American History Through the Eyes of Radio Episode 37 radio adventure theater last of the Mohicans. 1932

American flags, with a diversity of citizens standing in front. Men in jeans and t-shirts.
People in front of American flag. "Used with permission from Microsoft."

Hosted by Tom Bosley, this 60-minute episode tells the entire story of the Leatherstocking tale, the last of the Mohicans. Taking us back to the days before America was a country, he talks about Indian alliances in the French and Indian wars. A messenger to Fort Henry warns Colonel Monroe of overwhelming forces coming from the French and Indians. The warning is sent by Nathaniel Bumppo, also known as Hawkeye by the Indians. With his daughter Alice at Fort Edwards, she is in the direct path of the oncoming hordes, so he sends for her to be brought to him.

Magua or the Sly Fox is a traitor and leader of the Indian allies. He has his eye on Cora, and he plans to snatch her away, avoiding the fight, and if anything, leading his Hurons against the fort. Once Hawkeye appears with his Mohican friend Onka, he notes that the general has no Indian allies and there has been no sign of his daughter yet. The fort is in bigger danger than Hawkeye first thought.

In the woods, Hawkeye manages to intercept the sly fox and helps Cora through the woods. Hawkeye helps her find safety in a cave, but it doesn’t take long for a Sly Fox to chase after them with his friends.

As the battle rages Tom Bosley returns to narrate some details about the Indian tribes and some of their native legends and totems. After the station break, Tom is back, to talk about frontiersman, namely Daniel Boone and some of the Indian nicknames they gave to our hero, Nathaniel Bumpo.

Though they have to surrender, Onka still has a plan to rescue Hawkeye and Alice. As the Hurons prepare to attack the fort, they leave Hawkeye and Alice tied to a tree. Onka shows up to whisk them away in a canoe. While Alice reunites with her father, Hawkeye goes to Fort Edwards for help.

Tom Bosley narrates a few words on the difference between the English manor of warfare and Indian warfare. after the station break, he describes the wooden fortresses in use in those days.

After days of fighting, Hawkeye has still not returned. Will there be terms of surrender with the French general? As the fort burns, French general Mont Calm escorts the English soldiers to safety.

With Mogwai, the Sly Fox on the prowl, can they be safe? Alice is missing, and rather than sending armies, the military leaders agree to let Hawkeye pose as a French officer. He pretends to be a French doctor sent to help the Indians wounded warriors. Though the girl is rescued to safety, Onka is left to deal with his fate. And a fight to the death. Hawkeye can’t save his friend but manages to intervene and place the Sly Fox in a bad light with his tribesman.

In an epilogue, Tom Bosley briefly describes the westward expansion and how 13 colonies grew into a great nation.