 A fiery horse with a speed of light, a cloud of dust, and a hearty, high-o silver, the long ranger. At his faithful Indian companion, Toto, the daring and resourceful mask rider of the plains led the fight for law and order in the early western United States. Nowhere in the pages of history can one find a greater champion of justice. Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear. From out of the past come the thundering hoofbeats of the great horse, Silver. The long ranger rides again. Long ranger and Toto were riding east from Salt Lake City along the route that was used by the Oberlin mail. They rounded the bend and suddenly they saw three Indians pursuing a rider who spurred his horse desperately in a race for his life. Come on, Toto. We'll help that man. Long ranger, let's go. As Silver shot hoops pound at the plains, the masked man and Toto drew their guns and started firing from the saddle. A surprised Indian turned as bullets streaked close to them, too close for comfort. They turned their ponies and headed for the hills. Their intended victim drew rain. He turned to thank his rescuers. Hold him. Hold him. Hold him. Hold him. Thanks. Thanks a lot, mister. They almost got... You're a mask. My mask didn't worry you. You proved yourself a friend. Toto and I are playing camp on the hills not far from here. Will you accept our hospitality? I'll be glad to. Good, let's go. Come on, Silver. Come on, Toto. As the long ranger and Toto make camp, they're just identified himself as Ed Creighton and explained that he was a line builder for Western Union. During the evening meal, Creighton was sure that he had found two men who could be trusted. He decided to speak frankly. I told you I worked for Western Union. Yes, but why are you here? The telegraph line comes no farther west than Omaha. Confidentially, we're planning to extend our line to the Pacific. Oh? I've been mapping the route for the Transcontinental Line. I'm on my way back to New York with a report from my boss, Hiram Sibley. What route have you chosen? The Pony Express route from Omaha to San Francisco. San Francisco, huh? The Transcontinental Wire, like in the east and the west. Ah, but there's one problem. And I'll admit I don't know how it can be solved. What's that? Indians. As we move our lines westward, we'll be at their mercy. They'll undoubtedly attack our work crews, pull down the poles, cut the wires. Oh, not if they're friendly. Try to persuade them to fight on your side. That's easier said than done. Potter and I are acquainted with most of the tribes in the west. We may be able to help you. Mr. If you would. Calamity Creighton, when you return with your work crews, your telegraph poles and your wires, Potter and I'll look for you. The next morning, Ed Creighton resumed his journey. He traveled on horseback on stagecoach by mule train and railroad. And when at length he reached New York in 1861, he gave Hiram Sibley a detailed report of his trip. Sibley took the report to Washington where he secured an appointment with the president. When he was ushered into the chief executive's office, Hiram Sibley explained the plans of Western Union. Mr. Lincoln listened closely. Then he shook his head and said, Mr. Sibley, you'll find no trees for telegraph poles on the plains. Mr. President, we'll haul our trees to the plain. And as fast as you string lines to them, the Indians will tear them down. Inlands have burned the homes of many settlers, but that didn't discourage pioneering. We're aware of the difficulties ahead of us, sir, but we believe the job can be done. I envy your confidence, Mr. Sibley. I wish I might share it. But the future appears dark. Fort Sumter has been in the state of siege since January. Unless supplies are sent to our men, they'll be starved into surrender. The Confederates will open fire if we provision the fort. Americans firing on their own flag. Brother against brother. Father against son. Civil war. A transcontinental telegraph is vitally important in time of war, Mr. President. I admit that, Mr. Sibley, but war is imminent perhaps only months away. Even if your scheme were practical, it would take ten years to string lines to the West Coast. Now go and prove that I'm wrong. In that spring of 1861, the clouds of war were darker than most people reckoned. The rumble of catastrophe began in early April and increased in volume and intensity until the morning of the 13th day. It was 4.30 when artillery belched fire and smoke in shots at Fort Sumter. This was war. Lincoln called out 75,000 men, mills, factories, railroads, swung into action to provision, equip and transport a nation at war. Now more than ever before, rapid communication was required. Still carried by even the fastest trains was far too slow. The Western Union telegraph offices, equipped by the magic of science for almost instantaneous communication, were swamped with urgent messages. The lines along the Eastern seaboard and West as far as Omaha, hummed with official orders, reports and instructions. The telegraph lines ended at Omaha. Westward news traveled slowly. It was months before Fort Carnet, Julesburg, Salt Lake City and Sacramento learned that Fort Sumter had fallen and the nation was marching to war. By that time, Hiram Sibley's transcontinental expedition rolled westward. Wagon cranes scattered along the route Creighton had mapped. They carried poles, heavy reels of wire, insulators and batteries to the plains, mountains and Indian infested wilderness. In Washington, President Lincoln frequently went in person to the telegraph office in the War Department. He often thought of Sibley and his hopes of spanning the nation with the magic wires as he watched the brass key and the words transcribed by the operators. Mr. President, Jeff Davis is to be President of Confederacy. North Carolina has ceded and Virginia. South Carolina is withdrawn from the Union. Georgia seceded. Florida. Alabama. Mississippi. Louisiana. Texas. Arkansas. Tennessee. He's the West with the Union. What a Missouri, Utah, California. No one knows, Mr. President. We haven't heard from the West. No one knows. Even the fastest are slow. And I would, Sibley, might accomplish the impossible. But no, even with God's help, there is a limit to what can be wrought by mortal man. More and more of Mr. Lincoln's time was spent in the telegraph office of the War Department. Here on a warm July 31st, the President waited tensely for the telegraph key to spell out the news of Bull Run. mcdowell was in command of the union soldiers and everyone believed the general would win a glorious victory suddenly the quiet key began to pound lincoln's road across the room to stand beside it what is it was in what's happening at bull run it's bad news mr president the rebels have us on the run all men are retreating, poor guys won the battle retreat the rebels have beaten us all men are running away the day is lost the yanks are falling back to the Potomac the soldiers came back to washington weary, heartsick, defeated cartridge powder streaked their faces and their ears still rung with the sound of gunfire for many of the boys and men in the retreating army it was the first taste of enemy shot mr lincoln was silent as he stood alone in the window of his office watching the survivors the wounded and the dead passed through the street the mighty army of the Potomac was straggling back to the capital with defeat at its heels meanwhile, Hiram Sibley's expedition continued west ed quayton was in charge of the construction of the eastern line with a man named Jim Gamble in charge of the western line were crews dug post holes and placed telegraph poles along the route traveled by the pony riders at a point between fort carney and julesburg the long poles were planted and wire was strung loosely from post to post hanging about six feet above ground the weather had been extremely hot buffalo was scarce and other game had disappeared three young braves one of them the son of chief eagle feather had spent the day searching for food they were returning to their village at sundown racing their spirited ponies black hawk the chief son was in the lead as he rode he looked back over his shoulder shouting to his companions black hawk was challenging his friends to match his speed to overtake him if they could the young warrior didn't hear his friends warning straight toward the line of poles and low hanging wire he raced then suddenly the wire caught black hawk across the chest he gasped in pain and surprise and fell to the ground his friends drew rain and hurried to his side standing with his crew some distance away ed cretton had seen the accident he had modded and quickly rode to join the two indians and their fallen friends he dismounted and moved to black hawk side so you fall how badly hurt white man's line catch black hawk knock him from poony rode right into the wire he'd been watching where he went you go away i came here to help you son of chief not one help you're the son of an indian chief a black hawk son of eagle feather eagle feather great warrior see here black hawk i'm sorry it's built from your horse you might have broken a couple of black hawks so you go away i'll help get him back to the village we have back to village tell chief eagle feather what happened to song cretton knew black hawk had been hurt the force with which he had hit the wire must have injured his ribs possibly breaking one or two but worse than any physical injury was the humiliation black hawk had suffered with two of his friends as witnesses he the son of a chief had been knocked from his horse and sent sprawling on the ground the loss of dignity was enough to arouse any indian it would surely arouse the enmity of the indian chief that night a scout named soda joined cretton as he stood beside the covered wagon studying the horizon look at those hills boss every one of them is a light with engine signifier i see them soda you know what they mean they mean trouble engine trouble i was afraid of this i wish i knew where to look for them you don't have to look for them boss those fires are blazing bright enough for anyone to see i'm not talking about fire soda i'm thinking of men a masked man in an indian they saved me from redskins once and i have a feeling i'll need help again mighty soon the curtain falls on the first act of our lone ranger adventure before the next exciting scenes please permit us to pause for just a few moments to continue the long ranger and tato had been near carcin city when they heard that ed cretton and his crew were in the west springing the wire along the route the line builder had chosen on an earlier trip to the west the masked man and tato started east at once planning to meet cretton halfway between julisburg and fort carney they cited indian signal fires the long ranger and tato grew rain at the edge of the indian village they dismounted and made their way on foot past the wigwams that surrounded the council ring they stopped and stood in the shadows of a wigwam in the center they saw chief eagle feather wearing his warp on it and the painted warriors of the tribe gathered around the council fire their attention fixed on the chief eagle feather was speaking eagle feather heat plenty man what's he saying indians go hunting buying no food white man put trees without branches on planes drive away buffalo all game it has been a bad hunting season the crops have withered and the ground is the water rain eagle feather blame white man for indian trouble oh he'd say he'd kill white man tear down poles them gonna start war dance eagle feather must not go on the war path we'll try to reason with the chief he remembers his friends montoro let's hope you listen to it in washington president lincoln also faced a dilemma salmon p chase the secretary of the treasury was in lincoln study and mr chase was discussing money mr president uniforms weapons ammunition food must be paid for our treasury is nearly empty i've tried to bring the matter to the attention of congress but the senators do not realize the seriousness of the situation we need gold and silver desperately but speculation has driven it from circulation mr chase i know of only one place to secure more gold and silver where so tell me where the western mind i've thought of them but we can't depend on the western minds indeed we're not sure that the west stands with us if we can all that california and nevada and the territories of colorado montana washington uta will be behind our efforts with all their vast gold and silver resources mr president we must face reality without gold and silver we'll have to wish you paper money there's nothing to back it up that would destroy the value of our currency our money would become worthless paper i see no alternative as the president considered the problems of an empty treasury ed creighton was confronted with disaster of a different sort he and his crew of line builders were gathered around the supply wagons scouts had reported that eagle feathers braves were on the warpath hearing attack creighton spoke grimly to his men all of you men stay close to the wagon you stray from camp you're likely to meet a war party and lose your scalp they force you give up the job and turn it back not on your life we're going ahead we continue setting the poles and stringing the wire after redskins want to fight we'll give it a ticket we have right for some funny ammunition and we'll pass out extra ammunition and break open those cartwheels boxes right boss ed creighton made us a man it's a man's man you're covered mister it's a hands up both of your guns but boss you heard me this man's a friend of mine thanks creighton he just had a big foot mister i'm glad to see you we're having indian troubles yes i know on an iron eagle feathers village others are now taking care of blackhawk he persuaded them to wait for two days before attacking thank god for me mister that'll give us time to set the reinforcements we'll be able to get more men to help us fight that isn't the reason ton of ass for the delay creighton is your line working from here to fort carney yes but fort carney's two days travel from here indians are hungry in order to stretch the food on hand eagle feathers rationed his people each member of the tribe receives enough to sustain life but even that will be cut off in two days when their supplies are exhausted well i didn't know things are that bad in the village will be glad to help by helping them you'll help yourselves you mean that we'll be able to win their friendship yes you'll be able to prove that the telegraph is the most wonderful white man's magic they've ever seen after a demonstration they'll believe that it's a powerful good just tell me what to do mister i'll bring you go for them if you've been here when the long-range a return to the western union workman at daybreak he brought within sheet eagle feather and four braves the indians war war paint and their eyes were pretty with suppressed anger as they looked at the men who may blame for their misfortunes but they have promised the mask man to pow wow in peace they intended to keep their word they watched silently as creighton connected a battery box and small brass instruments to the slender wire what him do you and your people use fire and smoke to send messages that right well my friend is about to send a message his words will be carried many miles to a great city watching indians tried hard to conceal their superstitious fear as creighton began to send a message their fear was increased many fold when a few moments later the shining instruments began to sound with no one standing near as the reply to creighton's request came from port carney what's that a reply to my friend's message me not see smoke or fire how message sent the words travel through the wire great in the key to go further might be interested in knowing the message you said i asked for several wagons of food for the chief and his people how food get here in wagons from port carney they should arrive in two days when it comes you and your people will know that the white man's medicine is strong and good if medicine good why it's all black hole from pony this telegraph wire was hanging about six feet from the ground blackhawk didn't see it and ran right into it we wait and see how medicine work we wait today if food not gone eagle feather and braves go on warpath the powwow ended eagle feather and his men returned to the hills where they watched the crew on the planes below the first day passed and the sun rose on the second from time to time ed creighton sat down at the telegraph instrument and checked the progress of the wagon train with men who were stationed on the line between this point and port carney chief eagle feather watched the horizon and with him alone ranger it was nearly sundown when the grim face chief said white man lie to this chief food not come for indian the sun hasn't set chief eagle feather there's still time for the wagons to come when sun go down my people fight tear down white man's medicine as the chief spoke the big wagons came into view the lone ranger saw them and smiled chief eagle feather saw them and stared in wide-eyed amazement in camp with his men ed creighton saw them and shouted there it is boys the wagon train from port carney we don't have to fight the red skin let's go put it on our side the western union men escorted the wagons to the indian village bonfires were built and for the first time in many weeks the indians had food enough for everyone in the tribe chief eagle feather stood in the council ring with the lone ranger and ed creighton creighton said this is the first of a series of wagon trains chief we'll keep you supplied with food till the dry spells ended and you have crops enough to feed your people now this chief no white man's medicine plenty strong plenty good me glad mass friend and tunnel come stop indians from starting war there'll be no war chief that right now what ed now we'll go back to work mister i hope you'll stay with us till the job is done tunnel i'll be nearby but from now on it's up to you and your men from now on you'll see real word of the power of the telegraph spread rapidly among the western tribes as the work progressed the long ranger and tunnel found increasing numbers of indians ready to help make white man's medicine there was an abundance of manpower to cut and trim trees haul them into position and set them firmly in holes august past and then september the line was extended to south pass and fort bridger while jim gambles crew strong wire from san francisco sacramento carcin city and fort ruby cretin and gamble race to close the gap linking the line from east to west in new york city hyrum civilly maintained telegraphic contact with cretin and with president lincoln in washington he reported to the president of the friendship of the indians had been one and then one day in october the president was in the war department telegraph room with salmon chase the secretary of the treasury both men were hollow eyed from worry and lack of sleep mister president here is an intelligence report that is the realization of my worst fear the rebels have sent agents abroad to a miss the aid of england and france england and france are sympathetic to their cause the confederates are capitalizing on that simply they're trying to borrow european gold that's what is it was messages are coming from the west sir from oman no sir from far beyond oman here sir this is from utah utah let me have it just coming through lincoln took the message and as he read it secretary chase saw the rugged face relaxed the president looked up and there was new hope in the eyes that had known anxiety and troubled grief mister chase you were worried about the confederates financing their war effort with foreign gold sir we shall finance the union with our own gold and silver mister president how this message is from brigham young in sort like city itself utah stands firm with the union gold and silver from loyal utah here are the messages mister president with utah we are assured of the support of that territory west of oman as far as california yes mister chase if only the telegraph were finished all the way it is our nation is connected from the atlantic to the besieging birth california sir how where this message is from chief justice steven field in california he says that california pledges her loyalty and her resources to the union and the telegraph has been extended to california but it cannot stand western indians are hostile they'll tear down the polls cut the wire yes that's what i thought but mister sibley informed me that the friendship the indians has been one how mister sibley reported that one man was responsible for winning the cooperation of the indians the mask man sir i've heard of a mysterious mask rider in the west he's helped several officials in the government before he's helped us again a nation united now sir if the confederate states of the south were back with us they shall be mister chase the struggle may be long it may be bitter but with the aid of western resources we are assured of victory future will see a truly united states of america thanks to the efforts of the long this is a feature of the long range or incorporated created and produced by george w trendle directed by charles d livingston and edited by friend striker the part of the long ranger is played by brace beamer