The Payroll - Fort Laramie (09-16-56)

Original Air Date: September 16, 1956
Host: Andrew Rhynes
Show: Fort Laramie
Phone: (707) 98 OTRDW (6-8739)

Stars:
• Raymond Burr (Captain Lee Quince)
• Vic Perrin (Sgt. Goerss)
• Jack Moyles (Major Daggett)
• Harry Bartel (Lt. Siberts)

Special Guests:
• Howard McNear
• Sam Edwards
• Clayton Post

Writers:
• Kathleen Hite

Producer:
• Norman Macdonnell

Music:
• Amerigo Moreno

Exit music from: Roundup on the Prairie by Aaron Kenny https://bit.ly/3kTj0kK

Episode Transcript

(00:13):
Welcome to the old time radio Westerns. I'm your host, Andrew Ryans,
and let's get into this episode.This episode is going to be for Larmie.
Original airdate is September sixteenth, nineteenfifty six, and the title is
The Payil Hope you enjoy in again. Thanks for listening. Fort Laramie.

(01:18):
Fort Laramie, starring Raymond Byrd asCaptain lee Quince, specially transcribed tales of
the dark and tragic ground of thewild Frontier, the saga of fighting men
who rode the rim of Empire,and the dramatic story of lee Quince,
Captain of Cavalry. I think maybeI weren't thin on this favor detailed beam.

(01:56):
This is three days running with Drew, this duty. Anytime you want
to tell me something I don't know, I'm willing to listen to Harrison tomorrow
morning. Come fatigue call, Igotta mind to bust out of line and
volunteer for something more elevating. Idon't see how there's a job on this
post more elevating and reading up thestable. You ain't ever got a complaint,

(02:20):
have you? There's a long listof things I ain't never got Harrison
A man or won't change in hislife. You want to seek it out,
try for it change. That's whatkeeps a man's interest alive. When
you bust out of line tomorrow morning, why don't you volunteer for post chapel

(02:43):
and you think you've got awful goodwinthere? Don't you be? You're just
right? Please with your fine touchof humor. I thought you knew I
was comical. Oh I'm standing herenear busting Latin. That's how comical you
are. I'll make this arrangement withyou, Harrison. I won't talk to
you if you won't talk to me. I'd admire to do that. Just

(03:07):
admire to Bean. I come on, Beam, you hear me? All
right, that's one of the shortestarrangements I ever had. Yeah, well,

(03:30):
let's rest a spell. I'm agreeable. Rest a spell, and how
about y'all you're getting more likable,Harrison. No sense in us going at
each other, working as close asa dude, living as close. I
want to make friends with you,Beam, starting to win this minute.

(03:53):
You ain't one for ceremony now,Oh yeah, a couple of good friends
where we are so right, weshould rest a spell and have a chalk
I'm willing you work, gotta choineyou you talking about the back are of
course, Sam, I can't calla time I had a plug tobaccair.

(04:15):
You lying to me, Bean?No, we being such good friends the
way we are, why should Ilie to you? You choin? Ain't
you been joined all morning? Sure? I'm charged you ain't choined? Toback
of what are you rolling around onyour tongue shifting one side of him out
to the other. Knick nick?Say that again? Ko, nick nick?

(04:39):
You're being comical again. Bean,You're just a boy I keep forgetting.
You don't recollect the war much.Now, recollect the war better than
I recollect that king. What youcall it? It's bark Injurines taught us
anks about it. Red willow barkI think it is. Anyways, they

(05:00):
cut it deep from the trees,cut it into shreds. They used it
most for smoking. You cut intoany red willow trees up here on the
high plains, Bean, or notme? But last time we was down
on the agency, I got mesome off a squaw. I swear you're
lying to me right here here inmy pocket. Help yourself hanking for cha

(05:24):
makes one dry sand well you gotto work it some right, Yeah,
you sure A stuff's off a willowtree, red willow or I come,

(05:51):
they look so pleasant and tastes sobad. Well, I didn't say it
was good. You wanted a chalBlige jed never. I said you was
just the boy. And sometimes I'mhungry. I don't eat a polecat because
that's all I got. Handy,you got a taste for tobacco. Why

(06:12):
don't you buy yourself something supler?Keeps a fine line a bulldom cealing North
Carolina. You know why I don'tbuy got no money, same as you,
Same as ever trooper on this post. Peaymaster ain't been through here in
four months. For that it wassix No money plenty. He won't give
me no more credit. You ain'tall alone, you know, Harrison.

(06:35):
Ain't nobody been paid in four monthstime. I'm gonna do something being I
don't rightly know what it is now, but that's plenty. He's gonna give
me some more credit somehow major dacketshere, Oh qus, it's about to

(06:59):
say for you, Yes, sir, I thought this morning's drill went very
well. It seemed too Look theone thing it's becoming a problem selecting my
orderly for the day. I wantyou to get some thought to it.
In one way, well as Isay that drill seems sharp enough, soldier
in general is good. The menare keeping the post in good order.

(07:24):
Mend themselves are the problem about thisorderly business? Let's see now the book
says the neatest and smartest trooper willbe chosen as orderly as the day for
the commanding officer. It's supposed tobe an honor captain recognition for good soldiering.
Lately, my orderlies have been smartenough, but the neatness is severely
lacking. I'll speak to the companyabout it, sir. We still employ

(07:45):
laundresses at Fort Laramie, Captain,and the clothing allowances are far better than
they used to be when they come. What do you mean by that?
Just that the paymaster hasn't stopped hearsin his mid sprain four months. I'm
aware of that summer soldier AND's tough. Major campaigns are hard. Whether it's
hot, neat and clean is abig order. A good soldier will still

(08:09):
make the effort pass the word cap'n. Yes, oh no, that he
wanted to see me about something.The paymas dude, I wondered if he's
heading our way at all, thatyou running short of funds, cap'n.
I'm not asking for myself, sir. See last word I had he was

(08:31):
here at Fort Omaha with it stopsto make between here and there. I
can't say with certainty when we shouldexpect him that at mean stops at Fort
Carney, McPherson, here at theNorth Platte Station and Fort Mitchell before he
gets here, unless he cuts offdown to Fort Sydney after he leaves North

(08:52):
Platte Station. Four months is along time for the men to go without
pay Major. I know, unfortunatelythe root and schedule of the paymaster is
not within my province. Why theirhardship cases Lee, I'm hearing no complaints

(09:13):
directly. I don't like it either, but they're fed and clothed. I'm
sure Plenty is doing the best hecan in the way of extending credit.
Yeah, he'd be a fool notto. Plenty likes money, Major,
got a real respect for it.I don't think he feels just the same
toward extending credit. Yees. Yeah, and I don't know it's not enough,

(09:54):
No, that's not near enough.Oh, I might want to put
it in a safer place though,Yes, I'm I want to do that.
Put it in these sacks. Man, Just get the warning planet be

(10:16):
with the injust a minute. Thankyou. Just what do you call that
stuff? Money? Sergeant? Yes? Money? Now, planey, you
don't call that money? You getalone with a couple of sacks of that,
and you know, blame well youcall it sweetheart or something loving like
that. Oh that's not true.No, no, no, I call

(10:37):
it money. No, remby,I do money. What you're gonna do?
Bury it? See if it'll grow? Indeed, nah, that can
be very dangerous, you know,burying money just steady sacks. Say you're
getting some shin plasters in there witha big bills. Oh my, I
wish it had quit making them.It's confusing. You think you got a

(10:58):
nice roll of bills and then someof them three cent notes get in there,
and a jeezy besides, it won'tyou know it won't No, indeed,
no, indeed, an exploded theoryyears ago. What is if you
bury money, it will not grow? Well, now I learned something today

(11:18):
as many years ago. Dudelet's seeyou Ah, that completes. Just put
these sacks in my safe and everything. You wanted to buy something? What
kind of sea guards you've got?Oh? Well, oh we've got some
fine Havan. It's just the bestthere is here. I keep them over
the cabinet by the door, underlock and key. Bliny, it's me,

(11:43):
sergeant gorse Yes, I see youhere. What I say? Oh
well, I've got long nines,supers and short six and I got a
three cent shin plaster where right here? Oh yes, so you have three
cents? Well, now, theseshort sixes and nine they give them away

(12:15):
in saloons. They give them awayfree. Try not to think on it,
plying they might make you queaze free. Oh my goodness, and sometimes
I pay as high as a centfor two of them. Two for a
cent, well, no, Ireally I might let you have one super,
but just one, mind you forthree cents. I had my mouth

(12:39):
set for a long nine after singoh no, no, you don't really
expect that, sergeant, A longnine for three cents. Why i'd stand
to lose? Oh yeah, letme see, you'd stand to make two
cents easy? But these are fromNew England, Sergeant, tell the truth.
I'm running short now. This isthe last barrel of you're practically forced

(13:00):
me into a saloon planning. You'rereally desperate for a good smoke country not
near as desperate as you are formy last three cents. You won't bandy
this about the post. I couldbandy my head off and there wouldn't be
no run on your store, planningthe way that paymaster takes his time.
I stand to be one of thefew men at Fort Laramie that's still got

(13:20):
a three cent No, yes,unanimous, long name. All right,
help yourself side to one for threecents. Afternoon, mister Sabbats, Oh,

(13:52):
good afternoon. Captain Quinn's working onyour journal and taking the air at
the same time. Too hot inmy quarters, A bit more of a
breeze out here. You feel abreeze off these planes. You're an optimist,
mister Sabberts. It's hot, hotas sin. I wonder if it's
this hot where the paymaster is notnear as hot as where most of the

(14:13):
men wish she was. Oh,I didn't mean that, sir, I
did. You're feeling the pinch too, mister Sabbats, No, no,
sir, I'm fine, thank you. Captain. I was just thinking maybe
it's the weather delaying the paymaster again. Last time it was snow. It
was last month, wasn't it lastmonth? You passed that tobacco around among

(14:33):
the men. My uncle sent itthat one in Connecticut. I wrote him
sort of suggested it be nice toget some more. But either he hadn't
gotten a letter yet or he didn'tget the idea. It was a good
thing, mister Sabbats, Thank you, sir. You're still serving on the
Council of Administration? Oh yes,or yes, I am still have charge
of the post fund, do you? That's part of the duty. How

(14:56):
much money in it? Let mesee now I had the exact figures in
the ledger up my quarters. I'llrun up and oh, never mind that
you got an idea? How much? Well, I'd have to think a
moment. According to the General Orders, the Sutler pays ten cents for every
officer and enlisted man, and it'sten cents a month, payable every two
months, about thirty dollars a month. Then roughly that three hundred and sixty

(15:20):
dollars a year. Have we hadany cause to disturb it recently, mister
Sabage, Well, we bought gardenseeds a couple of months ago. That's
in accordance with Provision D of theGeneral Orders. And before that we took
some out to buy newspapers. That'saccording to the last part of provisions.
I just wanted an idea of howmuch, mister Syberge, I think close

(15:43):
to five hundred dollars, very closeto that. I suppose we let them
in drawn until the paymaster comes drawon it, nah, borrow it for
what purpose? Tobacco, beer,whatever use they want to put it too.
But the General Orders are specific asto the uses of the fun Captain.
I'm aware of that, an independentdecision, that is to say,
this order comes from the Adjutant General'soffice. I have a copy of them

(16:07):
here. When I was appointed tothe Council of Administration, I made the
orders part of my personal record.No need to read me the orders,
mister sire. No trouble, sir, I'll be glad to refresh my own
memory. No. Here it isGeneral Orders number twenty two day, April
seven, eighteen sixty six. Well, the first part deals with the sutler
requiring it he make this payment forthe privilege he enjoys his post. I

(16:30):
just thought if the men could lookon it like it was their own money,
not a handoff. Here's the partI was talking about. The post
fund is to be used for athe expenses of a bake house, be
the establishment of a post school foruneducated soldiers who might desire schooling. Oh
and for the children of the soldiers. I was thinking more like a pleas

(16:51):
the establishment of a library and thepurchase of newspapers, d for the purchase
of garden seeds. Or that's theprovision. I meant tobacco or a glass
of beer. You know, thishot weather, a man ought to enjoy
a glass of beer and then finallyprovision E provided. Mister Hyberts, Yes,
sir, I'm getting the idea.There's no provision for beer and tobacco
when the paymaster's late. That's correct, sir. I'm sorry to say that

(17:15):
there isn't. Well, thank youfor your time, mister Cyberts. Captain
Quincy, I could get a letteroff to the Adjutant General's office asking for
a clarification. Oh no, that'sa bad habit to get in writing Washington
for clarification. You get into thatyou'd have to give up soldier and I

(17:57):
think maybe I'll go face him alone. You could linger outside here in case
I needed helper like that. You'vegot a scheme. I want to hear
what it is. I had ascheme. I wouldn't mind telling you.
First spot comes freshen in my mind. I'm going to see it to plenty.
Sometimes the first thing I think isbest. You want to take some
connect Connick for your troops in there, might work up your courage. I

(18:19):
want no such thing. You lingerhere now, look around. If you're
like, be with you soon asI close the safe. Take your time

(18:40):
plenty. Ah yeah, now thenwhat could I do with you? It's
you, trooper. I thought itmight be a customer. I mean to
be Now what a head in mind? A trooper, Harrison. We've been

(19:00):
through this before many times, ohany number of times. We have no
sech think not this credit. I'vebeen extremely generous about extending credit. Not
recent, gene. Oh but you'rewrong, you're last evening I was looking
over my accounts. Now the paymasteris four months late as it is.
I know that without looking into mine. I hear me, oh boy,

(19:22):
no, hear me out well,I discover that if you give me your
full four months pay, we'd stillhave some accounting to do you and I
you think i'd come in here facethe shame asking your favorite if it wasn't
real important. No, I don'tknow, but you A man's got his
pride, planny, Yes, Isuppose so, and next to a man
with good credit. Give me amenwith pride every time. Every time it's

(19:47):
Mama planny, mo, old grayhaired Ma. No, oh, guess
you know how I feel about moldmom. Well, of course i'd doing.
Indeed, of course your old ma. Sure. Well, now she's
got a big day coming real soon. And it come to me, say
another big day? What do youmean? Well, last night you'll remember

(20:10):
the accounts. I noticed she hada birthday just a few weeks ago.
She did, yes, and allwe got up a nice selection of gifts
for her. Half a dozen plugsof tobacco. It seems to me we're
tucking some cigars from mother, fineKentucky woman. Oh ma, oh yeah,
oh yeah. And the month beforethat, on her birthday, we

(20:32):
bought mother two jugs of whiskey anda pipe. Well, now you recollect
about damn jugs. Remember they gotbroke over in the bear. That's right,
that's right, got broke and nota drop of whiskey reached the floor.
Oh oh yes, I remember that. Oh yeah, Well when is
mother's birthday this month? Oh,now it's not her birthday this time,
planning, it's this time. Well, this time she's she's uh, you're

(21:02):
having a baby a bit. Oh, mother is having a bit. Oh
fine, Kentucky woman, my waMa, yes, isn't all. We
don't want to do something about that, now, won't we. Yeah.
I thought we'd get up another batchof plug for some seatguards, and this
time we'd take special care in them. Jugs don't get broke. All the

(21:22):
care in the world. Yes,for mother. Yeah, I'll give your
hand. You want to start puttingeverything to give her? Just get your
hands. What you're doing here?Now you write down mother's address, Write
it down for water for the apostles. My goodness, we're not going to
take any chances this time, No, sir, I'll march these to the

(21:45):
post office, mail them to mothermyself. Ah, planning, no extra
charge, none whatsoever. Captain Gwinn'sreporting Major sit On Kevin, Thank you,

(22:25):
sir. Well, I guess thisis the news we've been waiting for
the Bay Mass doom. He's atNorth platte station of winning our escort.
You want the duty, Captain,it's all right with me. Pick your
men, leave as soon as youcan. Yes, If things go as
they should, you'll be back hereby late Friday. Right right, good

(22:53):
luck, Captain. You worried aboutthe escort made you? Of course not.
You know what I'm worried about.Yeah, well, I'll stop and
Laramie village if you like, warnhim to get ready for attack. I
suppose I could double the guard startingFriday night, but I wouldn't be fair

(23:18):
with it. Kevin wouldn't do muchgood either. Maybe just have the offices
to stand by as usual. It'sall we can do. Well, move
out, Kevin ask him four monthspayroll for three hundred men. Well we
might not have a problem, madeyou. We always do. I don't

(23:40):
see how we can avoid it thistime. Well maybe we'll be lucky.
Maybe we'll be hijacked on the wayback. I came as soon as I

(24:07):
cut Captain. I never saw anythinglike this in my life, sir.
Why did sight? Mister? Sabbats? Are are all the men accounted for?
They won't be for days. Someof them we may lose entirely.
Mister sabbats, you mean desertion.Few. Some of them just been waiting
for money enough to get out ofhere. I got a fresh new batch

(24:32):
to tend to. I think thisis the last from the village. Captain,
well, they look kind of limp. Yeah. I had to help
and get that way. Sir Harrisonthere bought a raft of lead powder in
town. He didn't mind to blowpiney up, he said. Hospitals full.

(24:53):
They're stacked three deep in the guardhouse. I'll just take them to their
barracks, Sargeant, Yes, sir, here Cyberts as captain. There's still

(25:14):
a guard around the powder magazine.Oh yes, sir, Major Daggetts directing
that personal good the men. Theywouldn't bother the powder magazine, would they?
They might, mister Cyberts might blowup Fort Laramie, or they might
just pull their money and buy it. His army might do anything on payday.

(25:56):
Fort Laramie is produced and directed byNorman McDonnell and stars Raymond Burr as
Lee Quince Captain of Cavalry, withVic Perrin as Sergeant Gorse. The script
was specially written for Fort Laramie byKathleen Hight, with sound patterns by Bill
James and Tom Henley. Musical supervisionby Amerigo Marino featured in the cast where

(26:18):
Howard mcneer, Sam Edwards and Claytonpost, Jack Moyles is Major Duggett and
Harry Bartell is Lieutenant Cybert's company.Tensen dis miss next week another transcribed story

(27:08):
of the Northwest Frontier and the trooperswho fought under lee Quins Captain of Cavalry.

(27:37):
This is Norman McDonald sixty seven yearsago as the first hand of bottom
Stole across the Laramie Plaine. Thedecree was issued to close Fort Laramie as
a military post. It was aroutine order couched in the clipped impersonal language
of the army. Fort Laramie hadserved its purpose. Close it down,
put a period to a chapter ofhistory, put an end to an era.

(28:03):
That's what the decree really said forthe abandonment of the fort on the
Laramie marked the closing of the frontier. The story of Fort Laramie is a
monument to ordinary men who lived inextraordinary times of a land that was new
and untried, as cruel as itwas beautiful. It's the story of small

(28:23):
numbers of men with good in themand bad, heroism and cowardice, honor
and dishonor ordinary men, ordinary menwhose enemies were the rugged and uncharted country,
the heat, the cold, disease, boredom, and perhaps last of
all, hostile Indians. Men livedat Fort Laramie, and men died there

(28:47):
of drowning, freezing, typhoid,smallpox. Some may even have died from
boredom. But it's a matter ofrecord that in all the years the cavalry
was stationed at Fort Laramie, onlyfour troopers died of gunshot wounds. And
so we mark the sixty seventh anniversaryof the closing of Fort Laramie glad of

(29:07):
our chance to reopen it, totell the story of a proud landmark of
the Old West and the ordinary menserved them. This has been in a

(31:00):
presentation of OTR Westerns dot com andwe hope you enjoyed. Please take some
time to like and rate our showsin your favorite podcast application. Follow us
on Facebook by going to OTR Westernsdot com slash Facebook. Join in the
conversation by going to OTR Westerns dotcom slash Discord, and don't forget to
send us an email podcast at OTRWesterns dot Com. This episode's copyright under

(31:23):
the attribution non commercial sharelight copyright.For more information, go to OTR Westerns
dot com slash copyright, Have itRight Day, and again, thanks for listening.