THE TUMBLEWEED WAGON concerns a subject which neither motion pictures
nor  television has ever dealt with before; the wide ranging prison wagon, dubbed
the TUMBLEWEED WAGON, operating in the Indian Nations in the latter part of
the 19th century and the Marshals who rode with it.  It is an action packed story
with an ensemble cast set in the Indian Territory of the late 1800's when it was known as "Robber's Roost" and "No-Man's Land", then regarded as the bloodiest and most dangerous place on the world. It was a refuge for bad men from all over the North American continent;  this was because there were only 200 Deputy U.S.  Marshals operating under JUDGE ISSAC C. PARKER, (The Hanging Judge), to police the vast area of 74,000 square miles.  This group of Deputy Marshals was made up of Whites, Blacks and American Indians, all working side by side.  The job of the Deputy Marshal was extremely hazardous, as statistics prove.      Sixty-five of those courageous lawmen, almost a third of their force, were killed in the line of duty.   "THE TUMBLEWEED WAGON", based on actual cases, is a tale concerning these lawmen and the outlaws they hunted and fought.

Painstakingly researched and scripted by screenwriter, novelist and western historian, Russ Marker, and developed for the screen by Producer Ken Farmer, "THE TUMBLEWEED WAGON" is crammed full of excitement, suspense and the everyday humor that develops between men as they live and fight together.  Absolute attention is paid to authentic detail.  From the action and dialogue, the guns and wardrobe and historical authenticity, the story depicts the Old  West  as it really was.

We begin in the year 1885.  A notorious band of outlaws, known as the "Larson Gang", has been terrorizing three states for years but so far have never been brought to trial.  When they kill five Deputy Marshals while rescuing BEN LARSON, the vicious younger brother of the leader WES LARSON, then go on to kill six more people while holding up a stagecoach, it is too much for Judge Parker.  He orders an all-out concerted effort to capture the Larson Gang and bring them to justice.
"If they will not respect the law; then, by God, we'll make them fear it."

While most of the deputies are hunting the outlaws in other parts of the Territory, Black Marshal BASS REEVES and White Marshals JACK McGANN, TOBE BASSETT and JOHN L. PATRICK happen to recapture the youngest and most bloodthirsty member of the gang, Ben Larson.  Along with two Indian Police (LIGHTHORSEMEN), TECUMSEH MOORE and LYMAN JACKSON, the lawmen begin the treacherous journey to Fort Smith with their prisoners, PREACHER BUDLOW, a gospel preaching, whiskey running and somewhat demented old scalawag, JED NEAL, a tough but honorable black man mistakenly accused of killing a cowboy on the trail, BOONE FINLEY, a highwayman, and Ben.  Ben and the other prisoners are shackled to the bed of the TUMBLEWEED WAGON and the trip back to Ft. Smith begins.

Ben, who likes to play the guitar and sing, (badly) spends most of his time needling the lawmen and taunting  them.  He swears they'll never get him to Ft. Smith to stand trial.  Ben believes his brother, Wes, and the rest of the gang will rescue him again, however, he does try to escape on his own, using a small derringer pistol concealed inside his guitar.  His attempt fails due to the alertness of Marshal Reeves.

Later on the TUMBLEWEED WAGON is ambushed by the gang, but this also fails when Marshal McGann sticks his gun against Ben's head, threatening to "scatter what little brains he's got all over the wagon"  if the ambush isn't called off.  Then the outlaws play their ace card.  They kidnap NELLIE RUTH BASSETT, Tobe's daughter (and also John L.'s sweetheart) and offer to exchange her for Ben.  The lawmen have no choice.  The prisoner swap for Nellie Ruth is made and the outlaws get away.

In the final sequence, the Marshals ride into a town and encounter the gang unexpectedly.  A wild gun battle ensues and when the smoke clears, all of the outlaws are dead, except Ben, who does indeed get to Ft. Smith to stand trial under Judge Parker and is hanged for his crimes; "It is not the severity of the punishment that is the deterrent,... but the certainty of it." (Judge Parker)  Justice prevails and the frontier is finally rid of the dreaded Larson Gang forever.

© Copyright 1999/2000 by Ken Farmer  All Rights Reserved