 Warrior of the Woodland! Ranger Bill, Warrior of the Woodland, struggling against extreme odds, traveling dangerous trails, fighting the many enemies of nature. This is the job of the Guardian of the Forest, Ranger Bill, pouring rain, freezing cold, blistering heat, snow, floods, bears, rattlesnakes, mountain lions. Yes, all this and exchange for the satisfaction and pride of a job well done. Hi there, boys and girls. You know, in the course of a year's work, a forest rangers have to get a lot of odd and unusual assignments, and one of the most unusual is what I'm going to tell you about today. It has to do with an almost forgotten chapter of American history, a true story of bravery and sacrifice, and yet in part so dreadful that even now, over a hundred years later, people still don't like to think about it, and yet it really happened to real people, a group of pioneers known as the Donner Party, who crossed our part of the West way back in 1846. One man thought he could find out, and that's where today's story begins. It's the Donner Party treasure. Look out there. You've got the tree almost chopped through. I know. Here she comes. Now we'll investigate this one. Well? Nothing. Nothing. It's in one of these. I know it is. Mr. DeLong, we've been out here in Walsat Mountains two weeks now. Walk, walk, walk. You point out trees, you say chop down, and I chop down. You look in the top of the tree, then we walk, walk, walk, and you find another tree, then you say chop. I'm paying you to chop down trees, not to talk. But I've got a right to know what we're doing. You've got a right to do as you're told. Now let's get moving. I'm looking for one tree, and one tree only. And I'll find it if I have to chop down every tree in these mountains. Find it. If she kind of wanders around, first is one thing, then she's another. Sure is pretty, though. Sounds like the tune the old cow died on. Ha! You just ought to appreciate good music, son. Ha! If you're looking for Bill, you're looking in the wrong place. He ain't here. He's out flying around them Wasatch Mountains. Whatever for? There's nothing up there but wilderness. Wilderness and the craziest pair of lumbermen have a hotel of? Lumbermen? Well, that's not loggin' country. There's no way to get the logs out. I know, but them fellas in there lumber in just the same. Why? I reckon that's what Bill likes to know, too. The aerial survey boys reported a whole parcel of trees down up to investigate. I sure wish he'd taken me along. That's where you and me is different, Henry. I'm sure glad he didn't take me along. I don't hold them there, Larry Flames. They're only a fad, anyways. And Mr. DeLong? Yes, yes, yes. Maybe this is the one. Maybe this will turn out to be the one. Oh, no. Now it isn't. I'll find it, though. I'll find it. The caribou. Yeah, Mr. DeLong? Let's get moving. Hold your horses there, Mr. DeLong. I ain't a mule, you know. I'm a mountain man born and bred and proud of us. But even I can't chop down these pines all day long without stopping. All right, all right, all right. Sit down and rest. A little while. That's all right. It'll be not too long. That's better. The leaves are turning. Fall weather is at hand. Fall. I've got to be finished and done and out of here before winter sets in. Yeah. Yeah. Not getting out of here, but winter was what hurt the Donner party. What? What do you know about the Donner party? What? What's all the shouting for? All I said was... I know what you said. I heard you. But I demand to know is what you meant when you made that remark about the Donner party. Great snakes. I never heard a man get so excited. I just said winter weather was... Answer my question. Yeah. When the Donner party was having western 46s and dilly-dallyed longs the slow got stuck in the snow right here in these valleys where we're at right this minute. They got stuck here with snow 40-foot deep. No food. They what? They ran out of food. Some of them died. And then it was left... I know all about this. That stuff's all written down in books. There was a mountain man who got him out in the spring. What was left of him. Yes, yes, yes. But what made you just happen to mention the Donner party? That's what I demand to know. Well, this being a Donner country it just come into my head quick like a gas. Very well. I see. But don't mention them again. Do you understand? No. Hand me my binoculars. I'm going to look for another tree. Where's Bill? He's gone again. He come back from and take plane to New York City. New York City? What on earth did he go to New York City for? I'm looking bookstore. But why? Well, long story. But he hunt for clue. Clue? Oh, wow! That means there must be a mystery somewhere. Oh, plenty of mystery. But there hasn't been any... Say, has all this got something to do with those men Bill went up to the Wasatch Mountains about? You hit nail on head. See our map on the wall there. Hey, Bill has a transparent overlaid thumbtie right over the point where the Wasatch Mountains are. Ah, you look good. You get Clue. Let's see. This red line, winding along, Bill has marked Rod of the Donner, party 1846. The black dotted line he has marked route followed by timber cutters DeLong and Caribou. This year, kind of both lines are the same. Who are DeLong and Caribou? And who are the Donner party? Caribou is what we call a mountain man. And maybe last one left. Although there used to be hundreds. They men who want to live all their lives up in mountains, trapping, fishing, only coming out once a year in spring for more supplies. And this DeLong? He mystery man. Bill talked to him. Mr. DeLong get angry. Mr. DeLong have timber cutting permit. All legal, all okay. Permits say Mr. DeLong can cut timber in Wasatch Mountain. Mr. DeLong only cut old trees. Everything okay. Mr. DeLong, pick our tree. Caribou chop down. What's wrong then? Mr. DeLong gets so mad when Bill ask question. Bill get suspicious something funny. Not sure what. Do you ask him for identification? He say he lumber expert, but he tell a big lie. Mr. DeLong, New York City book fella. Sell old book in old bookstore. Junk store. No, sell old, old book. Oh, an antique book dealer. Rare stuff. But Bill phone Mr. DeLong, New York City address. And there say Mr. DeLong sell him bookstore. Then DeLong clear out. Take only one book and come west. I've been cutting timber for nearly 60 years. But I never seen a system like yours. How many trees I cut down? That one there is the 143rd. You got that all written down. That little book of yours. Yes, yes, I keep a record. I get the saw out of your pack. That's shocking. Say, I know I ain't. He ain't told me nothing. He ain't told me nothing. And I ain't asked you nothing since we had that there flare up. But I ain't a woodsman for nothing. I don't know this one say. I saw across the tree right there at the top. Through that knot. Well, I noticed that when we find a tree with a dead top you get snorting and cavorting like an old horse and fly. Saw, saw. But what do you want with that kind? There ain't no blasted good anyways. Especially with dead tops. The more I can see. There she is. Needs to be. Get out of my way. Ah, nothing. Now let's get going. Ah. I would just admire them. Little maple trees over yonder. See them? Leaves is beginning to turn. One more frost like last night. Hurry up, I said. I thought that'd get her eyes out of you. My land. How come you got on that old beat-up outfit? Why, you look like an old-time pushin' to head turkey feather and all. I agree, Wolf. Go on secret mission with Chilkoot. Chilkoot? Oh, who's Chilkoot? Here I be. All down up in the mountain clothes. It ain't war for 40 years. But your name isn't Chilkoot. Oh, yes it is. This here is secret mission to me and Grey Wolf are going on. And we made up the name Chilkoot. And I'm the last of the old mountain men from Alaska. They're supposed to be, that is. And this here, Busted Brave, is me down and out engine pal. Oh, what? Well, build some telegram and tell us dress up like old forest pack rats and go find DeLong and Caribou. And then we don't let on. We're a part of the U.S. government. And we see if we can find out just what they're up to. Then we report back to Bill. Bill St. Telegram, we keep this secret. Sure. So you dress up like real old timers and try to get the information Bill needs without letting DeLong and Caribou know what's up. Hey, Bill, why are you any new clues? Just one, and it don't make no sense to me. What's that? After Mr. DeLong sell store, he went to every single second hand bookstore in New York and bought every book that had anything to do with story of Donner Party. Is that the clue? Well, I left a history book about the Donner Party on Bill's desk, Henry. You'll want to read it. That wind had stopped blowing. Winter's coming, I guess. Kind of a ghostly sound, though. Especially when a guy's all alone in the house. Oh, well. I might as well read about that Donner Party. Let's see. Ray Wolf has a place all marked here for me. In the year 1846, a group of pioneers bound for Oregon found themselves trapped by snow in the Wasatch Mountains. Winter came early that year and was marked by exceptionally deep snow, often 40 feet or more. Unable to go forward, the Donner family and their friends made what camping arrangements they could. And in spite of repeated efforts to get across to California, most of the unhappy group died due to exposure and starvation. The best record to the terrible adventure was left by Tasman Donner's journal, Tamsen being a child of eight at the time. Parts of this journal were apparently lost. The Breen family were reputed to have taken along many thousands of dollars in jewels, but this fortune has never been found. Overcome by fear and despair, deranged by shock and horror, some of the maroon party enacted the most dreadful chapter in American history. To stay alive, they ate the frozen bodies of their comrades. Hey, what? Oh, man. I guess I'll sleep with the light on tonight. Bill might come back unexpectedly and it'd look better if I had a light on, just in case. In there, a trout looks powerful good. Isn't there not their skillet there? I sure do. We've been camping with them fellas in five days now. You found out anything yet? Not much. We make friends. Most of the long talk more later, maybe. The axe is quit. They come for supper pretty soon, now. I eat good supper and maybe talk more. Me sure hangs on to that old book, don't I? Now let's go if it sleeps with it. Must be clue. What's the matter, Stoppy? Here, I got a cricket in my neck looking up with the tops of all them trees like Mr. DeLong does. Crick in that clue. Why does Mr. DeLong all the time look at tops of trees? I don't know. Hey, here they come. Now I got to remember my name is Chilcoot. I like to forgot. You sure got them fooled. They think we're just trams and fish and loaf. Howdy boys, you drop along and set. The supper's ready. Thank you, a well-cooked meal will taste good. We are lucky you happen to be camping out right where I'm working. Pass your plates, Denton. That's where fire feels good too. Beginning to get cold. Nonsense. It gets cold, powerful early around these parts. There's early cold and early snow that fool the Donners. The Donners? We're camping right on one of their campgrounds. They're right this very minute. What? What do you know about the Donners? I'm born any man living, I reckon. Where I hold the Donners. I've talked to folks that talk to the Donners before and after. I know more than what's wrote down in the books. I know that. Tell me everything you know. Everything. Well, now I just might and I just might not. If you can tell me anything about the Donners as a single fact, I'll pay you $1,000 cash. It's a heap of money. You must be mindy interested in them Donners and their party. I am, yes, I am. Are you looking for that Breen Jewelry of any chance? Yes, yes, I am. That's it, the Breen Jewelry, of course. Certainly, that's what I'm looking for, yes. Many men hunt for that. Some say Swiss hid it and come back and got it. Some say engine took it. Many men hunt but never find it. The Donners, what about them? There's plenty of Breen still in California. Their Jewelry would be there. They could have it. What? I mean, we could share it. They make some sort of arrangement. I'm just interested from a historical point of view. Is that all you can tell me about the Donners? Yep. You've offered nothing, I pay nothing. Sun setting. Oh, half our daylight yet. I'm going to try to find that tree. I don't want to waste any time. Now, I'll be back by dark. Maybe I'll find it before then. Oh, Mr. Belong, plenty worried. Yeah. Sooner or later, he's going to run far out of trees. And even I can't chop down every tree of the wasatch. Why is having me do all this shopping? Beats me. Well, we sleep now. We go home tomorrow, Joe Coot. You're talking to me? Oh, a little hard to hear in since I fought them there grizzly birds. We going back to the last key tomorrow, huh? Something for being the best international secret agent anywhere. What did you find out? Well, not much. We found that thing Mr. Belong is after. It's something he's ready to give his life for. He has a small piece of old-time parchment paper with some old writing on it. But he values above everything. But, you know, let us see. Also, he lie when he say he look for lost jewelry. I wire all this to Bill. Maybe he fit puzzle pieces together. Did you tell Bill about them trees? I did. He and I thought of that. But the caribou ain't never going to figure it out. That crazy Belong critter is looking for something. He thinks maybe one of them donners hid in a holler tree. Oh, he'll climb up 60 or 70 feet or more to hide. That was over 40 feet deep. And they was on top of the snow. And the trees has grown since then. So 40 foot of snow plus the way a tree will grow. Are you sure anything hidden in a holler tree back there in that 1846 winter? It might be 50 or 60 feet up. Sure. You know what? I think maybe you are the world's greatest secret agent. Cold this morning. Colder than before. Winter dube pretty soon. Yep. I don't have too many days left. I think I... Hey, that tree. That tree over there, look. The top is bent and twisted. Cut it down. Cut it down. I'm not paying you to loaf. Get busy faster. Get a move on. Don't just stand there. This is the tree. I know it. I just know it. Hurry up. It's been years hidden in this hole in the tree. A little lead cylinder sealed tight. And now to read what's written on this little scrap of paper. Yes. Just as I thought. Yes. Yes. Now we can get started. Carol, we'll get ready to... What are you pointing that rifle at me for? Put it down. We have a journey to make. Not till you do some talking. Stand still, Ed. Stand still, Ed. Give me bushes. This here little book fell out of your pocket. And this here old paper. I done read it. It was read by Tamsin Donner and tells how they hid the instructions in an owl's nest in a holler tree wrapped up in a sheet of lead. You let me chop all of their trees until you found them instructions. Now, you read me what's written on your paper. All right. We'll need each other. This paper has four words on it. That's all. Here they are. Cave on Hastings Ledge. Well, come on. Where are we going? Well, Hastings Ledge, of course. Is Bill back yet? No, but he sent letter. Say he think he know what Mr. DeLong looked for. That old jury? No. Bill say Mr. DeLong talk too much and brag. Tell how we find paper in all book. Give him clue. Bill think paper not saved. Bill ask all men, book men. They tell how Mr. DeLong read all book about Donner party. Then Mr. DeLong talk too much. Bill read book too. Hunt for clue? You find clue. The jury clue? No. Mr. DeLong book fellow, book expert. This give Bill idea. You find out Donner family take along Bible. This Bible never found after trouble. But you don't mean to say that Mr. DeLong... Mr. DeLong, hunt for that Bible. Donner family have old Bible 400 years old by now. Very old Bible called Coverdale Bible. But Mr. DeLong want that Bible. He want it bad. But what's Coverdale Bible? It worth $60,000. So when you come across that first paper you figured it was a clue to that man Jewel. Yes, that's it. Jewel right there. Looks like you came right up ahead there. Yes, yes, hurry. There she is. And there's your box. Put the way back here on that little shelf around. At last. At long last. High and dry and safe and secure after a hundred years. And I found it. Yeah. And I just decided to give you one tenth of the volume. What? This here sharp rifle is my argument. You get one tenth of the volume, then, Mayor Jewels. Oh, yes, yes, sure, that's fair. Yes, you can have most of the money from what jewelry we find. Huh? Well, bust it open. And there it is. There it is. What do you mean? Nothing but an old book. What's a jewelry? Maybe, I guess. Just this old book, as you say. Give me that. Oh, this works for nothing. I'm going to fling this old book into the can. Give it back. Give it back, I see. What's that? Herox slide. Let's get out of here fast. I'm saving mine. I can move. Two days pinned under this rock. Dying of thirst. Alone in the wilderness. I can't move. Here's the Coverdale Bible. Worth $60,000. But worth nothing to me now. Nothing. That's odd. The Bible lays there under my hand. Open it, the book of the Psalms. I am weary of my crying. My throat is dried. My eyes fail while I wait for my God. God. Thou knowest my foolishness. And my sins are not hid from thee. I've been wrong all along. I wanted this Bible not for the word it contains, but for the money I could sell it for. Forgive me, dear God. Thank you. And then what happened? As soon as I determined that DeLong was hunting for that Bible, I flew out to talk to him and tried a reason with him so he wouldn't senselessly cut down all those trees. And? I found the caribou down in the canyon with two broken legs. He'll recover all right. A sadder and wiser mountain man. I found DeLong pinned under a big rock. And he was better than ever. Better than ever. Before he was pinned by that rock, he was a pagan. But when he got out, he was a Christian. Lying there, helpless, dying, hopeless, he read the Bible and was converted. And now? And now the Coverdale Bible is back with the Donner family with DeLong's blessing. DeLong plans to write a book about the last secret of the Donners and his Christian adventure. In fact, he's already hired a man from the west who, the caribou. We'll see you next week for more adventure with