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CNN Live At Daybreak
Oatman, Arizona Has More Than One Interesting Phenomena
Aired January 17, 2002 - 06:56 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Now, onto something you've all wanted to do, no doubt, joining those jackasses out west.
Well, CNN News Night contributor Scott Harriet beat you to it.
SCOTT HARRIET, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): I was really, really excited about doing another out and abouty-type piece for CNN. I'd heard of a small burg in northwestern Arizona where wild jackasses roamed the streets, and since that's the animal I feel the most akin to, we went.
Tourists have come from all to witness these majestic creatures, their energy, their big heads...
(on camera): How often will a burrow kick either another burrow or you? Anybody? Anybody got an answer on that one?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think he's trying to (ph) all the time.
HARRIET: It has -- what's that stuff coming off here?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Cyanide (ph).
HARRIET (voice-over): The people in Oatman love their burros. But as in all relationships, there are incidents.
(on camera): Intentionally (ph) trying to run over the burros...
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No, no, no.
HARRIET: ... it's going to hurt.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, it's going to hurt.
HARRIET (voice-over): But these beasts of no apparent burden, aren't the only draw in this little mining town.
Yes, it's also the people of Oatman that give it it's glistening allure.
HARRIET (on camera): Who's Oatie (ph)?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oatie is the town ghost.
HARRIET: OK.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I would say he's about 5 foot 8, broad shoulders, very nice looking, from what I understand.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It could be that he's waiting for someone to soothe his spirit. I don't know. But he's here and there have been too many manifestations, I guess you could call them, for anybody to doubt him.
HARRIET (on camera): What's the most common manifestation?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's the -- plus the pictures, have you seen the pictures?
HARRIET: Yes, we got them on tape already.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
HARRIET: That's kind of freaky.
(voice-over): It's not just burros and poltergeists that bring the tourists, it's a bit of Hollywood history as well.
(on camera): Well, this is the Gable-Lombard suite.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The Gable-Lombard suite. This is where they spent their wedding night.
HARRIET (voice-over): Yes, tinsel town's golden couple of the early '40's consummated their passion for each other in these glamorous surroundings.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think about (UNINTELLIGIBLE), and oh, my goodness. You don't even need to look at her.
HARRIET: At the end of my day in Oatman, I found a deep connection with those that live there. But more importantly, I realized that I had actually come to love the place.
Scott Harriet for CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
COSTELLO: He loves that jackass junction -- thank you very much, Scott.
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