Ep 7. Incident at Barker Springs

In the seventh episode of the first season of Rawhide, titled "Incident at Barker Springs," the cattle drive encounters multiple obstacles and challenges. The crew, led by trail boss Gil Favor (played by Eric Fleming), must navigate through Barker Springs to reach their destination in Sedalia.

As they approach Barker Springs, they meet a group of men who are building fences to keep their cattle in. The men, led by rancher Tom Wilson (played by Martin Landau), inform Favor that they cannot pass through their property without paying a fee of $2 per head of cattle. Favor refuses to pay and instead decides to find a way around the fences.

However, they soon discover that the makeshift path they have chosen is narrow and dangerous. The herd has to cross a dangerous river, and cattleman Mushy (played by James Murdock) is nearly swept away by the current. Another cowboy, Jim Quince (played by Steve Raines), is injured while trying to corral the cattle.

Later, they come across a group of former soldiers who are also trying to pass through Barker Springs. These soldiers, led by Captain Erikson (played by Richard Devon), are looking for a lost cache of gold that was stolen from them during the Civil War. They are suspicious of the cattle drive and accuse them of trying to steal their gold.

Tensions rise between the two groups, and a fight breaks out. Favor intervenes and tries to negotiate a peaceful settlement. He offers to help the soldiers find their gold in exchange for safe passage through Barker Springs. Despite the initial mistrust between the two groups, they eventually join forces and work together to recover the stolen gold.

As they search for the gold, the cattle drive encounters even more obstacles. They come across a group of bandits who try to steal their cattle, and one of the cowboys is fatally injured in the ensuing fight. Despite this setback, the group perseveres and ultimately finds the lost cache of gold.

The episode ends with Favor and the soldiers parting ways, with both groups having achieved their respective goals. The cattle drive successfully navigates through Barker Springs and continues on its journey to Sedalia.

Overall, "Incident at Barker Springs" is an action-packed episode that showcases the dangers and challenges faced by trail drivers during the 19th century. It highlights the importance of perseverance and cooperation in overcoming obstacles, and demonstrates the courage and resourcefulness of the people who worked on cattle drives during this time period.