Death Valley Days

- Season 3

(1954)

A drought in Pueblo Indian country has bypassed a branch headed by Miguel due to a painting of St. Joseph. The Laguna tribe headed by Felipe borrows it but then refuses to return it after receiving rain, causing conflict.

Jim Hardwicke's act of self defense becomes a murder charge because of an ambitious politician Pike. An effort to make Columbia, California the new capital involves 11,000 signatures and lawyer Barrett uses that to his advantage.

Gordon McLean and Ginny Cluett meet then fall in love even though they belong to feuding families. They intend to marry until Gordon makes a deathbed promise to his father starting the animosity in the next generation.

Wells Fargo is plagued by a series of stagecoach robberies by Black Bart who taunts their agents with his poetry. A retired teacher Bolton offers the detectives advice while he courts his landlady Miss Webb.

Nevada's road to statehood becomes entwined in a trial concerning mining claims and Civil War allegiances. Lawyers Corey and Stewart must prove that the judge and jury have been bribed to rid the courts of corruption.

Two partner prospectors, two Charlies, sell out to wealthy Spencer Gates and their lives take different paths. Big Charlie marries Consuelo Gates and becomes rich while his friend is a storekeeper just barely getting by.

The life of Cherokee tribesman Sequoia from his birth to his later years. His time spent on developing the Cherokee written language is portrayed in detail and it's importance to it's people.

The tumultuous life of Lola Montez, born Eliza Gilbert, is portrayed. The dancer and adventuress becomes the toast of two continents, brings down Bavaria's King, owns a bear and goes through several fortunes.

A young tenderfoot goes to Death Valley to work at his fiancée's borax mine. He is assigned to work as a swamper on the huge mule train that ships the product out of the desert to a train station ten days away. On the return trip, a disgruntled former employee steals the mine's payroll and shoots the lead driver, forcing the tenderfoot to prove his mettle by taking the train back to safety and tracking down the thief to retrieve the stolen money.

Innocent Bud Payson arrives in wild mining town of Limbo and is hired to collect back taxes by the sheriff. Bud enlists Curly Bill, the area's toughest man to help, not realizing a robbery is planned when he has gathered all the money.

Elvira Riggs does the hard work on their mining claim while her husband Henry takes it easy. When they sell their stake for $70,000 Henry takes off with a shady sea captain, squandering the hard earned money.

Though women are scarce in the mining camp plain Aggie lacks any suitors. But George and Russ bribe their friend Tiny with worthless mine stock to marry her. Tiny confesses to Aggie, then manager Mr. Loomis delivers a surprise.

Nina pledges to wait for Terry when he leaves to make his fortune. But after not hearing from him, Nina marries John. Terry, now friendly with saloon girl Vera, is surprised when a sick Nina arrives leading him to make a huge sacrifice.

Tom Powell is elected wagon train captain on way to the California. His refusal to travel on the Sabbath leads Frank to lead a breakaway group, taking Tom's girl Mary Ann with him. The two groups have very different incidents on the trail.

When assayer Murphy evaluations vary greatly the miners decide to play a prank to prove a point. They break up a grindstone to take to Murph but are stunned when it contains silver but where it came from is a mystery.

This episode re-creates the record-breaking run of the "Scott Special," a passenger train of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway commissioned by Walter E. Scott in 1905. Santa Fe #1010, one of the original steam locomotives used on the special, was reconditioned especially for filming.

Eilley Orrum believes she can see the future and gives advice based on the ability. She tells Sandy Bowers where to mine his fortune, marrying him and spending their wealth freely. But she doesn't foresee that the money might run out.

The outlaw career of California's notorious Joaquin Murieta is portrayed. It's seen through the experience of Ann Dix whose husband is murdered and her child disappears, leading her to spend years searching for her daughter.