Ranger Bill, Warrior of the Woodland. Ranger Bill, Warrior of the Woodland. Struggling against extreme odds, traveling dangerous trails, fighting the many enemies of nature. This is the job of the guardian of the forest, Ranger Bill. Pouring rain, freezing cold, blistering heat, snow, floods, bears, rattlesnakes, mountain lions. Yes, all this in exchange for the satisfaction and pride of a job well done. Rain, rain, and more rain. That's what we've been having at Naughty Pine the past few days. It's so wet, most everything in town has slowed down. There's no danger of fire, and it's far too damp to get out and do our routine work in the forests. So the crews have been pulled in from the trails. What we need is a week or two of bright sunshine to dry us off. Instead, we're getting rain, and it's a perfect setting for today's story, overflow. High up in the mountains, sandwiched in between two jagged walls of a canyon, stands the Big Ridge Dam. This dam holds in place the blue waters of Big Ridge Lake. It's the collecting point for the water flowing from the melting snows of the Shady Mountains. This water is held for irrigation use in the lower part of the state. It's here that our story begins. Hey, it's Lin, emergency. Check that pressure gauge. Right, Frank. How's she reading? Not so good. Yeah, I thought all this rain is going to be a disaster. That's not the word for it. What do we do? Oh, we've got a bit of time yet. That's only the first sign that we're getting close to the danger point. The trouble is that I stick my head out to see if it's clear in, and all I can see is rain. Oh, what a day for doing nothing. Absolutely nothing. Yeah, could I catch a forty. What a pleasure. I think I go to sleep and wake up two days from now. You feller sound like Rip Van Winkle, a born snoozer. There's a whole lot of you. But there's no sense in being sleepy. Something always happens anyway. I'd die of monotony if nothing did happen. Okay, young feller, what could happen now? Everybody's home is a mess. I'm going to go to bed. I'm going to go to bed. I'm going to go to bed. I'm going to go to bed. I'm going to go to bed. I'm going to go to bed. I'm going to go to bed. I'm going to go to bed. I'm going to go to bed. I'm going to go to bed. I'm going to go to bed. I'm going to go to bed. I'm going to go to bed. I'm going to go to bed. I'm going to go to bed. I'm going to go to bed. I'm going to go to bed. I'm going to go to bed. I'm going to go to bed. I'm going to go to bed. I'm going to go to bed. I'm going to go to bed. I'm going to go to bed. I'm going to go to bed. What do you think Frank how much more will the damn take before it gets risky I don't know when the water is getting close to the maximum mark violating safety rules even now let the water rise higher spillways can't take it away fast enough what do you plan to do if we open the floodgates will swamp a lot of people down there in the valley better than waiting till the dam cracks open and the big lake we're holding back here will really do some damage you're right but we've got to get a warning out to the folks before we open the gates yes and I know who to call to Ranger Bill yep we'll call him right away he's one man who always has the right answer at the right time why water standing everywhere you look yeah there's a lot more standing in Big Ridge Lake it's only staying there because of a big piece of steel and concrete yeah even that has its limitations damn break and we have big trouble on our hands I should say so young fella there'd be a wall of water coming down the valley a hundred feet high well at least seventy five anyway and that's no exaggeration for a change to make hey Bill the red light of a radio telephone's flashing yeah somebody's trying to call us hello Bill Jefferson Bill this is Frank Matt snogging the dam oh what can I do for you Frank I've got bad news for you yeah water lots of it you've got to let some of it go if it gets any higher we're on our way up to see you right now Frank I'm talking from our car phone oh wonderful Bill can you make it fast we need you badly we'll be there in twenty minutes Frank see ya okay Bill bye Henry step on it to Big Ridge Dam and don't spare the horses yeah pretty wonderful all right it's a long way to the bottom of the valley but we're not here to admire the scenery Henry we've got a job on our hands yes Bill there's a hundred million gallons of water in Big Ridge Lake held back by this thing how fast is the water rising Frank oh about an inch and hour just now even with the spillways in full operation that's fast too fast no trouble unless we do something about it of course you'll have to open the gates but those people in the valley are going to suffer how much more water can the damn hold back without straining the wall to the breaking point any more than four more inches the absolute maximum amount we can hold back before we have to open the gates all right how about opening the floodgates wide three hours from now right on the head and we'll have a time table to work on okay it's a go and you'll sound the alarm to all the valley folks right you go ahead Frank we'll be ready come on fellas there's a lot of work to do and we've only got three hours hey Bill take it easy the roads already standing in water I'm watching Val don't worry right now we've got to risk a little personal safety there are a lot of other lives in danger only three hours to get ready well it won't be anywhere near as bad as it would be if the dam broke yeah I'll say not yes siree we've got a tough job ahead of us young fella hey Bill have you got your plans all set it's okay with you Henry I'd rather concentrate in our getting there right now as soon as we get to town I'll give you the whole plan of operation okay I guess it is better if we get to town in one piece first well at the rate we're going I'm beginning to wonder all right man here's the plan gray wolf and Stumpy each of you fellas will have command of one side of the river sound the community alarm siren then take your crews down to the river and start piling sandbag walls up and down the riverbank Henry you'll stay with me we'll spread the alarm all along the river by radio telephone television and so forth also we'll get the railroad bridge anchored down so it won't wash out Al and Tom will form Paul Revere cores to drive along the valley and warn everybody to get out they can make it from here to death gorge before the water does sounds good to me that I'll do it Bill also we'll alert the hospital and rescue units in case of some folks getting trapped because they didn't make it out in time everybody understand now what to do okay let's go there go the men and sandbags down the river yeah those men are really working together everybody just pitches in no grumbling they've got two good leaders haven't they Bill right right welcome Stumpy are veterans of many battles with the floodwaters I know them they'll give old man River a tough fight now Al and Tom have loaded the cars with extra gas I see uh-huh that reminds me I've asked them to come over and see me before they go I'm also trying to hear Bill any further orders only this Al sure you and your bunch don't miss a single ranch down the valley we'll try not to bill Paul Revere won't have a thing on us you all set Tom yeah Bill I'm on my way right now okay fellas I'll drive safely but don't waste any time hey afraid so Henry well let's get started we've got an alarm to spread ourselves I don't know about this rain to me like getting worse you think the wall can hold out for three hours right I doubt it's when rising faster than I expected you've been gone only an hour and the water's risen see you almost an inch and a half where is it all coming from you mean where isn't it coming from you know just the other Sunday we were reading about the flood in Noah's time the Bible talks about the windows of heaven and the wells of the deep pouring out water but anything worse than this must be awful yeah it's bad all right you think we can wait the full three hours before opening the gates I don't know yet it's going to be touching gold from here on we certainly can't over strain this dam if it bursts the whole valley will be wiped out even put the town of Nadi Pi in about four feet under ladies and gentlemen we must interrupt this program we've just been handed a special bulletin from the forest ranger Bill Jefferson all persons living in Big Ridge Valley are warned to leave their homes at once and flee to higher ground the dam is being dangerously over taxed and the floodgates will be opened in two hours to relieve the pressure that is now building up I repeat all persons living in Big Ridge Valley are warned to leave their homes at once and flee to higher ground ladies and gentlemen we interrupt this telecast of the symphonic hour to give you a flood warning received just now from the forest ranger headquarters at Nadi Pi all persons living in Big Ridge Valley must abandon their homes at once and flee to higher ground the floodgates of Big Ridge Dam will be open in one hour to relieve the dangerous situation not developing all citizens of this area are urged to join the ranger crews in helping to build sandbags and let these to protect the city Well not about covers radio and television telephone companies call on all those in the valley who have phones Ralph and Tom are warning the people in person can we do anything more yeah we can you'll stop at the hospital for a minute get some of the ladies in town to supply food for the fellas working on the levees that's not easy work you may need those men there a long time so we've got to see that they get dead right right now it's the hospital yeah after that we got to anchor down the railroad bridge oh boy if that goes and we are in a tough spot only the Lord willing we'll fix it so it doesn't wash out you have the picture don't you Tony yeah sure now how many loaded gondolas have you got standing here in the freight room let's see I think I got a 40 gondolas calling 25 sand and gravel wonderful can you back them onto the railroad bridge right away boys I can back them up to the moon if you want me to just down to the bridge will be fine Tony I'd like to see that bridge go somewhere with all that weight hey I'm hoping it'll do the trick well I got a start so long so long Tony boy I'm sure that bridge won't go anywhere what is one of those loaded gondolas way oh about fifty to seventy five tons I imagine here about ten thousand times ought to do the job and yeah. I take care of that come on pal let's go see how gray wolf and scumpy are making out. There's over the three inch mark frank and still going up reach the peak before we expected it I know. Thank you I don't like this extra flow into the reservoir you think wouldn't hold out to pull three hours like we agreed with them when I'm battling with right now what to do how close to the breaking point you think the dam is right now but it looks like there's twenty seven minutes to go before the three hours are up. Going down on the. Just slow down the rise dangerously good way to start a sedimentary current which is liable to tear the floodgates right off but at least we'd eliminate the possibility of the damn Boston at the same time and give the people in the valley more chance to get the high ground protect themselves. Might have something that's. Let's give it a try Frank. All right. Take over those control buttons raise the floodgate a wee bit we'll see what happens right. He shows any sign of sprain will lower it right away. I don't know. How's it going. All pretty good. The way those sandbags are piled along the riverbank. This is one time you're not joking Stomping are those trucks coming fast enough with their loads. Sometimes they just make it by the skin of their teeth. Is that right. I'll take care of that. Henry get me the trucking company on the radio phone right. I've ordered food for your men to be coffee. You're right there. They watch your men for exhaustion. Good many of mine used to this sort of work. There are some relief crews on the way volunteers from outside the valley. Spare your crews off and these other fellows arrive. Right. I got the trucking company on the phone. Thanks pal. Hello this is Bill Jefferson. How many trucks are you using in this sand hauling job. Why are you holding those trucks back. Nonsense the need is desperate. They've got only 20 minutes before they open the floodgates. Now you get all those trucks out as fast as you can. We'll need a good reserve supply of sand once the water is released. That's an order. That guy hold the trucks back. Yeah five of them just in case some broke down. Boy this is no time to be conservative. Now let's get back across the river. I want to talk to play well. Well how's it going. Good bill but men get tired but now there are relief crews on the way. Look at the way those fellows are building those walls. Do a good job brave men strong too. Bag weigh 100 pounds each. Grey Wolf I've ordered coffee and grub ought to be here pretty soon. That's fine. You can rest your men a bit when the relief crews arrive. I do Bill. And if anyone gets hurt or drops over from exhaustion carry them to the ambulances. Nurses and doctors are standing by. Watch your men for signs of heart attack too. A lot of these boys aren't used to this kind of work. And very brave they fight to save home. Right. Well I'm going to check further down the river a bit and I'll be back. OK. Hey Bill. Yeah Henry. Didn't that river ride it off so fast. Look at it. What do you think Grey Wolf. Henry Wright current faster too. He probably opened floodgates a little. And that can only mean one thing. Yeah they're getting more water than they expected. How much longer do we have before the three hours are up. Twelve minutes. Oh sure isn't very long. No but it might be for the fellows at the dam. I hope it isn't too long. It doesn't help him. What do you think we just gained another inch. That's boring. We've got to let her go. Let's wait till she reaches five. What is the dam gives way. We can say is try to give them a fair chance down in the valley. The hours time is little enough to do the job Bill has to do. Can't we open the floodgate a little more. Well. All right try it. So it doesn't tear off the gate. OK. Watch it. Here goes we've just picked up another quarter of an inch and how long. Everything all right. We got more sandbags on the wall along the bill. Well I'd say that's enough. But I put the rest in reserve. What I have men do and keep your bulldozers right handy. They can sometimes hold a wall until you can reinforce it. I got good plan for plugging break in wall and sandbag many times do good job. OK. We're going over now and check with Stumpy. You better get over in hurry. Water coming down fast. It'll be faster after a while. The boys at the dam must be in a tight spot right now. They should be. How long now Bill. Let's see minutes. Let's get across the river right now Henry or we'll never make it. Two minutes. One. I hope it won't. We're taking an awful chance. One. Come on Frank give the word I'm getting scared what's the minute one way or the other. A lot of lines maybe. One. Frank this damn just won't hold any more water. I just don't want to be long. Maybe too long all we'll hear is a crack in a concrete it'll be all over. One. One. One. One. One. One. One. One. One. Here comes the water man watch it. Hold off your all the way. What r girlfriend Here she comes! Boy, that was close. Five pounds more of pressure and that wall would have cracked like glass. Boy, did you see those bags sway and shake when that wall of water hit them? Yes, sirree, I sure did! Now I can laugh, but I ain't been so scared in thirty years. I sure thought that wall was going, but it didn't. And it's all over, fellas. Another good job. Well done. Well, boys and girls, we'll see you next week for more Adventure with Ranger Bill! Hi, fellas and gals, Ranger Bill again stepping in here for less than a minute to invite all of you out there to another half hour of adventure next week at this special edition of Adventure with Ranger Bill. We'll see you next week at this special spot on your radio dial. We've gathered a pile of stories for you with mystery and adventure and all kinds of excitement. And we don't want you to miss a single one. So next time, call up your friends or get together with them and join all of us Rangers for a session of fighting forest fires, grappling with grizzly bears, or just plain trying to help somebody out. We're sure you'll enjoy the story and you might just learn something that will be a real help to you in later life. So next week, be sure to listen. Thank you.
