Fury at Furnace Creek Page #2

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that while you were in the Furnace Hills...

you discovered one of the richest silver lodes

in the western hemisphere?

You'll answer the question,

General Blackwell.

Yes. I found the Furnace Hills

to be rich in silver.

Why didn't you say so

in your official report?

It's an old story:

We make a treaty with an Indian tribe,

cede lands to them forever.

The lands are then found to be rich

in mineral deposits or valuable for colonization...

so the treaty is broken,

the tribe is driven off.

I knew this would eventually happen

to Furnace Hills, and I wanted no part in it.

- Uh, tell the court, please: Was that your only motive?

- It was.

Do you have any interest or shares

in a corporation...

know as the Furnace Creek

Mining and Development Syndicate?

- I have not.

- Are you aware of the fact that this syndicate...

has established claims and mining interests

in the newly opened territory?

No, I am not.

These records establish the fact

that many of these mineral claims...

were already in operation

the day after the territory was opened...

thus clearly indicating that the syndicate

had known in advance...

of these mineral deposits.

- Would you care to examine them?

- I would not. I know nothing whatever of the matter!

Of course these mineral deposits

were of no value to the syndicate or anyone else...

as long as the territory

remained closed.

Thus it was possible to assume...

that if the Apache could be provoked

into wiping out an unescorted wagon train...

then destroying the garrison

at Fort Furnace Creek, the massacre...

would inevitably lead to the ousting

of the Indians and opening of the territory.

I object. General Blackwell has testified

he did not write the order to recall the escort.

- Objection sustained.

- General Blackwell...

would you please tell the court

the names of your immediate relatives.

Mrs. Blackwell is dead.

I have two sons:

Captain Rufe Blackwell,

United States Artillery...

and Cash Blackwell,

not in the service.

Could it be possible

that either of your sons...

has a share or interest in the Furnace Creek

Mining and Development Syndicate?

No! Captain Blackwell

is instructing in tactics at West Point.

- He has no interests other than his career as an officer.

- And your other son?

I have not seen or communicated

with him for some time.

- For how long?

- A number of years! I resent this effort...

to indicate that members of my family

are involved in this despicable affair!

It's contrary to all procedure!

Strange you haven't heard

from your brother.

What's strange about that?

I know he and the general had a falling-out,

but at a time like this, one would think-

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