Episode 21
Mark and I were riding into town when we came across some riders. As we got closer Mark hollers "Injuns!" "What do you make of it Pa?" I told Mark that it looked as if whatever that one Apache did, the other planned to settle it in real Indian fashion."You mean like scalpin', gosh can I watch?" Asked Mark. I explained to him that our government was trying to teach these people to be civilized. I told him that maybe it should include him. He realized what he had said and he apologized.
As we approach the two Indians, I asked them to hold up as I proceeded to tell the Indian in charge that whatever his intentions were, they can't be good; it's against the law! If he has a grievance against this man, he should tell the white man authority and they will punish him. "Savvy?" He explained to me that this man was under arrest for attacking an unarmed man and when he finished with his business in this area he will be taking him to Santa Fe. I mentioned to him that just because he spoke proper English didn't give him the right to arrest anyone. He introduced himself as Sam Buckhart.....Native American Aboriginal of the Chiricahua Apache. Deputy United States Marshal for this district. He learned to speak proper English as well as a great deal about American laws by going to school. "Maybe your boy will go there.....Harvard College," said Buckhart, as he rode off. Mark was surprised and wondered what this world was coming to; having an Indian Marshal. I was concerned howthe people of North Fork would accept an Indian as a Deputy U.S. Marshal and hoped he knew enough not to parade his authority in town.
As we arrived in North Fork, we saw Buckhart's horse outside the Last Chance Saloon. I couldn't help but remember what happened the last time an Indian tried to buy a drink at the saloon. I thought Buckhart was smart enough not to go into the saloon for a drink. People just don't cotton to Indians drinking in the town saloons. We ran into Micah and I asked him if he had seen the new marshal? He told us that he was hob-nobbin' with our big leading citizen, Gorman. He proceeded to tell me that Buckhart was looking for the renegade Indian suspected of the brutal killings of the McCloud's. They were Quakers and the best white friends any redskin could have, it's hard to figure any Indian would do that to this family.
As Micah and I entered the saloon, it appeared everybody was celebrating the capture of Buckhart's prisoner. "It isn't often that a special Deputy from Washington comes to our community," says Gorman. "To Sam Buckhart ~ the kind of Federal man we've all been waiting for." He mentioned that he 
just purchased the McCloud Ranch and would feel better once the 'stinking savage' who burned out the McCloud's was caught. Buckhart corrected Gorman and said "if" the Indian was guilty he would be punished. Gorman had already decided being an Indian is enough proof. Buckhart proceeded to compare all men and Indians and made note that they are the same. They thought it was just because he was a lawman that stuck up for the Indians. Buckhart asked where he could find the Apache clan. Slade told him they are squatting out at Green Canyon. He had seen an Indian running from there, Eskaminzan. I drew a map for Buckhart and all the while I tried to warn him about pressing his luck with this crowd.
- I accused Buckhart of hating white men until it hurts his insides. "Hate? McCain, I was 14 when I joined in the war against the whites, my first battle I found a wounded Captain behind a rock, he was an old man. I had my knee in his breast bone and his thin gray hair in my hand. When I looked in his eyes I could see he was gonna die bravely." "I took the Captain back to the fort, for five days and nights I held him in the saddle, finding him food and water. During that time we became friends. Two years later the Captain died in a Indian ambush. He left me a great fortune.....tuition and expenses if I would go to Harvard College where he had graduated. Does that answer your questions?" I understood this man now and wish him good luck and went on my way.
"Hey Pa! Where'd that Indian Marshal go?" I tried to hush the boy up but Tub, one of Gorman's men over heard 
him and tried to get information out of Mark. When Mark tried to cover up what he had just said, he called Mark a liar and grabbed him. I had to use force for him to leave Mark alone. He couldn't wait to tell everyone in the saloon that their new Deputy United States Marshal was an Indian. That riled everyone up. Gorman and all the saloon boys, upset by the fact that he drank with an Apache Indian, went crazy! They gathered up the glasses that they had drunk out of and started shooting them up.
- Buckhart had already left town and went to talk to the Apaches and told Chief Hostay that the white man's laws are wise and just. That he needed to take Eskaminzan in for trial. Chief Hostay did not believe his son was guilty, but was willing to sacrifice his son Eskaminzan. "He will go to Santa Fe to be hung by the white solders. Eskaminzan will go to die for the Apache Nation. It is a great honor to make such a great sacrifice." Buckhart told him he will have a fair trial, but was concerned about him using the word sacrifice Why, why does he say sacrifice? The chief said that Eskaminzan could not have started the fire. He was in mourning for wife's father. To make any fire was forbidden to him. After talking to Chief Hostay, Buckhart realizes that Eskaminzan was not guilty. Eskaminzan spoke of a white man who wanted him to meet with him, he thought this white man wanted to buy his leather like before, but when he told him what he wanted, Eskaminzan fled. From his place of hiding he saw the smoke. "Who is he?" Asked Buckhart. "It was the drunkard, Slade, the white man," said Eskaminzan
- I told him they found out about him back in town and that it was my fault. He told me
it wasn't important. I asked him how good he was with his rifle. He told me he was fair. I looked around and saw a mullein bush with five pods on it. I wanted to see how good of a shot. I told him to try and pick one of the pods. He was having trouble making them out. It took him three shots before he could get one. I then took my rifle from it's holster and demonstrated my shooting abilities. I told him I was sorry but I couldn't let him go back into town to arrest Slade. We argued. He grabbed my gun and told me he was taking me into custody for threatening a peace officer. "You stupid savage! I'm through with you!. I wash my hands of you!" Buckhart then put my rifle back into my holster and headed back for North Fork to take Slade into custody. I headed back into town to get Mark and head for home. I felt I did all I could do by warning him. He was a proud man. I had pointed that out to him, but his parting comment to me still rang in my ears, "Just like you, eh, Lucas?" -
- When I got into town Buckhart already had Slade in custody and planned on taking him to trial. The town was rowdy. They just had a town meeting. There was no way the town folks were going to let him take Slade out of North Fork. "We the people of North Fork refused to recognize Buckhart's jurisdiction or authority." So say Gorman and the people. I wasn't sure what to do with this whole situation. I took charge by acting like I was on the town's side. "Buckhart, maybe you no savvy? We the people of North Fork refuse to acknowledge your authority. We the people of North Fork have decided to take the law into our own hands. Still no savvy, Marshal Torrance knows what it means, it means he's thru, you hear me Micah your thru." So then I put a guilt trip on Todd, a citizen that Micah had helped in the past. I threw my Rifle to Todd and told him to shoot Micah; he couldn't. "Put a hole right thru his mean old heart!" I said. Everybody started to realize what they were doing, supporting a killer, Slade. Knowing they were corner
ed, Tub and Gorman started to shoot at Buckhart. Buckhart was quicker on the draw and wounded both of them. Slade confessed and told us about Gorman being behind the whole thing. Now Gorman had to be taken into custody by an Injun! He begged me not to let Buckhart take him. - When I got into town Buckhart already had Slade in custody and planned on taking him to trial. The town was rowdy. They just had a town meeting. There was no way the town folks were going to let him take Slade out of North Fork. "We the people of North Fork refused to recognize Buckhart's jurisdiction or authority." So say Gorman and the people. I wasn't sure what to do with this whole situation. I took charge by acting like I was on the town's side. "Buckhart, maybe you no savvy? We the people of North Fork refuse to acknowledge your authority. We the people of North Fork have decided to take the law into our own hands. Still no savvy, Marshal Torrance knows what it means, it means he's thru, you hear me Micah your thru." So then I put a guilt trip on Todd, a citizen that Micah had helped in the past. I threw my Rifle to Todd and told him to shoot Micah; he couldn't. "Put a hole right thru his mean old heart!" I said. Everybody started to realize what they were doing, supporting a killer, Slade. Knowing they were corner
Sam Buckhart was our friend! Some day we hope to see him again! Sam gave Mark a peace pipe and he gave me a book that told all about Harvard College. I asked Mark if he would like to go someday? He said....."If it's good enough for him, it's good enough for me!"
piddlin' stuff.....Michael Ansara appeared in two episodes of "The Rifleman" as Sam Buckhart, Deputy United States Marshal. 'The Indian' and 'The Raid,' were spin offs for "Law of the Plainsman." He also appeared as Cochise in an earlier series called "Broken Arrow."
Do you know who played Cochise in the one hour made for TV show of 'Broken Arrow' that launched the TV series?
Michael Ansara was also in an episode of "Branded" called 'Bounty.'
Herbert Rudley played Gorman. He's the one in the second picture offering Sam Buckhart a drink. See the guy behind Sam & Gorman - that's Tubs [Mickey Simpson] - he's the one who got the rifle barrel in the belly in 'The Sharpshooter.' Herbert Rudley was in 'A Case of Identity' in "The Rifleman" as Captain Jerry Gordon. He's the guy who was trying to pass off Mark as Aaron Wingate's son. Lewis Charles played Eban Tate in 'One Went to Denver' also was in 'The Indian' as Slade the man who was responsible for the brutal murder of a Rancher and his family. He also appeared in 'Skull' as Pascal.
Frank DeKova was Chief Hostay in this episode of 'The Indian.' He is in the fourth picture from the top. The Indian on the left. 'Meeting at Midnight' he played Carl Miller, the man who was in jail waiting for someone to come and break him out. I know you know who he is. Remember him in F-Troop as Chief Wild Eagle?
Mickey Simpson played Tub in this episode of 'The Indian'. He was one who grabbed Mark and called him a liar when Mark left it slip and then tried to cover it up that their new Deputy United States Marshal was an Indian. He also played Carl Lamprey in the episode 'The Sharpshooter' - he's the one that got Lucas' rifle barrel in his stomach.
He was a well-muscled, former 1935 New York City heavyweight boxing champ who was typically cast as a villain in numerous low-budget auctioneers, adventures, and Westerns of the '40s, '50s, and '60s. Before making his screen debut with a bit part in Stagecoach, Simpson had been Claudette Colbert's personal chauffeur. He served with the military during WWII and then returned to Hollywood to continue his busy onscreen career. ~ Sandra BrennanEddie Little Sky appeared as the Indian, Deputy United States Marshal Sam Buckhart had in custody when Lucas & Mark passed them on the country side. He also appeared with Chuck in "Branded" as Blue Hawk in 'One Way Out'.
One of the least known and yet most seen Indian actors on screen and TV. Eddie was a member of the Lakota Sioux tribe and appeared on numerous TV western series in the 1950s through the 1970s. Little Sky was a handsome man with a very athletic body.Robert Chadwick as Eskaminzan. He was the son of Chief Hostay. He was the one originally accused of setting the fires, but found to be innocent because at the time he was in mourning for wife's father.
Leonard P. "Lenny" Geer as Todd Ullman. He's the cowboy that Lucas threw his rifle to and told him to shoot Micah; he couldn't. "Put a hole right thru his mean old heart!" Great character actor. He has done many of things besides acting, he also was a stuntman. Lenny also doubled for Robert Mitchum and George Montgomery. His has done a lot of things, from westerns to comedy to horror & war movies.
*Lucas used a mullein bush for target practice. How many of you know what a mullein bush is?Mullein bush ~ A large green bush with brilliant yellow flowers: There is nothing extraordinary this large green bush besides the fact it is adorned with brilliant spikes of yellow flowers which are harvestable, introduced in North America.*If anybody has any information on any of the stars, and would like to share it, please get in touch with
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updated 10/5/08