Santer and his gang are after the Apache Gold. They intrude Apache land and intercept a courier named Black Eagle. The young warrior is killed as the outlaws attempt to extract information from him. Meanwhile, the young
chartered surveyor Charlie aka "Old Shatterhand" discovers that the Great Western Railway commits a breach of valid contracts by taking a shortcut through Apache land. He is told that certain geological complications would leave the company no other choice, but he finds these allegations to be a pretext to save money even at the costs of lives.
Winnetou observes how the railway is built right into the land of his tribe. On his way back to his village he comes across the corpse of Black Eagle. He brings Black Eagle to his family and reports to his father Intschu-tschuna. Chief Intshu-tshuna is deeply worried that even more villains like Santer will get to the Apache land and consequently kill his people if the Great Western Railway can carry on. A
missionary called Klekih-petra urges him not to start a war. He talks the aristocratic chief and his son Winnetou into setting up a meeting with a deputation of the Great Western Railway. Proceedings are prepared and Old Shatterhand is chosen to convince the Indians that the company will respect the contracts after all. But Santer does not let go of his ambitions. He strives to give Winnetou's people a bad name, so that the
U.S.Army will come and drive the people off their land, hereby making way for his personal ambitions. Santer persuades the chief of a
Kiowa tribe to attack the meeting. Klekih-petra is hereby killed and Winnetou is captured by his arch enemies who plan to torture him. Old Shatterhand risks his life in order to save Winnetou. At night he sneaks into the Kiowa's camp and cuts the chief's son's fetters. Winnetou escapes but doesn't see his savior. Now Old Shatterhand and his supporters commence a crusade against Santer and his henchmen. They go to Santer's strongpoint, a town called Roswell. There a tremendous fight takes place. But Winnetou also has unfinished business with Santer and goes there too. As an outsider he cannot tell the good men from the bad ones. He and his warriors attack the whole town. Old Shatterhand is wounded and captured. Winnetou has him brought to the Apache village. Upon his reawakening, Intschu-tschuna's daughter Nsho-tshi does not believe his story. It is decided that once he has recovered he must stand trial. He claims an ordeal by battle. Chief Intshu-tshuna himself takes him on a
canoe race and Old Shatterhand narrowly wins. After Old Shatterhand has spared the chief and Nsho-tshi has discovered proof that Shatterhand did free her brother, Shatterhand and Winnetou become
Blood brothers. Although this tribe is at the brink of civilization and the leading family does already build houses, Nsho-tshi wants to attend a school in
St. Louis before she marries Old Shatterhand. In order to cover the looming expenses her family goes to their source of gold. But Santer is still alive and hasn't ceased to pursue his evil plans. He follows and ambushes them. Winnetou's father dies during the fight and Nsho-tshi dies only little later in the arms of Old Shatterhand. ==Cast==