Legends of the Old West HELL ON WHEELS Ep. 5 | “Last Mountain, Last Battle”
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Jun 18, 2025 The chaotic world of Hell-on-Wheels towns takes center stage, showcasing lawlessness and violence as the Union Pacific pushes into Utah. Tensions rise after a hanging ignites a riot in Bear River City, highlighting Marshal Tom Smith's courageous stand. Meanwhile, Mormon workers, driven by crop failures, join the railroad effort, navigating treacherous canyons. The race to Promontory Summit intensifies, with Central Pacific laying over ten miles of track in a single day, setting the stage for a historic showdown.
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Bear River City Riot And Defense
- A mob lynched a man in Bear River City after a railroad worker was killed, sparking a night of brutal fighting.
- Marshal Tom Smith and townspeople defended a storeroom for nearly 12 hours until cavalry imposed martial law and 16 men lay dead.
Railroad Routes Decide Town Fate
- Union Pacific decided to bypass Bear River City after the riot, dooming the town to extinction.
- Railroad route decisions could instantly determine a frontier town's survival or death.
Mormon Workforce Mobilized
- Brigham Young mobilized thousands of Mormon workers after Durant offered supplies and free passage to church teams.
- About 1,400 Mormon men, organized by John Sharp, began grading Echo Canyon and worked with disciplined, prayerful routines.