Wagon Tracks West
Brief Synopsis
Cast & Crew
Howard Bretherton
Wild Bill Elliott
George "gabby" Hayes
Tom Tyler
Anne Jeffreys
Rick Vallin
Film Details
Technical Specs
Synopsis
In 1891, Pawnee John Fleetwing is the first Indian to graduate from the Cumberland Indian College medical school, and is congratulated by the school superintendent for being valedictorian of his class. While Fleetwing is returning to his home in Six Gun County, wandering cowboys Wild Bill Elliott and "Gabby" Whittaker, who are going in the same direction as Fleetwing, flee from an Indian attack. They jump from a cliff into a lake, not seeing a warning sign that the water is unsafe. Gabby, who swallowed some of the water, begins to feel ill as he and Bill reach town. While Bill tends to the horses, Gabby tries to get some food at the local saloon, but his feverish actions convince the scornful cowboys that he is drunk. Fleetwing, who has just arrived by stagecoach, attempts to help Gabby, but the cowboys, led by bully Laird, attack him as well. Bill comes to the saloon and beats up Laird, then allows Fleetwing to treat Gabby. They take him to a hotel, where they learn that the Indians have been dying from the same fever for the past year, ever since the local ranchers installed an irrigation system. Bill then accompanies Fleetwing to his tribe's camp, where his father, Brown Bear, lies ill with the fever. Fleetwing's quick treatment is about to save Brown Bear's life, but Clawtooth, the corrupt medicine man, kills Brown Bear so that he, not Fleetwing, can assume control of the tribe. Clawtooth is in league with Robert Warren, the territorial Indian Commissioner, who, along with Laird, wants to drive the Indians off their valuable land. Warren has promised Clawtooth money and guns in exchange for his help, and has also fomented the ranchers' hatred of the Indians. Bill tells the ranchers that it is the backwash from their irrigation that is poisoning the Indians' water and spreading the fever, but they do not care, even when Fleetwing warns them that they, too, will be hit by the fever when the rainy season starts. Wanting to get rid of Fleetwing, Warren and Laird plan to poison head rancher Lem Martin's water and frame Fleetwing for it. Warren shoots Martin during the raid, and Fleetwing is blamed when his medical school pin is found on the scene. Bill and Gabby help Fleetwing escape when he is arrested, for it is obvious that he will not get a fair trial. While Fleetwing hides out in a cave, Bill and Gabby uncover the connection between Warren, Laird and Clawtooth. After Fleetwing is captured by the sheriff, Bill and Gabby confront Laird and Clawtooth, and Clawtooth is killed. Laird unknowingly drinks some of the poisoned water, and convinced that only Fleetwing can save him, confesses that Warren killed Martin. Bill and Gabby rush him to town, arriving just in time to save Fleetwing from hanging and prevent a battle between the Indians and the ranchers. After Warren is arrested, the sheriff and ranchers admit that they have done the Indians a great injustice and plan to outfit Fleetwing with an office in town. As everyone shakes hands, Bill and Gabby leave in search of further adventures.
Director
Howard Bretherton
Cast
Wild Bill Elliott
George "gabby" Hayes
Tom Tyler
Anne Jeffreys
Rick Vallin
Robert Frazer
Roy Barcroft
Charles Miller
Tom London
Cliff Lyons
Jack Rockwell
Bill Nestell
Kenne Duncan
J. W. Cody
Jack Ingram
Hal Price
Minerva Urecal
Roy Butler
Bryant Washburn
Crew
Film Details
Technical Specs
Quotes
Trivia
Notes
Modern sources include the following actors in the cast: Frank Ellis, Hank Bell, Jack O'Shea, Ray Jones, Curley Dresden, Frank McCarroll, Marshall Reed, Ben Corbett, Jack Montgomery and Tom Steele.
