Ep 19. The Prairie Story

Wagon Train season 4 episode 19, titled "The Prairie Story," follows the adventures of the wagon train as they make their way across the prairie. The episode opens with Flint McCullough, played by Robert Horton, scouting ahead for the wagon train when he comes across a group of Comanche Indians hunting buffalo. Flint manages to keep himself from being seen, but when he returns to the wagon train, he warns them that they may encounter the same group of Comanches.

As the wagon train continues on its journey, Mose, played by Frank McGrath, discovers that his old friend Jim Bridger, played by James Landis, is living in a small cabin nearby. The wagon train stops so that Mose can catch up with his friend, and Jim tells him about a nearby valley filled with buffalo. Mose suggests that the wagon train could stop there to hunt and stock up on food.

However, when the wagon train arrives in the valley, they discover that it is also home to the group of Comanches that Flint had seen earlier. The Comanches are not pleased to see the white settlers in their territory, and tensions rise as both groups try to stake their claim to the valley.

As the situation becomes more tense, Flint suggests that they try to negotiate a peace with the Comanches. He speaks to their chief, and manages to convince him to allow the wagon train to stay in the valley as long as they respect the Comanches' hunting grounds. The chief agrees, and the two groups manage to coexist peacefully for a time.

However, when a group of white hunters arrive in the valley looking to kill as many buffalo as possible, tensions rise once again. The Comanches are angry at the destruction of their hunting grounds, and the wagon train is caught in the middle of the conflict.

"The Prairie Story" is a classic episode of Wagon Train that showcases the challenges and dangers faced by those who traveled west in search of a better life. The episode features excellent performances from the entire cast, and the storyline is as engaging and suspenseful now as it was when the show first aired.

Throughout the episode, viewers are treated to stunning shots of the prairie landscape, as well as glimpses of the wildlife that calls the area home. The conflict between the Comanches and the wagon train offers a thought-provoking commentary on the impact of white settlers on Native American lands and cultures, and the importance of diplomacy and respect in situations of conflict.

Overall, "The Prairie Story" is a must-see episode of Wagon Train that offers an engaging and entertaining look at life on the prairie during the westward expansion.