All language subtitles for 3 Joe Walker Humble Hero

NARRATOR: FRONTIERSMAN JOE
WALKER HAS SPENT YEARS SCOUTING

AND EXPLORING AMERICA'S VAST
WESTERN WILDERNESS.

BUT AFTER LEADING A DARING
EXPEDITION IN SEARCH OF

A ROUTE TO CALIFORNIA,
HE STUMBLED INTO A POTENTIALLY

DISASTROUS CONFRONTATION.

LOOK ALIVE FELLAS.

NARRATOR: FOLLOWING A VIOLENT
CLASH WITH MEMBERS

OF THE PAIUTE TRIBE...

WALKER: HEY,
HEY STOP IT STOP IT.

HOLD YOUR FIRE!

NARRATOR: WALKER'S MEN ARE NOW
SURROUNDED BY DOZENS

OF WARRIORS EAGER FOR REVENGE.

THERE'LL BE NO FIRIN'
UNTIL I GIVE A COMMAND.
- ALL RIGHT.

NARRATOR: PUTTING HIS LIFE ON
THE LINE, WALKER ATTEMPTS

TO DEFUSE THE CONFLICT
BEFORE ANY MORE LIVES ARE LOST.

[SIGN LANGUAGE]
TELL YOUR WARRIORS TO STAY BACK.

NARRATOR: BUT DESPITE HIS
EFFORTS TO KEEP THE PEACE,

JOE WALKER IS NOW FACING
THE DEADLIEST FIGHT OF HIS LIFE.

[WAR CRIES]

FIRE!

[GUNFIRE]

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

ANDREW P. NELSON: IN THE ANNALS
OF MOUNTAIN MAN LORE,

FEW HAD AS ECLECTIC A CAREER

AS DID JOSEPH WALKER.

A CAREER THAT LITERALLY GOES
FROM THE WAR

OF 1812, UP TO AND BEYOND
THE CALIFORNIA GOLD RUSH.

HE WAS SUCH A STABLE FORCE.

HE WAS SO DEPENDABLE.

HE WAS SO CALM, COOL,
AND COLLECTED

THAT HE NEVER REALLY GOT
ANYBODY'S ATTENTION.

SAMUEL K. DOLAN: HE SHOULD
STAND SHOULDER-TO-SHOULDER

WITH FIGURES SUCH AS
DAVID CROCKETT,

KIT CARSON, JIM BRIDGER
-- AND YET HE'S STILL

RELATIVELY UNKNOWN
TO MANY PEOPLE NOW.

NARRATOR: JOSEPH WALKER GROWS
UP ON THE FRINGE OF

THE WILDERNESS, WITH A LONGING
FOR ADVENTURE.

JUST AS A NEW CHAPTER OF
AMERICAN HISTORY

IS BEING MADE.

ANDREW P. NELSON: WALKER
IS FROM TENNESSEE,

AND HE'S THE MIDDLE
CHILD OF SEVEN.

A LARGE FAMILY.

[HORSE NEIGHS]

NARRATOR: JOE WALKER MIGHT HAVE
FOLLOWED IN ONE OF THE FAMILY

TRADES, EXCEPT FOR HIS COUSIN
SAM HOUSTON, WHO WILL ONE DAY

MAKE AMERICAN HISTORY
OF HIS OWN.

HEY, JOE!

YOU HEARD, RIGHT?

YOU GONNA JOIN UP?

YOUNG WALKER:
HOLY COW, SAM.

WHEN'D YOU JOIN?

NARRATOR: WALKER'S COUSIN
HAS ARRIVED WITH THE NEWS

OF WAR BETWEEN
THE UNITED STATES

AND THE NATIVE AMERICAN
CREEK NATION.

LIKE EVERYONE IN TENNESSEE,

THE WALKER FAMILY
IS HORRIFIED BY THE NEWS

THAT COMES UP FROM ALABAMA.

500 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED,
THE CREEKS HAVE JOINED

HANDS WITH THE BRITISH
IN THE WAR OF 1812.

HARD TO IMAGINE YOU
IN THE ARMY, SAM.

WELL, IT'S
"ENSIGN HOUSTON" NOW.

I'VE JUST ENLISTED,
AS SHOULD YOU.

TELLIN' MA WON'T BE EASY.

JOE, THIS IS YOUR TIME.

NARRATOR: SAM HOUSTON
CONVINCES JOE WALKER TO JOIN

IN WHAT SOUNDS LIKE
A PATRIOTIC ADVENTURE.

[CHAOTIC YELLING,
GUNFIRE]

WHICH TURNS OUT INSTEAD
TO BE A BLOODY

AND HORRIFYING EXPERIENCE.

SAMUEL K. DOLAN: JOSEPH WALKER
IS ESSENTIALLY

A TEENAGER, A BOY SOLDIER IN
THIS BATTLE AT HORSESHOE BEND.

IT HAD TO HAVE MADE
A HUGE IMPRESSION ON WALKER.

[GUNFIRE, YELLING]

SOLDIER: SET, FIRE!

SET..!

[GUNFIRE, WAR SOUNDS]

STAND BACK SOLDIERS!

[GUNFIRE]

NARRATOR: THE BRUTAL BATTLE OF
HORSESHOE BEND LEAVES DOZENS

OF CREEK INDIANS AND AMERICAN
SOLDIERS DEAD OR WOUNDED.

[BOY GROANING]

AND IT TEACHES JOE WALKER
AN ABHORRENCE FOR VIOLENCE

THAT STAYS WITH HIM
THE REST OF HIS LIFE.

HOUSTON: JOE!

I'M GLAD TO SEE
YOU AMONG THE LIVING'!

I THOUGHT FOR SURE YOU'D COPPED
IT IN THAT LAST CHARGE!

BUT LORD, WASN'T IT GLORIOUS?

I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
WE'D WON.

WELL, OF COURSE
WE DID!

THE GENERAL SAYS SO.

WE CAN TELL OUR GRANDCHILDREN
WE FOUGHT WITH "OLD HICKORY."

I'M GONNA FETCH SOME WATER
FOR THOSE POOR FELLAS.

WALKER WOULD HAVE SEEN

A LOT OF THIS BLOODSHED,
A LOT OF THIS BLOODLETTING.

WHICH AT TIMES WAS VERY,
VERY BRUTAL.

AND CERTAINLY IT MADE AN
IMPRESSION ON JOSEPH WALKER.

JACKSON: READY OUR HORSES.

LET'S GO UP RIVER FIVE MILES

TO MEET WITH THE COMMANDER
OF THE MILITIA.

THIS ARMY HAS ACHIEVED
A GREAT AND FORTUNATE VICTORY.

YOU HAVE EARNED THE GRATITUDE
OF YOUR COUNTRY.

NO MEN HAVE EVER ACTED
MORE GALLANTLY

OR FELL MORE GLORIOUSLY.

SOLDIER. THANK YOU, SOLDIER.
- SOLDIER: THANK YOU, SIR.

ANDREW P. NELSON: IT SEEMS
REASONABLE THAT THIS MIGHT'VE

BEEN THE MOMENT WHEN HE
REALIZED THAT HE WASN'T DESTINED

TO BE AN INDIAN FIGHTER.

HE WAS DESTINED FOR
SOMETHING ELSE.

PERHAPS TO BE AN EXPLORER.

NARRATOR: SAM HOUSTON'S JOURNEY
WILL EVENTUALLY TAKE HIM

TO TEXAS AND LASTING FAME.

BUT WALKER'S FUTURE LIES IN
THE UNCHARTED REACHES

OF THE FARTHEST WEST.

FOLLOWING THE CREEK WAR,
WALKER COMES OF AGE

AS A RESPECTED TRAPPER
AND SCOUT ON THE RUGGED

FRONTIER OF MISSOURI.

ALONG THE WAY, HE MAKES A
LIFE-LONG FRIEND

OF A ONE-TIME MINISTER TURNED
MOUNTAIN MAN, BILL WILLIAMS.

TOGETHER, WALKER AND WILLIAMS
RANGE ACROSS THE FRONTIER,

EVEN TRAVELING INTO
SPANISH TERRITORY.

AND AS TWO OF THE FEW
AMERICANS EVER TO HAVE

EXPLORED THE SOUTHWEST,
THEY ATTRACT THE ATTENTION

OF A COLORFUL CHARACTER
NAMED WILLIAM BECKNELL.

BECKNELL: YOU JOE WALKER?

WALKER: THAT DEPENDS
WHO'S ASKING.

WILLIAM BECKNELL, SIR.

AND MAY I SAY, IT'S A PLEASURE
TO FINALLY MEET YOU.

I SEARCHED YOU OUT OVER
HALF OF MISSOURI.

WELL, RECKON YOU FOUND HIM.

THAT'S OLE BILL WILLIAMS.

CHARMED.

WHY DON'T WE SIT
AND HAVE A TALK?

ALL RIGHT.

ANDREW P. NELSON: WILLIAM
BECKNELL WAS AN

ALL-AROUND COLORFUL CHARACTER.

HE HAD DONE MANY THINGS
IN HIS LIFE, INCLUDING

LOSING A RACE FOR A SEAT IN
THE MISSOURI LEGISLATURE.

BECKNELL WAS
ABOUT $20,000 IN DEBT.

HAD BEEN IN DEBTOR'S PRISON,
HAD BEEN THREATENED WITH GOING

BACK IF HE DIDN'T MAKE MORE
MONEY TO PAY OFF HIS-

HIS CREDITORS.

ANDREW P. NELSON: SO HE BEGINS
LOOKING FOR A WAY

TO GET RICH AND-
AND MAYBE FAMOUS.

AND SO HE BEGINS LOOKING
TOWARDS THE SOUTHWEST.

SANTA FE IS MEXICAN NOW,
NOT SPANISH.

AND THE DOOR IS OPEN FOR TRADE
TO WHOEVER CAN GET THERE FIRST.

NOW, I HAVE WAGONS
AND I HAVE TEAMS,

BUT I NEED MEN.

WILLIAMS: WE BEEN THERE ONCE.

ALMOST STARVED ON
THE WAY BACK.

YA EVER ATE A MULE'S EAR?

WALKER: UH, PARDON MY FRIEND,
MR. BECKNELL.

THE ROAD TO NEW MEXICO IS UH
LONG, DRY, AND WELL,

JUST PROWLIN' WITH INDIANS
OF THE FIERCEST SORT.

PRECISELY WHY I NEED INTREPID
MEN LIKE YOURSELF

BY MY SIDE, MR. WALKER.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: BECKNELL
WAS KEEPING UP ON THE NEWS.

HE KNEW THAT THE SPANISH EMPIRE
WAS FINISHED AND, OF COURSE,

THE SPANISH RESTRICTIONS ON
TRADE COMING FROM

THE UNITED STATES
WERE GOING TO END.

SO THIS WAS THE TIME
TO BE THE FIRST

TO UH OPEN UP SANTA FE
TO AMERICAN COMMERCE.

NOW, ANYONE WHO GUIDES
ME SAFELY TO SANTA FE

WILL SHARE IN THE PROFITS
AND THE RECOGNITION

MY ENTERPRISES WILL EARN.

ALL RIGHT, MR. BECKNELL,

WE WILL THINK ABOUT IT.

WE'LL LET YOU KNOW.

NARRATOR: NEITHER WALKER NOR
WILLIAMS TRUSTS

THE FAST-TALKING TRADER,

BUT THE LURE OF EXPLORATION IS
DIFFICULT FOR WALKER TO RESIST.

HE COULDN'T FIND HIS
HAT WITH TWO HANDS.

[LAUGHS]

YEAH, MAYBE SO.

FIRST ONES THROUGH SANTA FE
WITH A PACK TRAIN.

THEY'LL MAKE THEIR
PILE FOR SURE.

AND WHO KNOWS?

MAYBE WE'LL GET TO
CALIFORNIA THIS TIME.

OR MAYBE WE'LL BURY OUR
BONES IN THE DESERT.

WALKER: NAH.

AH, COUNT ME IN.

SOMEONE'S GOTTA LOOK AFTER YA.

BOTH: [LAUGH]

NARRATOR: IN SEPTEMBER, 1821,
WALKER LEADS THE FIRST

TRADING EXPEDITION
DOWN WHAT WILL BECOME LEGENDARY

AS THE SANTA FE TRAIL.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: THE SANTA FE
TRAIL BECAME ONE OF

THE BLOODIEST ROADS IN ALL

OF HUMAN HISTORY.

IT'S LIKE A- A "MAD MAX" MOVIE.

ONCE YOU GET THROUGH ONE GROUP
THAT'S LIKELY TO ATTACK YOU,

YOU'RE GONNA RUN
INTO ANOTHER ONE.

NARRATOR: FOR WALKER, IT'S
THE ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME.

BUT FOR BECKNELL, IT'S TORMENT,
MADE WORSE BY THE FACT THAT

BILL WILLIAMS, A FORMER
MINISTER, HAS A LINE OF

SCRIPTURE FOR EVERY OCCASION.

WAS THE JOURNEY QUITE THIS
DIFFICULT LAST TIME, BILL?

"THE LORD HIMSELF
WILL GO BEFORE YOU.

HE WILL BE WITH YOU; HE WILL
NOT LEAVE YOU OR FORGET YOU."

UH HUH.

WISH IT WASN'T SO BLASTED
HOT, THOUGH.

SHH, SHH, SHH.

HO, HO, HO, HO, HO.

SHH, SHH, SHH.

[CLICKS]
COME ON.

COME ON.

♪ ♪

♪ ♪

APACHE WARRIORS: [WAR CRIES]

NARRATOR: THE APPEARANCE OF
A HOSTILE APACHE WAR PARTY ISN'T

ENTIRELY UNEXPECTED.

BUT NEITHER BECKNELL NOR BILL
WILLIAMS EXPECT WALKER

TO PLACE HIMSELF DIRECTLY
IN ITS PATH.

HO,.

SHH, SHH, SHH.

NARRATOR: FRONTIER SCOUT AND
EXPLORER JOE WALKER

IS LEADING ONE OF THE FIRST
EXPEDITIONS

TO EVER TRAVEL THE
SANTA FE TRAIL.

BUT WHEN HOSTILE APACHES
CHARGE OUT TO ATTACK,

HE DOESN'T HESITATE
TO CONFRONT THEM HEAD-ON.

WALKER: FRIENDS. FRIENDS?

NARRATOR: BUT WHAT STARTS AS
A VICIOUS ATTACK,

QUICKLY TURNS INTO A CAUTIOUS
CONVERSATION INSTEAD.

WALKER: THEM?

ONE'S ABILITY TO NEGOTIATE WITH
NATIVE PEOPLES,

TO TRY TO STAY OUTTA TROUBLE
WAS REALLY IMPORTANT.

AND AT THIS, JOE WALKER
WAS A MASTER.

BECKNELL: JOE, HOW ON EARTH
DID YOU DO THAT?

WALKER: AW, THAT WAS EASY.

I JUST TOLD 'EM I WAS
ROBBIN' YOU MYSELF.

TOLD 'EM YOU WERE A BUNCH
O' GREENHORNS

WITH NOTHIN' WORTH STEALIN'.

WELL, WE BEST GET ON,
IN CASE THEY DECIDE

TO TAKE SOME SCALPS
FOR FUN, HUH?

"WHEN A MAN'S WAYS ARE
PLEASING TO THE LORD,

HE MAKES EVEN HIS ENEMIES
TO BE AT PEACE WITH HIM."

BECKNELL: SUPPOSE SO, BILL.

TELL YOU WHAT, THOUGH,
WHEN WE GET BACK,

I'M GONNA TALK TO THAT FELLA
ABOUT RUNNIN' FOR OFFICE.

NARRATOR: THANKS TO WALKER,
BECKNELL'S PARTY SURVIVES

THE SANTA FE TRAIL, AND ARRIVES
TO A WARM WELCOME IN

THE SETTLEMENTS OF NEW MEXICO.

TRADERS: [SPEAKING SPANISH]

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: HERE WAS
A NEW ROUTE THAT WAS GOING TO

UH ESSENTIALLY BRING, YA KNOW,
A GIANT WALMART SUPERSTORE

RIGHT TO THEIR
DOORSTEP.

TRADERS: [SPEAKING SPANISH]

NARRATOR: AND BY GETTING
BECKNELL TO SANTA FE,

WALKER'S HELPED CREATE
THE MOST FAMOUS TRAIL

OF THE FRONTIER ERA.

AND SO, VERY QUICKLY, THE SANTA
FE TRAIL

BECAME THIS HUGE ROAD OF
COMMERCE.

AND THEN, OF COURSE,
IT BECAME A MILITARY

ROAD OF EMPIRE AND CONQUEST.

WALKER: [SIGN LANGUAGE]
WE GO PAST

THE MOUNTAINS
TO CALIFORNIA.

NARRATOR: BUT JOE WALKER
HASN'T COME THIS FAR

JUST TO TURN A PROFIT.

INSTEAD, HE'S EAGER
TO TALK TO MEMBERS

OF THE NAVAJO TRIBE...

WALKER: [SIGN LANGUAGE]
HOW FAR?

HOW LONG?
THE MOUNTAINS.

NARRATOR: AND LEARN FROM
THIS ANCIENT PEOPLE WHAT

NO AMERICAN OF THE TIME KNOWS:
AN OVERLAND ROUTE

TO FAR-OFF
CALIFORNIA.

THREE MONTHS?

OKAY. [LAUGHS]

THANK YOU.

SEE THAT, JOE?

SPANISH SILVER.

COME UP ALL THE WAY FROM PERU.

PERU?

WHERE IS THAT,
EXACTLY?

WILLIAMS: ALL THE WAY ON
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD.

UH HUH.

WILLIAMS: EVEN FARTHER
THAN CALIFORNIA.

BEYOND THAT,
THE GREAT WESTERN OCEAN.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON:
WALKER HAD THE WANDERLUST.

CALIFORNIA, YA KNOW, THAT'S
ALWAYS THE GOLDEN LAND.

THERE'S ALWAYS THE DREAM
OF WHAT-

WHAT LIES OVER THOSE MOUNTAINS.

NARRATOR: IN THE YEARS FOLLOWING
HIS ADVENTURE TO SANTA FE,

WALKER WORKS FIRST AS A LAWMAN,
AND THEN AS A HORSE TRADER,

BEFORE AN UNEXPECTED REUNION
AT A FRONTIER TRADING POST

REAWAKENS HIS EXPLORER'S SPIRIT.

WELL, IF IT ISN'T
SAM HOUSTON!

- JOE WALKER!
- WALKER: HEY, HEY, HEY!

I HOPED I'D
MEET YOU HERE.

WELL, LAST I HEARD
YOU'D GONE TO UH LIVE WITH

THE CHEROKEE OF ALL THINGS.
- HOUSTON: I DID.

I'VE GOT A WORLD OF
THINGS TO TELL YOU, JOE,

MAYBE SOMETHING OF AN
OPPORTUNITY, TOO.

WELL, LET ME JUST GO TALK
TO MY PARTNER REAL QUICK.

I'LL BE RIGHT BACK
FOR YA, 'KAY, SAM?

NARRATOR: AND AS HE DID SO MANY
YEARS BEFORE, SAM HOUSTON HAS

AN EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURE
TO OFFER HIS COUSIN, JOE.

HERE YOU ARE.

HOUSTON: THANK YOU.
I READ ALL ABOUT THAT

"BECKNELL EXPEDITION,"
BUT YOUR NAME WAS NEVER

WRITTEN IN IT ONCE.

WELL, BECKNELL WANTED
ALL THE GLORY.

HE CAN HAVE THE HEADACHES TOO.

WELL, LISTEN, JOE.

THERE'S THIS ARMY CAPTAIN
NAME OF BONNEVILLE,

FRENCH BY BIRTH.

HE'S LOOKIN' TO TAKE LEAVE
AND LEAD A TRAPPING

EXPEDITION UP THE MOUNTAINS.

WELL, HE NEEDS A GUIDE.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON:
BENJAMIN BONNEVILLE IS

ONE OF THE MOST
MYSTERIOUS CHARACTERS

IN ALL OF WESTERN HISTORY.

HE'S FRENCH, BORN IN FRANCE
DURING THE REVOLUTIONARY ERA.

EVENTUALLY, GOES TO WESTPOINT,
BECOMES AN ARMY OFFICER.

HE'S, THOUGH, GOT AN AIR OF
ARISTOCRACY ABOUT HIM.

YEAH, I HAD
MY FILL OF MILITARY WAYS

IN THE CREEK WAR, SAM.

AND I DON'T THINK I TAKE
ORDERS PARTICULARLY WELL, SO.

JOE, YOU DUMMY, YOU DON'T
HAVE TO JOIN THE ARMY.

HE'D HIRE YOU AS
A CIVILIAN SCOUT.

AT A HANDSOME
SALARY, TOO.

SO, IF YOU WANT TO EXPLORE
THE DISTANT WEST,

AND I KNOW YOU DO, THIS
IS A FIRST CLASS TICKET.

JOE WALKER
SAW A REAL OPPORTUNITY

TO GO INTO NEW LANDS THAT HE
HAD ALWAYS DREAMED ABOUT.

WALKER CERTAINLY SAW HIMSELF
AS SOMEONE WHO COULD BE

RIGHT ALONGSIDE LEWIS AND CLARK

IN TERMS OF OPENING UP THE WEST.

MAYBE I'LL GIVE
WILLIAM A CHAT.

NARRATOR: BUT BY DECIDING
TO MEET WITH BONNEVILLE,

WALKER'S ABOUT TO GET ENTANGLED

IN THE AMBITIOUS DESTINY OF
THE UNITED STATES ITSELF.

♪ ♪

A WEEK AFTER HIS ENCOUNTER
WITH SAM HOUSTON,

WALKER ARRIVES AT THE BUSTLING
EXPEDITION CAMP

OF BENJAMIN BONNEVILLE.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: BONNEVILLE
WANTED TO- TO SORT OF IMPRESS

EVERYBODY WITH HIS
SORT OF BONAFIDES.

I MEAN, HE- WHO HE WAS,
HE'S AN IMPORTANT ARMY OFFICER.

HE'S OBVIOUSLY GOT CONNECTIONS
WITH THE GOVERNMENT.

BONNEVILLE: BEFORE I UNFOLD
MY PLAN, I SHOULD SAY THAT

I'VE NEVER HEARD OF YOU BEFORE.

WELL, THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

NEVER HEARD OF YOU EITHER.

IF YOU PLEASE, TELL ME OF
YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

WALKER: LOOK, CAPTAIN.

I BEEN TO SANTA FE AND BACK.

RANGED UP AND DOWN THE MISSOURI
FRONTIER SINCE I WAS A BOY.

I GET ALONG WITH INDIANS
BETTER THAN MOST.

AND UH WHEN I GIVE MY WORD
I KEEP IT.

NOW, I THINK THAT'S
"ACCOMPLISHED" ENOUGH.

IF IT DON'T SUIT,
I WISH YOU LUCK.

I WILL GIVE YOU
THE OPPORTUNITY TO PROVE

YOURSELF, MR. WALKER.

WALKER: SURE.

SOON AS WE TALK TERMS.

AND UH I'LL BE CHOOSING
THE OTHER SCOUTS.

UH, WHOM ELSE WOULD
YOU EMPLOY?

NO ONE "EMPLOYS"
BILL WILLIAMS.

BILL!

♪ ♪

SO, THIS IS HIM,
IS IT?

MMM HMM.

WALKER, YOU WILL MAKE CERTAIN
OF THIS... PERSON?

"WHOM EVER WALKS WITH
THE WISE BECOMES WISE,

BUT THE COMPANION OF FOOLS WILL
SUFFER HARM."

HE USED TO BE
A MINISTER.

NARRATOR: AND AS BONNEVILLE'S
FRONTIER GUIDE, WALKER NOT ONLY

GETS A CHANCE TO SEE A NEW
WORLD, HE'LL HELP CREATE AN

AMERICAN EMPIRE STRETCHING
TO THE PACIFIC SHORE.

♪ ♪

BONNEVILLE'S EXPEDITION TO THE
FAR WEST SETS OUT IN MAY, 1832.

ANDREW P. NELSON: WALKER IS
CHARGED WITH HELPING TO MOUNT AN

EXPEDITION WHOSE SIZE AND

SCALE ARE ALMOST UNPARALLELED

IN THE HISTORY OF
THE AMERICAN FRONTIER.

NARRATOR: BUT SOON
THE EXPEDITION LEAVES

THE RELATIVE SAFETY OF MISSOURI.

TRAVIS BOLEY: ONCE YOU CROSS
THE MISSOURI RIVER,

YOU START TO LEAVE WHAT WAS THEN
THE ESTABLISHED UNITED STATES.

NARRATOR: AND AS HE DID ON
THE SANTA FE TRAIL,

WALKER IS ABLE TO TURN POTENTIAL
ENEMIES INTO FRIENDS.

MARK BROWN: THERE ARE
A LOT OF THINGS THAT UH

GO INTO COMMUNICATION.

THAT HAS TO BE DONE IN
A THOUGHTFUL MANNER,

BECAUSE IF IT'S PERCEIVED

AS AN AGGRESSIVE APPROACH
IT'S GONNA HAVE

NEGATIVE UH RAMIFICATIONS.

WALKER: THEY SAY THE CHEYENNE
ARE RIDIN' IN NUMBERS AGAINST

THE CROW, BUT THEY HAVEN'T COME
THIS FAR DOWN SOUTH YET.

VERY GOOD, WALKER.

WELL DONE.
WALKER: ALL RIGHT.

COME ON!
[CLICKS] LET'S GO.

NARRATOR: BUT ON SUCH A LONG,
DIFFICULT JOURNEY,

FRIENDS CAN ALSO TURN
INTO ENEMIES.

- MEN: [GRUNT]
- WALKER: THAT'S IT!

THAT'S IT!

COME ON!

IT'S ALMOST THERE,
ALMOST THERE!

COME ON, MEN!

YOU STUPID OX, WHY CAN'T
YOU WATCH YOUR STEP?

WALKER: NOW, COME ON!
[MEN YELLING]

WALKER: ALL RIGHT, BILL.
HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY!

ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT.
HEY, HEY, HEY, HEY!

NARRATOR: JOE WALKER ALWAYS
TRIES TO KEEP THE PEACE...

LET'S CALM DOWN,
CALM DOWN.

[MEN YELLING]

BONNEVILLE: I WILL HAVE
THAT MAN IN IRONS!

NARRATOR: BUT THIS TIME,
THE PROBLEM IS

HIS OWN BEST FRIEND.

WAL!

LET'S CALM DOWN, CALM DOWN.

NARRATOR: FRONTIERSMAN
JOE WALKER HAS LED AN

AMBITIOUS EXPEDITION HALFWAY
TO THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.

NOW HE MUST DEFUSE A SUDDEN
CONFLICT BEFORE

THE ENTERPRISE DESCENDS
INTO CHAOS.

BILL, STOP
PITCHIN' A FIT.

OKAY?

YOU'RE LIABLE TO HURT SOMEONE
WITH THAT THING.

IF I DO, IT'LL BE THAT
LUMMOX WHO CAN'T KEEP

HIS FEET OFF OF MINE!

[MEN YELLING]
ALL RIGHT, ALL RIGHT!

BILL, WE'RE TUCKERED OUT,
WE'RE TUCKERED OUT.

NOW, JUST PUT YOUR
KNIFE UP, HUH?

YOU KNOW YOU'VE GONE
TOO FAR, C'MON.

NARRATOR: BUT HAVING SETTLED
ONE CONFLICT,

WALKER IMMEDIATELY
FACES ANOTHER.

NOW, AS I SAID,
PLACE THAT MAN IN IRONS.

WALKER: NOPE.

NO ONE WILL BE PUNISHED
THAT WAY, CAPTAIN.

YOU FORGET I AM YOUR EMPLOYER
AND THE LEADER OF THIS BRIGADE.

WALKER: OH, I REMEMBER
JUST FINE.

THING IS, ME AND BILL WILL UP
AND QUIT THIS WHOLE OUTFIT.

AND THAT LIL' OLE MAP THAT
YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON

FOLLOWING MY TRAILS...

WELL...

YUP, I RECKON IT STOPS
RIGHT ABOUT HERE.

NARRATOR: BONNEVILLE QUICKLY
REALIZES THAT HIS EXPEDITION

WILL GRIND TO A HALT
WITHOUT WALKER'S HELP.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: JOE WALKER
WORKED THE SANTA FE TRAIL.

HE UNDERSTOOD WESTERN
TRANSPORTATION IN WAYS THAT

BONNEVILLE DIDN'T HAVE
A CLUE ABOUT.

ANDREW NELSON: IN WALKER,
BONNEVILLE HAS FOUND

THE BEST GUIDE HE COULD
HAVE HOPED FOR.

♪ ♪

IF YOU ARE SATISFIED THAT YOUR
MAN CAN CONTROL HIMSELF,

WE CAN PROCEED.

WHATCHA SAY, BILL?

"BLESSED BE THE MERCIFUL,

FOR THEY SHALL RECEIVE
MERCY."

♪ ♪

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET THIS
WAGON, BOYS.

♪ ♪

SPIRITUALITY IS FINE AND
ALL, BILL, BUT I THINK

LESS IS MORE
IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN.

NARRATOR: WALKER IS STEADILY
PROVING HIS

VALUE TO BENJAMIN BONNEVILLE.

JOE: ON THREE...
ONE, TWO, THREE!

NARRATOR: AND NOW HE'S ABOUT TO
LEARN WHAT THIS MYSTERIOUS

FRENCH CAPTAIN IS REALLY DOING
ON THE FRONTIER.

♪ ♪

AFTER WEEKS OF WESTWARD TRAVEL
WITH BENJAMIN BONNEVILLE,

WALKER IS SUSPICIOUS OF
HIS TRUE MOTIVES.

THAT FANCY FRENCH SO-AND-SO
WANTED TO SEE

STRANGE SIGHTS, WELL...

IT DON'T GET MUCH
STRANGER THAN THIS.

YEAH.

I DON'T THINK THAT BONNEVILLE IS
EITHER A TRAPPER OR AN EXPLORER.

I THINK THIS WHOLE THING'S
GOT A PURPOSE.

SO WHAT IS IT THEN?

I DON'T RIGHTLY KNOW.

MR. WALKER.

I RECKON I'M ABOUT
TO FIND OUT.

♪ ♪

MR. BONNEVILLE.

♪ ♪

I AM SURE YOU ARE AWARE

THAT NO WAGON TRAIN HAS EVER
ATTEMPTED TO

CROSS THE SOUTH PASS.
- OH, I AM.

BILL SUBLETTE SAYS IT CAN BE
DONE THOUGH SO...

I WOULD LIKE YOU TO GUIDE ME
OVER THE PASS

AND THROUGH THE CONTINENTAL
DIVIDE WITH MY WAGONS.

JOE: HMM...WOW.

THE SOUTH PASS WAS THE LONG
DREAMED-FOR OVERLAND

ROUTE ACROSS
THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE THAT WAS

WIDELY RECOGNIZED AS BEING THE
KEY TO WESTWARD MIGRATION.

THE QUESTION IS: WHY?

BRIDGER AND FITZPATRICK HAVE
BEEN TRAPPING OVER THERE

FOR YEARS WITH NOTHING BUT
HORSES AND MULES.

THERE'S NO NEED FOR A TRAPPER TO
BRING WAGONS OUT THERE, CAPTAIN.

I TRUST I MAY SPEAK
IN CONFIDENCE?

I AM ATTEMPTING TO BUILD
A FORTIFICATION ON

THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN.

THAT IS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW.

♪ ♪

I'LL GET YOUR OUTFIT OVER
SOUTH PASS, CAPTAIN,

ON THE HONOR OF YOUR WORD THAT
ANY FUTURE EXPLORATION

TO CALIFORNIA IS MINE TO LEAD.

I HAVE NO INTEREST REGARDING
THE PACIFIC SHORE.

ALL RESPECT, BUT AIN'T THIS
MAP RIGHT HERE

OPEN TO CALIFORNIA?

ANDREW NELSON: BONNEVILLE'S
EXPEDITION WAS IN FACT

A COVER STORY FOR A SECRET
MISSION TO FIND AN OVERLAND

ROUTE ACROSS THE SIERRAS
TO CALIFORNIA.

BECAUSE, IF THAT CAN BE DONE
THEN SOUTH PASS

CAN BECOME THE
GREAT ROAD TO THE FAR WEST...

TO OREGON AND TO CALIFORNIA.

EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN
THE SANTA FE TRAIL.

IT'S REALLY A SPY MISSION
ON A GRAND SCALE.

IT'S MOSTLY BLANK TOO.

I'D LIKE TO SEE IT FILLED IN
JUST AS MUCH AS YOU WOULD.

AND I'D LIKE TO BE THE
MAN THAT DOES IT.

WELL DONE, JOSEPH.

YOU...
ARE PERCEPTIVE.

AND YOU HAVE MY WORD.

BONNEVILLE
WANTED TO HELP AMERICA REACH

ITS CONTINENTAL DESTINY AND SO
WALKER'S GOING TO HAVE

A ROLE IN BOTH OF THESE GREAT
TRAILS OF THE WEST.

NARRATOR: IN JULY OF 1832,

THE MAN WHO HELPED BLAZE
THE SANTA FE TRAIL

MAKES HISTORY
FOR A SECOND TIME.

HOLDING UP HIS END OF THE
BARGAIN WITH BONNEVILLE,

HE HAS LED THE FIRST WAGON TRAIN

TO EVER CROSS
THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.

[RIVER STREAMING]

WALKER'S ACCOMPLISHMENT MARKS A

MAJOR TURNING POINT
IN AMERICA'S DESTINY.

THE GREEN RIVER VALLEY, BILL.

GOTTA BE HONEST, I NEVER THOUGHT
I'D MAKE IT OUT HERE.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: IF YOU COULD
TAKE WAGONS WEST,

YOU COULD TAKE YOUR FAMILIES
WITH YOU,

SOMETHING THAT SEEMED
ABSOLUTELY IMPOSSIBLE.

HE AND JOE WALKER OPENED
UP THE GATES,

AND NOW THAT FLOOD IS GOING TO
COME AND NOTHING'S

GOING TO BE ABLE
TO STOP IT.

A FLOOD OF HUMANITY.

CAPTAIN BONNEVILLE!

WE MADE IT!

THIS IS HOW EMPIRES ARE MADE!
BY MEN LIKE US!

[MEN CHEERING]

NARRATOR: BUT JOE WALKER HASN'T
FORGOTTEN HIS ULTIMATE GOAL

OF REACHING CALIFORNIA AND NOW
HE'S HALFWAY THERE.

♪ ♪

THIRTY DEGREES.
FIFTEEN MINUTES.

GOT A GOOD WINTER CAMP, CAPTAIN,
IF YOU PLAN TO STAY.

I WILL CONSIDER MY PLANS.

JOSEPH, THIS IS YOUR DOING AS
MUCH AS MINE OR ANYONE ELSE.

I HOPE TRULY YOU TAKE PRIDE IN
OUR ACCOMPLISHMENT.

JOE: SOMEBODY WOULD HAVE DONE IT
SOONER OR LATER,

BUT I'M...
I'M GLAD I COULD HELP.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: THERE IS
NOTHING IN BENJAMIN BONNEVILLE'S

WHOLE CAREER THAT SHOWS HE HAD

THE COMPETENCE TO ACHIEVE THIS,

SO IT WAS JOE WALKER WHO WAS
INSTRUMENTAL

IN GETTING THAT WAGON
ACROSS SOUTH PASS.

YOU RECKON IT'S TIME I HELP YOU
FILL IN THE REST OF THAT MAP?

[SAYS SOFTLY]
YES...

[SAYS LOUDER]
VERY MUCH, YES!

[CHUCKLES]

JOSEPH...

GODSPEED.

♪ ♪

NARRATOR: IN JULY 1833,
BONNEVILLE KEEPS HIS WORD

TO WALKER BY SENDING HIM TO
DISCOVER

AN OVERLAND ROUTE TO CALIFORNIA.

THIS IS IT, BILL.

CALIFORNIA'S THAT WAY.

THE GREAT WESTERN OCEAN BEYOND.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: BONNEVILLE
GIVES

WHAT TO JOE WALKER IS
A DREAM ASSIGNMENT.

HE WANTS HIM TO FIND A TRAIL
TO CALIFORNIA,

AND EXPLORE THE TRAPPING
POSSIBILITIES OUT THERE.

OH GO AHEAD.
I KNOW YOU WANNA.

WELL, THERE IS ONE
I'VE BEEN SAVING.

♪ ♪

"WHEN THE LORD IS PLEASED
WITH US,

HE WILL BRING US INTO
THIS LAND,

A LAND WHICH FLOWS
WITH MILK AND HONEY."

I THINK THAT'S THE BEST
ONE YET, BILL.

NARRATOR: BUT AS WALKER SETS OUT
IN PURSUIT OF HIS DREAM,

HE LITTLE EXPECTS THAT IT
WILL TURN INTO A NIGHTMARE.

WALKER HAS JUST MADE HISTORYE

BY LEADING THE FIRST WAGON TRAIN
ACROSS THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.

NOW HE'S SETTING OFF ON HIS
LIFELONG DREAM OF

EXPLORING CALIFORNIA,
LITTLE KNOWING HOW

DIFFICULT THE TREK WILL BE.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT BONNEVILLE'S
EXACT

INSTRUCTIONS TO WALKER WERE,

BUT WE KNOW THAT WALKER IS NOW
ON HIS OWN.

BUT THERE'S ALWAYS A DREAM OF

ANOTHER SIGNIFICANT WATER ROUTE

THAT WILL CONNECT THE INTERIOR
OF THE UNITED STATES

TO THE PACIFIC OCEAN.

IT'S LIKELY THAT HE WAS
INSTRUCTED TO SEARCH FOR

THE FAMOUS
BUENA VENTURA RIVER.

NARRATOR: THE BUENA VENTURA
RIVER HAS BEEN A PRIZE SOUGHT BY

EVERY EXPLORER SINCE
LEWIS AND CLARK AND WALKER

IS EAGER TO CLAIM IT.

WALKER LEADS THIS PARTY DOWN TO

THE GREAT SALT LAKE AND THEN HE

DECIDES TO CUT IMMEDIATELY
TO THE WEST AND THAT LAND IS

INCREDIBLY INHOSPITABLE.

NARRATOR: BUT AFTER WEEKS OF
WEARY TRAVEL,

ALL HE'S FOUND IS MORE DESERT.

I SUSPECT YOU'RE ABOUT TO SAY

THAT THERE AIN'T NO
WESTERN RIVER.

I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND, BILL.

EVERY EXPLORER THROUGH HERE
SINCE CORONADO THOUGHT

THERE'D BE A GREAT RIVER GOING
OVER TO THE WESTERN OCEAN.

[SIGHS]

I WAS HOPING I'D BE THE
ONE TO DISCOVER IT.

NARRATOR: YET AS DISAPPOINTING
AS THIS IS,

FAR WORSE IS YET TO COME FOR

WALKER'S EXPEDITION
TO CALIFORNIA.

♪ ♪

ANDREW NELSON: TO GO FROM THE
INTERIOR ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS

TO CALIFORNIA IS ONE OF THE MOST

TREACHEROUS, INDEED HELLISH,

ROUTES ONE COULD
IMAGINE TAKING.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: AND VERY
QUICKLY THEY REALIZED

THAT THERE'S NO WATER

ANYWHERE TO BE FOUND.

NARRATOR: SEVERAL WEEKS INTO HIS
TREK, WALKER'S EXPEDITION

REACHES AN AREA KNOWN AS
THE HUMBOLDT SINK...

WHERE THEY ENCOUNTER THE FIRST
NATIVE TRIBE THEY HAVE SEEN

SINCE ENTERING
THE GREAT BASIN DESERT.

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

LOOK ALIVE, FELLAS, WE GOT SOME
FOLKS HERE WITH US.

WHEN WALKER
AND HIS MEN FINALLY

REACH THE HUMBOLDT SINK,
THEY ALSO CONFRONT THE

NATIVE PEOPLES THAT LIVE IN THE
AREA, THE PAIUTE TRIBE.

AND THE PAIUTES ARE A TERRIBLY
IMPOVERISHED PEOPLE.

PAIUTES HAVE NOT HAD SIGNIFICANT
CONTACT WITH AMERICAN EXPLORERS.

JOE: WE WANT NO
FUSS, FELLAS.

NARRATOR: TIME AND AGAIN,
WALKER'S MANAGED TO KEEP

RELATIONS WITH NATIVE TRIBES
PEACEFUL.

BUT THE FEARSOME PAIUTES ARE
UNLIKE ANY

TRIBE HE HAS
ENCOUNTERED BEFORE.

WALKER: [SIGN LANGUAGE]
WE...WE'RE ALL FRIENDS.

PAIUTE CHIEF: [SIGN LANGUAGE]

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: WALKER WANTS
TO HAVE A GOOD

RELATIONSHIP WITH THESE FOLKS.

AND THE PAIUTES CAN'T BELIEVE
ALL THE WONDERS THAT THESE

WHITE MEN HAVE BROUGHT IN.

AND VERY QUICKLY, THEY'RE
ROAMING AROUND THE CAMP.

THEY MIGHT KNOW A GOOD WAY
TO THE MOUNTAIN.

♪ ♪

HEY, HEY... STAY CALM.
STAY CALM, FELLAS.

HEY, HEY, HEY! STOP IT, STOP IT!

WE'RE FRIENDS, WE'RE FRIENDS.

STAY CALM, STAY CALM.
[WHOOPING SOUNDS]

NARRATOR: FOR THE FIRST TIME
IN HIS FRONTIER LIFE,

WALKER'S MET A NATIVE TRIBE

HE CAN'T BEFRIEND.
[WHOOPING CONTINUES]

JOE:
LET 'EM GO. LET 'EM GO.

NARRATOR: AND THE PROBLEM IS
ABOUT TO GET FAR WORSE.

AS WALKER'S MEN ATTEMPT TO TRAP

BEAVER NEAR THE HUMBOLDT RIVER,

THE PAIUTES BECOME
INCREASINGLY BOLD.

MAN: BILL, BILL!

HEY, SHOVE OFF NOW YA HEAR?

THE PAIUTES HAD BEEN PILFERING
THE TRAPS.

THEY WERE GETTING THE BEAVER OUT
OF THE TRAPS.

AND WALKER'S MEN ARE CONSTANTLY
TRYING TO SHOO THEM OFF,

AND THEY JUST KEEP KINDA
PESTERING THEM.

- COME ON, NOW.
- NO!

HEY YOU DARN PESTS! GET OUTTA
THERE! GET OFF OF THERE!

GO! GET! NOW!
HEY YOU THIEVIN' SCOUNDREL!

SHOVE OFF! SHOVE OFF! GET! GET!
[WHOOPING]

NO, NO BOYS COME ON!
BOYS, HOLD YOUR FIRE!

[FIRES GUNSHOTS]
HOLD YOUR FIRE! HOLD YOUR FIRE!

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: AND INDEED
THREE PAIUTES ARE KILLED.

SO EVERYTHING WALKER HAS DONE TO
KEEP PEACE HAS NOW

JUST GONE TO SMASH.

NARRATOR: WALKER HAS MANAGED TO
AVOID CONFLICT WITH EVERY

NATIVE PEOPLE HE HAS EVER MET.

JOE: BILL, FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE,
WHAT HAPPENED HERE?!

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: HE IS
FURIOUS WITH HIS MEN WHICH

IS VERY UNUSUAL FOR WALKER.

WE'RE SORRY, JOE.

THINGS JUST WENT SIDEWAYS.

AND WE'RE IN A HEAP OF
TROUBLE NOW.

COME ON, WE GOTTA GET BACK TO
CAMP! BOYS, COME ON!

NARRATOR: BUT NOW A DEADLY
TRAGEDY MAY PROVOKE

A PITCHED BATTLE THAT HE HAS
NO WAY TO AVOID.

[WHOOPING]
HEY BOYS, HOLD YOUR FIRE!

[FIRING GUNSHOTS]
HOLD YOUR FIRE!

NARRATOR: THE EXPEDITION OF
FRONTIERSMAN JOE WALKER

HAS BLUNDERED INTO A VIOLENT
CLASH WITH THE PAIUTE TRIBE.

FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, BILL,
WHAT HAPPENED HERE?!

NARRATOR: AND NOW WALKER MUST
SOMEHOW PREVENT MORE VIOLENCE

WHILE KEEPING HIS MEN SAFE
FROM RETRIBUTION.

WE'RE IN A HEAP OF
TROUBLE NOW.

COME ON, WE GOTTA GET BACK TO
CAMP! BOYS, COME ON!

WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?

BILL: NO...

NOT UNTIL WE BURY THESE
POOR SOULS, JOE.

♪ ♪

BEST DO IT QUICK.

AS SOON AS THE OTHERS FIND OUT,

THEY'LL BE BACK FOR REVENGE.

NARRATOR: FOR A FEW TENSE DAYS,
THE PAIUTES KEEP

THEIR DISTANCE FROM
WALKER'S MEN.

BUT THE FRAGILE TRUCE
DOESN'T LAST.

PAIUTE WARRIORS: [WAR CRIES]

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: WALKER HAS A
GREATER PROBLEM

NOW BECAUSE THE PAIUTES ARE
INFURIATED

AND SEVERAL HUNDRED
OF THEM COME.

JIM HARDEE: THEY HAVEN'T
ATTACKED BUT THEY'RE

CERTAINLY ACTING LIKE
THEY'RE GOING TO.

YOU HAPPY, BILL?

I DON'T RECKON WE CAN GET
OUT OF THIS FIX.

BILL: WE'RE GONNA HAVE
TO FIGHT, JOE.

JOE: NOT UNLESS WE HAVE TO.

WE HAVE TO SETTLE THIS
WITH NO MORE KILLING.

I DON'T THINK THEY KNOW WHAT
THESE RIFLES

WILL DO IF WE HAVE TO FIGHT.

NARRATOR: DESPITE BEING
HEAVILY OUTNUMBERED,

WALKER REALIZES THAT HE HAS
A TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANTAGE.

THE PAIUTES HAVEN'T SEEN VERY
MANY WHITE MEN,

AND THEY'RE NOT SURE WHAT THIS
THING CALLED A GUN IS.

MARK BROWN: THE ONLY FIREARMS

THEY MAY HAVE SEEN WERE PROBABLY

IN THE HANDS OF OTHER RIVAL

INDIAN TRIBES TRADED TO THEM.

ANDREW NELSON: WALKER EVEN MAKES
A POINT OF

DEMONSTRATING TO THE PAIUTE
CHIEF

WHAT A RIFLE IS AND WHAT
IT CAN DO.

JOE: CAN YOU KNOCK ONE
OF THOSE OFF?

BILL: EASY AS PIE.

[GRUNTING]

♪ [SUSPENSE MUSIC] ♪

[FIRES GUNSHOT]

HE THINKS THAT
THAT'S ENOUGH BUT IT ISN'T.

SOMETIMES YOU ARE WALKING INTO
A NIGHTMARE;

YOU'RE WALKING
INTO ABSOLUTE DANGER.

HE SENSED THAT NOW.

JOE COULD SENSE THE SORT OF
NERVOUSNESS

OF HIS TOUGH COMPATRIOTS.

I DON'T THINK WE'RE
GETTING OUT OF THIS ONE, JOE.

♪ [TENSE MUSIC] ♪

THERE WILL BE NO FIRING
UNTIL I GIVE A COMMAND.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: THE PAIUTES
ARE READY TO FIGHT.

WALKER AGAIN PLEADS WITH
THEM NOT TO AND WARNS THEM THAT

THIS IS GOING TO BE TERRIBLE
FOR THEM.

WALKER: [SIGN LANGUAGE]
TELL YOUR WARRIORS
TO STAY BACK.

WE DO NOT WANT TO KILL THEM.

OUR RIFLES...POWERFUL.

TELL YOUR WARRIORS,

PUT THEIR WEAPONS DOWN.

NARRATOR: JOE WALKER'S DESIRE
FOR PEACE CAN'T OVERCOME

THE FIRST LAW OF THE FRONTIER:

SOMETIMES IT'S EITHER KILL
OR BE KILLED.

PAIUTE WARRIORS: [WAR CRIES]

FIRE!

[FIRING GUNSHOTS]

EXPLORER JOE WALKER HAS: FD

ABHORRED VIOLENCE SINCE HIS
BOYHOOD EXPERIENCE IN WAR.

[WAR CRIES]
DESPITE DOING EVERYTHING HE CAN

TO AVOID BLOODSHED, HIS MEN OPEN
FIRE ON A PAIUTE WAR PARTY.

FIRE!

[FIRING GUNSHOTS]

YOU HAVE A STANDOFF BETWEEN

BOWS AND ARROWS AND RIFLES.

[FIRING GUNSHOTS]

YOU CAN IMAGINE...

[FIRING GUNSHOTS]

WHO WINS THAT
PARTICULAR STANDOFF.

JOE: STOP FIRING!
[GUNSHOTS CONTINUE]

CEASE FIRE!
[GUNSHOTS CONTINUE]

STOP FIRING! CEASE FIRE!
[FINAL GUNSHOT]

NARRATOR: THE ONE-SIDED BATTLE
ENDS AS QUICKLY AS IT STARTED,

LEAVING DOZENS OF PAIUTES
LYING DEAD.

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: WALKER HATED
TO BE IN CONFLICT

WITH NATIVE AMERICANS BECAUSE HE

JUST HAD SO MUCH EMPATHY FOR
THEM.

[SIGHS]

WHAT HAVE WE DONE, BILL?

WHAT HAVE WE DONE?

PAUL ANDREW HUTTON: 39 PAIUTES
WERE KILLED.

IT'S A TERRIBLE CATASTROPHE

FOR WALKER WHO WANTS TO MAKE
PEACE EVERY CHANCE HE CAN,

BUT IS NOW A WARRIOR.

NARRATOR: THE SENSELESS MASSACRE
WILL HAUNT WALKER

THE REST OF HIS LIFE.

BUT FOR NOW,
HIS JOURNEY MUST CONTINUE.

WEEKS INTO THEIR GRUELING TREK
ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN,

WALKER AND HIS MEN ARE EXHAUSTED
AND TORMENTED BY THIRST.

♪ ♪

I THINK I SEE WATER, BILL.

A FULL LAKE A FEW MILES OFF.

AIN'T NO WATER THERE, JOE.

I SAW PHANTOM LAKES LIKE THAT
IN SANTA FE FROM THE TRAIL.

I THOUGHT THAT WAS THE HOTTEST
PLACE ON EARTH...

UNTIL I CAME HERE.

SOME PLACES MAN JUST AIN'T
MEANT TO BE AND I THINK

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE.
- WE BEST GET ON, THEN.

NARRATOR: BUT WALKER IS CLOSER
TO THE END OF HIS JOURNEY

THAN THE BEGINNING AND HE'S ON
THE VERGE

OF AN AMAZING ACHIEVEMENT.

JIM HARDEE: HE GOES ON TO
CALIFORNIA, CROSSES THE SIERRA

AND MOST HISTORIANS THINK HE

PROBABLY CAME DOWN
THROUGH THE YOSEMITE VALLEY.

[JOE PANTING]

BILL...

BILL!

YOU'RE NOT GONNA BELIEVE THIS.

NARRATOR: TODAY THE YOSEMITE
VALLEY DRAWS MILLIONS

OF YEARLY VISITORS BUT WALKER
MAY HAVE BEEN THE VERY

FIRST AMERICAN TO SEE IT.

♪ ♪

[LAUGHING]

JOE WALKER DESERVES ENORMOUS
CREDIT FOR

DISCOVERING YOSEMITE WHICH OF
COURSE WOULD BECOME

ONE OF OUR
GREAT NATIONAL PARKS.

NARRATOR: AND HAVING REACHED HIS
GOAL AT LAST,

WALKER WITNESSES
A FINAL MARVEL...

THE GREAT LEONID METEOR SHOWER
OF 1833.

WE DID IT, BILL.

WE'RE ON THE GOLDEN SHORE.

♪ ♪

"AND AMAZEMENT SEIZED THEM ALL
AND FILLED THEM WITH

AWE SAYING 'WE HAVE SEEN
EXTRAORDINARY THINGS TODAY.'"

NARRATOR: FOR WALKER, MANY
ADVENTURES STILL LIE AHEAD,

BUT HIS TREK TO CALIFORNIA
WILL ALWAYS BE HIS GREATEST.

WALKER WAS RIGHT THERE IN THE
THICK OF IT

AT MANY OF THE SEMINAL MOMENTS.

IT WAS SAID THAT HE DIDN'T

FOLLOW TRAILS, HE BLAZED THEM.

SAMUEL DOLAN: IN MISSOURI,
THE SANTA FE TRAIL...

THE GREAT PLAINS...

THE SOUTHWESTERN DESERTS OF
WHAT IS NOW NEW MEXICO

AND ARIZONA,
ALL THE WAY TO CALIFORNIA.

HE WAS AN INSTRUMENT OF BRINGING
PEOPLE INTO THE WEST.

THIS WAS A MAN WHO HAD HIS HAND

IN MANY GREAT WESTERN
ADVENTURES.

♪ ♪