Frontier Gentleman: Kendall's Last Stand

Sooner or later, every man meets his Waterloo, even in Montana territory. At the time Colonel Custer was meeting his, I very nearly met mine. From, dear, gentlemen, here with an Englishman's account of life and death in the West.

As a reporter for the London Times, he writes his colorful and unusual stories. But as a man with a gun, he lives and becomes a part of the violent years in the new territories. Now starring John Dainer, this is the story of J.B. Kendall, frontier gentleman.

I had received permission to accompany a troop of soldiers and packers up the Yellowstone to the mouth of Rosebud Creek and through the kindness of a Lieutenant Snow in charge of the spy depot.

I'd found quarters aboard the river steamer far west. There was an air of expectancy about. A scout had brought me was at the main concentration of the Sioux Army. I'd been sighted somewhere between the Rosebud and the Bighorn.

It was left an in snow when formed me. Well they've sent Custer in the seventh, Mr. Kendall. We'll see an end to it now. He'll finish the so. I wish I had known. I'd like to have gone with him.

Well, maybe Custer will bring back Sitting Bull or a crazy horse. be able to have your interviews. I've about given up hope. Don't worry. If they're still alive when the colonel's through with them, you'll get your chance.

Glad to hear it. Oh, they should have let Custer attack the sewer a long time ago. Well, now you'll see he'll massacre them. Lieutenant. Oh, how are you, Mr. Kendall? Well, thank you, Captain. Lieutenant just got word.

There are civilians up at Castle Butte. I haven't got anybody else for the job, so you'll have to do it. Bring them in, Captain? Yes. We haven't had any reports of enemy movement in that area but watch yourself I can't spare you more than four men in a cross-cout now if you do run into hostiles turned back

don't engage them that's in order snow yes sir and the civilians that's their lookout they were ordered in a month ago if you can get them out safely good if not don't risk the lives of your men been enough heroics are i won't risk the lives of the mincer there is sensible see that you don't

I believe immediately and the location is here. A bit across west of Porcupine, Crickland and Head North. Captain Thomas, I wonder. If Liftenant Snow has no objection, may I go with him? Well, I don't suppose there's any reason why he shouldn't.

Snow? Fine with me, sir. I thought you'd want to be here, Mr. Kendall. And the conquering hero returns. Make an interesting story for your London Times. I beg your pardon? bigger part or we'll be back in time mr. Kendall captain Thomas is referring to Colonel Kuster the young lieutenant and I don't see I do I about the colonel no we

don't sir let's a matter of opinion I won't bore you with mine mr. Kendall snow, initial horse and a rifle to mr. Kendall and see that he signs for yes good luck there are times when it's hard to remember rank trouble with him is he's not West Point. He resents anybody else who is. Well, you've just had a good look at professional

jealousy, Kendall. I wouldn't have thought that of the captain. Oh, pretty obvious, isn't it? Come along, we'd better get going. You see, the captain thinks it was a mistake to send Custer after the Sioux.

Oh, why? Well, our military genius is of the opinion that Custer's a bad soldier out for personal game. That he's too impetuous. They'll make a mess of things. Of course, there's also So the incidental point that Thomas is a captain, two years older than Custer, who's a colonel.

And that's where I say the trouble is. When I was in the Army in India, I had an officer who affected me that way. He was a colonel too, dreadful old blindabas. I was positive I knew more than he did.

Well did you? As a matter of fact, I did. He ordered us to attack a Sikh stronghold. There must have been 2,000 tribesmen and we had about 400 lances. I suggested it might be a mistake and it only died of apoplexism.

I somehow wish he had. Only 30 of us got out of that mess alive. Our destination was some 15 miles north and west of the mouth of Rosebud Creek. There were seven of us. Lieutenant Snow, Sergeant Wilson, three troopers, and a Crow Indian scout with the intriguing name of six toes.

Intriguing because as far as I could determine, he had only five on each foot. We get travelled fast without incident when the scout brought us to a halt. Over here near Castle Butte. And he sign of Sue or Cheyenne?

Have been passing this way. Maybe small party 7-8. Sergeant, how long ago, six toes? Walk a mile, maybe less. He means 20 minutes or less. Ah, sir. Six toes, this is the sign of the enemy, Wilson.

Smoke just over the hill. Now they may have attacked the party we're looking for. Stay here and keep your eyes open. I'm going to ride up the hill and take a look. I'd like to come along all right candle six doors you two Can't see what it's coming from Trees are in the way. Well if it's a raiding party. We might still get them

See that came to the left we get right through there Well a nasty place for an ambush though worth the chance we come up undercover the trees Place if you've got big party waiting. No reason why they should I haven't been any reports of any big war parties up here and probably a few renegades.

Sergeant Wilson? I look here old boy. There's none of my business but four men in those rocks could hold off a small army. Wouldn't it be safer to take the direct approach? Open country? You'd stand about a chance.

Mr. Kendall, I don't know how you fought in India but over here, surprise tactics are the only way. Beat the Indian at his own game. I'll guess it. Yes, very sound. When you can do it.

What? You see that canyon sergeant? We're going through. If the sewer where the smoke is, we'll take them by surprise wipe them up. Oh, you hear that? Settlers are holding more. Kendall, you want to stay here?

We'll pick you up on our way back. I think I'd rather come along. Don't want to miss the fun. We rode down the hill more than our old canyon. Lieutenant Snow is sitting erect in his saddle.

I is sparkling with excitement. smile on his lips. I had seen such a look before in young suppletions going into their first battle unafraid not knowing. The mouth of the canyon drew closer, but the shadow has reached out to us. Then we were in it, the walls grooming an idle sash. I didn't look back. I knew from the sound of that first volley

what had happened. And when I emerged from the canyon there was only one other man, a short distance behind me. It was the Crow Indian scout. We're round the trees! Don't go through! Yeah, I'll take a look. See if anyone's alive in there. I'll try the smaller cabin.

Where are the others? I... we didn't expect to find anyone alive. I saw you on the hill. Fired the shots. I was afraid you'd go away. We'd better go inside. All burned in other cabin.

He's an Indian. He's not coming in. Six toes is a crow scout for the army, friend. I heard shooting in the canyon. Did the soldiers kill him? I'm afraid not. You were the only ones to escape.

They saw you, that's why they left. Now they'll come back. How many were there? Seven to begin with. We killed two. Well, not so bad. You should be able to defend this quite nicely, I think.

Yes. I'm sorry. Six does. I'm going out to the horses to get the rest of their ammunition. Now canteen has covered me from the window. Oh, they're home. Oh boy. Quiet one. There.

I'm sorry. That was a very foolish thing to do. I'm all right now. Good. I've got a gun and ammunition. I know how to shoot. Couldn't be better. Six does. Keep watch where you are. The lady and I will take this side.

My name is Amelia Mitchell. How do you do? I'm J.B. Kendall. Did you see a little boy out there in the other cabin? No, but perhaps he was in there with my brother and the other men.

They were putting up a stockade when the Indians started to shoot. I was in here getting some nails. So what happened through the window? It was so quick. Then there was the fire and the cries.

I hope it died before the fire. Your boy. My son. Ten years old. It's not... right, is it? No. It's not right. You tall man. Yes. Indians coming. Cheyenne. See them fruit trees. Where? Wait.

You see. There. Alright. Now don't waste shots. We'll wait for them to come out into the open. In a moment, we return to Frontier Gentlemen.

Do you have questions on satellites, Davis Cup teams, a new medical technique? Answer please with Walter Cronkite is your answer. Hear him every week, day evening, on most of these stations, and send your questions to Answer please, CBS Radio, New York 22, New York.

That's Answer please, CBS Radio, New York 22, New York. And now we return you to Anthony Ellis' production of Frontier Gentlemen. We waited for the Cheyenne to come out into the clearing, away from the cover of the trees, but they didn't.

Neither did we get a chance for a decent shot at them. The sun began to go down, shadows lengthened. In the little cabin, a shaft of pale sunlight poured through a crack in the heavy shutters.

It was very warm. Denealy Mitchell, possibly 35. Brother Tall, her face glistening in the heat. The Winchester Rifle held firm in her broad hands. I was suddenly and unaccountably very conscious of her. They must be waiting for nightfall.

Possibly. Anything on your side, Sexto's? Nothing moves. Your English, aren't you? Mm. Yes. Where did you go to school, Oxford? A matter of fact, it was Cambridge. Oh. It disappointed. No. I thought it would be Oxford.

If my boy had lived, I would have liked him to go to Oxford or Harvard. One of those fine colleges. Strange talking about him now. He's always gone a long time. I suppose I never did have him really.

Not really. Was your husband in the other cabin? No. I've never been married. I came out here with my brother. He thought it would be best for us. My boy and me. Best to make a new life.

Oh, well, I... You don't have to be embarrassed now that the boy is gone. I'm glad to talk about it. I was a school teacher. After the war I met a man. He was a returning hero. It was lonely.

I never saw him again after that one time. You could have married? No. A decent man wouldn't have wanted that. Well, for me, there was somebody in England, I suppose not quite the same thing, but she married somebody else. I think I felt very much the same way as you did. It was a mistake.

It's funny, you and me, you and I, talking like this. What were you doing here? My brother and the others were in partnership mining. We thought we might have found a rich vein. Well, when this is over, you'll be very rich.

Do the things, see what you've always wanted to, go to Europe, things that... Is lieutenant snow? They are... I know. There's nothing we can do. Better go back to your post. But soon dark comes tall men.

Maybe then they attack. He's not good thing to hear. That's a pretty good reason why they're doing it. You afraid? I am a crow. I'm not afraid of noise. I know what Cheyens do. Of this I am afraid.

We'll try a diversion. Might bring them out. I know more than three rounds each. Fire between the trees. Perhaps one of us will be lucky enough to hit poor old Snow. It was no good.

I knew that with darkness they would come. There would be no moon. They would wait and then set fire to the cabin. If we tried to run out it would be mercifully quick, a bullet, nothing more.

I'm not sure what it was that made me decide the sight of the woman standing next to me or the sound of Lieutenant Snow's agony. But suddenly I knew what had to be done. Look here.

We can wait until they burn us out or we can do something. Six toes, will you go out there with me? We are two against them. Woman no good. She will stay here. I am not afraid to die as my father has done fighting Cheyenne, but would like to take one scout with me.

In a few minutes it should be dark enough. If we can get out of here without them seeing us, there are no rifles. We'll take our pistols, but I don't want to use them unless we absolutely have to.

Hatchet and knife quietly. Is good. Then cut around behind them in the trees. They not think white men will do this. No, I hope not. Woman fires into trees many times while we go. Yes, and keep it up for a minute or two.

Give us a chance to get out of there, out there. Alright. I think you know what to do if we don't come back, Miss Mitchell. I know. Goodbye, Mr. Kendra. Start firing. Wait.

I actually now sixtoes. You make good Indian. Won't be long now, Snow. Won't be long. I can see two of them. Standing over the lieutenant. Another? Over there. Behind high bush. Yes, that's three. Where's the other two?

All right, stay here. I'll get the chappy at the bush. You bring back scalp. And the civilised devil, of course, not. You get him. I get him. You're a turn, dear fellow. Two more, I'm gonna use our guns.

There? Where? Two near trees, looking out to cabin. Ah... Come on. We'll never get across the clearing without them seeing us. Can you throw the hatchet? Very good at throwing. You watch. Together. From the blast, fine bloody aim, you've got quick.

And barely see them now. Shoot him for Lord's sake, don't miss! Shoot! Six toes got three scalps that night. We carried Lieutenant Snow back to the cabin. But he was still alive, was a miracle.

It would have perhaps been better had he been dead. The million Mitchell did what you could for him, but he died in the early morning. When we returned to the Rosebud the next day, the Battle of Little Bighorn was over.

As Lieutenant Snow had predicted it had been a massacre, Custer's troops had been wiped out. Those other wounded under Majorino's command were being carried aboard the riverboat, the far west. I stood with Miss Mitchell and Captain Thomas, watching the wounded being carried aboard.

Where would they take them, Captain Thomas? Downriver to the hospital. Doesn't seem possible. Two of my best friends were with Custer. Order, Sturgis, both gone. I'm sorry. It was a mistake. A terrible mistake. Yes.

I imagine it was. You and Miss Mitchell go with the wounded? Miss Mitchell will. I'll see you on board. You're not going. No, I don't think so. I see. And, uh... And you? I'll be able to help at the hospital.

Then sooner or later there'll be a school out here. I'll teach again. Oh... You'll get married... There'll be other children... Besides, if those in your school. I don't know. What about you? I'll be sending my story to the London Times and I'll go north.

There's a town called Fort Benton. I hope we shall meet again, Mr. Kendall. I hope so, Miss Mitra. Well, you'd better go aboard now. Good luck. Goodbye. Frontier Gentleman was written, produced and directed by Anthony Ellis and stars John Tainer as J.B. Kendall, Featured in the cast were Jeanette Nolan, Clark Gordon, Lawrence Dobkin and Jack Moyles.

Music was composed and conducted by Wilbur Hatch. The eventual success of the fight for freedom depends upon our getting the truth to people behind the Iron Curtain. If the spark to freedom is to stay alive, radio free Europe must remain on the air.

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