The Life and Legend
of Wyatt Earp
[Ken Darby singing
"The Legend Of Wyatt Earp"]
♪ Wyatt Earp
♪ Wyatt Earp
♪ Brave, courageous and bold
♪ Long live his fame
and long live his glory ♪
♪ And long may his story
be told ♪
(male narrator)
The ballad of Tex McKay
claimed in song
as the drivingest hogger
on the old Santa Fe
was like most fables about
railroad and cowhand heroes.
They had not much poetry
and very little truth.
But since Dodge City was both
a cow town and a railroad town
Marshal Wyatt Earp occasionally
became entangled
with a lone cowhand
from the Rio Grande
or with a hero on a hoof
like Tex McKay
the bravest
of the brave engineers.
Marshal Earp likely died
from it, too..
[humming]
Make fun of the Texas Short
Line, will you.
I'll make you eat dirt.
Fight!
Marshal Earp,
Marshal Earp, fight!
Fight, marshal!
(male # )
'Let me at him.'
(male # )
'Marshal Earp.'
Marshal Earp.
Fight.
♪ I'll tell you the story
of brave Tex McKay ♪
♪ The drivingest hogger
on the old Santa Fe ♪
♪ He come up from Texas
with iron in his soul ♪
♪ That man was a genius at
makin' them big engines roll ♪
♪ Roll engines, roll
Roll engines, roll ♪
♪ Roll engines, roll.. ♪
Get up, here, Mr. McKay.
Shut up!
You've been here one week, and
you've already had three fights.
What started it
this time?
Well, nothing, Marshal.
I-I was just tellin 'em
about Texas Short Line.
- Him and him--
- 'You're a liar.'
Alright. Break it up.
Break it up.
Now, what's the straight
of it, Mr. Banish.
Well, the boy's word-joustin'
Tex, but he started the fight.
Who, me? Why, Mr. Banish
No wonder they retired you
from the Hannibal and St. Joe.
- You can't see right good.
- Is that so?
Alright, break it up.
Now stop..
You're under arrest.
Mr. Earp, don't make me
lose my temper.
Come on.
Whoee...well, I felt that one.
Yes, sir. Just put on
those cuffs.
You just walk along.
Rest of you, break it up. Mr.
Masterson get 'em outta here.
♪ The best two four-wheeler
on this side of heaven.. ♪
You walk on.
♪ To make a new record
his goal ♪
♪ He sails through the super
♪ I'll teach them big drivers
to hold ♪
Mind if we rest just
for a minute, Mr. Earp.
I got awful Charley horse
in my leg.
I think one of the boys
were standing on it.
Mr. McKay, what you hangi''
around town for?
I'm gonna get me a job
at the Santa Fe.
(Wyatt)
Santa Fe, huh?
Doin' what?
Mr. Earp, I was
the best engineer
that the Texas Short Line
ever had.
Texas Short Line,
I never heard of it.
Don't tell me you ain't never
read about the Texas Short Line?
Why, I was the hero.
There was the Huntsville wreck.
I saved people
from a fiery death.
No...how's that?
Well, it seems that
the number two northbound
got stuck on this wooden bridge,
and the bridge caught fire
so I took the engine
off of my number one
and I made me eight miles
in six minutes.
- Eight miles in six minutes?
- Yes, sir.
Eight miles in six minutes
and I bumped that train
right back off of that bridge.
I was go..
You ain't doubting my word,
are you, Mr, Earp?
Oh, heaven's no, Mr. McKay
[humming continues]
Well now, if it ain't Mr. Bates.
Howdy, super!
Ha ha, howdy, Tex.
Uhh, another fight?
- Well, no sir, not exactly--
- Yes, sir.
Can he get off
with a fine, Wyatt?
- Oh, you want him?
- Well, I could use him.
That ain't gonna be
no problem at all, super.
You just give me time to fetch
my headlight and whistle
I'll meet you
at the roundhouse.
- Mr. McKay.
- Oh, I'll pay his fine, Wyatt.
- How much is it?
- Five dollars.
Oh, thank you kindly, super.
No hard feelings, Mr. Earp.
I want you to know that
you've got the entire Santa Fe
behind you from now on.
Well, thank you.
I wish you luck.
Oh, good luck to you, Mr. Earp.
Yes, sir, you've made
a firm loyal friend.
I'll start 'em
rolling right away, super.
(Mr. McKay)
Yes, sir, right away.
Say, did that longhorn ever work
for the Texas Short Line?
Yup. There are two engineers.
- He was one of 'em.
- Had and was?
- Well, the TSL went busted.
- Too many wrecks, huh?
Nope, I doubt if their engine
could do miles an hour.
Well, I've been
a little misinformed.
You see, Tex told me he drove
eight miles in six minutes
and bumped another train
off a burning bridge.
[laughing]
The TSL only had one train,
mixed freight and passenger.
There wasn't a bridge
in the line.
Hm. You know, if I were you
I'd be...a might careful
with Mr. Tex McKay.
Your know our
jump line division
We all steered from laying
a track into Dodge.
Well, I can't imagine
what kind of trouble
Tex could get in down there,
but I'll keep my eye on him.
- Five dollars, you were saying?
- Yes, sir.
You know, I'm a might worried
about Tex.
I hope you give him a fireman
with no wife or children.
Wyatt, I wouldn't hire Tex
if I wasn't a desperate man.
[laughing]
♪ Tex got hisself a whistle
like a cyclone's cry ♪
♪ He picked hisself a fireman
with a cinder in his eye ♪
♪ The fireman says you drive her
while I pour in all the coal ♪
♪ And Tex says to the fireman
♪ Come on, it's time to roll
roll, roll ♪
♪ Engine roll, roll, roll
Engine roll.. ♪
- She rolled, didn't she, Witty?
- I'll say she did, Tex.
Why, them steers coming to Dodge
with their horns flattened back.
Yee-haw!
Yee-haw!
Boys! Howdy, howdy.
Did you all hear about me?
Did you hear what I did
with old ?
Twenty-eight miles
in minutes flat.
Well, that's just creeping, Tex.
Creepin'!
Well, that's more than miles
an hour with carloads of beef.
You must have had the brakes
on all the way.
What?
He's gonna ruin that engine
driving her so slowly.
Oh, pokin' fun of me, huh?
Alright, stand up.
Now, Tex, you quit it.
No, sir. They said
we was a-creepin'.
Come on, stand up and fight.
Stop that.
(male # )
'Come on, stop this!'
I'm gonna call the marshal.
Please don't wreck my place.
- Stop this, fellas.
- Hey, you're gonna get hurt.
Stop this fellas.
I'm gonna call the marshal.
Marshal Earp, fight.
Fight, Marshal Earp. Stop it.
Don't wreck my place.
miles in minutes.
Now, you know that's impossible.
That's more than miles
an hour.
You tell stories like that, you
expect those men to believe you?
Oh, well, I might have stretched
the truth a little.
'Tex carries
a slow watch, Mr. Earp.'
When other watches are running
or minutes.
His watch only shows .
In plain language, you were
doing miles an hour, not .
Well, It seemed
awful fast to me.
Mr. Masterson, come on in here.
Now, if you wanna spread
tall stories about speed.
I suggest you don't try
to impress the engineers
and firemen of the main line.
Now, if they call you liars,
you are liars.
Mr. Bates. I'm sick and tired
of Mr. McKay starting fights.
days for him, days
for him. Lock them up.
- Isn't that pretty rough?
- I want it rough.
Mr. McKay can't learn
to tell the truth
maybe he'll learn to keep
his mouth shut.
Oh, now, marshal. Please.
I'm not letting
them go this time, Mr. Bates.
- Oh, Wyatt--
- I'm doing you a favor.
They're speed crazy.
- Oh, please!
- Now, lock them up.
Thanks kindly, Mr. Bates.
- You sure tried hard.
- Well, that's our super.
He sticks by his men
in sunshine and in rain.
That's sure right.
Did I ever tell you--
Will you get 'em out
of here.
Hey, come on. He's getting sore.
Right in here.
- Now, look, Wyatt--
- days for Tex
and days for Wittie.
That's final.
- I'm not arguing.
- Yeah! Since when?
Look, just let them out
for one more run.
Then I'll bring them back
to serve their time.
- You aren't hard up for men.
- Yes, I am.
We've got steers waiting
at end of track.
They can't wait
in this sun too long.
They're owned by Les Piersall,
one of our biggest shippers.
- Umm.
- Just one more run, Wyatt.
Then you can throw 'em
in jail.
- Alright
- Thanks, Wyatt.
You're the superintendent,
but personally
I wouldn't trust
Tex McKay with a handcar.
I'll let you in on an official
trick of the trade.
We seal the throttle on .
That engine won't do over
miles an hour. Top speed.
Mr. Bates, you're taking
a great load off my conscience.
Mr. Masterson, bring those two
speed men out here again.
Yes, sir, seven engines warming
up in that little roundhouse.
Three of 'em would have blown
sky high if it weren't for me.
Remind me to tell you
about it sometime.
- Wittie, how's the pressure?
- Yeah, it sure is.
What did you say?
- How's the pressure, Wittie?
- The gauge busted last trip.
But try your whistle.
If she whistles, she'll steam.
[whistle blowing]
She'll steam.
Hey Wittie, look at this.
Doggone, some fool mechanic.
He's gone and welded the stopper
on the throttle bar.
I was wondering
why she wouldn't roll.
- Maybe, we better not, Tex.
- You hear them critters?
We got to get them
to the shaded pens
and as fast as we can.
♪ Tex hit the grade at
on the downhill pull to Dodge ♪
♪ And he was doing
when he roared by Engine Lodge ♪
♪ The braky hollered stop her
or there'll be an awful toll ♪
♪ But Tex said to the braky man
let them drive and roll ♪
♪ The fireman said we better
jump or we will be no more ♪
♪ The passengers behind him
could hear that engine roar ♪
♪ And they prayed
cause they were so afraid ♪
♪ And ole Tex was praying lordy
let my engine roll ♪
♪ Please keep my drivers rolling
cause that record is my goal ♪
♪ He might have beat the record
but a rail was cross the track ♪
♪ Put there by Denby's robbers
to see the pay car crack ♪
♪ And like the fireman warned
him, it took an awful toll ♪
[crash]
[boom]
♪ And like the fireman warned
him, it took an awful toll ♪
♪ Poor Tex cried with his aching
breath that record was my goal ♪
♪ He whispered to his maker
you saw me break the record ♪
♪ Oh Lord
♪ You saw that engine roll
roll, roll ♪
♪ Engine roll
♪ Roll engine roll
[humming]
Hey-ho.
Howdy, Wyatt? I was just
on the way to your jail.
Mr. Bates, I was awful sorry
to hear about your wreck.
One engine, four cattle cars
and a crummy smashed.
Piersall hasn't added up
the damage to his steers yet.
(Bates)
'Put him in jail
and lose the key.'
Super, if you all
just listen to me--
Don't tell that yarn again.
He said some train robber
put a rail across the tracks.
That's right.
I saw them with my own eye.
(Wittie)
'Yeah. That's right, so did I.
Now listen, this man's a hero.'
'Why, if he hadn't been driving
old ..'
Moved the sandbox and brakes
right down to the final crash.
Yeah, there'd have been
more steers hurt.
All I'm getting out of this
for a reward is days in jail.
(Bates)
'Ought to be years.'
Wyatt? Tex might be telling
the truth.
Mike Denby and his boys
are laying low
somewhere around Engine Hill.
Denby? Who reported it?
A Santa Fe special agent.
There now.
A train robber, Mike Denby
(Bates)
'I don't believe a word of it.'
He's your own
special agent, sir.
I want Tex and Wittie put
in jail and kept there.
Alright, alright,
but just take it easy, huh.
Take it easy! The Santa Fe
don't tolerate wrecks.
They'll have my job
for this, that's what.
Alright, Let's head
for jail, gentlemen.
Um. Marshal?
I know you got a Charley horse,
now come on.
[sighs]
Because Tex yarns occasionally
is no reason to decide
he's lying all the time.
Look, why would Mr. Denby wreck
a jump line cattle train.
Sometimes, they hide payrolls
in the crummy.
East bound to Dodge City?
Now, let's see..
Oh-oh. Here comes
more trouble.
Only Les Piersall
and his foreman.
Yeah, Texas is about to declare
w*r on us. You just watch.
Marshal Earp, how do you do?
I'm Les Piersall.
Happy to know you, sir.
This is Mr. Masterson.
I have the honor, sir.
I'm sorry we have to meet under
these circumstances, Mr. Earp.
I guess you mean
the...train wreck, huh?
No, sir
I refer to a young citizen
from my state, a Tex Mckay.
The Santa Fe people
are blaming him for this wreck.
I understand that, that
Bates fellow talked you
into throwing
Mr. McKay into jail.
Mr. McKay and his men
are in the jail
because of a fight
they started
it has nothing
to do with train wreck.
Well, I'm glad
to hear that, sir.
Yes, sir, I'm glad to hear that
because I happen to know the man
who caused the wreck. An outlaw,
by the name of Mike Denby.
Have you got any evidence?
Certainly, my foreman here
saw Denby and his g*ng
riding fast towards Engine Hill
not ten minutes after the wreck.
- I sure did, Marshal.
- Alright.
That gives us cause
to pick up Denby, huh?
Just don't go pick up Denby,
you try to get a warrant
for his arrest and then you
may have a fight on your hands.
(Les)
'I'll swear I'd add
formal charges, Mr. Earp.'
You'll need
a federal warrant, sir.
Well, in the hour, sir,
Federal Judge Wilson is a guest
of mine at the Dodge Hotel.
And you'd get the warrant
and I'll have to serve it.
But in my opinion, Mr. Denby
didn't cause that train wreck
McKay was going too fast.
Yes, yes, you would
blame a Texas boy.
It doesn't matter to me
where McKay is from, sir.
Now-now, Marshal, I don't--
Wyatt's fed up with fighting
the civil w*r all over again.
Very well, I withdraw
the remark.
But you will
serve the warrant.
- Yes.
- Very good.
I shall return within the hour.
Good afternoon, gentlemen.
Tex could be telling the truth
just this once you know.
- He's worse than a liar.
- Hmm?.
He's a likable liar. That's
more dangerous than a fool.
[cattle mooing]
Did you run 'em
into that pocket?
All as we could.
They should be on a corral.
We ain't got no corral. But
they'll stay back and eat grass.
You know, we should've
shot that train crew.
If there's anything
I can't stand
it's someone being
cruel to animals.
I can still hear them
poor steers a-bawlin'.
We did the best we could.
Tell the boys
to let 'em wander
until they get over being
scared. Then we turn 'em loose.
Uh-oh!
Now, hold it.
No sh**ting.
- Mr. Denby.
- Hi.
I'm Wyatt Earp.
This is Mr. Bat Masterson.
Well, I must be
getting real famous.
Mr. Denby I have a federal
warrant for your arrest.
You are accused
of wrecking a train.
Oh, no!
Now, they're accusing us
of wrecking that train, boys.
You mean to tell me Santa Fe had
the gall to put the blame on us?
Well, it was Les Piersall,
the owner of the cattle.
Well, this really
takes the cake.
That crazy engineer was
high aboard on the jack line
at miles an hour. We saw
the whole thing, didn't we?
'He hit that curve at Engine
Hill and went off the track.'
They ought to hang him.
Any man who'd treat a bunch of
dumb innocent animals like that.
We picked up some of
the survivors, Marshal.
They're a bad looking bunch of
cattle, you should look at 'em.
They're right there.
You could also be charged
with rustling.
(Denby)
'I could not. They
belong to the Santa Fe.'
- 'And besides--'
- Waste of time, I believe you.
You believe me?
I'm sure you didn't wreck
that train, Mr. Denby.
And a rustling charge
wouldn't hold in this case.
Well, I'll be..
(Wyatt)
'We'll still have
to take you into Dodge.'
'I'll talk to Judge Wilson,
I'm sure he'll let you off.'
Mr. Masterson, the next time
you believe Tex McKay
I'm gonna have
your head examined.
Tex McKay is the engineer
who caused all this trouble.
He accused you of placing
a rail across the track.
(Denby)
'Placing a rail
on the track?'
- There's a liar for you.
- And a black one.
Did we ever try
to wreck the train, boys?
Never in our whole lives
did we wreck a train.
(Denby)
'You've done me
a great favor, Marshal.'
'This gives me a chance
to clear my name.'
Any man who'd wreck a train
and hurt poor, dumb, innocent
cattle like that,
should be strung up.
- Yo, fetch my horse.
- That I will.
I'm riding into Dodge,
to have a show down on this.'
Mr. Denby, you forget
about the show down.
We'll keep it legal, huh.
As you know, Judge Wilson
train robbers, usually follow
a set pattern of operation.
But they don't rob
freight trains
unless they've
definite knowledge
that there's money on board.
Now, Mr. Denby's been accused
of several robberies.
He served time for one,
but he's never wrecked a train.
That's right, Judge.
Tex McKay, did it.
There you go picking on McKay
just because he's a Texas boy.
Oh, Les.
Gentlemen, order, please.
Mr. Earp, I'm inclined
to agree that I acted hastily
in issuing against of this man.
I'd like to hear what
the engineer has to say.
- Bring in Tex McKay.
- I don't like this, Judge.
I posted bond
for McKay's release.
Why should an honest Texas boy
have his word questioned
or be accused by a notorious
criminal like Denby?
I've done time, but I'm no liar
and I don't wreck trains.
Order! Sit down,
both of you.
Well, Federal Judge
and Mr. Piersall and the super.
This is Mike Denby. You
saw him near the train wreck?
- Oh, yes, sir. I sure did.
- Hmm.
I saw you, McKay, pushin'
that engine miles an hour.
'Order.'
How fast were you going?
Thirty miles an hour.
My throttle bar was dugged
at that top speed.
Oh, you can ask the super.
We did have a welded stopper
on the throttle.
McKay could have
chiseled it off.
- Why, doggone you--
- Just take it easy.
Quiet. This is one man's word
against another's.
Judge! A Texan
against a train robber.
Now, I'm sorry, Les.
Mr. Earp. Is Mr. Denby wanted
for any state or federal crime?
No, sir. Not at the moment.
Mr. Denby, you may go.
Thank you, Judge. This clears me
of hurting them poor animals?
(Judge Wilson)
'Yes. It does.'
(Denby)
'Marshall, you and Judge have
been mighty decent about this.'
'I won't be forgettin' it'
I advice you to get
out of Dodge City real quick.
I'm on me way.
I'd thought you were
my personal friend.
(Judge Wilson)
Now, now, Les. Les, wait, wait.
I'll-I'll get him cooled off.
Those Texans are mighty
hot blooded
but I forgive Mike Denby.
(super)
'Come along, Tex.'
Yes, sir.
I thought you fired him?
I had to change my mind when
Les Piersall put up his bail.
Les is a big shipper, Wyatt.
I reckon you still don't believe
my story, Mr. Earp?
- No, I don't.
- Neither do I
Wyatt had you pegged
right from the first.
It seems like a poor Texas boy
can't get any justice up North.
But I can't hold
any hard feelings. No, sir.
(Tex)
'Anytime you or Marshal Earp
need any help'
'well, you just feel free
to call on me.'
As for you, Super. I'm gonna buy
you the best drink here.
Super, did I ever tell you
about the time
we were high-ballin'
at San Anton..
[door shuts]
You reckon Denby will lay
for him?
Um. It doesn't happen
to characters like Tex McKay.
I just hope he doesn't talk
Mr. Bates into lettin' him have
a passenger engine
on the main line.
Liars always get
their comeuppance, Wyatt.
Yeah, let's hope so.
[chorus humming]
Reach, Denby.
Come with us. Come on.
[crowd bickering]
Let's get him overhead
with some good trees.
Here, Tex, you hold the rope.
Thanks, Mr. Piersall but--
You get first drag
on the rope, Tex
- I appreciate the honor--
- You're still the biggest liar.
For that, I will
hang you, Mike.
There's a good tree.
Let's hurry.
That will make him the biggest
liar in the whole United States.
- Hush up!
- Come on.
[crowd chattering]
Alright, Tex. Throw your end
over that limb. Give him room.
- No, sir. I can't do it.
- Here, I'll do it.
No, no. Don't do that,
Mr. Piersall. Wouldn't be right.
- He's innocent.
- What?
(male # )
'What do you mean
he's innocent?'
Yeah, I told a big lie.
I was driving that train
miles an hour.
Mr. Denby didn't have nothing
to do with it.
[g*nsh*t]
♪ Well now I've told you the
story of brave Tex Mckay ♪
♪ The drivingest hogger
of the old Santa Fe ♪
♪ He come up from Texas
with iron in his soul ♪
♪ That man was a genius at
makin' them big engines roll ♪
♪ Roll engines roll
♪ Roll engines roll
♪ Roll engines roll
♪ Roll engines roll.. ♪
Well, Mr. McKay.
Mr. Masterson tells me
that you wanna make
a complete confession.
Yes, sir. I wanna make
a confession.
I'll be plum ruined, Mr. Earp
but I just can't live with lying
on my conscience any longer.
Well..
Well...I ain't really a Texan.
(Tex)
'I was born in Topeka, Kansas.'
Oh, that's awful.
Um...well, I'm gonna forget
you told me that
and you keep it quiet, too, and
some day they might sing a song
about "Tex McKay
and the wreck of old ".
Oh, thank you, marshal. If
there's ever anything I can--
That's quite alright, Mr. McKay.
You just sit down, take it easy.
Well, thank you, marshal.
♪ Roll engines roll ♪
[Ken Darby singing
"Legend of Wyatt Earp"]
♪ Well, he cleaned up
the country ♪
♪ The old wild west country
♪ He made law
and order prevail ♪
♪ And none can deny it
♪ The legend of Wyatt
♪ Forever will live
on the trail ♪
♪ Wyatt Earp
♪ Wyatt Earp
♪ Brave, courageous and bold
♪ Long live his fame
and long live his glory ♪
♪ And long may his story
be told ♪
[humming]