
Original Air Date: April 22, 1953Host: Andrew RhynesShow: Adventures of Wild Bill HickokPhone: (707) 98 OTRDW (6-8739) Stars:• Guy Madison (Hickok)• Andy Devine (Jingles) Special Guests:• Hal Gerard• Lou Krugman• Jack Mather Producer:• Paul Pierce Writ...
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Andrew Rines
Welcome to the Old Time Radio Westerns. I'm your host Andrew Rines and I'm excited to bring you another episode absolutely free. This is one of over 80 episodes released monthly for your enjoyment. Now let's get into this episode Kellogg's.
Kellogg's
The Greatest name in Cereals presents Whale Bill Hickam.
Guy Madison
Hi you folks. Hold on to your hats and pass that Kellogg's Rais. Cause here comes Guy Madison as Wild Bill Hickok and his pal Jingles. Which is me, Andy Devine. We got another Rootin Tootin Wild Bill Hickok adventure story for you from Kellogg's Raisin Bran. The cereal with the fruit already on it.
Andy Devine
Oh boy.
Guy Madison
Raisin and toasted bran flakes. Kellogg's Raisin Bran.
Kellogg's
Today Kellogg's Raisin Bran, the cereal that comes out of the box with the fruit already on it brings you W. 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. Water meant the difference between life and death in the development of the Old west, and many a battle was fought over the rights to a creek or a spring. One such battle was the springboard for an action jammed adventure of United States Marshal Wild Bill Hickok and his deputy Jingles. It all started when they stopped to water their horses on the trail to Dead Rock.
Wild Bill Hickok
We can turn in at this ranch house, Jingles. I see a water and draw right in front of the barn.
Guy Madison
Yeah, we better get Joker a drink or he is liable to sit right down in the middle of the road. You know how stubborn he Gets sometimes.
Wild Bill Hickok
Yeah, Maybe he's half mule board.
Guy Madison
Yeah, I wouldn't be half surprised. Hey look Bill, there's a rancher coming out of the house to say howdy. Now that's what I call real sociable. Howdy, friend.
Wild Bill Hickok
Howdy, mister.
Andy Devine
Howdy, gent. What can I do for you?
Wild Bill Hickok
Just like to water our horses if you don't mind.
Guy Madison
If there's a gourd around here I. I might have a drink myself.
Andy Devine
Well now, that's the one thing I.
Kellogg's
Can'T do for you.
Andy Devine
Although I wish it understood.
Guy Madison
What do you mean? You got water, ain't you?
Andy Devine
Nope, not today.
Wild Bill Hickok
I don't get you, mister. I thought Dead Rock Creek ran right down through this valley.
Guy Madison
Sure it does. It's an all year stream too, ain't it?
Andy Devine
Yesterday it was, today it ain't.
Guy Madison
Now hold on. You're not trying to tell us that creek dried up overnight? Why that just don't make sense.
Andy Devine
I know it don't, but that's just what it did. At sundown last night it was runnin full and now she's as dry as a chalk flat in July. And it sure got me scratching my head.
Wild Bill Hickok
Did you ride up to the source?
Andy Devine
Yep, clean up to where it comes out of the hill. Dry all the way. Say, ain't you Wild Bill Hickok and Jingle?
Guy Madison
Yeah, and we're thirsty too.
Andy Devine
Well, dog my catch. I been so deep in the fright about my water supply I ain't even asked you to get down and set in the shade. Slide out of them saddles, gents. I'm Hank Rady.
Guy Madison
Well now, thanks. I don't mind resting a bit at that.
Wild Bill Hickok
I'd like to hear a little more about this water supply, Hank.
Andy Devine
Yeah, that's about all there is to it, Mr. Hickon.
Guy Madison
Hey, here come four more riders. I hope they ain't thirsty too.
Andy Devine
That's Cash Dawson. Bought the spat at the top of the valley about a month ago. He ain't been very sociable.
Guy Madison
He's likely coming to talk about the water too.
Andy Devine
Talking don't start a spring now. Howdy, Dawson. Do you and your boys get off and set?
Cash Dawson
I didn't come to set, Rennie. I wrote down to talk about water. Hey, your creek's dried up, my crick.
Andy Devine
Your ranch feeds off Dead Rock Creek too, don't it? Ain't you out of water too?
Cash Dawson
Oh, Randy, I got plenty of water. Thought you might like to buy some.
Andy Devine
What? Where'd you get water?
Cash Dawson
Found another source on the side of the hill. I got Enough water dammed up to feed the whole valley. But I ain't giving it away, Bill.
Guy Madison
That don't sound very neighborly to me.
Wild Bill Hickok
Wire jingles. Let's see what this leads to.
Andy Devine
Now that beats me.
Cash Dawson
Yeah, I figured it would. Well, I haven't got all day. If you want water, you pay me $50 a month. If you don't, you can dry up.
Guy Madison
$50 a month? Why, that's highway robbery.
Cash Dawson
You better keep out of this, stranger.
Guy Madison
Well, I'm not a stranger. I'm Jingle.
Kellogg's
Jingles. Hey, boss, if he's Jingles, that other buckskin covered jet must be Wild Bill Hickok.
Guy Madison
You're doggone right he is.
Cash Dawson
I don't care if he's President Grant. Come on, Rainey. You better make up your mind about that water. I got some other ranchers to call on now.
Andy Devine
I don't know. $50 a month is right, Steve.
Cash Dawson
It'll be a hundred the next time I come around.
Andy Devine
What do you think, Bill?
Wild Bill Hickok
I think I'd wait a day or so, Hank. You know, maybe Jingles and I can find another spring. In that hill there.
Cash Dawson
You might find something besides a spring, Marshall.
Wild Bill Hickok
That's right, Dawson. I might find out why a creek runs full one day and dries up the next.
Cash Dawson
What are you getting at, Hickok?
Wild Bill Hickok
And I might find out why a brand new creek pops up on your ranch all of a sudden.
Cash Dawson
You ain't going to find another going for Scott Gophers.
Andy Devine
Did you see that? Hey, boss, he shot the gun right.
Guy Madison
Out of your hand.
Andy Devine
Let's get out of here.
Wild Bill Hickok
That's a good piece of advice, Dawson. You better take it.
Cash Dawson
Yeah, and I'm giving you a piece of advice, Hickok. You stay away from that hill up there. Most of it's on my property and any water coming out of it is gonna be mine.
Kellogg's
Today's Wild Bill Hickok story continues in just one minute. Cash Dawson's warning only served to make Wild Bill Hickok more curious, though. The late afternoon sun found him riding along the edge of Dawson's ranch with Jingles and Hank Rainey.
Guy Madison
Bill, look, Cash Dawson said he had a dam on his property line and there it is.
Andy Devine
And there's plenty of water backed up behind it, too.
Wild Bill Hickok
You never heard of a creek running down through his ranch before, huh, Hank?
Andy Devine
Nick. No, Abtolan owned this ranch for years and we was good friends. He took his water from Dead Rock Creek, same as me.
Guy Madison
What do you make of it, Bill?
Wild Bill Hickok
I don't know you, Jingles. Who Owns a hill up there.
Andy Devine
Hank Dawson owns half of it. The other half is on a government section. Nobody owns it.
Wild Bill Hickok
And that's where the creek's been coming from.
Andy Devine
That's right. So everybody had a right to the water. Now Cash Dawson's got a strangleholding the entire valley.
Guy Madison
Bill, that sidewinders pulled something funny here or I don't wait no more than a feather.
Wild Bill Hickok
Looks that way, Jingles. But looks don't count without proof. What do you say we ride up on the hill and have a look?
Andy Devine
Hickok. There's Dawson and his men again, Dog on it.
Guy Madison
They can't go using me for a target.
Wild Bill Hickok
Hold your fire. Jingles are riding up.
Guy Madison
But Bill. I warned you, Hickok.
Cash Dawson
Get away from that dam.
Wild Bill Hickok
Just looking at it over Dawson.
Guy Madison
Besides, we're not on your property. So you better watch out how free you're getting with those shooting irons. I'm within my rights.
Cash Dawson
If you cross that line, I'll gun you down like I would a rustler. So watch your step. Come on, boys.
Guy Madison
Let's ride that low down varmint. He's gonna get me mad once too often if he ain't careful.
Wild Bill Hickok
Come on, Jingles. Hank's gonna show us a spot where Dead Rock Creek starts out from the hillside. Get along there, Buckshot.
Guy Madison
Get up, Joker. I sure hope we find something that'll give me an excuse to go after that Cash Dawson and haul him right into jail. I'm getting fed up with his shenanigans.
Andy Devine
There you can see the way the land lies, Mr. Hick.
Wild Bill Hickok
We on the government section now, Hank.
Andy Devine
That's right. The hill ahead of us is at the head end of the valley. Everything slopes down from here.
Wild Bill Hickok
Let's take a look at this.
Guy Madison
Yeah, Bill, you can see all the ranches stretching out down below us.
Wild Bill Hickok
Where does Cash Dawson spread start, Hank?
Andy Devine
Right about halfway. The hill where that hog back juts out.
Guy Madison
Bill, that puts half the hill on Dawson's land and half on the government section.
Wild Bill Hickok
That's right. Now where's the source of Dead Rock Creek?
Andy Devine
They're straight ahead of us. You see that hole in the side of the hill?
Wild Bill Hickok
Sure. The land slopes both ways from that hog back.
Andy Devine
Yep.
Wild Bill Hickok
Maybe that gives me an idea. Come on, let's get up there. Up at you.
Andy Devine
Uh oh.
Guy Madison
Look out, Hank. Cinch up your gun belt and check your trigger finger. Bill gets that look in his eyes. Things are about to happen.
Andy Devine
Well, if it brings water back to my spread, I'm for it.
Guy Madison
Where are we going, Bill?
Wild Bill Hickok
For a Closer. Look at that hole in the side of the hill, Jingle.
Guy Madison
Well, you ain't thinking about maybe crawling in that hole, are you, Bill? Are you?
Wild Bill Hickok
Huh?
Guy Madison
I hope not.
Wild Bill Hickok
It just might come to that, partner.
Guy Madison
Oh, but Bill, just look. It's black as Cash Dawson's heart in there.
Wild Bill Hickok
Then I hope you've got a pocket full of matches, Jingle.
Guy Madison
But, Phil, if we go in this black forbidden tunnel, something awful liable to happen.
Wild Bill Hickok
Oh, come on, get in there.
Guy Madison
Me going there first?
Wild Bill Hickok
No, I'm going first, and then Hank and you can bring up the rear.
Guy Madison
Well, that's better. Lead on. I'm right behind you.
Andy Devine
Watch your head, Mr. Hickok.
Guy Madison
All right, Chuck.
Andy Devine
Chuckheads.
Guy Madison
Wash them, Bill. It's Cash Dawson. Wash them in that tunnel. A good place to bury them nosy hicks.
Wild Bill Hickok
Pull back in here, Jingle. They got us surrounded.
Guy Madison
Bill. Bill, you heard him. This is like stepping in your own grave.
Andy Devine
They were waiting for us, Hiccup.
Wild Bill Hickok
Looks that way. Hank must have been watching us all.
Guy Madison
Yeah, and you were so dad burn curious about this dry creek. Bet we didn't even see him. Now we've got you puddled up, Hickok.
Cash Dawson
This is once too often you meddle in somebody else's business.
Guy Madison
You low down barman. You stick your head up out of that bush and you ain't gonna have no business for anybody to meddle in front of.
Cash Dawson
You got that dynamite set?
Guy Madison
Sure, Cass. I'm just sitting here with a match.
Andy Devine
Rare to strike it and call ahead.
Guy Madison
Bill, you hear that?
Andy Devine
They got some dynamite out there somewhere.
Wild Bill Hickok
Sounds like it was up above us.
Guy Madison
Hey, what are you waiting for? I ain't waiting for nothing. The fuse is burning. Run for your life. Bill, we better get out of here.
Wild Bill Hickok
No, Jingles, get back in the tunnel, quick.
Guy Madison
There she go. Bill, those rocks. It's coming from up the bar.
Andy Devine
They're closing the infantry to this funnel.
Guy Madison
Bill will be buried alive.
Cash Dawson
All right, Perl, hurry up. Hit the saddle. That gets Hickok and those other two jaspers out of our way for good. Now I'm going to control this whole valley.
Kellogg's
It ought to be easy with you owning the whole water supply. Them ranchers can't live without water. But I ain't so sure about Hickok. I'd rather seen him stretched out.
Cash Dawson
Ah, stop worrying. They can't dig out through the side of that mountain with their bare hands. We've seen the last of them. Now let's ride.
Wild Bill Hickok
Jingles.
Kellogg's
Hank.
Andy Devine
Here I am. Hickok.
Wild Bill Hickok
You all right, Hank?
Andy Devine
Yeah, but I can't see a Blasted thing.
Wild Bill Hickok
Where's Jingles? Jingles.
Guy Madison
Doggone it, wait till I catch my breath. Well, yeah, you gotta be a gopher to go running around inside of a mountain. And I ain't no gopher.
Wild Bill Hickok
He's all right, Hank. Anytime Jingles can cut loose with that kind of talk, he's got nothing worse than his feathers ruffle.
Guy Madison
Feathers ruffled my Aunt Tootie. I'm scratched and battered within an inch of my life. Now we're buried under half the mountain in a pitch black tunnel. Well, I ain't exactly happy about it.
Andy Devine
Yeah, Dawson had that dynamite right handy.
Wild Bill Hickok
That's right, he did. Jingles, I had one of those matches and let's have a look around. All right.
Guy Madison
But I don't know what you think you're looking for.
Andy Devine
We're standing in the dry quick bed, gents. That's what we came to look at.
Guy Madison
Yeah, and I wish I'd have never seen it.
Wild Bill Hickok
Well, if it had water in it yesterday it had to come from someplace farther back in the mountain.
Guy Madison
Yeah, and it had to go someplace to let this creek dry up all of a sudden.
Andy Devine
That's all true, gents, but where does it get us?
Wild Bill Hickok
It gets us to a starting place. Jingles, there's a dry root near your left shoulder. Strike another match and we'll have a torch.
Guy Madison
Yeah, at least we can see enough not to go stumbling around like a four day old puppy. Okay.
Wild Bill Hickok
Now what if the creek came from back in the mountain? We'll follow it up to where it stops. Come on.
Guy Madison
Gives me the creeps. It's just like exploring your own trade. Bill.
Wild Bill Hickok
Wait a minute.
Guy Madison
Now what?
Wild Bill Hickok
Bill, there's fresh air in this tunnel.
Andy Devine
Hey, by gad, there is.
Guy Madison
There is?
Andy Devine
Yeah.
Guy Madison
Hey, you're right, Bill. Well, at least we won't suffocate. But starving to death ain't easy either.
Wild Bill Hickok
All right, let's go. And watch your head, Jingles. It's getting smaller. Huh?
Guy Madison
It gets much smaller. I'm not going to be able to hold it.
Wild Bill Hickok
Jingle.
Andy Devine
Huh?
Guy Madison
What's the matter, Bill?
Wild Bill Hickok
Be quiet.
Guy Madison
Listen, Bill, I hear something. A roaring sound.
Andy Devine
Me too. What do you make of that, Hickok?
Wild Bill Hickok
That's water, Hank.
Guy Madison
Water?
Wild Bill Hickok
That's right, partner. That's the sound water makes when it's running underground.
Guy Madison
Bill, if this creek dried up overnight, maybe it could fill up all of a sudden.
Wild Bill Hickok
Too easy, Jingles. Now don't get excited.
Guy Madison
Excited? But Bill, if it filled up all of a sudden with us trapped in here, we'd be drowned.
Andy Devine
We wouldn't have it chance.
Kellogg's
Today's Wild Bill Hickok story continues in just one minute. When Wild Bill explained that the roaring sound back in the tunnel was made by water running underground Jingles expected the worst.
Guy Madison
Bill, I tell you, if that water's coming this way, we're gone.
Wild Bill Hickok
Her sure it's not coming this way? Jingles, don't lose your head.
Andy Devine
You're right, Hickot. Don't seem to be getting any louder.
Wild Bill Hickok
Come on. Maybe we're getting somewhere.
Guy Madison
Well, what good does it do you to get somewhere when that's somewhere ain't nowhere but deeper down in the ground? Oh, dog Garbit.
Andy Devine
We getting closer to the water. Hickok.
Wild Bill Hickok
Yeah? Keep up here with that torch, will you, Jingle?
Guy Madison
Keep up. I'm practically crawling on my hands and knees and you want me to run?
Wild Bill Hickok
Not much more. Jingle. Yeah? Hand me that torch.
Guy Madison
All right. Take it. At least it'll give me another hand to crawl with.
Wild Bill Hickok
Hold it.
Andy Devine
Well, I be talked over.
Guy Madison
What, That I can't see by you. Bill, tell me what you found.
Wild Bill Hickok
Looks like the very thing we were looking for, Jingles.
Guy Madison
Well, then tell me, what were you looking for?
Wild Bill Hickok
Come on, crawl up a little closer.
Guy Madison
Crawl up a little closer. You think I was a baby? Next thing you'll be giving me a rattle to play with. All right, I'm here and I. Oh. Oh.
Wild Bill Hickok
Oh.
Guy Madison
Holy hop toad. Would you look at that?
Andy Devine
I'm looking and I'm not liking it.
Wild Bill Hickok
Yeah, Jingles. No more mystery about how Hank's water supply dried up. Now we know the secret of Dead Rock Creek.
Guy Madison
Dynamite again. If that Cash Dawson was any lower, he'd have to reach up the touch bar.
Andy Devine
He couldn't reach it. If he did.
Wild Bill Hickok
It was all very simple. When he found that old mine tunnel on his side of the hill all he had to do was dynamite a thin wall of dirt out make the whole creek turn down on his property.
Guy Madison
Then he built the dam at the lower end of his brad to hold it away from the ranchers.
Andy Devine
Stole it from us so he could sell it back to us. Wait till the ranchers hear about this.
Guy Madison
Yeah. Wait till we tell them. That'll be now, Dog. On it. How are we going to tell them? We know all about it. But it's not doing us any good during that Cash Dawson anyway.
Kellogg's
Here to come, Cash. Every man son of him's got blood in his eye for you.
Cash Dawson
Don't you worry about me, Pharaoh. I can handle them. They don't come across with the money, they don't get the water.
Kellogg's
Yeah, Well, I hope they don't start nothing.
Andy Devine
They do.
Cash Dawson
We've got enough gunmen hit out to wipe them out to the last man.
Kellogg's
Hey, they're getting off their horses. They're walking up here. They sure look mean, boss.
Cash Dawson
They don't look like nothing but an easy living for us to me.
Andy Devine
Orson, we want to talk to you.
Cash Dawson
Yeah, well, I've had all the palavra I want to hear. The only thing that'll talk to me is money. 50 bucks a piece from every Jasper among you.
Andy Devine
That's highway robbery.
Cash Dawson
That's the deal. Take it or leave it. You, thie and sidewiner.
Andy Devine
You can't do a thing like this in our valley and live.
Kellogg's
Boss, the God, he's gone. You wing them, Cash.
Cash Dawson
Let that be a warning to you hammerheads. He was lucky the next one that tries to plug me's head up a boot hill on a board.
Guy Madison
Why?
Cash Dawson
Come on, make up your minds. I haven't got all day.
Andy Devine
We got a right to know where you got all that water, Dawson.
Cash Dawson
That's none of your business. I got it. That's enough.
Andy Devine
You just built that dam two weeks ago. Yesterday there wasn't no water in it.
Cash Dawson
And today there is. Now step up one at a time and hand me your $50. Then I'll open the gates on my dam.
Kellogg's
Hey, boss, there's something going on. Them ranchers are looking up the hill behind us.
Cash Dawson
Don't take your eyes off of them, Pharaoh. It's a trick and it won't work.
Andy Devine
It's Wild Bill.
Kellogg's
Wild Bill Hickok, Boss. You hear that? And look. It is Hickok. How'd he get out?
Cash Dawson
Let's get out of here.
Wild Bill Hickok
Hold it, Dawson. Stay right where you are.
Guy Madison
Yeah, and you, too. You water stealing sidewinders have come to the end of your crooked trail.
Cash Dawson
You just think so, Hickok.
Wild Bill Hickok
All right, leave your gun on the ground, Dawson, and let's hear you talk. Those ranchers have a full explanation coming from you.
Cash Dawson
I ain't telling them nothing.
Guy Madison
All right, you tell them, Bill.
Wild Bill Hickok
Gents, we found out why Dead Rock Creek went dry and Dawson's dam filled up the same day. He dynamited a turn in the creek back in the hillside.
Guy Madison
Yeah, and that made it run down on his side of the line. He built this dam to hold it.
Andy Devine
Now we're going to dynamite his dam and everybody will have water again. I brought a couple of sticks of Dawson's own dynamite to use in blowing it up. Stand back, everybody. Jingles, hang me a match.
Guy Madison
I sure will, Hank. Fact of the matter is, I'd take pleasure in lighting that fuse myself.
Andy Devine
Then go ahead.
Guy Madison
Well, here she goes. Burns real good, don't it?
Wild Bill Hickok
Well, turn it loose, Jingles, before it blows you up, huh?
Guy Madison
Oh, yeah, yeah. I'll just toss it right into the dam. There.
Andy Devine
He goes. Now the whole valley will have water again.
Wild Bill Hickok
Yeah, Dawson and his wards won't be here to appreciate it.
Cash Dawson
I should have shot you when I had that chance, Hickok.
Guy Madison
Well, you can think about that in jail, Dawson.
Cash Dawson
What I want to know is how you got out that tunnel.
Guy Madison
Oh, I can tell you that. It was easy. Bill just said if water comes from someplace, it's gotta go someplace. And if you follow it, that's the place you get to. And we did. See, things like that are simple to explain.
Kellogg's
And now here are the stars of Wild Bill Hickok, Guy Madison and Andy Devine.
Wild Bill Hickok
Thanks for being with us today, folks.
Guy Madison
Choo Choo Choo. Choo Choo Choo. Your favorite cereal.
Wild Bill Hickok
You tell them, Andy from Kellogg's Variety pack.
Kellogg's
Yes. Keep the whole family happy every morning for breakfast. Roll out freshness and variety. 10 individual serving size boxes with 10 assorted Kellogg's cereal favorites, including two ready sweetened treats that you get in Kellogg's Variety pack.
Guy Madison
Choo Choo.
Kellogg's
Choose your favorite from Kellogg's Variety Pack at your grocer's. You've just heard another exciting story of Wild Bill Hickok starring Guy Madison and Andy Devine in person. Today's cast included Hal Gerard, Lou Krugman and Jack Mathers. Our story was written by Larry Hayes. Our director is Paul Pierce. This is a David Hire production transcribed in Hollywood. Now this is Charlie Lyon speaking reminding you to tune this station again when we present another of the adventures of whale Bill Hickok.
Andrew Rines
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 the following ranch hand 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 copyright under the Attribution non Commercial Share alike Copyright for more information, go to otrwesterns.com copyright have a great day and thanks for listening.
Host: Andrew Rines
Episode Release Date: April 12, 2025
Original Air Date: April 22, 1953
In this thrilling episode of "Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok", hosts Guy Madison and Andy Devine bring to life the legendary tales of U.S. Marshal Wild Bill Hickok and his trusty deputy, Jingles. Set against the backdrop of the untamed Wild West, this digitally restored classic captivates listeners with its rich audio and engaging storytelling.
The episode begins with Wild Bill Hickok and his deputy Jingles traveling along the trail to Dead Rock Creek, a crucial water source for the local ranchers. As they stop to water their horses, they encounter Hank Rady, a concerned rancher grappling with a sudden depletion of water from Dead Rock Creek.
Wild Bill Hickok [03:11]: "We can turn in at this ranch house, Jingles. I see a water and draw right in front of the barn."
Hank explains the mysterious drying up of the creek, hinting at potential foul play that threatens the livelihoods of the valley's inhabitants.
The plot thickens when Cash Dawson, a new and somewhat reclusive rancher, approaches Hickok and Jingles with unsettling news. Contrary to Hank's distress, Dawson claims to have discovered a new water source and offers to sell them water at an exorbitant rate of $50 a month.
Cash Dawson [05:03]: "I found another source on the side of the hill. I got enough water dammed up to feed the whole valley. But I ain't giving it away, Bill."
Suspicious of Dawson's sudden prosperity, Wild Bill decides to investigate the legitimacy of Dawson's water source, suspecting that Dawson might be manipulating the creek's flow for personal gain.
Determined to uncover the truth, Wild Bill and Jingles ride to the hill where Dawson has established his water supply. Upon arrival, they discover Dawson's dam, which strategically diverts Dead Rock Creek's flow exclusively to his property, effectively monopolizing the valley's vital water source.
Wild Bill Hickok [07:46]: "I think I'd wait a day or so, Hank. Maybe Jingles and I can find another spring."
Their investigation reveals that Dawson has not only dammed the creek but also used dynamite to alter its natural course, ensuring that Dawson's ranch prospers while others suffer.
As Hickok and his companions delve deeper, Dawson becomes aware of their probing and sets a trap using dynamite, intending to eliminate them and secure his control over the water supply.
Cash Dawson [12:57]: "I've got enough gunmen out to wipe them out to the last man."
A tense standoff ensues within a dark tunnel, where Dawson's men lay in wait. Amidst the danger, Wild Bill remains calm and resourceful, managing to outwit Dawson and his henchmen.
Wild Bill Hickok [20:07]: "You just think so, Hickok."
In a decisive move, Wild Bill detonates the dynamite Dawson set against the dam, effectively destroying it and restoring Dead Rock Creek's natural flow. This act not only nullifies Dawson's unfair advantage but also ensures that all ranchers in the valley have access to the essential water resource.
Wild Bill Hickok [21:23]: "Yeah, Dawson and his wards won't be here to appreciate it."
Dawson is apprehended, bringing peace and fairness back to the valley. The rightful distribution of water restores harmony among the ranchers, and Wild Bill's reputation as a just and fearless marshal is further cemented.
Wild Bill Hickok: Embodies the quintessential Western hero—brave, intelligent, and unwavering in his pursuit of justice. His ability to remain composed under pressure and outmaneuver adversaries highlights his leadership and moral integrity.
Jingles (Andy Devine): Provides comic relief and unwavering loyalty. His interactions with Wild Bill add depth to their partnership, showcasing the importance of camaraderie in overcoming challenges.
Cash Dawson: Represents the archetypal antagonist driven by greed. His manipulative tactics to monopolize water resources underscore the conflicts that arise from human avarice in harsh environments.
Wild Bill Hickok [03:11]: "We can turn in at this ranch house, Jingles. I see a water and draw right in front of the barn."
Cash Dawson [05:03]: "I found another source on the side of the hill. I got enough water dammed up to feed the whole valley."
Wild Bill Hickok [07:46]: "I think I'd wait a day or so, Hank. Maybe Jingles and I can find another spring."
Wild Bill Hickok [20:07]: "You just think so, Hickok."
Wild Bill Hickok [21:23]: "Yeah, Dawson and his wards won't be here to appreciate it."
"The Trail to Dead Rock" masterfully combines suspense, action, and moral lessons, delivering an authentic Old Time Radio experience. Through meticulous digital restoration, listeners are treated to enhanced audio quality that brings every chirp, creak, and gunshot vividly to life. Andrew Rines' presentation honors the golden age of radio Westerns, ensuring that tales like Wild Bill Hickok's adventures continue to engage and inspire audiences.
For those new to the series, this episode offers a compelling introduction to the enduring legacy of Wild Bill Hickok—a testament to justice prevailing over greed in the rugged landscapes of the Wild West.
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