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The Massacre of Santa Fe Trail
Also known as On the Santa Fe Trail in the United Kingdom
(1912) United States of America
B&W : Two reels
Directed by Frank E. Montgomery (Frank Montgomery)
Cast: Charles Bartlett [Lieutenant George Carson], Mona Darkfeather [Drowsy Eyes], Lee Morris [Major Clemens], Roy Watson [Juan Rosarro], Sidney Diamond (Sid Diamond) [Jose Rosarro, Juan’s father], Jane Keckley [Juanita Rosarro, Juan’s mother], Virginia Chester [Betty Roberts], Jack Leonard [Colonel Roberts, Betty’s father], William Bertram [Chief Rain Cloud], Warren Ellsworth [Captain Bryce], Mrs. Dunlap (Louise Dunlap) [Mrs. Bryce], Sam Kaufman [the doctor]
New York Motion Picture Company production; distributed by The Universal Film Manufacturing Company, Incorporated [101-Bison]. / Produced by Thomas H. Ince. / Released 21 September 1912. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / The film was released in the United Kingdom as On the Santa Fe Trail by Invicta Film Company on 28 December 1912.
Drama: Western.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? The picture opens at a frontier army post. There are the hospital, the commissary and the “enlisted man’s club,” the canteen. The interior of the canteen is then shown, with the soldiers seated about. Lieutenant Carson enters, buys a drink, and is handed a small package by the canteen boss. He immediately repairs to his quarters, removes his uniform coat, puts on a civilian coat and slouch hat, takes the suspicious looking package and sets out. He goes to the big camp of Indians, seeks the chief, and with the package, which contains whiskey, barters with the head of the tribe for his daughter. The thief consumes the liquor, and while still under its influence and thirsting for more goes to the barracks with little Drowsy Eyes looking for the lieutenant and more firewater. He runs into the colonel, who, upon learning of the lieutenant’s action, orders that officer under arrest. He is court-martialed and cashiered. As his uniform is being stripped from him the officers take note of an American flag tattooed on his forearm. The lieutenant immediately repairs to the Indian camp and seeks admission. Grudgingly it is conceded. The chief throws him into a tent and supplies him with an Indian outfit. Jose Rosarro, a wealthy Mexican, is advised by the family physician to take Mme. Rosarro to the States for the benefit of her health. Jose has a beautiful place and his wife naturally deplores leaving such palatial, luxuriant surroundings for the dangers, known and unknown, of the trail. The doctor prevails, however; the treasures are packed in a solidly-built trunk, the immediate family is loaded into a coach and the relatives and retainers are accommodated in the famous prairie schooners and on horseback. So the caravan sets out through the gates. The scene on the Santa Fe trail is one to be remembered. The beholder stands on a hill and sees the caravan moving over the smooth turf under a bright sun. It seems as if travel under these primitive conditions must have substantial compensations. Suddenly a wheel comes off the coach. Instantly there are a dozen men at work on it. The women are lifted out of the coach. So also is the treasure chest and put on the ground at one side of the trail. Carson, the renegade, riding across the brow of the hill, sees the commotion and rides up and dismounts. His eye lights on the chest. Cautiously he lifts it. Two vigilant Mexicans warn him off. Carson has guessed the contents of the casket. He loses no time in returning to camp and arousing the Indians. A war dance is in progress. It is cut short, however, and the entire force sets out for the scene of the breakdown. The travelers are warned of the approaching Indians and hastily form their wagons into a circle. The fight is on immediately. The Indians break through. Carson and an Indian helper pick out the casket and carry it out of the circle and hide it in the woods. The helper is shot by Carson, who then returns to the conflict. Jose is one of the last to fall. His wife is seized by Carson. The Indians find a barrel of whiskey. They lose no time in getting it open and starting in to consume it. This suits Carson, who now has in view two objects, the securing of the treasure and the possession of Juanita Rosarro. He gathers some poisonous loco weeds and puts them into the whiskey. They act as knockout drops. When the Indians are unconscious Carson puts Juanita on a horse behind him and carries her to the Indian camp. Carson returns to the scene of the fight and safeguards the box of treasure. Drowsy Eyes is jealous of Juanita. The return of Carson alone prevents the Indian woman from killing the Mexican. The little Indian has observed the terror of Juanita. The latter has threatened to kill herself if Carson comes near her. To the Indian Juanita appeals for help. She shows her a pair of baby’s booties. It is an appeal to the feminine instinct, and it is successful. Drowsy Eyes just previously has put into Carson’s bottle some of the whiskey which that rascal had previously poisoned. As soon as it takes effect the little Indian and Mrs. Rosarro mount a horse and ride rapidly away. They reach the army post in safety. They were none too soon, however. An heir is born to the house of Rosarro, but the life of the mother goes out with the birth of the son. Twenty years later Juan Rosarro is in love with Betty, the daughter of his benefactor, Colonel Roberts. She is in love with Juan. The colonel favors Major Clemens and says so. The major has means. Juan and Betty, however, frequently ride out of camp. On one of these trips they get a glimpse of a white-bearded creature they describe as the “gray ghost.” Betty is alarmed. Juan takes a rope and goes on the hunt for the strange man. He conceals himself under a log and waits. The gray ghost appears. He rests on top of Juan’s log. Then the ghost sprawls on the sand, fondly patting the ground under him. Juan waits his chance and tries to throw the rope about the ghost. He is not quick enough. The strange man has muscles of steel. In a short struggle Juan’s pistol is discharged. The stranger falls. Juan sets off for camp and brings back the colonel and the captain, and some soldiers. One of the officers turns over the body. On the forearm is plainly seen the tattooed American flag. A number of Indians pass. They stop and look at the body. A little woman bends over it. She tells the officers that the dead man was a white soldier, which fact they now know, and adds that she was his squaw. The body is loaded on the Indian conveyance and the redmen move away. Juan is curious to learn what held Carson’s attention to the sand. He begins to dig. Just under the surface he finds a large trunk. Willing hands carry it to the post. In the colonel’s home it is opened. There is a thrilling scene and a happy one as Juan lifts from the chest a box containing a necklace and reads the inscription on the cover: “Jose to Juanita Rosarro, August 22, 1849.” Major Clemens moves from the room. The colonel admits that the trunk’s contents removes all his previous objections to the marriage of his daughter to Juan. Everybody but the major is happy.
Survival status: (unknown)
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 29 March 2020.
References: ClasIm-225 p. 43 : Website-IMDb.
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