 Hi everyone, this is Chichou. Welcome back to my channel and welcome back to reading set number 4. And what we're going to do in this video, we're going to read Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders number 1. And it's sort of just a one-shot, so there was no number 2 involved with this comic for this series. So one shot from the 1950s, from the golden age of comics, and it was published by Avalon Publications, or Avalon Pure Articles. And these guys were very active in the 1940s and 50s in the golden age of comics. And in publishing in general, comic books was one of the things they published. They also published paperbacks and stuff like this. And they focused on sort of crime comics, horror comics, sci-fi, western comics. And this is one of their western comic publications. And they're they're comic books from the golden age of comics. They're pretty much sought after. They've published some stuff that a lot of collectors, old school collectors, and new collectors are chasing. They published eerie comics. They published all true detectives. They published a lot of comics based on certain people, certain idols like Teddy Roosevelt and Jesse James and stuff like this. They published some bad girl comics, I guess. I'm not sure what you refer to them, but you know, love comics, and slave girl comics, and strange worlds, and sci-fi, okay. And some stuff that's like some of the jungle comics. And one of the ones they published was White Princess of the Jungle, okay. So they were they were really active. And personally, whenever I see anything that's from any seller that I'm buying, if they're publishing, selling anything from Avalon Publications, I try to get my hands on them, right. If the price is reasonable, of course. If the price is reasonable, meeting my budget, right. And this was one of the comics that I ended up getting, I guess a couple of years ago, maybe two or three years ago, that I ended up buying from an eBay seller, right. So we're going to take a look at this. And Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders, this is part of history, really. And I knew a little bit about this. I know some of my history from the from the last century, but this went sort of beyond what I knew, right. So basically the Rough Riders, I sort of got the description here from Wikipedia. So let me read you a couple of paragraphs as to what this refers to, okay. So from Wiki, the Rough Riders are a nickname given to the first United States Volunteer Calvary, one of the three such regiments raised in 1898 for the Spanish-American War, and only one of the three to see action. The United States Army was small and understaffed in comparison to a status during the American Civil War, roughly 30 years prior, okay. As a measure towards rectifying the situation, President William McLealy called upon 125,000 volunteers to assist in the war effort. The regiment was called Wood's Weary Walkers in honor of his first commander, Colonel Leonard Wood. His nickname served to acknowledge that despite being a Calvary unit, they ended up fighting on foot as infantry, okay. So that was the beginning of what kicked into the Rough Riders and the second paragraph says this. Wood's second in command was former assistant secretary of the Navy, Theodore Roosevelt, Teddy Roosevelt, okay. A man who had pushed for American involvement in the Cuban War of Independence. When Colonel Wood became commander of the Second Calvary Brigade, the Rough Riders, right, then became Roosevelt's Rough Riders. That term was familiar in 1898 for Buffalo Bill, who called his famous Western show Buffalo Bill's Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders of the World. The Rough Riders were mostly made of college athletes, Cabloys, ranchers, minors, and other outdoorsmen. A common trait shared by many members of the regiment was a shared origin with this, with shared origin, with these men being from southwestern ranch, ranch county country. They were quite skilled in horsemanship, okay. So Teddy Roosevelt at the time when the Rough Riders were basically created was the assistant secretary of the Navy, right, and after William McKinley, okay, during the next presidential election, Teddy Roosevelt became president and he served for two terms from 1901 to 1908 or in 1909 I believe if I'm not mistaken, okay. So this is sort of a historical piece. I believe I haven't read this, I flipped through it, but it's sort of a historical comic book referencing something that happened in real life. So it's, I found that pretty cool. I sort of knew about the Rough Riders a little bit throughout my pastry, but I didn't know their origin and Rough Riders have been, I guess, have had comic books published about them post this as well, after this as well. The most recent one being Rough Riders that was released by Aftershock Comics that came out in 2016. They released, I forget how many issues it was, I have picked it up, I do have that set, I believe the first set anyway, and then it ran, I think, for maybe four to six issues and then they did another series after Shock of Rough, Rough Riders as well. So what we're going to do is have a read through this and that's sort of a history behind this. So let's crack this open, take a look inside that way we can get rid of the glare. And the artists for this, as before, I usually always put the tape on the side and pull the comic out with the board and I usually do hold the board for reading, right? And let's actually look at the grade for this for now. Now there's chipping along the edges of this, right? You can see a little bit there. The cover is a little bit rough. He's got writing on it. 265, the numbers, if you can see there, 265, 466, 195, 946, 556, 65901, sorry, 301. Not sure what that is. So Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders, the battle of San Juan Hill, right? And the grade for this, I flipped through it when I first bought it and I believe I bought it. It was supposed to be graded as a two, but I would give this a higher grade, planes flying over, right? And we're looking at a Western comic book. And I believe this is, this should be a four story anthology. Okay, Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders, chapter one, the battle of, the battle with Black Dawn, Carol and his gang of rustlers, right? So before we start reading this, let's just flip through it. They're staining around the staples, right? The staples are nicely intact though, they're only staining around the top staple, not the bottom staple. And while we're flipping through this, let me tell you about that. I looked around, I couldn't figure out who the writer for this is. Okay, which is very weird. Well, it's not weird for the golden age of comics. There's a lot of comic books out there that don't have attributes. They don't, you know, people can guess who the writer is and artist are, but there was no I couldn't find a writer for this, but I found who the artists were. And what's this one called? Chapter two, chapter two, the men in the West. But the main artist for this, for the first three stories is Everett Raymond Kinsler. And I didn't, you know, as you know, I'm not the best person with names. So I don't remember reading anything from him before, but after looking him up, I'm pretty sure I've read other works from him just because he did a lot of work in the golden age of comics. And if you want to know a little bit more about him, here's chapter three, check this out. The story of this one, the battle of San Juan Hill. That's a main, main story, I think. But as far as Everett Raymond goes, there's a fantastic little short interview with him, okay, from the Norman Rockwell Museum, and the video is available on YouTube. If you type in Everett Raymond Kinsler pulps to portraits, okay. And it's a short, you know, 13-minute interview with him. And then he starts telling a story of how he got into doing art and how he got into creating comic books. And he's, he became famous because he basically started, he did a lot of comic books in the 1940s and some in the 1950s, or a fair bit in the 1950s, I guess. But then he started doing portrait work. And he became a very famous portrait artist. And he, you know, he has portraits of some of the greatest actors of our time, actors and actors of our time. He's got portraits of presidents and scientists. So there's a, he's done a lot of portraits. And that interview is absolutely fantastic. Okay, if you want to look up, you know, who he is and what he's done. And he basically did the artwork for the first three issues, for the first three chapters. And the fourth chapter, the art. And what's this one called? I don't know if this is the Rough Riders or not. This one's called, the story's called Sharp and Flat in Swing Your Partner. Looks like a bar fight. Pretty cool artwork, okay. And the artist for this one is Rudy Pales. Pales, I believe. And he did, again, he was one of the artists for the Golden Age of Comics, but he continued doing artwork for comic books all the way to the late 1960s. And he's, he did a lot of work for in the 1940s and 50s for Crime Comics, for Wanted, for Planet Comics, for Classics Illustrated, Justice Trapped the Guilty. And I have some of those books in my collection and we've done a reading of Wanted. And I believe we've done a couple of readings of Crime Does Not Pay. So I'm not, I can't remember if we did a reading with Rudy's work or not, but I like his style. Take a look at this. Fantastic artwork. I'd be surprised if he didn't do any work for EC Comics. Obviously we've got the strong man advertisements and stuff, right? And the back cover. What's the back cover? Oh yeah, send in, mail in, mail in your stuff to get your free, whatever it is, right? Jim Betty find a new treasure given, what is this? Given boys and girls, ladies, gentlemen, we give you cash or premiums. I don't know if you can hear it. There's kids playing outside and there's people doing lawn mowing and stuff like this. So let's have a read through Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders. I'm just going to put all my glasses so we can read the fine print and everything in there, okay? And just flipping through this. Again, there's no, you know, the center fold was attached. There's chipping for sure here, but you know, there's a little bit of missing cover here. But I would grade this around the three mark, okay? The inside pages are nicer than the cover. You know, there's nothing missing from the inside pages, right? And the back covers and talked as well. So I would give grade this is around the three and the staples are attached, but there is discoloration around the staples for the top one. So let's take a look at this. It's easy to learn dancing, learn to dance in five days or pay nothing. Jitterbug, rumba, samba, square dances, 16 amazing dance courses. Be more popular. Be more popular. That's one thing advertisers always try to sell, right? Wow. $1.98. That is expensive at that time. Tested five days. 98. That's two bucks. You get about 20 comics. I guess dance lessons are pretty expensive now. Mail and coupon. Let's read the fine print here. Okay. Hopefully we can zoom in so you can read it as well. Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders, published by Avalon Preauticals, Incorporated. 119 West 57th Street, New York. 19, New York. Joss Myers, President. Saul Cohen, Editor and General Manager. Copyright 1950 by Avalon Preauticals, Incorporated. All names in this pre-autical are entirely fictitious and no identification with actual persons is intended printed in the United States, USA. That's one of the smaller first little fine prints we've had. So which one is, I think all of these were around the same size, same length of story, right? So let's have a read through the first one at least. I definitely want to read through the fourth one as well. Okay. So maybe we'll read the first one and the fourth one. Okay. Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders. No chapter in the life of Teddy Roosevelt had affected him more than the days he was living with the rough riding men of the Plains, the type of men who would one day provide him with an army to lead in the battle. The names of Sheriff Seth, Lamson, Bill Jones, and Black Dan Carroll are fictitious. They have to say that. So chapter one, the battle with Black Dan Carroll and his gang of wrestlers. At three o'clock on a cold September morning in 1883, at Little Missouri in the Dakota Territory, a young man watched a train pull away. Before he had left New York a short time previously, both his mother and young wife had died within 24 hours. Wow. What a place to look for lodging at this time of morning. Walking down the one street of town, he saw that he would have no trouble waking the owner of the town's only hotel. Seems to be a wild West reception. Bang, bang. So much shooting inside. Wanted, dead or alive. Black Dan Carroll, killer, rustler. Inside the building, ha ha ha, dense. Dad blessed, yo, dense. Ha ha, Bill, you sure are a card. Doing his feet to make him dance. Hey, what's the matter? Why are you interrupting my fun? Look, what's coming up? Look, what's at the, coming in the door. A dude if I ever saw one. Well, sure looks like the Bar Keeps Gut Company. Say, ain't you out of place? With all them fancy clothes, stranger? There ain't no dancing girls here. I'm looking for a place to sleep if you can show me the boss. I'll pass up the dancing girls. Boss, why I'm the boss here. The one that can handle the hardware is the boss. How'd you like to do a little dancing all by yourself, huh? Don't press your luck too far, my friend. Now, if you'll stand to one side, well, I'll be. He says, you're gonna let him get away with that, Bill. You just watch. I'd like to have a room for the rest of the night. Watch out, stranger. That Bill Jones is full of red eye and mighty dangerous. I reckon I was mistaken, folks. The dude ain't gonna dance, after all. He's setting up trunks for the house. That right stranger. Well, I guess if I must, I must. Only if I must, you understand why I'll. Oh, Maria. You're in no condition to be handling sidearms, my friend. I'll turn it over to the bartender to your better control of your senses. Oh, what? Hit me. You'll leave strangers alone. No, stranger, huh? Got me all wrong. I, I, I'll be throwing them out of a bar. Can't throw me out of here. I'll get the law on you. I tell you, I got rights. Hey, I'll try to come back. I'll get even with you for this, if it's the last thing I do. He didn't know I'd been out of here some time ago. There's not a room in the place, stranger, but I'll be right glad to share mine with you. Joe Ferris is the name. You sure pull, you should, you sure, sure put Bill Jones in his place. Thanks. I'm Theodore Roosevelt from New, New York. Jones is typical of all bullies. So this is Teddy Roosevelt. So Teddy Roosevelt. Pastry of this. At three o'clock in the cold September morning, a little misery in the Dakota territory. A young man washed the train, pulled away before he had left New York a short time previously. Both his mother and young wife had died within 24 hours. You know what? I'm going to look that up. That's crazy. The Roosevelt. Cool. At that meeting, a friendship grew between Theodore Roosevelt and Joe Ferris. That was the last, that was the last of the lifetime. But at that time, Joe could only wonder. One in Tarnation brings you out here to say in a fit country for a man like you. I guess I've got a lot, I've got a lot to learn, Joe. And I will. A man can learn anything when he has to. You ain't dodging the law, are you? No. Something worse. I'm dodging memories. By the way, do you know where I can get someone to take me out on a buffalo hunt? The meeting between Theodore Roosevelt and Sylvan Ferris and William Merrifield Jones, partners in the Chinney Butt ranch, was cordial but restrained. The partners were suspicious of Roosevelt. Okay, so I guess we're doing a little jump here. Teddy's a real hombre. I brought him here to take him out after buffalo. Maybe, huh? Bit off more than you all. Be able to swallow, mister. Maybe you should have stayed in New York. The men found Roosevelt no tender foot. Teddy, with you going to call it a day, there'll be plenty of dry days when we can hunt buffalo. Ah, it's raining. See the rain. Tomorrow's another day. Let's not waste this one. In time, men grew to respect Theodore Roosevelt and he bought a partnership in the Chinney Butt ranch. While you men continue with the roundup, I'm going to check on things up ahead. Okay, late that afternoon, Indians and their rustling arcadol, I'd better get back and get the men. Indians had seen him. Those boys mean no good, but is it wise to run for cover? They know more about fighting under cover than I do. Oh, it brings out his gun. This mountain, Roosevelt stood squarely, coolly drawing a bead on the charging red skin. He knew that men do not like riding in on one who's cool in shooting. Where ranch man means to kill, we ride back to hills. Perhaps I can find where those red skins are heading. Racing into the foothills, Roosevelt climbed a tall tree. So Roosevelt's chasing them. They've disappeared between those boulders. It looks like they're hideout. That night, the three partners rode into town and conferred with Sam, Seth, Lamson, the sheriff. It doesn't fit. Indians ain't no rustlers of cattle. They fight for revenge. They steal horses for their use, but cattle? We're going to watch that section. My guess is that something will break wide open and would be ready. The sheriff looks like knows something is up. And one night, a short time later, there they come, a whole bunch of them. If we don't head the critters off, they'll stampede those cattle. When Joe Fair's fear came to pass, the cattle started, startled by the Indians, began to stampede. Ride, men. If we can head the lead cattle into the cliffside, we may stop this. His horse stumbled with the gray of a cold dawn. Tom's dead teddy yanks. We're going to get to the bottom of this outrage. You ride in for the sheriff and a posse. The rest of you follow me. So we're going to get a posse together. Teddy's pissed. Leading his men towards the hideout he had seen from the treetop. Roosevelt rode straight into the jaws of danger. Straight at them, flushed them out of their cover. No kill, no kill, white man, no kill. We don't want to kill. We want to talk. Get your men together. There's a guy in the background punching one of the natives in the face. Why did you stampede my cattle, chief? Where did you get those guns and bullets? White man say you take away land. White man give guns, say steal cattle. At that moment, bang. Oh, someone shoots one of them. My son, my son. Oh man, they killed the son. My son is dead. This means war, white man. Chief, that bullet was meant for me. Come with us. We will try to catch the villains. Mr. Roosevelt, I hear horses. The killers are escaping. Hurry. Don't let those murderers get away. But Roosevelt realized the hoofbeats were not retreating. They were coming towards them. Sheriff, you're just in time to help us avenge a foul murderer. Well, chief, will your men ride with us? Indian go with ranch man. Fine man killed my son. Indian now trail to white man camp. Come, day the posse followed the trail of the Indians. Soon, we come to camp where white man hide. At dusk, at dusk of that day, they reached their goal. Suddenly, the thrill war cries and Indians and the fire of rifles and six shooters were heard. His black man, Carol, and his gang of wrestlers run for cover. The red skins have double crossed us. I don't fire until they run out of bullets. We can stand them off until they give up. We're starved to death. Time and again, the posse charged the barricade behind which the bandits were hiding. Time and again, the lawmen and ranchers fell back. They're stubborn, Ted. Don't know if we'll have enough ammunition to flush them out. We've got to do something. Our bullets are running low, too. I'll take the chief with me and see if there is a way to take them from their rear. Meanwhile, you keep them busy from the front. Okay, Teddy, but be careful. Cautiously, they inched their way over the rough terrain. Suddenly, wait. You have good ears, chief. I can't hear a thing. What is it? Suddenly, out of the half darkness, a figure crept stealthily through the thicket nearby. This trail may lead us to where they are hiding. Let me handle him. Roosevelt's saying he's going to chief his knife out, he's going to go after him. Roosevelt sprang through the air, landing hard, and at the same time, clapping his hand over the mouth of his victim to prevent his crying out. Though it's you, Jones, trying to get revenge for the lesson I tried to teach you the night I arrived here. No, honest, I ain't done nothing. Well, let a court of law decide that. It's the guy from that bar. Don't kill me. I'll tell you everything. I'll show you how to get black then by the back trail. But Theodore Roosevelt needed no help from Jones. He had discovered the back trail into the bandit camp. All right, you men surround her with fire. Well, I'll be. It's Roosevelt. You did a real job, Ted. Unsnarled. Your own problem and captured black then in the bargain. I've got to convince the Indians that our ways of justice are best. Oh yeah, the chief will probably want to kill the guy. Roosevelt did persuade the Indians to allow justice to be meted out in the white man's court. The jury will soon be out. You will see how court of law works, chief. We find all the defendants guilty of cattle rustling and murder. You see, chief, the lawbreaker will be punished. Good. White man's way is good for Indian too. Heartwarming story now. For a year, Theodore Roosevelt helped Sheriff Seth Lamson then one day. I'll be sorry to see you go, Ted. What's the letter say? The citizens committee in New York City has asked me to run for mayor. I'd rather stay here, but it's a job I can't refuse. So was he the mayor of New York the first time? I don't know Roosevelt's history. And so farewell. So he's going to run for mayor of New York, huh? Well, it wouldn't surprise me, none. If that hombre one day runs for president too. There are two mothers boxing in here. Okay, let's read this one too. Yeah, okay, cool. Teddy Roosevelt and his rough riders. Chapter two, The Men of the West. 260 brave American soldiers lost their lives in the terrible sinking by explosion February 15, 1898 in the harbor of Havana, Cuba. Oh, this is not exciting to read this one. Cuba of the United States battleship Maine. The blast echoed throughout the United States in a indignant cry to avenge our nation's honor. Remember the Maine, the people shouted, the Spanish American War followed with thousands answering the call for the colors. Of course, there's a different version of the history of this, right? But we're gonna. In years that had passed since his Western adventures, Theodore Roosevelt had become assistant secretary of the Navy. At the outbreak of the war with Spain, however, he resigned his post. So this goes connecting up with what we read regarding rough riders, right? But Mr. Roosevelt, do you think it wise to resign his disimportant office and actually go into battle? I've been for this fight against oppression all along. If there is to be a war, I'm getting into it personally. Congress authorized the first United States volunteer Calvary to be made up of rough riding men of the Western Plains. Theodore Roosevelt obtained a commission as lieutenant colonel of the regiment. Under colonel Leonard Wood, the response was tremendous. That's what we read in the wiki page, right? These men will make mighty good soldiers, colonel Wood. And our hardest task will be rejecting thousands of good men who want to fight. To each man who joined, Theodore Roosevelt gave warning. Once you've joined up, there will be no turning back. Bucky O'Neill was a college graduate, a newspaper man, a poet, a fearless lawman, and one time mayor of Prescott, Arizona. Once when he was sheriff of Yavapai, Yavapay County in the early spring of 1889. Oh, I wish there was something more for a sheriff to do than read poetry. Bucky didn't know that the night before, not far from Flagstaff, Arizona, we're slowing up. Don't suppose there'll be any express to pick up. Hope not, with the money and jewels we're tooting for while as far ago, I'd soon as have no stop at all in this wilderness. Narrow your thing for you this run. Good. We'll be rolling as soon as I check the boilers. There's thieves coming. We'll be just a slight delay till you have that that or express door open up that that is. A boy talking. Well, the name of this again. Men of the West. Chapter two, the Men of the West. After a ride of five miles in the wilderness of the hills, the bandits stopped. There's the Divi. Now I reckon we ought to ride north. They're splitting it up. Okay, Smith. The time maybe, word of the skits, the town, the trail will be so cold they won't even find us. It was the telegraph agent who the next day interrupted Bucky's poetry reading. Bucky, the East West Express was robbed last night at Canyon Diablo. By the time we get a posse, posse maya, I'll be my own posse. From Canyon Diablo, northward across the little Colorado, Bucky O'Neill followed the trail of his own institution rather than any hoof prints or other signs of direction the bandits had taken north into Utah. They had to go that way. It's where they feel safest and around Canyonville, Utah, is the only place that could get fresh supplies close to country. He traveled for days, guided only by his instinct. Then, picking up bits of news along the way, he found the trail growing warmer until, at last, a surprise attack, single-handed. No use going any further, homebrews. Might as well give up. You got us, Bucky. There was also Ben Daniels. So this is one of the people. This is this guy. We just read the story of the origin of this guy that was talking to Teddy Roosevelt, right? I won't turn back, sir. The name's Bucky O'Neill, right? So this is a little history gap in time. Let's read the next one. Here's the other one of the other reference. You should check to see if the names of these people are accurate. At the beginning, it said the names weren't so. There was also Ben Daniels. Marshall, in the rip-roaring town of the Old West Dot City, he too was wise to the ways of lawless men and fearless in performance of his duty. So this guy's Ben Daniels. Let's take a look at the front page, the first story. So the first story, they're all fictitious for the first story, anyway. Sheriff Seth Lamson and Bill Jones. Was there a little bag on the front of this as well? For this story, there was no tag saying that the names were fictitious, so they might be real. If your history buffet might be cool to look these up, you'll find anything from these. Ben Daniels. Who's those hombres cutting that scrimmage through here? Anyway, Ben. Who's those hombres cutting that scrimmage through here? Anyway, Ben. So this is Ben. This is the guy's original story we're reading. I don't know. It's no celebrating boys. See, they're coming back through town again. That's right. Accommodations, Ben. We'll give them as good as they're sending out. They won't return. They're making a cover for something more important. Come on with me and keep your guns ready for action. So this is a diversion. And over that there, Bar X payroll. Ain't doing trying to be funny. Won't argue down the barrel of a six-gun. All right, hombres. Reach for the sky. Lucky I remember the Bar X keeps his payroll money here in the safe. Right, March. We have a jail here for safe keeping for hombres like you, even if we don't have a bank. But as they reach the streets, the marshals trying to take our boys. Come on, you jump. Scrimmagers should have figured them out. Figured on them. We saved the Bar X payroll anyway, Ben. That's not enough. Those rats belong in jail. And that's where they're heading. Get your horses, men. We're riding. We're gaining on them. If we keep up, this pace will catch them. Catch up to them before they hit that rocky land and hold up. If they reach their Ben, we may as well give up. We haven't got enough ammunition to keep them bottled. The distance narrowed and Ben Daniels and his men fought it out in a short hot battle. Keep blasting away, boys. We've got those hombres about where we want them. They never were a match for the kind of fighting. Fighting new dish out, Ben. Back towards the town, Ben Daniels drove the defeated bandits. Back to jail, there to await their fate at the hands of a court of justice. And Tom Rining, soldier, cow puncher, putt-puncher, sheriff, ranger. He grew up in the rugged life of the West, began in Del Rio, Texas as a youngster in partnership with a carpenter named Bradley. Let's call it a day, Tom. I'm heading across the road for a shot of a shot of red-eye. You coming along? No. I rather finish up here, Brad. I'll stop by for you on the way to the hotel. Rining called for his partner. I'm through, Brad. Want to come along to the hotel now? Yeah, sure, Tom. Oh no, you don't, youngster. A man comes in here to drink. You want to your pal? Yeah, first buy a drink with him. Push it. Get your paws off me, stranger. If I drink, I'll pick the time and place myself. Durned little punk on some other time, you clumsy ox. Whoa. Hold it, you hombres. That's the sheriff coming in. He's got a start, right? Gates. There'll be no brawling here for anywhere else around, or anywhere else around Del Rio. Come on, Tom. That ombre is full of red-eye. It looked like the fight was over, but as the men turn back to the bar, look. If you want to fight this out, come back. Come back of this place tonight, after dark. Oh, mister, I'll be here. I'll be there. He accepts the challenge. Fist fighting, bare knuckle. The two men met that night, and it looked bad for Tom Rining. Gates was a mountain of muscle. After I've laid you out, Gates, maybe you'll go easy with your big ideas. Get your fists going, mister. You can talk from your bed if he lives through this. Like that, you mean? Poof. Oof. Oh, grunt. Kill you. Traded blows with his massive opponent. That little guy can sure dish it out. The fight lasted over an hour. Each man had taken plenty of punishment. Finally. Wow, that was Gates lullaby, all right. Joe Gates kept his distance after that. Meanwhile, Tom joined the 8th United States Calvary, one day arriving from a scouting assignment. The big guy pushing that recruit around sure looks familiar. Reminds me of, well, I'll be. So good. Gates. Joe Gates. You haven't changed much since the old Dalrio days. Rining. Look, when you're gonna have any trouble, reckon I got to get back to quarters. In February 1889, the men of the fort were out trailing, trailing, sitting bull. But somehow he had slipped over the border into Canada. This is far as we go, man. You mean we can't follow that critter anymore? Wow. The mounted police will not let us into Canada. Say it's sure it get getting warm. Guess a Chinook is coming up. The Chinook is a sudden draft of hot air that covers a broad plain area. In only a matter of hours, winter had turned to summer. That night it was hot. Tom rining, unable to sleep, came out of his tent. Watch how you flick those ashes Gates. This prayer grass could fire up in a moment. And there's no hose, hose company out here to put it out. Wrecking up in around as long as you. Later that night, the morning of a bugle, bugle roused the men from their sleep. The prairie was a fire. What fools started that fire? Quick, we've got to find a safe spot. There's a pond a mile or so upser. We may make it if we try if we hurry. The men placed their supplies in the pond and worked desperately to ward off the fire that was sweeping the plains. Only a switch of the winds direction could spell their doom. The flames struck with devastating suddenness, destroying everything in its way, gaining momentum from the very updraft of its fierce heat. The men huddled, hoping, praying. All life was destroyed except the men who had survived the blaze. Rining, I never meant to do nothing like that. You can't turn me in. You have to live with your conscious gates that will say more than I ever could. Some food had been saved, but there was no grass for the horses. Lungs were scorched by the heat air. If we don't find food for the horses, cough or sunk. We could try skinning the bark from those cottonwoods, sir. In time, the horses learned to tear the bark from the cottonwoods themselves, but now the men's own food was giving out. We'll be lucky to get through this alive. Look, there's food. Why can't we? One of the horses is down. Rining's hand reached for his holster and a flash as gun was leveled. It would be like killing someone of our own command company. Now Gates wants to eat him. I heard you warned Gates last night, Tom. We'll deal with him when we turn to the post, when we turn to the post. Gates was not the type taken into the rough riders. Bucky O'Neill, Ben Daniels and Tom Rining were. The volunteers now were ready to leave for training at San Antonio, Texas, suddenly. So we're back to the recruiting of the rough riders. Hey, wait up, mister. I want to hide out with this outfit. Not a chance. The men are already chosen. Got to let me, mister. I'm anxious for a chance at them Spaniards. Get aboard and see if they'll take you in San Antonio. Good luck. In Texas, I really want to fight with this outfit. What about a colonel Roosevelt? Okay, you're the only trooper to get in without examination. I hope you make it good. I hope you make good. At San Antonio, Teddy Roosevelt turned, turned his raw recruits into a fighting unit of trained soldiers. And after three weeks of training, embarkation from Port Tampa, Florida. As fine a group of fighting men as you'll find, find anywhere in the world, the country is going to be mighty proud of our boys. Note for obvious reasons, the name, the name Joe Gates in history is fictitious. Joe Gates was this guy, the guy who started the fire and who, what's his name? This guy, a riding beat up earlier, right? So, Joe Gates names fictitious, but I'm assuming the rest of the names are the real names of some of the Rough Riders. We've got two more to read. And I guess this goes, the Battle of San Juan Hill. Let's continue reading because this is sort of an interesting take on how the Rough Riders came to be and who they were and what they did. So, why not? Why not? Chapter three, the Battle of San Juan Hill, Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders. No notes on any fictitious names on this one. On June 22nd, 1898, under protection of the big guns of the United States fleet, the Rough Riders landed in Cuba. It was a welcome move for they were men of action and they had been confined to their transport too long. Now they were ready for the big push. Very nicely detailed. Really, beautifully done. From a wharf, Theodore Roosevelt and Bucky O'Neill were supervising the unloading of men and supplies. When? We're capsizing. I can't swim a stroke. Oh man. Those two men out there, they'll drown. Sure as shooting. I'm going after them. Bucky O'Neill swam out towards the struggling men. He divided, dived beneath the surface of the water and a vain effort to save them. Sorry, you couldn't have made it, Bucky. But a soldier has got to face death one way or another. It's not the facing of death that matters, sir, but it's rotten luck to come out here and die by drowning. Ironically though, they were unlisted as cavalry. All men except high ranking officers or orders on orders from the war department were denied the use of their mounts. It is the duty of a soldier to accept his lot. If we cannot fight on horseback, we must make as good showing on foot. Scouting was done by the highest officers and some of the most trusted men. On the night of June 24th, 1898, the army began to march. The men slept as near the enemy as possible and at the break of day, they were up ready for action. This is what we have been waiting for. Let each one take his place and do his duty. The whole hillside burst into a scenic explosion as the Americans opened up the first broadside in the war for the liberation of Cuba from the yoke of Spain. Fire. Guns out to blast the enemy, clear to kingdom come. The enemy had been waiting for the first blow and returned the fire. We're in plain sight of them, take cover. Captain O'Neill, take your men to the right. I'll have some men work through the jungle to the left. We'll sneak up on them from the rear. I reckon we'll give them quite a surprise party. As Roosevelt wheeled his mount, that shot nearly got me. It came from behind our own lines. Yes, Colonel. There must be a sniper around. As Roosevelt went off to direct the left flank movement, he found Captain Capron. We're having trouble with snipers too. They've knocked out quite a few of our men. They're using smokeless powder. We can't spot them. We'll fix that Captain Parker. Move that gaddling gun up this way. The troop returned, the gaddling gun on the trees in the surrounding jungle. They're dropping like flies. It was a foxy move on the enemy, but they can be beaten at their own game. But when the Americans reached the entrenchment of the Spaniards, well, I'll beat that gun. They stolen a march on us. I was just itching to get my hands on a few of them too. Some of them may have holed up in these buildings. We've got them on the run, but the war is far from over. The enemy had been completely routed from their first position, but they had left supplies that could be put to good use. You never know when we will need these supplies in ammunition. We'll make camp, then pick up the dead and wounded. The wounded were helped, but there were some beyond all help. Among them was Captain Eileen Capron, one of the regiment's finest soldiers. Preparation was started at once for an attack on the enemy's new position. On June 30th, the march against San Santiago began. In the early dawn, the regiment waited impatiently for the order to charge the enemy that held San Juan Hill. Baco Neo paced before his men, his bearing erect, his manner calm. Captain, get down. The sniper is sure to see the fire in your cigarette. The Spanish bullet isn't made, that will kill me. Baco Neo never feared life and he never feared death. It looks like his number was up. Theodore Roosevelt, his voice ringing with challenge to his men, rode first as he gave the command. As the lines began to move swiftly, Charles Buckhold, the man who had been the last to join the Rough Riders, sprang to his feet. Oh, that's the guy. Tom, hey Tom, quick. Give a look at Buckhold. He's deserting. Never figured Buckhold was yellow. There is a way to treat deserters. Tom, can you tell what is wrong with this gun? It's jammed up. Now time, no time. Now to turn into the gunsmith buck, but wait. Take this buck. Oh, his gun was jammed. Take this buck. Wrecking that homebrew ain't gonna gonna need it anymore. They're taking it from a dead man. You are a disgrace to the uniform. I'll give you three to get back into the front line or I'll give you what all deserters deserve. Just watch me, sir. You just keep your eyes on me. Charge was a culmination of careful planning. It was fierce from the start. The enemy met the Americans with deadly fire. Now that we've begun, nothing can stop us. The enemy resisted stubbornly. They held tenaciously to every inch of ground before giving way. The wild broncs, all right, but we're sure gonna to bust them up. That's the spirit, boys. Give them everything you've got. Unnoticed, a wounded Spaniard had raised his rifle and had drawn a bead on the coal now. At that very second, Ben Daniels turned his eye towards the officer, towards his officer. Ben Daniels saw danger, acted properly, Conan Roosevelt didn't even know he had been menaced. Every man in the regiment would have done the same. And then at last, they're on the run. Yippee. Let's stampede them. By the time San Juan Hill had been secured, night was falling, and the men worked desperately digging in. We've got them. We've got them bottled up by land and sea, but they'll make it hot for us while they can. By the end of the second day of the siege, almost all of the food rationed had been exhausted. These are lean rations, boys, but we've got to make it last. Conan Roosevelt, sir, there was some supplies left in the blockhouse. I reckon I could get there and cook up a kettle of soup for the men. Should have feel I got to bring it to your attention that ain't yellow on you anyhow. Glad you said that, buck old. I want to apologize publicly, buck old. I completely misunderstood your reason for running to the rear. Thanks, sir. His gun jam, Conan. Actually, there's no braver fighter in the regiment than buck old. Running fast and crouching low, Charlie buck old braved the enemy fire. He's gonna make it. We have to get some food. Wrecking the return trip ain't gonna be any picnic. Halfway to the trenches. Hey, I'm hit. Got me in the leg. Somebody nab the soup before it gets cold. Hold it up, Charlie. We'll give you a hand. Tom Riling. Tom Riling slowly made it made his way towards the wounded buck old. I'll be with you in a couple of shakes. Might have been worse though. Could have spilled the darn stuff. Easy, Charlie. There's just a little way now to go. The soup brought back the spirits of the men. Come on, boys. Let's toast Charlie buck old and Tom Riling. Oh, it was nothing. The siege was now in his third day and the men felt that the Spaniards would now make a desperate effort to drive the Americans from their position in order to free the isolated city of San Diego. Then, Conan Roosevelt, look, sir, a flag of truth. I'm on the opinion that the war may be over, over for us boys. Theodore Roosevelt was right. When the red tape of official Washington had become unraveled, orders came for their return to the United States. And then back home with the cheers of the throngs ringing in their ears, the men rode proudly behind their commander, little realizing then that in a few short years, many millions more were to follow the leader of Theodore Roosevelt as 26th president of the United States. So that's sort of a three-part story of Teddy Roosevelt of just where he came from and taken us to the Spanish Civil War. Let's read this last story too because I sort of want to savor the arts for Rudy Palace, right? Because I like the artwork here. It looks beautiful. And I'm not sure if it's related to Teddy Roosevelt or not. Looks like it's like a straight-up cowboy story, right? So let's take a look. So this is sort of chapter four, I guess. And all three other, the three other stories were six pages, were eight pages, and this is supposed to be a six-page story, okay? So let's have a read through this. And I wonder if that's the signature of the artist right there. The other ones didn't have. Yeah, there's no signature on the page here, but this one does. I can't read it though, so I'm assuming it's our artist, Rudy. Sharp and flat, swing in your partner. In the Old West, there were no radios and no jute boxes, but the folks liked nothing better than a good evening of music and dancing. And around high hollow, they knew whom to call on for the music. It was those two wandering musicians, those music makers of the Old West, sharp and flat, and sometimes to provide it more than just country music. So sharp and flat are the two guys. I'm assuming it's these two guys. Nice artwork. Look at that. Beautiful. Don't fly one day at a colony of new settlers just outside of town. Here we are, flat. Looks mighty quiet for a new settlement. So flat is the little guy, the shorter guy. Sure does sharp. We ought to be able to pick up a job or two here. They could stand some music. Let's ask their fella. Let's ask the fella. See, partner, how about some real hoedown music around here? Yep, we'll play a mean square dance. Maybe you heard of us. Sharp and flat. Nope, never did. And nobody wants any music around here. No, sir. See, we're moving. We bought this land back east from the Ajax land company, but it's jinxed. We're pulling out. But that's a total loss. You'll lose all you paid for it. Suddenly, Carson, you hear? Yep, I'm buying this jinxed land off these folks for half price, helping them out. That's right, Mr. Carson. Here. Here is real generous, giving us half what we paid Ajax for bad land. Why do you say the land's jinx? Son, when cattle die like flies and folks turn sick for no good reason, that lands jinx. That Ajax outfit sold us bad land. That's all. I'm glad to do this for you, for you good people. I'm big hearted that way. Remember, you all are all, you all all be at my farewell party for you tonight. We're mighty grateful, Mr. Carson. Getting half our money back is better than nothing. Let's go flat. No music wanted here. When did that blow heart, Carson, get so generous? Search me. I never thought he'd do anything, anyone a kind turn, especially with money involved, but he's doing it. Him and his parties? He hires us for nearly nothing and makes us play till we drop. You're right, sharp, but it's better than no work at all. Don't get mad, but I saw this bird, Carson, before. I agreed with play at the party. He's strong tonight. Off flat. I told you not to take any more jobs from him. Shucks. Now we'll have to go through him. Through with it. Come on, let's get back. And so that night, swing your partner, one, two, three, turn to the left and they'll, she'll be sharp. Here comes Carson again. Are you here? What do you think I'm paying you for? Louder and faster? Yes, sir, we'll try. Come on, folks, have a good time. It's all on me, you know, the skin-filled, flint, wander where he gets his money, buy and land at half price. The more I think of it, the less it seems like him helping those settlers out so they only lose half their money. It beats me, Carson. It beats me too. Carson never did anything for anything nice for anybody. Hey, where are you going to get me, to get my microphone for the real? It's in the back. Keep playing. So he's taking off to get the mic right here. Here it is. Hey, that's Carson's voice. Those settlers are all willing to sell, boss. Only a few are holding out. So that's the Carson's voice in the background, in the black. You better get out there now, take some more arsenic. You know what to do, what to do, convince them that the land is jinxed. The guy's been poisoning. What's up? You look like you found gold, not gold, something else. Come on, give them an intermission. We've got some following to do. I'll explain on the way. Soon after, at the settlers' land, sharp and flat, watch a figure. There he is. He's pouring arsenic into the water. You're right, Sharp. That's one of Carson's men. What's he doing by the stream? I don't know, but I'm going to find out. Watch out. He's seen you. Come on, let's get him. This is for you. Oh, well. He dropped it. He was pouring it in the stream. It's arsenic. It was poisoning the water. That's why the settlers' cows died suddenly. They drank from the stream. And the settlers used this water for cooking. That's why they took sex. Big hearted Carson was forcing the settlers to leave the land. Let's get back and upset his apple cart. Yeah, always wanted to tell that vermin off. Soon, soon after, back at Carson's party. Where have you been? We want music. You all only get half pay for this night. Is that so? Well, Carson, we've got something for you. Yeah, what crack? What did he smack him over with with the guitar, I think? This. We're also wives to your arsenic poisoning. They know too much. And they hit the boss flat behind the piano. Some of our other instruments are there. Got him. Hold on to him while I teach him a lesson. I hope you like the bull fiddle. It's a nice instrument, see? And here's a little something you can keep. That's enough you little runt. Oh, sharp. I'm coming flat. It's like an Abaddon Castello almost. Tag team. We're lowering hardly, right? A little bit more serious. This is a new way to play the slide trombone. Boom. The finance say your fellas gone crazy. What's the idea of breaking up Mr. Carson's party for us? Big hearted Carson's behind what happened on your new land. He was your jinx. That's here. He poisoned the stream on the land that you and your cattle used. I reckon the courthouse can clear this up right. Come on over here. Come on over there. And soon on the courthouse record books. Here it is. Ajax Land Company, Carson owner. See Carson owner. You see, he sold the land under that name, then was getting you to sell back to him, back at half price. He intended, he intended selling the other settlers, then pull the same stunt. It even, it even made him look big hearted, but his scheme is done for. We'll see he gets locked up in pronto. Locked up pronto. And we folks owe you settlers a lot. How about finishing that party ourselves? And soon after. Swing your partner holder tight. Dancing makes the day. And right. Right. Hooray for sharpie, sharp and flat. Hooray. Yeah, this is a real party. Thanks to sharp and flat. But they're instruments. No wonder if there's more stories with sharp and flat in other comic books. I've never come across the blazing west for the first time. Roy Rogers, sensational televiewer. 25 cents. Awesome. Roy Rogers. Your last chance, only for 10 cents. Amazing. Look at this. Let's go pal. I'll prove I can make you two an all around he-man, fast, where it won't cost you a cent. Says George F. Fawcett, world's greatest bodybuilder. 1950. Larry Campbell. Rex Ferris. Fun raid, fun raid. It's definitely a piece of history. That's for sure. Right. It'd be cool to check out the history of the Rough Riders, Teddy Roosevelt, and see if the names of these people are accurate. And if Roosevelt lost his wife and both his mother and young wife had died within 24 hours. Right. Wow. That's sad. Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders, number one from 1950. Avalon Publications. Very cool. Hope you enjoyed it. And this is a good way to come back to reading set number four. Yeah. That's it for now. I'll see you guys in the next reading.