Beale Readers Theater
Cast: Edward (14 years old), Mother, Adult Beale, Commander Stockton, Kearney, Kit Carson, Speaker of the House, Other Congressmen, Mary Edwards, 2 to 8 Narrators
Mom: But you are only 14 years old.
Edward: I know, Mom, but the president himself said he would sponsor me.
Mom: But you are too young to leave home and climb on board a ship. What if you slip from the rigging? What if you fall overboard?
Edward: Grandpa Truxtun and Dad are officers in the navy and I want to learn to be one too.
Mom: I am going to allow you to go but you. had better be careful and keep up with your studies.
Narrator 1: Edward Beale did join the navy. He was assigned to a ship. He learned his lessons well. He learned to climb the rigging, make sails, and of course how to scrub the deck.
Narrator 2: Beale also learned how to navigate and how to handle a ship in a battle. He grew up and became a good officer. He was soon sent to California on a ship because the United States was in a war with Mexico. Commodore Stockton was his commander.
Stockton: Beale!
Beale: (Salute) Aye aye, Sir!
Stockton: Beale, you and the other men join Colonel Kearney. The Californios have been fighting hard and his men are tired. He needs reinforcements.
Beale: Aye aye, Sir
Narrator 3: Beale and his company joined Colonel Kearney and his men but soon there were more problems.
Kearney: Men, we are surrounded by the Californios. We are stuck at the top of this hill. The Californios have good horses and they carry lances and they know how to use them well. We have little food and not much water at the top of this hill. They are waiting for us to run out of food.
Beale: Sir, I think with luck we may be able to sneak through the lines.
Kit Carson: Yes, Sir. I think we may make it with help from our Indian friend.
Kearney: Go ahead men. You are our only hope. May God go with you.
Narrator 4: All three men made it but it was so hard that they were almost dead from exhaustion.
Narrator 5: Kearney was saved and Beale's fame spread.
Narrator 4: In 1848 Beale was back in California
Narrator 5: Gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill
Narrator 4: The army and the navy each sent men to carry the message of discovery to Washington D.C., our nation's capitol.
Narrator 4: Edward Beale was chosen to carry 8 pounds of gold for the navy.
Guard: You are not a member of Congress.
Beale: I have come 3,000 miles to bring a message to Congress. I was sent by the commodore.
Speaker of the House: What is your business young man?
Beale: I have an important message 0 the way from California.
Speaker: This is hardly the place.
Beale: This, gentlemen, (Show the gold nugget) is gold!
Congressmen: (All at the same time.) Gasp! Wow! Is it real?
Beale: This, Gentlemen, is proof that gold has been found in California.
Narrator 6: Later that afternoon.
Mom: Edward, that is the largest gold nugget any one has ever seen.
Beale: It is not as big as it was this morning.
Mary: Why not?
Beale: I had the jeweler carve off a piece to make a ring. An engagement ring. Mary Edwards, will you marry me?
Narrator 7: Edward Beale and Mary Edwards were married in 1849.
Narrator 8: The news Edward Beale brought started the great California Gold Rush.
Narrator7 : Edward Beale had many other jobs like Superintendent of Indian Affairs, Surveyor General' and owner of the great Tejon Ranch.
Narrator 8: Beale also had many unusual adventures. He helped bring camels to America, even to Fort Tejon.
Narrator 7: After the camel experiment failed, he bought the camels and kept them at his ranch. Beale even hitched up camels to his buggy and drove it to Los Angeles.
Narrator 8: Beale Started Fort Tejon, mapped many roads, and started the huge Tejon Ranch.
Narrator 7: Edward Beale was a great man and very important to Kern County.
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