Posts by arthurarnell

Three days later the small company had recovered well enough to leave the fort and set out for the El Dorado. on the night before they were due to set off Walsh had a long discussion with McWhirter.
"Are you sure you can find the mine after all this timeold timer, or is there a map?"
The old man laughed.
"Ole yes sunny there's a map, but it's not written down on paper",
and tapping his head, he continued.
"It's here inside my head".
Walsh was afraid that this would be the case.
"Then you will have to come with us"
McWhirter shrunk back.
Nothing will make me go back to that mountain not all the gold there is".
Walsh smiled.
How about all the whiskey you can drink?.
McWhirter thought for a moment and then shook his head.
"Not even that", he said quietly.
Walsh was getting desperate.
If you tell the whereabouts of the mine, I give you my word that I'll split whatever we get four ways".
"An I don't have to go with you" McWhirter asked.
"No"
A look of relief came across the old man's face, It's a deal".

The next morning the three companions set out with two mules carrying supplies among which was a box of dynamite.
A three day ride brought them to the small canyon leading to the mountain where the El Dorado was located.
They passed through the canyon without mishap, but as they reached the other end, behind them they heard the crack of winchester. . . .

"when we first started to work the mine there were five of us. One got took ill and he died real quick. But the rest of dug day in and day out, it was easy all ya had to do was dip ya shovel in and gold came out in buckets. Then one day old Hank disappeared and we never saw him again, but it didn't matter none because it was less to share the gold with. We had more than enough to carry so the three of us loaded up the gold on the mules and decided to set out in the morning.

When we woke up the mules were gone Bill accused Jim of not tying them up right and they got into an arguement. Jim drawed on Bill and shot him clean through the heart. The gold was making us crazy, and ya know what we never did find them mules.

So we decides to make our way back with a saddleback each filled with what we could carry and all the while I'm looking out for Jim in case he decides to bushwhack and take my share. The suddenly I hear a loud rumbling and a shout a boulder has rolled down the mountain and hit Jim and him horse and gold is ever the edge.

I didn't stop I just rode and swore that all the gold in the world wouldn't get me back there again. The El Dorado is cursed with the blood of four men mabey more before",
and looking at his three collegues mabey more to come.

In the distance the four horseman who by know were constantly shadowing Walsh stopped. One turned to the heavy man.
"Carlos it's almost our turn"

Hi Hondo
Thanks for the posting, I use my own nameon the site but don't find it a problem. But wether we use our own ames our aliases I agree that you are all a great bunch of people. Since I joined in sptember I have been made to feelwell and truly at home which if anyone is keeping records is Portsmouth England, and I share a macabre date with John Ford and Princess Diana in that they both died on my birthday.

Regards

Arthur

the cavalry captain who was organizing his sentries.
"We're in a bad way captain can you take us to the fort?"
The officer nodded an affirmative
W"e'll patch your wounded up as best we can then move out for the fort at daybreak."
The next morning with Iron shirt and his men scattered or destroyed the prospects looked better. Rest and recovery at the fort was beckoning. As they rode in company with the troop each man thought his own thoughts.
Walsh making his plans about how to bring McWhirter into his scheme for finding the gold. Yates wondering what the others were up to, and Flint wondering when his next opportunity would arise. For his part McWhirter wanted to be anywhere but where he was and was dying for a much needed drink.
All in all things were perfect.
On the horizon four riders watched the troop moving off. Their turn was not yet, but it would come......

HI.
This sounds a great idea and if it got off the ground the possibilities are endless, for instance in UK we see good thing advertised on American e bay but are unable to buy because the seller is unwilling to ship outside of the states. And i imagine the same holds good in UK.
Perhaps there might be a way of getting round this?

Regards
Arthur

of the dynamite from a roof a lone varmit armed with a winchester took careful aim. deciding not to waste his bullets and risk getting shot he intend to complete the job with a single shot.
A shot rang out the explosion that followed shook the town to its roots causing many of the unsafe structures to fall. The jail had been built to withstand siege but could it take an explosion from inside???????

Now on his own Yates could find time to appraise the situation. Even if Flint returned they would not have enough guns to defeat Iron Shirt and the comancheros. He would have to get outside help.
As he returned to the street he saw two figures riding towards him and immediately recognised Flint. The other man was dragging a mule behind him.
"Did you make the fort? and whos he?"
"Helps on its way, starting with him"
The old indian fighter chuckled .
"Thats right sonny, and theres nothing I like better than to put comancheros back to their happy hunting grounds".
And walking to his mule he continued,
"and I've got something that will even the odds up"
Opening his saddle bags he took out a dozen sticks of Dynamite.
"I was going to take them to the fort to trade, but this will do just as well".
With a crazy laugh he said.
"By the time we've finished it will be goodbye Calamity Junction and goodbye Iron Shirt. . . .

Hi Hondo,
not having read the book I approached the Fellowship of the Ring without knowing what to expect. I found it enjoyable and slightly mindblowing.
The Twin Towers extended version I watched one Sunday afternoon. It was long but helped explain the plots and made the Return of the King easier to follow and enjoy.
I think that if I watched the extended version of the Fellowship of the Ring it might have been easier still.

My son is a LOTR's freak and I asked him if he thought it was satanic or just fantasy.

He said fantasy with no references at all to satanism or satanic issues. The slant he put on was in today's climate as an environmental work:

i.e. The good guys working the soil fighting with sword and shield, bow and arrow, lance and horse, and the bad guys figthing with exposives, weapons of mass destruction and burning forests to fuel their machines.

He says that the first two stories are as true to the book as possible, Having not read the book and now seeing the completed films I have no inkling to, I'll take his word.
If you haven't seen the Return of the King or anyone reading this hasn't I am not going to be a spoiler, except to say every critic I have read say that the film is a must see.

For the record in the Fellowship of the Ring there are nineteen extended scenes and six new scenes which extend the movie by 30 mins.

In the Two Towers again there are nineteen extended scenes sixteen new scenes which extend the film by forty two minutes.

If you like intrisic value both of the extended versions in the UK at least, come in presentations boxes green for the Fellowship, Red for the Two Towers

and if you buy the delux version of The Fellowship of the Ring you get two free Ardonaths
And a free model of Gollum with the Twin Towers.

I hope this helps
Best Regards
Arthur

Back in Calamity Yates was getting restless, the lack of sleep was beginning to catch up with him, he had patched up Walsh and McWhirter as best as he was able and was relieved to see that Walsh was at last showing signs of recovery.
A close examination of the prospector showed that although at the outset he had appeared to have been badly wounded, in reality he had suffered a flesh wound and would make a full recovery.
Walsh was beginning to stir.
"Will you make it?" Yates asked.
"You bettcha" replied Walsh, " and I can still handle a gun".
Yates looked out of the window. Up the road he could see a lone figure wearing a poncho and sombrero - a lone comanchero checking out the town.
Yates drew his Bowie knife.
"Wait here and don't make a sound, he said.
"I won't be long".
Removing his spurs and letting himself out of the back door Yates moved noislessly through the town until he reached the comanchero. In one movement he pushed the powerful blade through the poncho and the man. As quickly as the man fell so Yates caught him and dragged him into an alley. Covering the body,
That's one less to worry about" he said quietly to himself. . . .

Hi again Hondo
A pretty morbid subject but unfortunately a neccessary one. Other names to add to your list.

Ruth Hall - Ride Him Cowboy (d. 9 Oct)

Lyle Bettger - The Sea Chase ( 24 Sept)

Patricia Roc

Louise Platt - Stagecoach d. (6 Sept)

Sheb Wooley - Rio Bravo (d.16 Sept)

George Plimpton - Rio Lobo (26 Sept)

Elia Kazan - director (d. 28 Sep)

Althea Gibson- The Horse Soldiers (d 28 Sept)

Gordon Mitchell

David Hemmings

Sir Alan Bates

Rand Brooks - Gone With The Wind (d 1 Sept)

Conrad Hall - cinematographer (January 4)

Richard Crenna - (d. 17 Jan)

Vera Ralston - The Fighting Kentuckian, Dakota (9 Feb)

Karen Morley (d 8 Mar)

Anthony Caruso (d apr 4)

Phillip Yordan - Screenwriter (d Mar 24)

Dame Wendy Hiller (d May 14

Adie McPhail - Girls Demand Excitement (d 14 Apr)

And out of twenty names I have added eight worked on the Dukes pictures the list of his co-workers is getting shorter.

I would like to wish you on a happier note a peaceful and prosperous New Year to you and your family.

Best Regards

arthur

Nightfall! they had one stroke of fortune the heavy clouds concealed the moon Flint on his black mare would be difficult to spot. The were equally fortunate in whoever was coming did not know they were there.
Flint stood up.
"It's time".
Yates moved silently towards the door, Flint followed.
"Good luck, we're all depending on you".
As he was about to open the door Flint turned round slowly, hesitating he said quietly.
"If I don't make it, there's something you ought to know. . . .

It was Flint's turn to now take the leading role. Turning west with Flint leading the way they urged their horses on, now refreshed, rested and fed despite the burden of the two wounded men they were able to make good time. In the distant haze they could make out the first signs of dilapadated buildings and within a short time were riding down the main street of a ghost town that in better days had been called Calamity Junction. . .

casualties to look after.
Yates assumed the major role. Looking at the prone figure of McWhirter he said
"For some reason he's important to Walsh and he aint telling us why. We need to get on fast, There's water here but no shade and precious little cover we need to get to the fort or we'll be digging two graves".
Neither men noticed the cloud of dust behind them in the distance. . .

reveal his hand.
The horses smelled the water before the men saw it.
The men dismounted in various ways. McWhirter fell off and lay cursing to himself in the dust. Yates and Flint carefully lifted walsh off and leant him against a boulder.
As Yates turned his back to fill up the canteens. ...

Hi Hondo,
The book you are referring to is in my last but one post and the book you have all been discussing at great length, dealing with the plot to assassinate JW.

One other book to add I think its not been covered before

'Them Ornery Mitchum Boys' by John Mitchum.

Very interesting book covering his role in EL Dorado with a humuorous story of the woodsplinters in the saloon scene.

And in depth coverage of the writing and making of 'America Why I love Her'

As an aside I wrote to John Mitchum some years ago and he sent me two autographed photos one of him as seen in the CD of America Why I love Her and the other as a deputy sherriff playing cards with Bruce Cabot, Glenn Corbett and Robert Donner.
I obviously never knew him but he seemed to me to be a perfect gentleman.

Best Regards

Arhur

he was interrupted by Walsh uttering a slight groan.
"For god's sake lets get to the fort" Yates said.
Hign Noon, the sun beat down unmercifully as the three horses silently made their way through the desert.
Four riders, two of whom wondered if they would live through the day; the one gripping his stomach as his insides churned and cramped as he began to crave a drink, the other falling in and out of delirium with the beating he had taken the night before.
Behind them unknown, shadowing silently their pursuers ever closing the gap. ....

"No, not yet but, but he will be if we remain in this god forsken rat hole".
Pointing to McWhirter Yates said,
"Get him ready to ride, I'll clean Jacob up, and we'll vamoose".
Flint hurried to get the horses saddled.
"There's an old army post about twenty miles from here, we'll make for that."
Briefly wondering how Flint knew of the whereabouts of the post, just as quickly Yates took the thought out of his head.
Now cleaned up as best as he was able Yate lifted Walsh onto his horse. Strapping Walsh to his saddle, and taking the old timer on Flint's horse the three rode out of town.
But as they went other eyes had followed their departure.
In an upstairs room, silently closing the curtains one onlooker turned and slowly . .......

turned to Flint.
"What do you know that I don't"? he said. ....

knew no more as everything went black.
Meanwhile at the livery stable Yates stood smoking a cigerette look quickly around him, he heard a noise and looked anxiously at the stable door. An elderly dishevelled, unshaven shabbily dressed man entered followed by Flint.
"Are you McWhirter "? Yates asked.
"Have you gotta drink?" the man replied.
"Your'e McWhirter, although god knows why your'e so important.
Flibnt looked around worried
"Now all we need is Walsh, and get out of this dammed place". .....

grip on his colt.
"Hear your looking for McWhirter".
"I should have killed that woman", Walsh muttered under his breath.
"Who wants to know"?
The man was tall, Walsh estimated about six feet, his companion stayed in the shadow.
Walsh was curt, "Hey you get out of the shadow, into the light where I can see ya"
The tall man continued.
We wuz jest wondering why three guys would be interested in an old soak like McWhirter"
Behind the two men Walsh noticed a third shadowy figure . Friend or foe he wondered. .............