Cottonwood Dam

Originally Aired: May 23, 1938The Lone Ranger #830, "Cottonwood Dam,"A wagon train led by old Peter Ridley faces internal strife as it approaches the fork where the Oregon Trail and Santa Fe Trail divide. Ridley's former friend Amos Carver has grown increasingly antagonistic, encouraged by scout Sam Dougal's subtle manipulation. When Ridley forbids the senseless killing of buffalo for sport, Carver openly defies him and declares that half the party will follow his leadership instead. The two men agree to split the wagon train at the fork, with each group choosing a different trail. Unknown to both leaders, their conflict is no accident.Meanwhile, Tonto has been spying on a group of outlaws posing as trappers in the nearby hills, led by a man named Rick Logan. The criminals have planted Sam Dougal with the wagon train to deliberately sow discord between Ridley and Carver. When Buck, one of the outlaws, spots movement in the bushes, he shoots Tonto, and the faithful companion is captured. As the outlaws discuss their scheme to exploit the divided wagon train, they must now decide what to do with their unexpected prisoner.