Original subtitles

- There's a reason they called it the Wild West.

Bass Reeves made the astonishing journey

from escaped slave to U.S Marshall.

- Jim Webb has murdered three of our men.

So which of you is willing to go out there

and finally bring him in.

- This is the true story of Bass Reeves

on the trail of a killer.

- I'm just the messenger, but this message comes

to you from the United States of America

- I was just a young man, when I first headed west.

In the years that followed,

I became a cowboy, a gunslinger and even served

as sheriff of Dodge city.

One of the most lawless towns in the country.

My name is Bat Masterson.

Now I'm a reporter and I've come west again to Chronicle

the world that I know best.

The American West

lore of gold, land,

destiny

flooded the frontier with men, both good and bad.

These are the incredible, true tales of the Wild West.

(guitar strumming)

- Mr. Masterson. I presume.

Welcome to Fort Smith, sir. Pleasure to meet you.

- Pleasure is all mine, Judge Parker.

I have heard a lot about you over the years.

- Well then I'm glad we're not here to talk about me.

- Nope.

- But I would like to thank you for agreeing to tell me

what you know about the man, we are here to talk about.

- So I take it.

You couldn't get old bass to agree to an interview.

- No sir,

but it wasn't for lack of trying.

- No surprise there.

Bass was never one to sing his own praises.

- I don't expect there are many who know Bass

better than you do.

- Bass Reeves was one of the finest lawman, I've ever known.

- If I'm not mistaken he was born right here in Arkansas

as a slave.

- That's right. Colonel George Reeves was his owner.

And When Reeves went off to war

fighting for the Confederacy,

he took bass along with him..

- Bass escaped. As I recall.

- More like he was running for his life.

(Thriller music)

I guess there's just so much abuse a man can take.

Bass headed west eventually made it into Indian territory.

Where he ran into some Cherokee

and they took him in as one of their own,

(country music)

taught him how to track,

how to hunt.

- And he learned their language too.

- Yep.

- And the Creek, Seminole, Chickasaw,

you know what's really funny

Bass could speak all those languages,

but he never learned to read or write English.

Once he told me that he lived happily there

in the Indian territories

and he would have stayed there too.

Until he learned that Lincoln had signed the emancipation

proclamation in 63.

- Making him a free man.

- So he no longer was a man on the run.

He decided to come back home right here to Arkansas.

- Now, how did you come to know him?

- Oh, I had heard about Bass and his reputation.

So when president Grant directed me to hire 200 new deputies

to bring law and order to the Indian territories

there wasn't a better candidate to be found.

(solemn music)

- Repeat after me. I Bass Reeves do solemnly swear

- I Bass Reeves do solemnly swear

- to support and defend the constitution

of the United States

- to support and defend the constitution

of the United States

- against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

- against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

- I'm guessing there were a few people who weren't too happy

about you recruiting a former slave

to the U.S Marshall service.

- I knew how exceptional bass was,

but few others would acknowledge it.

That all changed after the Jim Webb affair.

- Jim Webb name rings a bell.

- The worst and the worst ruthless killer.

He murdered a preacher,

shot him dead because a little brush fire in his land

swept over to Web's ranch.

So I sent three of my best man to bring them in.

- Come out with your hands in the air.

- We gonna to count to five.

One,

two,

three.

(guns shots)

(dramatic music)

- You never made to five Marshall.

(guns shot)

- Jim Webb has murdered three of our best men.

And I want him dead or alive. There's no difference to me.

So which of you is willing to go out there

and finally bring him in?

These men were your friends,

you mean to tell me there's that one of you,

man enough to go out there

and bring in the man who killed them?

- I'll serve that warrant judge.

- I could not have been more proud of Bass at that moment,

but the fact that he also had a family weighed heavily

on my mind.

- What's wrong.

- It's not worth it.

I do appreciate this house. I truly do.

And I know how much your job means to you, but

- But what?

- But it's not worth it. If I lose you.

- Don't you worry about me, Nellie.

I'll be just fine.

- I just don't understand why they have you going

after this terrible killer.

- I volunteer.

- You volunteer.

You promise me that you will come home to me and our baby.

- I promise.

I've never let you down

and I don't plan to start now.

- So Bass took that warrant and off the Chickasaw country,

he went, which he knew, well.

- Did he go alone?

- Oh no, no. I sent one of my best posse men with them.

Floyd Wilson.

Although it did take a little extra pay

to get Floyd to do it.

- He didn't want to take orders from an ex slave.

- Oh no, no, nothing like that.

He just wasn't that enthusiastic about meeting Jim Webb.

But he saddled up with Bass, along they went

(country music)

Bass' unorthodox plan to snail Webb

depended on a clever ruse, but the closer they got to Webb,

the more Floyd began to doubt Bass' plan.

- So. Will you telling me,

or we just gonna sashay up to his cabin say,

hello Mr. Webb, we have warrant for your arrest.

So you'd be so kind as to sir please handcuffs for us,

we'd be much obliged.

- And I have a plan Floyd. Don't you worry,

just follow my lead and look we ain't way too far

from his place now.

- Well, how do you know that?

- Can't you smell that pine sap burning?

They got a fire going.

- I smell nothing.

- Do you smell the cow manure?

- Nope. I smell that nither.

- Manure tells me his ranch close by.

I'll even bet that, they were right here where our fellow

deputies spent their last night

before they went looking for Webb.

- Well then, how would you know that

- This is the spot we picked too, ain't it? ,

there's water, we've got trees for cover

and grass for the horses.

There's ashes over there somebody built a fire

not too long ago.

- Now hurry up finish fixing this fire

so we can get some grub.

Sun would be here before you know.

- Yeah. Well.

I just hope they will see the next one.

- Oh, morning, morning, morning, gentlemen.

So sorry to disturb you on this beautiful morning

that the Lord has blessed us with.

I'm afraid that my friend here and me

you see we have got ourselves a little bit lost.

He was hoping that maybe he might help us,

let us water our horses.

Maybe we could buy some food off here.

We need to thank as this was breakfast yesterday.

- Okay but can't stay long.

Boss just went to town. He don't like strangers.

- Nice, sir.

Come on, Floyd

- This plan seems ridiculous and risky.

- Maybe so but it proved to be ingenious.

- Floyd

now that whiskey right there,

that's for these gentlemen, that's for their hospitality.

- You sure, you don't have much to say.

- I let this one here, do all the talking.

- What do we have here?

- Boss. these two they was lost

and then we just help them try to find their way.

- You must be the big boss.

I am so pleased to make your acquittance, sir.

your men here were kind enough to let us rest,

water our horses.

We were just fixing to be on our way.

- Is that right?

- Yes, sir.

- Where you are headed.

- Bartlesville somewhere on our way

we got to turn it around.

- Where are you from?

- Well sir we're from

- This one, talker. he get a word in edgewise

with all your jaw flapping.

- Well, Sir, we come all the way from little rock.

Yeah. I bought me some land up near Baetervil.

- I got a map of that land right here

in my vest pocket boss.

I can't read of course and Floyd.

He no good with maps, neither.

That's how it comes we got lost.

You think maybe you could take a look for us.

- Give it to me.

(upbeat music)

- I am U S Marshall, deputy Reese.

And what's your holding there is a warrant

for your arrest for murder.

- That was a trick that Bass pulled more than once,

he hand the man, the warrant and tell him it was a deed

or a treasure map or some such thing.

- Very clever.

- The second that he saw the man take the paper

with his shooting hand, he'd make his move.

- So, what happened to Jim Webb after bass arrested him?

- Nah. unfortunately they had to bring him

to a jail in Paris, Texas,

which is where he killed that preacher

- Did he hang?

- He would, if he'd been in my courtroom.

Oh, I know, I know what you're thinking.

Judge, Isaac Parker,

"The Hanging Judge"

took pleasure and send the men to the gallows.

- Well, with all due respect, judge, you did

have a pretty good run.

I believe it was 79 men. You sentenced to hang.

- Yes. That sounds about right.

And each of them were convicted of either rape or murder.

I took no pleasure in sending those men to the gallows.

In fact, I do not believe in capital punishment.

But as a judge, I have no choice

but to exact the government's punishment

that is mandated by the law.

On the other hand, if ever there was a man worthy to hang,

it was Jim Webb.

- But you said he didn't hang. So what happened to him?

- Some fool judge in Paris decided to grant him bail.

So of course he skipped bond and disappeared.

So I wrote another warrant.

Floyd is already riding with another posse Bass

and he won't be back for a couple more weeks.

And unfortunately I can't find anybody else

willing to ride with you.

So I think it's best to just hold on to this warrant.

And I do not want you to go and have to Web alone.

- Sure that judge. It gives web a big headstart.

He wouldn't be stupid enough to go back to his ranch.

So I need to track him. The warmer his trail the better.

- I did send a lot of bad men to their deaths.

Mr. Masterson you're right

but to send a good man out there like Bass Reeves,

knowing that he may not come back alive.

Well, that just tore me up.

- Come on Nelly. can't just not talk to me

about this is just not fair.

- Fair.

You tell me what's fair about you going off

by yourself to arrest that killer.

A man whom every other deputy's afraid to go after.

- I took an oath, hold my hand on that Bible

- The Bible ain't gonna stop a bullet Bass

and it ain't gonna take care of your family when your dead.

- Someone has got to bring Jim Webb to justice Nella,

- And why does it have to be you again?

Are you really doing this to prove to a bunch of white men

that you're worthy of that badge you wear.

Bass those men may never accept you

no matter how many bad men you arrest.

(country music)

- Bass set out alone towards Chickasaw country

asking everyone he met. If they had seen Jim Webb,

when he got a tip that Webb was camping out in the nearby

foothills, he rode to buy waters.

The only general store in the area,

he knew that sooner or later Webb

would have to turn up to resupply.

So we decided to just wait him out,

knowing that Webb would venture

into that store at some point

and then

sure enough.

(suspense music)

- U.S Marshall you are under arrest.

(gunshots)

- Well now here we are again Webb.

Now I'm not leaving here without you.

- You again

who gave you the right

to tell any white man what to do?

- Well, sir, I'm just a messenger,

but this message comes to you

from the United States of America.

Now are you gonna come out of there

or am I have to come in after you?

- Let's see if you are man enough to come in and get me.

(gunshots)

- Marshall

there's a back door.

- Go, get out of here.

Webb come on out, we got you surrounded.

Come on Webb

(country music)

(gunshot)

- I.. I..

- That I'm still in one piece.

- Bass Reeves was the country's first

African-American U.S. Deputy Marshall

serving west of the Mississippi.

He made more than 3000 arrests, killed 14 criminals

in the line of duty and was never once shot.

known as the "Hanging Judge."

Isaac Parker served as a U.S. Circuit Judge for 21 years

and presided over 13,000 cases.

He is credited with bringing law and order

to the Western Territories.

- Well, as a former lawman myself,

I can tell you that Bass Reeves is exactly

the kind of man you want wearing that batch.

Judge I got this nagging question.

- And what's that that, Mr. Masterson?

- I just can't help wonder

why he was so committed to the law,

even to the point of risking his life to defend it.

- You know I wanted that same thing.

I even asked Bass about it once.

- Here's, Jim Webb's, boots and guns.

I'll never kill another man again.

- Why do you do it Bass?

Why do you risk your life?

Every time you'll after a man like Webb.

- It's law sir, if we don't live by it.

We ain't got nothing.

Got any more warrants from me, Judge.