 In just a moment we will bring you one wagon westward starring Skippy Holmeyer on the Cavalcade of America. But first here is Gane Whitman with information on another of Dupont's better things for better living through chemistry. It's time for wise motorists to get the cooling systems of their cars ready for winter. To do that job right, clean out rust and scum with Dupont cooling system cleanser. Just pour it in your auto radiator. It dissolves rust chemically, cleans thoroughly, and won't harm the hose or metal parts. Then drain and refill the radiator with fresh water and add Dupont cooling system sealer to prevent leaks in the radiator or hose connection and to avoid the loss of your antifreeze. It takes only a few minutes to use these Dupont radiator products and they ensure better engine performance. They are examples of better things for better living through chemistry. Music America, the pony express. The covered wagon. America, the world series. America means skyscrapers and haylofts. The crack of a pioneer slint lock and the sound of the riveters machine. The glow of a fireside and the glare of a blast furnace against the midnight sky. America is your story. America is you and everyone you know. Tonight we present Skippy Homeyer in a true life story of the Sager family. One wagon westwards on the Dupont's cavalcade of America. It is the year 1843 on a farm in Missouri. A father and his son balanced themselves on a rail fence and watched the distant horizon as the last wagon of a train teeters over the crest of a hill and then disappears. Well, that's it Johnny. 200 wagons, I counted them. Where are they going? Oregon. Well where's that? It's way up in the northwest corner son. If I had my way there'd be 201 wagons. The Sager family would be leaving Missouri the day of that party. First wagon train bound for Oregon. You know what that means Johnny boy? There go the pioneers. Men and women who are doing something to make this country grow. Where do all those people come from? Oh, they come from every place. Well like we did when we come to Missouri. From Virginia to Ohio, from Ohio to Indiana. Then to Missouri. When people got a home, why do they want to move again? Well, tell you Johnny, I figured this way. This country's big and somebody's got to settle it. All the folks pushed into one spot and just sat right there and they blew away. There'd be no reason for all that land out there. Land that's big and rich and waiting. Waiting for us to come and make things grow in it. That's why those 200 wagons are going to Oregon huh? That's what I think. Well it's like Dr. Whitton said that night he spoke in St. Joe. If Americans like us don't take up the land that's laying there. It'll never be part of the United States. Oregon needs Americans who know how to work. Know how to take care of themselves. But we be going to Oregon dad. We will not be going to Oregon. Henry Sager, what have you been doing all morning? Just sitting here? No, I've been moving around a bit. Me and Johnny boy. You've been watching that wagon train. We were just counting the wagons mom. And wishing you were in them. Well I've had my last of that Henry Sager. And John, don't you get an idea like that in your head? No Naomi, you don't mean that. No. I said Missouri was my last move west and I meant it. We're in Missouri and that's where we stay. And counted them all. John Sager, for two weeks I've been telling you not to strangle off by yourself. Oh the boy's safe enough Naomi. As long as he keeps himself out of us. I'm going back in the wagon and watch the children. And Catherine's got a toothache. Can I drive a while dad? Well I reckon you can. I guess you're a second inch man of his leg. Thanks. How long is it going to take to get to Oregon? I don't know son. Oh I didn't know any country could be as big as this. Well you wouldn't want to live in a country where he's all hemmed in would you? No. Well then. Johnny boy you've got to understand. You and all of us are real honest to gush pioneers. What's Oregon like dad? Oregon? Well it's rich black soil where anything will grow. Easy climate year round. But it's more than that Johnny boy. How? Well when you're doing what we're doing, moving into a new country, you don't think of what the soil's like now or what the climate is or how rich you can get. You just think of how rich you can make America. You think of what you can add to it. The home, the family. That's your way to think about it Johnny. That's the way you want me to think about it ain't it dad? Always son. Always. I don't think like that dad. I promise. Dad look I found a piece of mirror. Know what I'm going to do with it? John look at your clothes. How did you get in your shirt torn? Oh is it? Oh I must have done that crawling under the wagon. What a wagon. Mr Bishop. I wanted to see what it'd be like to ride under it. You, you won't. Johnny boy that wasn't so smart. Oh I guess it wasn't. Of all the things. And I told you to watch the other children John. Gee I'm sorry dad. I guess I didn't think. Oh I reckon you didn't Johnny. That might be a better start. Sure I will sure. Now what's the mirror for? Well I was thinking. You know how mom has to keep turning around to see how the other kids are in the back of the wagon. Wouldn't you riding up here with me huh? Yeah. Well I could rig this mirror up so that she could look in it and see how it will Catherine and Frank and Tildar without turning. Oh Johnny boy. You do think of the most outlandish thing. Anybody that know your ancestors were Yankees. You don't think it's a good idea? Sure I do. Hey what's that? It's like a wagon. Dad it's a runaway wagon. There's no justice over there. You stay here John. Stay here now. Dad Henry Henry. It was a brave thing you did Henry. Saving those children. They're less than easier now. Yeah. Thanks doctor. Bad news. Well I will do all we can Henry. Where's Naomi? I'm here Henry. Naomi I... What happened? Keep going over here. If you want it that way Henry. We'll keep going. I'll tell you. Reach our valley. Johnny. Yes dad. Don't forget now. When you're dry. Tight rain. Not too tight. I know. I just... I can't... I can't wait... to oracle. The children ready for supper? Huh? Washed and dressed mom. Oh you're a good boy John. Alright. Tell them to come home. Sure. Alright you kids. Come home. Suppers ready. Oh god! What have we got tonight Johnny? Beans, cornbread, milk. Again. You want mom to hear? Now you sit down there. You've got to mind me. Mom can't do everything. I sit down. You too, Frank. Uh-huh. You be quiet. Hey, let me see your hands. What's the matter with you? You got them dirty, and I just washed them. Oh, you. You ready? Yeah, we're all right. Frank. Not until we say great. But I'm hungry. You heard, Mom, Frank. Hold your hands. All right. Mom, what's the matter? Oh, nothing. Nothing, I guess. I'll say grace, Mom. But you please. Like Dad used to. Let me do it. All right, John. You're the man of the family. Go ahead. Thanks, Mom. I'm hungry. Shut up. Dear Lord, we thank you for the food we're about to eat. And we ask thy blessings upon us, and those who travel with us. And what's the matter, Mom? Nothing. Nothing at all. Richard. Oh, hello. What's down there? Why aren't you and your mom in today? Well, that's what I wanted to see you about, Mr. Richard. I don't think she's feeling so good. She is. Thank you. She's so nice. Thanks, girl. She's off. Why? Oh, come on. Come on. We get to go. Yeah. Yeah, what's the matter, Clem? Well, Johnny here says he's more into feeling right. Maybe you better have a look at him. Oh, sure, sure. He'd go right away. When did she get sick, Johnny? Well, she ain't been feeling good for a couple of months now. Ever since Dad died. I see. Did she say anything? No, but I could tell. And then tonight, just a couple of minutes ago, she had to lie down in the wagon. There's a wagon, Doc. Yeah. You lay it outside, Johnny. All right. Where's the rest of the kids? In the wagon. Clem, Clem. Yeah? You better come here and take the children out. You better help, Johnny. Is she that bad? No, no, no. You just do as I say. Come on, now. Come on. Catherine, don't cry. No, I wasn't. What are we going to do, John? Oh, what do you mean? Oh, how are we going back home? We're going to Oregon. We're going to Oregon like Mom and Dad wanted. Now, get in the wagon with the rest of the kids. We'll be starting pretty soon. Hello, Johnny. Catherine. Hello, Catherine. Hey, Johnny, I'd like to talk with you a couple of minutes before we go. Sure, Captain Shaw. Catherine, you go ahead in the wagon. All right. Something wrong, sir? No, not rightly. But the rest of the folks had a little meeting. And, well, we figured that six youngsters would have a pretty hard time of it alone. So who said that? Well, all of us. So Mrs. Ead says she's willing to take the baby. The bishop shall take Frank and the... Excuse me, sir. But I made a promise to Mom. Promise? What? Or she died. I promised I wouldn't let the family break up. John, I'm leader of this wagon train. I know that, sir, and I'll do everything you say. But, oh, I don't want the kids to go with somebody else. I can drive and I can cook. Now, don't be stubborn, Johnny. Oh, I ain't, sir. I'm only doing what Dad and Mom wanted. I'm being like Dad said I should be. An American. We're going to Oregon, sir. But you might struggle behind. This is ancient territory. I promise I won't struggle. Oh, I'll keep up. But you'll get tired, son. This is a man's job. I know. I won't get tired. Well, I... Please, sir. Just let me try it. You think he can keep up? All the way to Oregon, Captain Shaw. We're listening to Skippy Homeyer as John Saker on the Cavalcade of America brought to you by the DuPont Company, maker of better things for better living through chemistry. As the second part of our story opens, the wagon train is about to leave Fort Hall, still 800 miles from Oregon. Captain Shaw calls John aside and speaks to him. John, I've spoken to the colonel of this fort about you and he's willing to let you stay on here through the winter until spring. We'd get a rest that way. Yeah. There'll be another train going to Oregon in the spring, won't there? Well, maybe not. What do you mean there won't be? How can we tell, Johnny? Now, my idea was for you to stay here until spring, then go back to Missouri in charge of an eastbound party. We can't go back. But Johnny... If it's gonna worry you, Captain Shaw, to have us along, we'll go by ourselves. But we're going to Oregon, like my father and mother planned. We're gonna take up land and settle it, just like Dad said. We're gonna do our part to open up this country. He'd want that. You get your mind set, haven't you? I made a promise, sir. Make a home. Well, I can't force you to stay here, but we might have to travel night and day, so don't fall asleep at the range, Johnny. That'd be bad. I won't. And I'm ready to go. All right. All right, down there. Move ahead. Move ahead. Keep up with us, Johnny. I will. I will. Captain Shaw, if we can't stop till we get out of this path, we'll be wrapped up, Captain. There's no coming in the wagon, Johnny. I'll fix it as soon as we stop. Get out. That's enough, Captain. Nobody gets more than he shared in. All right, yes. Hi, Johnny. Oh, hello, Captain. Well, we kept up, didn't we? Yes, you did. But I'm afraid I've got bad news for you, Johnny. Um, get in the wagon, Captain. But... Get in the wagon. Captain Shaw and me got a talk. He gets scared easy, sir. I see. Well, Johnny, here's the news. Most of the wagons are turning south here. South? But Oregon's north. Yes, I know. The wagons are going to California. California? But why? Well, some of us didn't like what we heard about the trail ahead to Oregon. Whoa. Are any of the wagons going to Oregon? No. How far is it? Now look here, John. I've let you go on like this because the rest of us were here to help. True, we all had our hands full, but we gave what help we could when we could. But now we're turning south. You'd better come with us. My dad said Dr. Whitman had a mission in Oregon. About how far is it? About 25 miles. Well, that ain't far. In miles, no. But for one wagon alone in this territory, it might as well be 5,000. And you're still a boy, John. Well, I'm almost 14 now. John, I'm afraid this is one time I'll have to order you to do something and you'll have to obey. My father said Oregon needs Americans like us. We come this far, Captain. Only 25 miles from Dr. Whitman's mission. It's out of the question. You'll take your place in the middle of the train, John. But Captain Shaw... You heard me, didn't you, John? Yes, sir, I heard you. Or you mustn't cry, Captain. Will you wake up the other kids and they'll think something's wrong? There is the rest of the wagons. Well, maybe we'll see them later. Why did we leave when everybody was in place? Well, because we had to. Ah, anyway, 25 miles ain't far. It's dark, Johnny. Why can't we stop? It's not out here. We can't stop until we get to Dr. Whitman's place. I don't like it so much. Listen, maybe there are people from... Catherine, you get back in the wagon and put out the lantern. It'll be too dark. Blow it out. Whoa, whoa! Why stop and... Indians, dance up there in the hill. You're going to see us. Well, I can't now. We're down in the hollow of the hills in between. But we've got to keep quiet, Captain. Oh, Johnny, what are we going to do? We can't stay here because they'll see us when morning comes. We've got to move past them. Now listen, get back in the wagon and see that the kids don't make any noise. Let's see my shirt. It'll go slow. The fire's pretty bright. You won't be able to look down on the dark and see us. We've got to be quiet. Awful quiet. Get out. Get out. Isn't that a wagon coming? By thunder it is, but why tell me why? I don't see anyone on it. Wait, wait, there is someone on the street. But he's lying down. Marcus, there should be more than one wagon. Should be, yes. But come on, whoever it is, needs our help unless they're beyond it. It's a boy. It's just a boy. Marcus is sleeping. No, no, he's sleeping. Sleeping? Oh, the poor. My heavens. What's the matter? Well, I think you'd better get busy, dear. There are five more children in the back of this wagon. Sleeping. What? Yeah, and a baby here. Here, take it, dear. Not to be quiet, dear. In there. Not to be quiet. Son, wake up, son. Oh, hello. Who are you? I'm Dr. Whitman. Oh. Oh, my, my name's John Sager. The rest of the wagons turn off to California, but I promise I wouldn't stop until I got to Oregon. My mother and father died in the way out here. The Indians almost got us. Yes, I fell asleep this morning. There, there, there. You're all right now. You're all right. This is Oregon. That's right. How old are you, son? Almost 14, sir. But I ain't too young, am I, sir? I ain't too young. Well, I am. Too young for what, John? Oh, you don't have to be a man to take a bland out here, do you? We came all the way to make a home in Oregon. How do I have to be a man, sir? Yes, you do, John, but in your case, there won't be any trouble. You've already proved, in spite of your raise, that you are the kind of citizen they're looking for. One who, when he's faced with a job, doesn't falter and quit. You've got the stuff, my boy, that's needed to help build this northwest corner of America. I want to build a home, sir, and help this country grow. Our stars, Keppie and Omeyer, will return. At first, here is Jane Whitman speaking for Dupont. On September 17th, the Nylon Research Laboratory at the Dupont Company's experimental station was dedicated as the Carothers Research Laboratory in honor of the late Wallace Hume Carothers, head of the team of scientists that first synthesized Dupont Nylon. It was at the experimental station that the research team headed by Dr. Carothers first made the superpolymers which came to be known as Nylon and were destined to play an important role in both the peacetime economy and military security of the nation. In addition to his work with Nylon, Dr. Carothers was associated with the development of neoprene, the first general purpose synthetic rubber to be produced commercially. Jane Carothers, eight-year-old daughter of the distinguished scientist, unveiled a bronze plaque commemorating her father and his work. Tribute to Dr. Carothers who died in 1937 at the age of 41, was saved by Mr. B. M. May, general manager of the Dupont Company's rayon department and Dr. E. K. Bolton, director of the Dupont Company's chemical department. Carothers was a great chemist, said Dr. Bolton in reviewing the life and work of the late scientists. He received many invitations to present his work before scientific gatherings in this country and abroad. In recognition of his achievements, he was the first organic chemist associated with industry to be elected to the National Academy of Sciences. His premature death was a great loss to the Dupont Company and to chemistry. But during his brilliant scientific career, he made contributions which have greatly enriched American life out of the bold scientific research conceived by Dr. Carothers as strong employment for thousands of people. Plants that require the investment of tens of millions of dollars are being operated to produce nylon raw material at Bell West Virginia, nylon yarn at Seaford Delaware and Martinsville, Virginia, and nylon bristles and plastics at Arlington, New Jersey. A plant for making the intermediates for nylon is under construction near Orange, Texas, another for the manufacture of nylon bristles and plastics will be completed next year at Washington near Parkesburg, West Virginia. And the third yarn producing plant is planned for Chattanooga, Tennessee. Nylon and achievement of science produced commercially by American industry is one of the Dupont Company's better things for better living through chemistry. And now our star, Gippy Homer. Thanks. When I was playing John Sager tonight, I couldn't help thinking how swell the neighbors were to those kids when their folks died. Then I thought of how this country has grown since then and I guess it's changed a lot. But I don't think the people have changed. We're all still one big family and when folks down the street need help, we always come through. One way we can do so now is by giving as much as we can when our community chest asks our aid. The need is great and the cause is ours. Thanks everybody and good night. Thanks, Gippy, and good night. Next week, the Dupont Cavalcade brings you Robert Young in That They May Live, the poignant memorable story of a man who had but one simple ambition to save the lives of children. Chevalier Jackson worked unparingly against great odds to perfect a tiny and delicate instrument called the Broncoscope that removes all sorts of objects, small children swallow. Dr. Jackson believes that the lives of our children are our nation's most precious possession and it was to this end that he devoted his entire career. Be sure and listen next Monday to That They May Live starring Robert Young. Gippy Holmeyer is one of the stars of the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture, Boyd's Ranch. The music for tonight's Dupont Cavalcade was composed and conducted by Robert Armbruster. Our Cavalcade play was written by Ruth Woodman. Each of them in the cast with Gippy Holmeyer tonight were Hugh Studerbaker as Henry Sager, The Orphature is Naomi Sager, Barbara Benton is Catherine, Griff Barnett is Captain Shaw, and Theodore Van Elk says Dr. Whitman. This is John Easton. Invite a user list next week to Robert Young in That They May Live on the Cavalcade of America brought to you by the Dupont Company of Wellington, Delaware. The Cavalcade of America came to you from Hollywood. This is NBC, The National Broadcasting Company.