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Butch Cassidy

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Robert LeRoy Parker was a famous American outlaw from the Old West. He is best known by his nickname, Butch Cassidy. Parker was a leader of a criminal gang called the "Wild Bunch." This group was known for robbing banks and trains during the late 1800s. His life became a part of the famous myths about the American West. Today, many movies and books tell stories about his life and his adventures.

Robert Leroy Parker Childhood Cabin
Robert Leroy Parker Childhood Cabin

Parker was born on April 13, 1866, in Beaver, Utah Territory. He was the first of thirteen children. His parents, Maximillian Parker and Ann Campbell Gillies, were immigrants from the United Kingdom. They were Mormon pioneers who arrived in Salt Lake City in 1856. Parker grew up on a ranch near Circleville, Utah. As a teenager, he left home to work on other ranches. While working at a dairy ranch, he met a cattle thief named Mike Cassidy. Parker eventually took the name Cassidy to honor this friend. He also earned the nickname "Butch" while working as an apprentice butcher in Wyoming.

Butch Cassidy mugshot detail
Butch Cassidy mugshot detail

His criminal career began with very small acts. Around 1880, he broke into a clothing shop to steal jeans and some pie. He even left a note promising to pay for the items later. However, his crimes became much more serious over time. In 1889, he participated in his first bank robbery. He and his partners robbed the San Miguel Valley Bank in Telluride, Colorado. They stole approximately $21,000 from the bank.

San Miguel Valley Bank In Telluride
San Miguel Valley Bank In Telluride

After the robbery, the group fled to a remote hideout called Robbers Roost in Utah.

After being released from prison in 1896, Parker formed the Wild Bunch. This gang included many different criminals. Some notable members were Elzy Lay, Kid Curry, and Ben Kilpatrick. He also recruited a close accomplice named Harry Longabaugh, known as the "Sundance Kid." The gang often used natural hideouts like Hole-in-the-Wall to stay safe. They would rob a target and then split up to escape. Later, they would meet again at a pre-planned location to regroup. This made it very difficult for law enforcement to catch them all at once.

The Wild Bunch became very famous after a major train robbery in 1899. They robbed a Union Pacific Overland Flyer passenger train near Wilcox, Wyoming. This event started a massive manhunt across the West. Many lawmen participated in the search for the gang. The Pinkerton National Detective Agency was also hired to find them. A detective named Charlie Siringo even tried to find the gang by befriending someone connected to them. During this time, several gang members were involved in violent shootouts with the law. These conflicts led to the deaths of several sheriffs and deputies.

Pressure from the Pinkerton Agency eventually forced the gang to fall apart. In December 1900, a famous photograph called the "Fort Worth Five" was taken. The Pinkertons used copies of this photo for wanted posters. This made it harder for the outlaws to move around unnoticed. By 1901, the gang was breaking up as members were caught or killed. To escape the law, Cassidy and Longabaugh fled to New York City. They then sailed to Argentina on a ship called the Herminius. They were joined by Longabaugh's companion, Etta Place.

Sundance Kid and wife-clean
Sundance Kid and wife-clean

In South America, the trio tried to live a quiet life on a ranch. They lived in a four-room log cabin near the Andes mountains in Argentina. A letter from 1902 suggests they lived with 300 cattle, 1,500 sheep, and 28 horses. They stayed there for several years, but they still felt unsafe. They eventually moved to Bolivia to hide from the law. Most historians believe that Parker and Longabaugh were killed in a shootout with the Bolivian Army in November 1908. The exact details of their deaths remain unclear, adding to the mystery of his life.

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🖼️ Images & Media (4)
File:Robert Leroy Parker Childhood Cabin.jpg
Robert Leroy Parker Childhood Cabin.jpg
File:San Miguel Valley Bank In Telluride.jpg
San Miguel Valley Bank In Telluride.jpg
File:Butch Cassidy mugshot detail.jpg
Butch Cassidy mugshot detail.jpg
File:Sundance Kid and wife-clean.jpg
Sundance Kid and wife-clean.jpg
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