The Blowout

Mark & I had been in Santa Fe. When we arrived in North Fork on the stage, there seemed to be a celebration going on and it sounded pretty rowdy. When I got off the stage I mentioned it to Joey, the stagecoach driver. He said that it sounded like someone was

having a party for themselves. I was surprised Micah would let a thing like this go on. Joey told me that Micah wasn't in town. He had taken a prisoner down to El Campos three days ago. Ben Waller was filling in for him. I was surprised when Joey told me that. I saw Ben standing outside the Marshal's office watching the saloon, he seemed to be edgy, nervous. I thought I should go have a talk with him. He was sure glad to see me. He told me that this had been going on since sun up, ever since Al Walker rode in. Not one person offered to lend a hand. Ben never expected trouble like this. There was no way he was going to face up to Al Walker and break up his party. He wanted me to take over for him, but I told him that Micah made him the deputy and he had no authority to give me the job. I said I'd go and talk to Walker. I told Mark to go on over to the cafe and order our steaks. "Pa," said Mark reluctantly. With that shots rang out. He hesitated and asked me how I wanted my steak.

I went into the saloon. They were throwing things. I walked up to Sweeney the bartender and said "big night huh Sweeney?" Sweeny told me this has been going on all day and night. He said Walker gave him $500 dollars this morning and when that was gone there would be more. Sweeney wished he'd take it back. I asked him which one was Walker. He looked towards a man that was setting at a table all by himself. He wasn't social able, he didn't talk to anybody and nobody talked to him. He just set there and played solitaire. I walked over to Walker and told him we needed to talk. He told me he was here for two reasons. He was once a lawyer, he had everything, brilliant future,

wealth, everything including his illness. One day a man took pity on him, he didn't want that, so he hit him. The man drew on him and he killed him. Now, a gunfighter, he's killed 12 more since then. Once you kill someone, there's always another one there to try you. He was hoping to find someone faster than him. Walker reveled he was a dying man and wanted a death certificate saying he died of natural causes. He wanted this for his family. He owed it to them, and what he once stood for. He wanted a reputable doctor in attendance when he dies. He was in town because he had heard that North Fork had a good doctor. I asked him what the other reason was. He thought that our doctor might make it easier on him. "I'm not a killer, believe me, I'm not," said Walker. I wanted to take him over to Doc Burrage's, but he wasn't ready yet. I told him to suit himself. I started to leave and some of the cowboys starting shooting up the place. Walker said, "Nobody likes to drink alone, Lucas. It won't be for long."

Ben was watching for me to come out of the saloon. When he saw me he called me over. He was beginning to get worried, I was in there a long time.

We had quite a talk. Ben was eager to hear what was said. I told Ben he came here to die. Not by a gun, but in Doc Burrage's office. Slow and painful. "Not very pretty is it Ben?" I told Ben he better get some rest and I headed over to the cafe to meet Mark.

While we were sitting in the cafe eating our supper, the Porter brothers came in and sat down at the counter. I didn't know who they were at the time, but I knew something wasn't right. Mark knew something was bothering me. "Is your steak alright, Pa," asked Mark. "It's alright son." Mark wanted to know what was the matter. He knew I was pre-occupied. He asked me if I knew those men, referring to the three men at the counter. "No, you better eat up, you've got some pie comin'. The three cowboys were having a conversation and were getting somewhat loud. The youngest seem to be pretty inpatient about something. He got up off the stool and went to the cowboy on the end, and he got louder. ""No I ain't gonna shut up, we tracked Walker a long ways Jake and now we have him. Well I'm gonna get him if I have to kill half this town to do it," he said and drew his gun. Jake grabbed his arm with the gun in it. "Leave me be Jake, I'm gonna kill him." Jake told him he wasn't gonna kill nobody. He wanted to wait until Walker came out of the saloon so they could have him all to themselves. He put the kids gun back in his holster. Jake, who seemed to be the leader, noticed us se

tting there and came over to us and told me to forget what we just heard. Out dessert had just got there, but I thought it best if Mark and I left. I'm sure Mark really hated leaving that pie behind. As we went to leave, Jake reminded me again what he had said. Ross was upset, "now you gone and done it, do you know who that was? Lucas McCain." Jake didn't care. He wanted Walker and if I got in the way, so be it, he'd kill me to.

Ben came running out of the Marshals' office asking me if I saw those three men? They are the Porter Brothers, they were wanted for robbing the Hobbs bank last month. they killed three people doing it. I told Ben they came here to kill Al Walker. That really upset him. He was ready to take off his badge. Then he apologized. I told him to keep an eye on the cafe from "from the office."

I went back into the saloon. I asked Walker what the Porters wanted with him. He had shot Eddie, their other brother and took the bank money. So now it was 14 men he had killed. "Hey how about this Lucas, their gonna be talking about this 'Blowout' for sometime," said Walker. I took his gun and told him I was

taking him to jail. I didn't want a gunfight and have some of our citizens get hurt. He wanted his gun back but I reminded him, this was his way, death by natural causes. As I was taking Walker into the Marshal's office, the Porter brothers came out of the Cafe. The kid was mad. How were they going to get to Walker now? Jake was furious, he told the owner of the cafe he wanted a broom, a table cloth and some coal oil. "I reckon' that sodbuster didn't hear me so good. He's gonna hear me now," said Jake.

Jake wanted Walker out in two minutes or they would burn him out. If he had to he would burn the jail, the town and me with it. I told Mark to go out the back door and go straight over to the hotel. I then told Ben to get Walker out of jail, that if they came for him he deserved a right to defend himself. "Your times running out McCain." They started shooting while Jake set a wagon on fire. They were pushing it to the Marshal's office. They got it as close as they could and then ran off. This sure was becoming a 'Blowout.' Bullets flying everywhere. Just as I headed for the door, Walker pushed me aside and went out. I followed him out. I covered him while he took his jacket and tried to put the fire out. It was burning pretty close to the Marshal's office. First In the ensuing gunfight, I shot Jake, then Ross. I went to help Walker, he was having a hard time. He was over come with smoke and with his illness it made it harder for him to breath. I was too busy fighting the fire to see the kids. He was getting ready to shoot when Ben came out of the Marshal's office and shot him. Walker was having a hard time standing. I went to help him thinking Jake was dead, but he wasn't. He grabbed a gun laying near him and shot Walker with it. I shot Jake again. Walker collapsed. I told him I was going for the doctor. "No, no, no, I don't need him now, except for one thing." "Natural causes," I said.

"Please, have the doc write it that way." I nodded to Walker, he knew some how that I would carry out his last wishes.

Things quieted down pretty much after all this, and Mark and I was getting ready to leave when we saw Ben. I asked him if he could keep things this way. Ben told me he was alright, not to worry. "Pa, would you say Al Walker was a hero?" "There was nothing to recommend in the way he lived, but I'd say he died a hero." I looked over at Ben Waller....."and some of it rubbed off. Let's go home son."

piddlin' stuff.....John Dehner played in four episodes of "The Rifleman" - 'The

Money Gun' ~ he played Tom King a hired gun. 'The Blowout' ~ he played Al Walker [Alvin Brisbe Walker] a gunslinger. 'The Baby Sitter' ~ he played Wood Bartell a self-righteous, bigoted father. [he was Fancy's Father] 'The Prisoner' ~ he played Major Aaron King, a ex-Confederate officer who seeks revenge on Lucas.
He also appeared with Chuck in "Branded" ~ 'One Way Out' as Joshua Murdock, "Airplane II: The Sequel" ~ "Support Your Local Gunfighter " ~ & "Bigfoot Wallace"
He started out as an animator for Walt Disney Studios and was a professional pianist. He was on the radio version of "Gunsmoke" regularly cast as a bad guy. He also did Paladin - "Have Gun Will Travel" on the radio and later when the show went to TV, he was their first choice for Paladin, but was already under contract with Warner Brothers for "The Roaring 20's." He was in "Hardcastle & McCormick" - Guenther Riesemen - 'Surprise On Seagull Beach' ~ Love that "Hardcastle & McCormick!" I guess you all know that by now!

Hugh Sanders played Ben Waller, the guy who filled in for Micah. He play Sheriff Downey on the TV series "My Friend Flicka." He was the Prison Warden in "Jailhouse Rock." He and Glenn Strange (who was best know for his role as Sam the bartender- "Gunsmoke") appeared in this episode and "Jailhouse Rock" together. Star in several of "The Untouchables" episodes. Film and television actor of the 1950s and 60s. Played the doctor in the 1962 classic drama "To Kill a Mockingbird." He appeared in many of good TV shows.

John Milford appeared as Ross Porter in 'The Blowout'. The middle brother on the third picture. He has appeared in more episodes of "The Rifleman" then I thought. 11 episodes! (Hmmmmm.....does this set any record or maybe there's a tie or maybe someone did more then John? Who could the other Cowboy be?) 'The Assailants' ~ 'The Journey Back' ~ 'The Clarence Bibs Story' ~ 'Dark Day at North Fork' ~ 'Baranca' ~ 'The Pitchman' ~ 'Meeting at Midnight' ~ 'A Time for Singing' ~ 'The Horse Traders' ~ 'The Coward'. Remember him in the episode of 'Dark Day at North Fork?" He played Jack Solby, he tried to kill Lucas when he was blind? He was another guest star on "The Untouchables."
He was credited with the original design for the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Glenn Strange was several episodes of "The Rifleman." He was a shotgun guard in 'The Deadeye Kid.' He's the one that shoved Mahoney off of the back of the stage. He also played in 'Duel of Honor' as Cole, stagecoach driver. He was the one who did the counting for the duel. Joey, stagecoach driver in 'The Woman.' 'The Blowout' again a stagecoach driver. 'The Spiked Rifle' and 'Miss Bertie' as a stagecoach driver.
A guest star on "The Untouchables."
He played Butch Cavendish in "The Lone Ranger." I can't picture Sam being a bad dude. He was in Elvis's "Jailhouse Rock" - one of the dancers.

He was also known for playing the Frankenstein monster in House of Dracula, House of Frankenstein, and Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein. He was a very versatile actor. He could do it all! —Thank Jerry!

But I love him best as "Sam" the bartender in "Gunsmoke." I tip my hat to you "Cowboy!"

Howard Ledig as Jake Porter. He was the one that seemed to be in charge. He has appeared in "Bonanza"—"Dante"—"Wanted: Dead or Alive"—"The Chevy Mystery Show"—"Colt .45"— "Tightrope"— "Peter Gunn"
—"State Trooper"—"Highway Patrol"—"M Squad"—"Soldiers of Fortune"

James Parnell as the drunk. I know you have this this Cowboy over & over again. He has a list of credit you wouldn't believe for living to be only 38.

*If anybody has any information on any of the stars, and would like to share it, please get in touch with