg's variety pack with 10 delicious individual servings of Kellogg's cereals to choose from. Kellogg, the greatest name in cereals, has brought you another exciting story of Wild Bill Hickok starring Guy Madison and Andy Devine in person. Today's cast included Virginia Gregg, Joe Duvall, Nestor Piva, Joe Forte and Jack Moore. Our director is Paul Pierce. Story by Larry Hayes, Music by Dick Orant. This is a David Hire production, transcribed in Hollywood. Now. This is Charlie Lyon speaking for Kellogg, the greatest name in serials, reminding you to listen again on Friday, same time, same station for another adventure of Whale Bill Hick. Sa. This has been a presentation of otrwesterns.com and we hope you enjoyed. Please take some time to like and rate this episode within your favorite podcast application. Follow us on Facebook by going to otrwesterns.com Facebook and subscribe to our YouTube channel by going to otrwesterns.Com YouTube become one of our ranch hands and unlock some exclusive content. We want to thank our most recent ranch hands, Steve who joined us recently. You too can join by going to otrwesterns.com donate send us an email podcasttrwesterns.com and you can call and leave us a voicemail. 707-986-8739 this episode is copyrighted under the Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Copyright. For more information go to otrwesterns.com copyright have a great day and thanks for listening.
Old Time Radio Westerns
Host: Andrew Rhynes
Episode: “Eight Hundred Feet Down” | Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok (Original Airdate: 01-27-1954)
Date Released: April 5, 2026
This episode of Old Time Radio Westerns features a digitally restored broadcast of Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok, specifically the gritty mining drama “Eight Hundred Feet Down.” Host Andrew Rhynes presents a high-quality version of this classic radio western, where lawmen Wild Bill Hickok and his comic sidekick Jingles descend into peril when they investigate a deadly mystery beneath the surface of the Yellow Jacket Mine. The episode is a tense mix of suspense, betrayal, and classic western heroics, as the heroes race against time and danger to unearth both literal and figurative gold deep underground.
“I just can’t believe the Yellow Jacket’s played out.” – Betty O’Neill
“We’ve known Matt for a long time, Ms. Betty. The old goofers popped up in every mining section we ever got into.” – Jingles
[13:50] Confronting Stallo: Bill confronts a cagey and hostile Stallo, who with Carney’s help tries to obstruct any rescue or investigation.
[19:40] Booby-Trapped Rescue: Bill, Jingles, and Matt narrowly escape a staged “accident” when they discover the cage’s safety brakes have been tampered with. Jingles protests:
“Somebody was going to see if we could bounce…800 feet to the bottom of the shaft, you big buffalo!” – Jingles
[22:55] Attempted Murder Foiled: Bill’s caution and skill save the group from the rigged fall, intensifying suspicion of deliberate sabotage by Stallo and Carney.
[26:12] Descent to the 800-Foot Level: The heroes, joined unexpectedly by Betty, descend, investigating the explosion’s origin and conditions at the shaft.
[30:10] The Trap Snap Shut: A rockslide seals Bill, Jingles, and Betty deeper underground, cutting them off from help (and endangering them as water rises from the broken pumps).
[32:25] The “Fire Damp” Ruse: Stallo, speaking through a pipe, tries to lure the trapped trio into another trap by warning against striking a match because of “fire damp” (explosive gas). Bill, however, catches the lie:
“You only find fire damp in coal mines, pudding. Stallo doesn’t give us much credit for knowing anything.” – Jingles
[35:00] Outwitting the Villains:
“You didn’t fool nobody much. Well, I’m not fooling this time. Blast him, Carney!” – Bill (to Stallo and Carney)
“A new vein of gold, Matt. Would you look at it?” – Wild Bill
“800 feet of ladder? On second thought, I’ll take a chance on riding out… let me get in that cage.” – Jingles [21:30]
“Sometimes it’s so easy for me to get a confession out of lame brain varmints like these bills, I come near getting myself a case of the big head.” – Jingles [39:15]
“Certainly. I haven’t spent my whole life around a mine for nothing.” – Betty O’Neill [29:45]
| Timestamp | Segment | Highlights | |-------------|----------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 06:57 | Mine Disaster | Explosion, panic, and initial suspicions | | 09:55 | Call for Wild Bill & Jingles | Introduction of lawmen to the case | | 13:50 | Confrontation with Stallo & Carney | Stalled rescue, tension with mine authorities | | 19:40 | Sabotaged Mine Cage | Discovery of tampering, near-death | | 22:55 | Recovery and mounting animosity | Carney’s aggression, Stallo’s coldness | | 26:12 | Descent to 800-Foot Level | Tar barrels, evidence of arson | | 30:10 | Entrapment: Rockslide | Heroes trapped, darkness, rising water | | 32:25 | The “Fire Damp” Deception | Stallo tries to trick them; Bill catches the lie | | 35:00 | Faked Deaths, Villains Lower Guard | Bill/Jingles outsmart Stallo/Carney | | 37:40 | Showdown & Discovery of Gold Vein | Final fight, confession, and resolution |
“Eight Hundred Feet Down” is a classic example of Golden Age radio adventure, showcasing Wild Bill Hickok and Jingles as they tackle sabotage, greed, and murder beneath the earth. With a blend of humor, suspense, and action, the episode—restored in vivid audio—stands as a testament to radio’s enduring storytelling power and the values of classic western heroes. Fans of the genre will delight in the banter, bravery, and cunning that defines Wild Bill and Jingles as they bring justice, and hope, back to the mining town.