Original subtitles

** [ trumpet ]

In the winter of 1871, the first telegraph line

was strung from Southern Utah to Fort Pipe Springs

in Arizona Territory.

As the Indians fought the linesmen to the brink of warfare,

Christmas neared, and two women arrived at the fort.

One was 16-year-old Ella Stewart.

Her story is one of courage in the face of great danger,

a story we call...

Hurry it up, boys. We want it strung by nightfall.

Whoa!

Mr. Hamblin! Jacob!

We have company at the fort. Two women.

That's impossible, Howard. Who are they?

What are they doing out here?

The one doing the driving's my cousin: Cora Stewart.

[ chuckles ] And the pretty one, that's Ella Stewart, Cora's niece.

What they're doing here is another matter.

Just like Jacob! We come all this way,

and he's not even here to meet us.

Cora. What are you doing here?

Well, age certainly hasn't done your memory any good, Jacob.

You asked us up for Christmas. Don't you remember?

Oh, but Cora, that was two months ago!

When the Indian trouble started, I wrote you a letter and told you not to come.

We didn't receive your letter, Cousin Jacob.

We've been in Toquerville for six weeks.

Well, now, ladies. It is extremely dangerous out here.

We've had to move the women and children back to Kanab

for their own safety.

Oh, excuse me. This is Mr. Pepper.

He's with the Deseret Telegraph Company.

Yes, well. H-How do you do, ladies?

We just drove out from Kanab, Mr. Pepper.

Didn't see a single Indian along the way.

[ chuckles ] My, you're very fortunate, Mrs. Stewart.

Believe me. They're out there

They should have warned you both, back in town.

We don't know anyone in Kanab.

We came through without stopping.

[ sighs ] Well, you're here, and... it is nice to see you again, Cora.

Besides, you can't leave until it quiets down a bit.

And Ella.

Well, son, would you give me a hand here, please?

Ella, I was sorry to hear about your mother.

Thank you.

I hoped that perhaps this Christmas

it would have been a much happier one.

We're going to try.

We're going to make this a Christmas we'll never forget, Jacob.

Indians or no. Come along, Ella dear.

Pray she's wrong, Howard.

Let's pray she's wrong.

Jacob! Those are for Christmas.

Put it back!

It looks like Christmas. [ sniffs ]

Smells like it, too.

Ella! The mince pies.

She's got a lot of spunk, Cora.

She's needed it to get through this last year, Jacob.

Ella and her mother were very close.

HOWARD: Jacob!

Enoch Coppersmith. They shot him over at Moccasin Creek.

Take him upstairs, Mr. Pepper. Yes, ma'am.

HOWARD: Be careful now.

I'll get some hot water and bandages.

You're some nurse, ma'am. Well, you're not hurt very badly.

And besides, I've had a lot of practice.

My doctor lived 40 miles away.

How many Indians were there?

Black Wing and two others, sir.

I sure didn't expect them so close to the fort.

Yeah.

He was probably after the cattle we used to keep down at the creek.

Oh! You just let them come and take what they want, Jacob?

No, Cora. But I'd rather feed an Indian than fight one.

I see no sense in feeding savages who cut your lines

and pull down your pole.

Cora, I see you know nothing at all about Indians!

On the other hand, if this keeps up,

I'm gonna have to wire for the troops.

Now, that might not be possible, Jacob.

Philip Boyle was outside. He says he's leaving.

Leaving? But he can't leave!

He's the only man here who knows telegraphy.

Well, he won't listen to me. Maybe you can make him stay.

Mr. Hamblin, after what happened this afternoon,

nothing could make me stay.

I'm not gonna get myself killed.

What about the rest of us? Mr. Boyle, that line's in tomorrow.

But without you, it's useless!

All of you better get out while you can.

Come with me tonight.

If we leave now, those Indians won't leave a pole standing!

We'll have to start all over.

Suit yourself, Mr. Pepper. Me? I got a wife and three kids.

I ain't no good to 'em dead.

Wait a minute, Boyle.

What makes you think you're going to get to Kanab?

The women made it out, I'll make it back.

Good-bye, gentlemen. Let him go, Jacob! Let him go.

We'll manage.

You're gonna need a Christmas miracle.

Nearest man that can send code is three days away.

CORA: Maybe the nearest man is three days away.

But there's a woman here who can send it.

You, Cora?

Ella.

Ella? [ laughs ]

But she's only a girl!

And what's that to do with it?

She's a telegrapher!

The reason we didn't get your letter, Cousin Jacob,

is because I was in Toquerville learning telegraphy.

From Mr. Pepper's company.

Bu-- Wait a minute!

Are you E.L. Stewart?

Eliza Luella Stewart, sir.

You hired me to run your Kanab office when it opens.

I-- I hired a woman?

Like it or not, Mr. Pepper.

She's here, and she's capable.

[ chuckles ] Howard, you've got your Christmas miracle.

[ uneasy laugh ] Yes, well, I-- guess I haven't much choice.

All right, Miss Stewart. But remember, the arrangement is only temporary.

Yes, sir. The morning when the line is up,

I want you to send to Salt Lake for another telegrapher.

Yes, sir. [ exasperated sigh ]

Ella? Ella?

You up there?

There you are. You're so quiet since the men left for work,

I thought I was here alone.

I guess those Indians know Enoch's here to protect us.

My fruitcake batter's ready, but I'm out of currants.

Is Enoch able to fetch some from the root cellar?

He thinks he is, but he's still a little weak.

[ sighs ]

Well, then I'll-- I'll just have to make do.

But fruitcake just doesn't taste like Christmas without currants.

Oh, I can get them, Aunt Cora. They're just in the cellar out the gate.

No. Oh, Jacob told us not to go out for anything, Ella.

Enoch has a gun. He can watch me from the veranda.

Well, I-- I suppose it would be all right.

Enoch? Bring your gun.

[ rustling ]

Do not scream. I'm not alone at the fort.

You are alone here.

ENOCH: Ella!

If I don't answer, he'll come.

You call. You say nothing!

I-In a minute, Enoch!

Oh, you're sick.

[ sighs ] No eat.

No hotaw grass here

Grass... make well.

Oh, you are sick. Please let me help you.

No! You kill Black Wing.

No, your men can take the food and go,

but you're too sick to eat.

Enoch, Black Wing's here. He's sick!

Run! I'll pick them off as they follow you!

No, his braves will bring him into the fort.

Ella, they'll kill ya!

Black Wing, come on. You'll be safe.

I die, many braves come.

Many braves.

Aunt Cora, please get some food.

Go ahead.

You heathen aren't goin' in.

I'll take it inside.

This is a very foolish thing to have done, Miss Stewart.

Mr. Pepper, he may be dying.

Exactly!

And if he dies here, it could be the death of every one of us, too!

The girl did what she thought best, Howard.

There's no question about that, Jacob.

But the threat is clear.

If they don't attack, they're going to starve us out.

Oh, I wouldn't worry about that. We've got enough food inside

to last for weeks.

And besides, Ella wired Provo for the troops.

I see. And how long will that take, Jacob?

Well... three-- three and a half days.

That long?

Well, heaven help us if he dies before they arrive.

Mr. Pepper, we can't give up.

I've nursed sicker men than this, and so has my Aunt Cora.

If we could just find out what was wrong with him,

we might could save him.

You know what it might be, Ella?

No, but he said something about "hotaw grass."

Does that mean anything to you?

Well, they eat certain grasses for medicine, but...

the word means nothin' to me.

Does it to you, Howard? Hotaw? No, no.

But it is a clue.

It could be a clue to many different kinds of illnesses.

Cholera, the pox--

This is a very foolish thing you've done, young lady.

Well? Are the poles standing? Yes, sir.

No sign of the Utes. You can feel 'em out there, though.

They seem to be waiting.

How is he, Ella? Any better?

No. If anything, he's worse.

His mouth's inflamed, and I can't get him to eat anything.

That's too bad.

How close is the nearest doctor?

Three, four days.

No, I mean one that I can reach by telegraph.

Well, that would be Provo or Silver City. Why?

Because, I can wire his symptoms,

and get a doctor's advice!

Now, why didn't I think of that?

Sure! Well, I don't know what we'll do for medicine, honey,

but it's a lot better than sitting around, watching him die.

[ telegraph clicks ]

"...a grass we can't describe."

[ continues ]

"Symptoms sent yesterday...

are the same."

"No improvement... noted."

Well I... best go fix supper.

Thank you, Aunt Cora. I'll wait for the doctor's answer.

[ clicking ]

Making him well would be the best Christmas present ever.

What is... tick-tick?

Tick-tick?

It's a telegraph. A machine.

It sends words over wires.

Evil. Wire bring... evil to Ute.

The telegraph may save your life!

The white medicine man sends words on wires...

to-to say why you're sick!

Wire sing, no talk.

Yes, the wires do sing in the wind,

but... but they also hum with words.

Show me. Show Black Wing.

I can't!

It'll only talk when it's ready.

[ grunts ]

[ clicking ] Wire talk.

[ clicks ] "Feed patient...

"any uncooked...

"green...

"vegetation...

"definitely...

"not...

pox or cholera."

Aunt Cora, where are you?

In the spring room, Ella!

He has scorbutus, Aunt Cora.

Can we catch it?

No, it's not contagious.

Scorbutus is scurvy, Enoch.

You get it from not eating right.

Black Wing knew that that grass would make him better.

Yes, but what he didn't know was that

any uncooked green plant would have cured him.

The doctor says he's too weak now to have anything but liquids.

He'll die if he doesn't have fresh milk or lime juice.

I'm afraid that's out of the question

here at the fort, Ella.

We can't let him die! We just can't!

Well, I expect not. We'll just keep trying.

Doing the best we can.

Enoch, get the women inside.

[ gunshot ]

What's the trouble out here?

The Utes cut the lines. And cleaned out the root cellar.

I tell you, Jacob, this is only the beginning.

Any word on the troops coming down from Provo?

No, no. It's snowing up north. There's no telling when they'll arrive.

Well, how's the-- How's Black Wing?

Oh, there seems to be nothing we can do for him.

Nothing.

Aunt Cora!

Our prayers have been answered!

Oranges! Oranges for juice!

Oranges! Instead of limes!

Oh! You were listening!

I knew you were listening.

[ chuckles ] Well, I can certainly use this.

Oh, look, Enoch!

Look what I got! Oh, that's beautiful.

That's the last one, Ella. Open it.

It's from me.

[ paper rustling ]

Oh, Enoch! A necklace of cedar berries.

Oh, how lovely!

I made it myself. The Indians give them, in friendship.

And I take them in friendship. [ chuckles ]

Well, I said from the beginning,

this would be a Christmas we'd never forget.

Yes, you certainly did, Mrs. Stewart.

Oh, by the way, is Black Wing able to leave yet?

[ sighs ] Thanks to Ella.

His people are coming for him this morning.

Ella?

There's somebody outside who wants to see you.

Talking wire... good!

Singing wire good.

You... good.

All these... friend of Ute!

Friend of Black Wing!

Sure. I'll make another.

Today, Fort Pipe Springs, Arizona,

is a National Monument, honoring the memory of Ella Stewart,

and the brave men who built it.

It is operated by the National Park Service,

and you are most welcome to visit.

Next week, another true story from the history of the West.