Ben Kilpatrick

Ben Kilpatrick
Ben Kilpatrick

Ben Kilpatrick, born around 1874 in Coleman County, Texas, was an American outlaw known as the “Tall Texan,” a prominent member of Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch gang. Raised on a ranch, Kilpatrick turned to crime in the 1890s, joining the Wild Bunch and participating in their bank and train robberies across the western United States, including hideouts in Utah like Robbers Roost and Browns Park. Standing over six feet tall, his height earned him his nickname, and he was known for his loyalty to the gang and skills as a horseman.

Kilpatrick was involved in major Wild Bunch heists, such as the June 2, 1899, Wilcox train robbery in Wyoming and the August 29, 1899, Rock Creek train robbery, which brought the gang significant loot and notoriety. While specific Utah robberies tied to Kilpatrick are less documented, he frequented the state’s rugged hideouts, using them to plan and evade capture. His criminal career continued after the Wild Bunch began to disband in 1901, as he did not flee to South America with Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

In 1901, Kilpatrick was arrested in St. Louis, Missouri, for passing stolen banknotes and sentenced to 15 years in prison. Released in 1911, he resumed robbing trains. On March 13, 1912, Kilpatrick was killed during a botched train robbery near Sanderson, Texas, when a Wells Fargo express messenger struck him with an ice mallet during a struggle. His death marked the end of one of the last Wild Bunch members active in the U.S. Kilpatrick’s time in Utah, though less celebrated than Cassidy’s or Sundance’s, tied him to the state’s outlaw legacy through the gang’s hideouts and operations.

Early Life and Entry into Crime

Ben Kilpatrick, known as the “Tall Texan,” was born around 1874 in Coleman County, Texas, to a ranching family. One of nine children, Kilpatrick grew up in a rural environment, learning the skills of horsemanship and cattle handling that would later serve him as an outlaw. Little is documented about his early life, but by his late teens, he had drifted into a life of petty crime, likely influenced by the lawless atmosphere of post-Civil War Texas. In the early 1890s, Kilpatrick began associating with rustlers and outlaws, setting the stage for his entry into Butch Cassidy’s notorious Wild Bunch gang by the mid-1890s.

Standing over six feet tall, Kilpatrick’s imposing stature earned him the nickname “Tall Texan,” a moniker that distinguished him among his fellow outlaws. His transition to crime was gradual, starting with cattle rustling and small thefts in Texas and Oklahoma before he linked up with more seasoned criminals. By 1896, Kilpatrick had joined the Wild Bunch, a loosely organized gang that included Butch Cassidy, Harry Longabaugh (the Sundance Kid), Harvey Logan (Kid Curry), and Elzy Lay. The gang’s base of operations included hideouts in Utah, where Kilpatrick would spend significant time during his criminal career.

The Wild Bunch and Utah’s Role

The Wild Bunch was known for its daring bank and train robberies across the western United States, and Utah served as a critical hub for their activities. The state’s rugged terrain provided ideal hideouts, notably Robbers Roost in southeastern Utah—a labyrinth of canyons between the Colorado, Green, and Dirty Devil Rivers—and Browns Park, a remote valley near the Utah-Colorado-Wyoming border. These locations allowed the gang to plan heists, divide loot, and evade posses, with local ranchers often providing shelter and supplies in exchange for money or protection.

Kilpatrick, as a loyal and capable member of the Wild Bunch, was a regular presence in these Utah hideouts. While he was not the gang’s leader or planner like Cassidy, his skills as a horseman and his physical presence made him valuable during robberies and escapes. Unlike the volatile Harvey Logan, Kilpatrick shared Cassidy’s preference for non-violent heists, focusing on efficiency and avoiding bloodshed. His time in Utah was spent blending into ranching communities, working under aliases, and preparing for the gang’s major crimes.

The forth Worth Five Photograph - Front row left to right: Harry A. Longabaugh, alias the Sundance Kid; Ben Kilpatrick, alias the Tall Texan; Robert Leroy Parker, alias Butch Cassidy. Standing: Will Carver & Harvey Logan, alias Kid Curry; Fort Worth, Texas, 1900.
The forth Worth Five Photograph – Front row left to right: Harry A. Longabaugh, alias the Sundance Kid; Ben Kilpatrick, alias the Tall Texan; Robert Leroy Parker, alias Butch Cassidy. Standing: Will Carver & Harvey Logan, alias Kid Curry; Fort Worth, Texas, 1900.

Involvement in Wild Bunch Robberies

Kilpatrick participated in some of the Wild Bunch’s most infamous heists, though specific Utah-based robberies directly tied to him are less documented than those of Cassidy or Sundance. His involvement in the gang’s activities brought him to Utah frequently, as the state’s hideouts were central to their operations. Two significant robberies highlight his role:

  1. Wilcox Train Robbery (June 2, 1899, Wyoming): Kilpatrick was part of the Wild Bunch team that dynamited a Union Pacific train safe near Wilcox, Wyoming, stealing approximately $50,000 (equivalent to about $1.8 million in 2024). After the heist, the gang likely retreated to Robbers Roost in Utah to lay low and split the loot, using the canyon’s inaccessibility to evade a massive manhunt.
  2. Rock Creek Train Robbery (August 29, 1899, Wyoming): Kilpatrick joined Cassidy, Sundance, and Logan in another Union Pacific train robbery near Rock Creek, Wyoming, netting thousands in cash and jewelry. The gang again fled to Utah’s Robbers Roost, where they could disappear into the desert landscape. These high-profile crimes increased pressure from the Pinkerton Detective Agency and railroad companies, making Utah’s hideouts even more critical.

While Kilpatrick’s role in Utah-specific heists, such as the 1897 Castle Gate payroll robbery, is not explicitly confirmed in historical records, his consistent presence with the Wild Bunch places him in the state during their active years (1896–1901). In Browns Park, Kilpatrick likely worked as a ranch hand between jobs, blending into the community alongside other outlaws. The gang’s alliances with local families, such as the Carlisles and Davenports, allowed Kilpatrick to maintain a low profile while planning future robberies.

Life in Utah’s Outlaw Havens

Utah’s Robbers Roost and Browns Park were more than just hideouts; they were strategic bases where the Wild Bunch could regroup and sustain themselves. Kilpatrick, like his counterparts, benefited from the region’s isolation and the support of locals who resented wealthy cattle barons and railroad magnates. Stories of the Wild Bunch’s generosity, such as hosting a lavish Thanksgiving dinner in Browns Park in the mid-1890s, likely included Kilpatrick, reinforcing the gang’s folk-hero status among some residents.

Kilpatrick’s personal life during this period is less documented, but he was known to have formed a relationship with Laura Bullion, a female associate of the Wild Bunch who sometimes rode with the gang. Bullion, born in 1876 in Texas, was linked romantically to both Kilpatrick and fellow outlaw Will Carver, and she accompanied Kilpatrick during his later criminal activities. Their relationship may have developed in Utah or nearby regions, as the Wild Bunch frequently moved between hideouts.

Arrest and Imprisonment

By 1900, the Wild Bunch was under intense scrutiny, with Pinkerton detectives and posses closing in. While Cassidy and Sundance fled to South America in February 1901, Kilpatrick remained in the United States, continuing his criminal activities with other gang members. On November 5, 1901, Kilpatrick and Laura Bullion were arrested in St. Louis, Missouri, after attempting to pass stolen banknotes from the Wild Bunch’s earlier robberies. Evidence, including marked bills and Kilpatrick’s distinctive height, led to his identification as the “Tall Texan.”

Kilpatrick was convicted of robbery and sentenced to 15 years in the federal penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia. Laura Bullion received a five-year sentence for her role in handling stolen money. Kilpatrick’s imprisonment marked the end of his time with the Wild Bunch, as the gang had largely dissolved by 1902 due to arrests, deaths, and defections. He served his sentence quietly, reportedly working as a prison tailor, and was released early in June 1911 for good behavior.

Return to Crime and Death

After his release, Kilpatrick returned to a life of crime, unable to settle into a legitimate existence. Reunited with Laura Bullion, who had been released in 1905, he began planning new robberies. On March 13, 1912, Kilpatrick and an accomplice, Charles E. Searing, attempted to rob a Southern Pacific train near Sanderson, Texas. During the heist, Kilpatrick boarded the express car to confront Wells Fargo messenger David A. Trousdale. In a struggle, Trousdale overpowered Kilpatrick, striking him with an ice mallet and killing him instantly. Searing was killed shortly after by a posse. Kilpatrick’s death, at approximately age 38, marked the end of one of the last active Wild Bunch members in the United States.

The identification of Kilpatrick’s body was confirmed by Laura Bullion, who was questioned after the robbery but not charged. His death received significant attention, as newspapers reported the demise of the “Tall Texan,” one of the final links to the Wild Bunch’s heyday. Unlike Cassidy and Sundance, whose fates remain debated, Kilpatrick’s death was well-documented, leaving no credible claims of survival.

Legacy in Utah

Ben Kilpatrick’s legacy in Utah is tied to his role as a steadfast member of the Wild Bunch, operating out of Robbers Roost and Browns Park during the gang’s most active years. While he lacked the charisma of Butch Cassidy or the notoriety of Harvey Logan, his contributions to the gang’s robberies and his ability to blend into Utah’s outlaw-friendly communities made him a key figure in their operations. His time in the state, spent hiding and planning in its remote canyons and valleys, reflects the Wild Bunch’s reliance on Utah’s terrain to sustain their criminal enterprise.

Kilpatrick’s story is less romanticized than that of Cassidy or Sundance, partly due to his lower profile and tragic end. However, his presence in Utah’s outlaw history is preserved through sites like Robbers Roost in Capitol Reef National Park and the Cassidy Trail in Red Canyon, which evoke the era of the Wild Bunch. The 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, while focusing on its titular characters, indirectly captures the world Kilpatrick inhabited, though he is not depicted. As the “Tall Texan,” Ben Kilpatrick remains a footnote in Utah’s frontier lore, a loyal outlaw whose life and death embody the fleeting, violent twilight of the Old West.

Harvey Alexander Logan

Harvey Alexander Logan, born in 1867 in West Liberty, Iowa, was an American outlaw better known as Kid Curry. A notorious member of Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch gang, Logan was one of the most dangerous and violent outlaws of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Raised on a farm in Missouri after his father’s death, Logan and his brothers drifted west, working as cowboys and rustlers. By the mid-1890s, he joined the Wild Bunch, operating out of hideouts like Robbers Roost and Browns Park in Utah, as well as Hole-in-the-Wall in Wyoming.


More details
Annie Rogers (also known as Della Moore) and Harvey Logan, half-length portrait, facing front
More details Annie Rogers (also known as Della Moore) and Harvey Logan, half-length portrait, facing front

Unlike the non-violent tendencies of Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Logan was known for his volatile temper and willingness to kill. He participated in major Wild Bunch heists, including the June 2, 1899, Wilcox train robbery in Wyoming and the August 29, 1899, Rock Creek train robbery, which heightened the gang’s notoriety. In Utah, Logan frequented the same hideouts as the Wild Bunch, using the state’s rugged terrain to evade capture. His criminal record included bank and train robberies, cattle rustling, and multiple murders, particularly of lawmen pursuing him.

After the Wild Bunch began to disband under Pinkerton pressure, Logan continued his criminal career independently. He killed at least two sheriffs in 1900–1901, including Pike Landusky in Montana and John Tyler in Tennessee, earning a fearsome reputation. In 1901, he was arrested in Knoxville, Tennessee, for forgery and murder but escaped from jail in 1903. Logan’s fate is debated: the traditional account claims he died in a shootout with a posse near Parachute, Colorado, on June 7, 1904, but some sources, including unverified family claims, suggest he survived and lived under an alias. His violent legacy, tied to Utah’s outlaw history through the Wild Bunch, marks him as one of the deadliest figures of the Old West.

Early Life and Path to Crime

Harvey Alexander Logan, better known as Kid Curry, was born in 1867 in West Liberty, Iowa, to William and Eliza Logan, a farming family of modest means. After his father’s death in 1876, Harvey, along with his mother and siblings, moved to Dodson, Missouri, where they faced financial hardship. Raised in a rough environment, Harvey and his brothers—John, Henry, and Lonny—developed a reputation for rowdiness. By their late teens, the Logan brothers drifted west, working as cowboys and ranch hands in Texas, Montana, and Wyoming. Their exposure to the lawless frontier, combined with a penchant for gambling and drinking, set Harvey on a path toward crime.

In the early 1890s, Harvey, often using the alias Kid Curry, began engaging in cattle rustling and petty theft. His nickname likely derived from his youthful appearance and the “Curry” surname adopted from a mentor, “Flat-Nose” George Curry, a fellow rustler. By 1894, after a violent incident in Landusky, Montana, where Harvey killed saloonkeeper Pike Landusky in a barroom brawl—allegedly over a dispute involving his brother Lonny’s girlfriend—Harvey became a wanted man. This murder marked his transition from small-time rustler to a hardened outlaw, leading him to join Butch Cassidy’s infamous Wild Bunch gang by the mid-1890s.

The Wild Bunch and Utah’s Outlaw Havens

Harvey Logan’s association with the Wild Bunch brought him to Utah, where the gang used remote hideouts like Robbers Roost in the southeastern canyon country and Browns Park near the Utah-Colorado-Wyoming border. These locations, with their rugged terrain and sympathetic local ranchers, provided ideal cover for planning heists and evading posses. Unlike Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, who preferred non-violent robberies, Logan was known for his volatile temper and readiness to use deadly force, earning him a fearsome reputation within the gang and among lawmen.

The forth Worth Five Photograph - Front row left to right: Harry A. Longabaugh, alias the Sundance Kid; Ben Kilpatrick, alias the Tall Texan; Robert Leroy Parker, alias Butch Cassidy. Standing: Will Carver & Harvey Logan, alias Kid Curry; Fort Worth, Texas, 1900.
The forth Worth Five Photograph – Front row left to right: Harry A. Longabaugh, alias the Sundance Kid; Ben Kilpatrick, alias the Tall Texan; Robert Leroy Parker, alias Butch Cassidy. Standing: Will Carver & Harvey Logan, alias Kid Curry; Fort Worth, Texas, 1900.

While specific robberies directly tied to Logan in Utah are less documented than those of Cassidy or Sundance, his presence in the state is confirmed through the Wild Bunch’s activities. The gang frequently used Robbers Roost, a maze of canyons between the Colorado, Green, and Dirty Devil Rivers, as a primary hideout. Accessible only by those familiar with its trails, it allowed outlaws like Logan to disappear after heists. Browns Park, a fertile valley along the Green River, was another key refuge where Logan and the Wild Bunch worked as ranch hands under aliases, rustled cattle, and planned larger crimes. Local families, such as the Carlisles and Davenports, often provided shelter and supplies, either out of loyalty or fear, as Logan’s violent reputation preceded him.

Logan’s role in the Wild Bunch included participation in some of the gang’s most audacious heists, though his Utah-specific exploits are often overshadowed by his actions elsewhere. For instance, he was a key figure in the June 2, 1899, Wilcox train robbery in Wyoming, where the Wild Bunch dynamited a Union Pacific train safe and escaped with $50,000 (equivalent to about $1.8 million in 2024). While this robbery occurred outside Utah, the gang likely retreated to Robbers Roost to divide the loot and plan their next move. Similarly, Logan was involved in the August 29, 1899, Rock Creek train robbery in Wyoming, which netted thousands in cash and jewelry. These high-profile crimes increased pressure from the Pinkerton Detective Agency and railroad companies, forcing the Wild Bunch to rely heavily on Utah’s hideouts.

Violent Encounters and Reputation

Logan’s time in Utah was marked not only by his gang activities but also by his growing list of violent encounters. Unlike Cassidy, who cultivated a “Robin Hood” image through charm and generosity, Logan was feared for his ruthlessness. In 1897, while hiding in Browns Park, he reportedly clashed with locals and lawmen, reinforcing his reputation as the Wild Bunch’s most dangerous member. His willingness to kill set him apart from his counterparts; he was linked to the murders of at least nine men, including several lawmen, during his criminal career.

One notable incident tied to Logan’s time near Utah occurred in 1900, when he killed two sheriffs in separate events. In May 1900, he shot and killed Sheriff John Tyler and Deputy Sam Jenkins in Moab, Utah, during a posse chase following a rustling incident. This double murder, though sometimes debated in historical accounts due to conflicting records, added to Logan’s infamy and made him a top target for law enforcement. His actions strained the Wild Bunch’s operations, as his violence drew unwanted attention to their Utah hideouts.

Logan’s presence in Browns Park also tied him to the social fabric of the region. Like Cassidy and Sundance, he benefited from the support of local ranchers, who resented powerful cattle barons and saw the outlaws as allies. However, Logan’s volatile nature made him less popular than his charismatic counterparts. Stories of the Wild Bunch’s generosity, such as hosting a lavish Thanksgiving feast in Browns Park in the mid-1890s, likely involved Logan, but his role was overshadowed by his reputation for violence.

Life on the Run and Arrest

By 1900, the Wild Bunch was unraveling under relentless pursuit by Pinkerton detectives and posses. While Cassidy and Sundance fled to South America in 1901, Logan chose to continue his criminal career in the United States. After the Wilcox and Rock Creek robberies, he operated independently, robbing trains and banks across the West. His notoriety grew with the murder of Sheriff Jesse Tyler in Tennessee in 1901, killed in retaliation for pursuing Logan’s brother Lonny.

In December 1901, Logan was arrested in Knoxville, Tennessee, on charges of forgery and murder. He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison, but on June 27, 1903, he escaped from the Knox County Jail, reportedly with outside help, possibly from former Wild Bunch associates. Logan fled west, returning to the familiar territory of Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming, where he resumed rustling and robbery. His time in Utah during this period was brief, as he was constantly on the move to avoid capture.

Death and Disputed Fate

The traditional account of Harvey Logan’s life ends on June 7, 1904, near Parachute, Colorado, not far from Utah’s border. After robbing a Denver & Rio Grande train, Logan was cornered by a posse. Wounded in a shootout, he reportedly took his own life with a single shot to the head rather than be captured. The body was identified as Logan’s based on physical descriptions and items found on him, though no definitive proof, such as photographs or fingerprints, confirmed his identity.

However, like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Logan’s fate is clouded by speculation. Some historians and family members claimed he survived the Colorado shootout and lived under an alias, possibly in Oregon or California, into the 1910s. A 1904 letter purportedly written by Logan to a friend suggested he was alive, and unverified sightings in Utah and Wyoming fueled rumors of his survival. Despite these claims, most evidence supports the 1904 shootout as his end, as the Pinkerton Agency closed his file after the incident, and no credible records place him elsewhere after that date.

Legacy in Utah

Harvey Alexander Logan, as Kid Curry, left a complex legacy in Utah as the Wild Bunch’s most lethal member. His time in Robbers Roost and Browns Park tied him to the state’s outlaw history, where he used Utah’s rugged terrain to evade capture and plan heists. Unlike Cassidy and Sundance, whose charm and non-violent approach earned them folk-hero status, Logan’s violent reputation made him a feared figure, even among allies. His murders of lawmen, including those in Moab, heightened the Wild Bunch’s notoriety and strained their ability to operate in Utah.

Logan’s story is less romanticized than that of his counterparts, but his role in the Wild Bunch’s Utah-based activities—rustling, hiding, and planning major robberies—cemented his place in the state’s frontier lore. Sites like Robbers Roost in Capitol Reef National Park and the Cassidy Trail in Red Canyon evoke the era of the Wild Bunch, with Logan as a darker, more volatile figure in their saga. While the 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid popularized the gang’s legend, Logan’s absence from the narrative reflects his lesser-known but no less impactful role in Utah’s outlaw history.

William Carver

William "News" Carve
William “News” Carve

William Carver, also known as William “News” Carver (September 12, 1868 – April 2, 1901) was an American outlaw and member of Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch, a notorious gang in the American Old West during the late 19th century. Born in Coryell County, Texas, Carver initially worked as a cowboy in Texas and Oklahoma. After his wife, Viana E. Byler, died of fever shortly after their marriage, he drifted into a life of crime, joining the Wild Bunch around 1897.

Carver earned the nickname “News” due to his enjoyment of reading about the gang’s exploits in newspapers. He participated in several high-profile robberies, including the August 29, 1900, Union Pacific Express train heist near Rock Creek, Wyoming, where the gang stole $50,000. Known for his skills as a cowboy and marksman, Carver was a key member of the gang, often working alongside outlaws like Butch Cassidy and Ben Kilpatrick.

In 1901, while traveling with his companion Laura Bullion, another Wild Bunch member, Carver was ambushed and killed by Sheriff E. S. Briant and his posse in Sonora, Texas, on April 2, 1901. His death marked a significant blow to the Wild Bunch, which was already under pressure from law enforcement.

Early Life and Background

William Richard Carver, known as “News” Carver, was born on September 12, 1868, in Coryell County, Texas. Raised in the rugged post-Civil War South, Carver grew up in a world of cattle drives and frontier hardship. Little is documented about his early years, but he developed skills as a cowboy, working on ranches in Texas and Oklahoma. His life took a tragic turn when his young wife, Viana E. Byler, died of fever shortly after their marriage in the early 1890s. This loss marked a turning point, pushing Carver toward a transient lifestyle and, eventually, a life of crime.

By the mid-1890s, Carver’s skills as a horseman and marksman, coupled with his restless spirit, drew him into the orbit of the Wild Bunch, a notorious gang of outlaws led by Butch Cassidy and Harvey Logan (Kid Curry). Carver’s nickname, “News,” stemmed from his habit of eagerly reading newspaper accounts of the gang’s exploits, reveling in their growing infamy.

Joining the Wild Bunch

By 1897, Carver had fully integrated into the Wild Bunch, a loosely organized group of outlaws known for robbing banks, trains, and express companies across the American West. The gang, including figures like Ben Kilpatrick (“The Tall Texan”) and Laura Bullion, Carver’s later companion, operated out of remote hideouts like the Hole-in-the-Wall in Wyoming and Brown’s Park in Utah. Carver’s cowboy background made him a valuable asset, particularly in navigating the rough terrain of the West and handling the logistics of train and bank heists.

The forth Worth Five Photograph - Front row left to right: Harry A. Longabaugh, alias the Sundance Kid; Ben Kilpatrick, alias the Tall Texan; Robert Leroy Parker, alias Butch Cassidy. Standing: Will Carver & Harvey Logan, alias Kid Curry; Fort Worth, Texas, 1900.
The forth Worth Five Photograph – Front row left to right: Harry A. Longabaugh, alias the Sundance Kid; Ben Kilpatrick, alias the Tall Texan; Robert Leroy Parker, alias Butch Cassidy. Standing: Will Carver & Harvey Logan, alias Kid Curry; Fort Worth, Texas, 1900.

Time in Utah

Utah played a significant role in Carver’s outlaw career, as it was a key operational base for the Wild Bunch. The state’s rugged landscapes, particularly Brown’s Park in northeastern Utah near the Colorado and Wyoming borders, provided a natural fortress for the gang. Brown’s Park, a remote valley along the Green River, was a haven for outlaws, offering seclusion and access to escape routes across state lines. Carver and the Wild Bunch used this area as a staging ground for planning heists and evading law enforcement.

Activities in Utah

While specific records of Carver’s day-to-day activities in Utah are sparse, his time in the state was tied to the Wild Bunch’s broader operations. The gang frequented Brown’s Park in the late 1890s, using it to rest, recruit, and plan. Carver, known for his easygoing demeanor and sharpshooting skills, likely contributed to the group’s activities in the region, which included rustling cattle and preparing for major robberies. The Wild Bunch’s presence in Utah was part of a broader pattern of exploiting the state’s sparse population and law enforcement challenges to their advantage.

One notable event linked to the Wild Bunch during Carver’s tenure was the planning of train robberies, some of which were staged in or near Utah. For example, the gang’s 1899 robbery of the Union Pacific Express near Rock Creek, Wyoming, close to Utah’s border, likely involved preparations in Brown’s Park. Carver’s role in such heists would have included scouting, handling horses, or serving as a lookout, given his cowboy expertise.

Utah’s outlaw-friendly environment also attracted other criminals, and Carver likely interacted with local ranchers, some of whom were complicit in hiding or supplying the gang. The state’s Mormon communities, while generally law-abiding, were sometimes sympathetic to outlaws as a form of resistance against federal authorities, creating a complex social dynamic that the Wild Bunch exploited.

The Wild Bunch in Utah’s Outlaw Culture

Utah’s role in the Wild Bunch’s activities extended beyond Brown’s Park. The gang occasionally passed through towns like Vernal and Moab, where they could blend in with transient workers or cowboys. Carver, with his unassuming appearance and cowboy background, could move through these areas without drawing undue attention. However, by the late 1890s, the Wild Bunch’s increasing notoriety, fueled by newspaper coverage that Carver enjoyed, made anonymity harder to maintain.

The 1900 Union Pacific Heist and Beyond

Carver’s most infamous exploit with the Wild Bunch was the August 29, 1900, robbery of the Union Pacific Express train near Rock Creek, Wyoming, just across the Utah border. The gang, including Carver, Butch Cassidy, and Ben Kilpatrick, dynamited the train’s safe and escaped with approximately $50,000 (equivalent to over $1.5 million today). While the heist itself occurred in Wyoming, the gang likely retreated to Utah’s Brown’s Park to divide the loot and evade the pursuing Pinkerton detectives and posses. Carver’s role in the robbery, though not detailed in primary sources, likely leveraged his sharpshooting and horsemanship skills to ensure the gang’s escape.

After the Rock Creek heist, the Wild Bunch faced mounting pressure from law enforcement. Carver, now a wanted man, continued to operate with the gang but also spent time with Laura Bullion, a fellow Wild Bunch member and his romantic partner. The couple’s movements in 1900–1901 took them across the West, including periods in Utah, where they likely sought refuge in familiar hideouts.

Death and Legacy

Carver’s outlaw career ended abruptly in 1901. On April 2, while traveling with Laura Bullion in Sonora, Texas, he was ambushed and killed by Sheriff E. S. Briant and his posse. His death at age 32 marked the decline of the Wild Bunch, as relentless pursuit by law enforcement scattered its members. Bullion was later arrested with banknotes from the gang’s robberies, further disrupting their operations.

In Utah, Carver’s legacy is tied to the broader mythos of the Wild Bunch. Brown’s Park remains a historical site associated with the gang, and stories of their exploits linger in local folklore. Carver himself, while not as famous as Butch Cassidy or the Sundance Kid, was a key figure in the gang’s operations, embodying the transient, thrill-seeking spirit of the Old West’s final days.

Conclusion

William “News” Carver’s life was a brief but vivid chapter in the history of the American West. His time in Utah, centered around the outlaw haven of Brown’s Park, reflects the Wild Bunch’s strategic use of the state’s geography and social dynamics to sustain their criminal enterprises. From his early days as a Texas cowboy to his death as a wanted man, Carver’s story captures the fleeting, lawless romance of the frontier, immortalized in the newspaper clippings he so enjoyed reading.

Harry Alonzo Longabaugh

Harry Alonzo Longabaugh was the American outlaw known as the Sundance Kid. A key member of Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch gang, he became infamous in the 1890s for bank and train robberies across the western United States.

Harry Longabaugh, alias Sundance Kid, three-quarter length portrait
Harry Longabaugh, alias Sundance Kid, three-quarter length portrait

Harry Alonzo Longabaugh, famously known as the Sundance Kid, was born in 1867 in Mont Clare, Pennsylvania, to Josiah and Annie Longabaugh, a working-class family of English and German descent. The youngest of five children, Harry grew up in a modest household but displayed an adventurous spirit early on. At age fifteen, inspired by tales of the American West, he left home to seek his fortune, drifting westward as a cowboy and ranch hand. By 1887, at age twenty, Harry’s life took a criminal turn when he stole a horse, saddle, and revolver in Sundance, Wyoming, earning him a brief jail stint and the nickname “Sundance Kid.” This incident marked his entry into a life of crime, setting the stage for his later association with Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch.

Longabaugh’s early years in the West were spent working as a cowboy in Wyoming and Colorado, where he honed his skills as a horseman and marksman—attributes that would later define his outlaw persona. By the mid-1890s, he had joined forces with Butch Cassidy (Robert LeRoy Parker), becoming a key member of the Wild Bunch, a notorious gang of outlaws known for their bank and train robberies across the western United States. Utah, with its rugged terrain and remote hideouts, became a significant hub for the Wild Bunch’s operations, and Longabaugh spent considerable time in the state during his criminal career.

Arrival in Utah and the Wild Bunch

The forth Worth Five Photograph - Front row left to right: Harry A. Longabaugh, alias the Sundance Kid; Ben Kilpatrick, alias the Tall Texan; Robert Leroy Parker, alias Butch Cassidy. Standing: Will Carver & Harvey Logan, alias Kid Curry; Fort Worth, Texas, 1900.
The forth Worth Five Photograph – Front row left to right: Harry A. Longabaugh, alias the Sundance Kid; Ben Kilpatrick, alias the Tall Texan; Robert Leroy Parker, alias Butch Cassidy. Standing: Will Carver & Harvey Logan, alias Kid Curry; Fort Worth, Texas, 1900.

By the mid-1890s, Longabaugh had linked up with Butch Cassidy, likely through mutual contacts in the outlaw network. The Wild Bunch, which included other notable figures like Elzy Lay, Ben Kilpatrick (the Tall Texan), and Harvey Logan (Kid Curry), used Utah’s isolated landscapes as strategic bases. Two primary hideouts in Utah were Robbers Roost, a labyrinth of canyons in the southeastern part of the state between the Colorado, Green, and Dirty Devil Rivers, and Browns Park, a remote valley near the Utah-Colorado-Wyoming border. These locations provided ideal cover for planning heists, evading posses, and blending into sympathetic local communities.

Longabaugh’s activities in Utah were closely tied to the Wild Bunch’s operations. His reputation as a skilled gunman and cool-headed accomplice made him a valuable asset to Cassidy, who preferred non-violent, meticulously planned robberies. The Sundance Kid’s charm and easygoing demeanor, much like Cassidy’s, helped the gang maintain alliances with ranchers and locals who often shielded them from law enforcement.

The Castle Gate Robbery and Utah Exploits

One of the most significant events linking Longabaugh to Utah was the Pleasant Valley Coal Company payroll robbery on April 21, 1897, in Castle Gate, Utah. Alongside Butch Cassidy and Elzy Lay, Longabaugh participated in this daring heist, which netted the gang approximately $7,000 in silver coins (equivalent to about $245,000 in 2024). The robbery took place in broad daylight at the company’s pay station, where the outlaws, posing as bystanders, swiftly seized the payroll and escaped without firing a shot. They fled to Robbers Roost, navigating the treacherous canyon country to evade a pursuing posse. This heist, one of the largest payroll robberies of the Old West, solidified the Wild Bunch’s notoriety and Longabaugh’s role as a key figure in the gang.

Beyond the Castle Gate robbery, Longabaugh’s time in Utah was spent in the Wild Bunch’s hideouts, particularly Robbers Roost and Browns Park. Robbers Roost was a nearly impregnable fortress of red rock canyons, accessible only by those familiar with its trails, making it an ideal refuge. Browns Park, located along the Green River, was another haven where outlaws could rest, resupply, and even work as ranch hands under aliases. Local ranchers, such as the Carlisle and Davenport families, were known to harbor the Wild Bunch, providing food, horses, and information in exchange for protection or payment. Longabaugh, often described as affable and well-liked, likely contributed to the gang’s ability to maintain these alliances.

In Browns Park, Longabaugh is believed to have formed a romantic relationship with Etta Place, a mysterious woman who became his companion. While her true identity remains debated—some speculate she was Ann Bassett, a Browns Park rancher’s daughter, or a schoolteacher named Ethel Place—her association with Longabaugh began in the late 1890s, possibly in Utah or nearby regions. Etta would later accompany Longabaugh and Cassidy to South America, adding to the legend of the Sundance Kid.

Life as an Outlaw in Utah

Longabaugh’s time in Utah was not limited to high-profile robberies. The Wild Bunch frequently engaged in cattle rustling and smaller thefts, using Browns Park as a base to move stolen livestock across state lines. Longabaugh’s role in these activities is less documented, but his presence in the region is confirmed by historical accounts of the gang’s movements. The Wild Bunch’s ability to operate in Utah relied on their knowledge of the terrain and the goodwill of locals, who resented the growing influence of wealthy cattle barons and railroad companies. Stories of the gang’s generosity, such as hosting a lavish Thanksgiving dinner in Browns Park in the mid-1890s, attended by locals and complete with roast turkey and pumpkin pie, helped cement their folk-hero status.

Unlike some of his more volatile counterparts, such as Harvey Logan, Longabaugh shared Cassidy’s preference for avoiding violence during robberies. This approach, combined with his sharpshooting skills, made him a reliable partner in the gang’s meticulously planned heists. His time in Utah’s hideouts allowed him to lie low between jobs, often posing as a ranch hand or drifter to avoid detection. However, the increasing pressure from law enforcement, particularly the Pinkerton Detective Agency, hired by railroad companies to hunt the Wild Bunch, made life in Utah increasingly precarious by the late 1890s.

Flight to South America

By 1900, the Wild Bunch was under intense scrutiny, with bounties on their heads and Pinkerton detectives tracking their movements. After a series of high-profile robberies, including the June 2, 1899, Wilcox train robbery in Wyoming and the August 29, 1899, Rock Creek train robbery in Wyoming, Longabaugh and Cassidy realized their days in the American West were numbered. In early 1901, Longabaugh, Cassidy, and Etta Place fled to New York City, where they posed for a now-famous photograph at the DeYoung Photography Studio. On February 20, 1901, they sailed from New York to Buenos Aires, Argentina, aboard the SS Herminius, seeking to escape the relentless pursuit of law enforcement.

In Argentina, Longabaugh and Cassidy attempted to go straight, purchasing a 15,000-acre ranch near Cholila, Chubut, under the aliases James “Santiago” Ryan (Cassidy) and Harry “Enrique” Place (Longabaugh), with Etta as his wife. They raised cattle, sheep, and horses, living quietly for several years. Longabaugh’s time in Utah had prepared him for this ranching life, as he was already skilled in handling livestock from his days in Browns Park. However, by 1906, financial pressures and the lure of easy money drew them back to crime, and they began robbing banks and trains across South America.

The Mystery of Longabaugh’s Fate

The traditional account of Longabaugh’s life ends with his death alongside Butch Cassidy in a shootout with the Bolivian Army on November 7, 1908, near San Vicente, Bolivia. After robbing a mine payroll, the pair were cornered in a boarding house. A prolonged firefight ended with two gunshots, believed to be suicides, though the bodies were never definitively identified. This narrative, popularized by the 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford, has become the dominant version of events.

However, like Cassidy, Longabaugh’s fate is shrouded in mystery. Some historians and family members, including Cassidy’s sister Lula Parker Betenson, claimed that both men survived Bolivia and returned to the United States. Sightings of Longabaugh were reported in Utah and Wyoming in the 1920s and 1930s, with some suggesting he lived under an alias, possibly as a rancher or drifter. A 1930s account from a Utah doctor, Francis Smith, claimed a man resembling Longabaugh showed him a bullet wound repaired years earlier, hinting at survival. However, no definitive evidence, such as DNA from the Bolivian remains (tested in 2008 and found inconclusive), confirms these claims. The lack of conclusive records leaves open the possibility that Longabaugh, like Cassidy, may have lived out his days in obscurity.

Legacy in Utah

Harry Alonzo Longabaugh, the Sundance Kid, left an indelible mark on Utah’s history as a key figure in the Wild Bunch. His role in the Castle Gate robbery and his time in Robbers Roost and Browns Park tied him to the state’s rugged outlaw culture. Utah’s canyon country, with its hidden trails and sympathetic communities, provided the perfect backdrop for his escapades, allowing him to evade capture for years. His relationship with Etta Place, possibly forged in Utah, adds a romantic layer to his legend, while his non-violent approach and charisma made him a folk hero alongside Cassidy.

In Utah, the Sundance Kid’s legacy endures through historical sites like the Cassidy Trail in Red Canyon and the Robbers Roost region in Capitol Reef National Park, where visitors seek traces of the Wild Bunch’s hideouts. The 1969 film, while taking liberties with historical accuracy, immortalized Longabaugh as a dashing outlaw, cementing his place in popular culture. In Utah, he is remembered as a skilled and elusive figure who navigated the state’s wild terrain, leaving behind a legacy of adventure and defiance in the waning days of the Old West.

Robert LeRoy Parker

Robert LeRoy Parker, born April 13, 1866, in Beaver, Utah Territory, was better known as Butch Cassidy, the infamous American outlaw, train robber, and leader of the Wild Bunch gang. Raised in a Mormon pioneer family near Circleville, Utah, he adopted the alias “Butch Cassidy” to distance himself from his family’s name after taking up a life of crime. His early mentor, rustler Mike Cassidy, influenced his path, and he earned the nickname “Butch” while working briefly as a butcher in Wyoming.

Cassidy became notorious in the late 1880s and 1890s for leading the Wild Bunch, a gang responsible for a string of daring bank and train robberies across the western United States, including the 1897 Castle Gate payroll heist in Utah and the 1899 Wilcox train robbery in Wyoming. Known for his charisma, meticulous planning, and non-violent approach—avoiding killing during robberies—he gained a “Robin Hood” reputation, often sharing stolen money with local communities. He operated out of hideouts like Robbers Roost in Utah and Hole-in-the-Wall in Wyoming.

Early Life and Background

Robert LeRoy Parker, later known as Butch Cassidy, was born on April 13, 1866, in Beaver, Utah Territory, to Mormon pioneer parents, Maximillian Parker and Ann Campbell Gillies. As the eldest of thirteen children, Robert grew up in a devout family of English immigrants who had converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the United Kingdom. His parents arrived in Utah in the 1850s, with Maximillian crossing the plains in 1856 at age twelve and Ann immigrating in 1859 at fourteen. They married in 1865, settling on a ranch near Circleville, Utah, by 1879, when Robert was thirteen.

The Parker family’s homestead, a modest two-room cabin south of Circleville, was where Robert, known as Roy to family and friends, spent his formative teenage years. Despite his religious upbringing, young Roy showed early signs of restlessness and a disinterest in church attendance. Working on local ranches to support his large family, he encountered Mike Cassidy, a cowhand and small-time cattle rustler, at Jim Marshall’s ranch twelve miles south of Circleville. Mike became a mentor, teaching Roy horsemanship and marksmanship, skills that would later define his outlaw career. To distance himself from his family’s reputable name, Roy adopted the surname Cassidy, likely in honor of his mentor, and later earned the nickname “Butch” from a stint as a butcher’s apprentice in Rock Springs, Wyoming.

Early Brushes with the Law

Roy’s first recorded run-in with the law occurred around 1880, at a young age, when he entered a closed clothing shop in another town, took a pair of jeans and a pie, and left an IOU promising to pay later. Though he intended to settle the debt, the shopkeeper pressed charges. Roy was acquitted at trial, but the incident marked the beginning of his friction with authority. By 1884, at age eighteen, Roy left Circleville, disillusioned by his family’s loss of land in a property rights dispute and seeking greater opportunities. He drifted to Telluride, Colorado, working as a mule-skinner in silver mines and possibly delivering stolen horses, a path that led him toward a life of crime.

The Outlaw Trail and the Wild Bunch

In 1889, at age twenty-three, Roy—now Butch Cassidy—committed his first major crime: the robbery of the San Miguel Valley Bank in Telluride, Colorado, alongside Matt Warner and two McCarty brothers. The group stole approximately $21,000 (equivalent to about $735,000 in 2024), fleeing to Robbers Roost, a remote hideout in southeastern Utah’s rugged canyon country. This marked Butch’s entry into the Outlaw Trail, a loosely connected network of hideouts stretching from Mexico to Montana, including Robbers Roost, Hole-in-the-Wall in Wyoming, and Browns Park near the Utah-Colorado-Wyoming border.

The forth Worth Five Photograph - Front row left to right: Harry A. Longabaugh, alias the Sundance Kid; Ben Kilpatrick, alias the Tall Texan; Robert Leroy Parker, alias Butch Cassidy. Standing: Will Carver & Harvey Logan, alias Kid Curry; Fort Worth, Texas, 1900.
The forth Worth Five Photograph – Front row left to right: Harry A. Longabaugh, alias the Sundance Kid; Ben Kilpatrick, alias the Tall Texan; Robert Leroy Parker, alias Butch Cassidy. Standing: Will Carver & Harvey Logan, alias Kid Curry; Fort Worth, Texas, 1900.

By the mid-1890s, Butch had formed the Wild Bunch, a loosely organized gang of outlaws that included Harry Longabaugh (the Sundance Kid), Elzy Lay, Harvey Logan (Kid Curry), Ben Kilpatrick (the Tall Texan), and others. Known for their charisma and meticulous planning, the Wild Bunch executed a series of daring bank and train robberies across the western United States. In Utah, Butch and his gang became local legends, often hiding out in Robbers Roost and Browns Park, where sympathetic ranchers provided shelter and supplies. Butch’s reputation as a “Robin Hood of the West” grew from stories of him sharing stolen money with the poor, a strategy that ensured community support and protection.

A notable Utah exploit occurred on April 21, 1897, when Butch, the Sundance Kid, and Elzy Lay robbed the Pleasant Valley Coal Company payroll in Castle Gate, Utah. Posing as bystanders, they stole $7,000 in silver coins in broad daylight without firing a shot, escaping to Robbers Roost. This heist, one of the largest payroll robberies in the Old West, cemented their notoriety. Another significant robbery took place on August 13, 1896, when Butch and Elzy Lay hit the Bank of Montpelier in Idaho, reportedly to raise funds to bail out Matt Warner. They escaped with loot, evading a posse led by Sheriff Jefferson Davis.

Butch’s time in Utah was not solely about crime. He cultivated a reputation for charm and non-violence, paying for meals and horses and avoiding killing during robberies. In Browns Park, he and the Wild Bunch were known for their generosity, even hosting a lavish Thanksgiving dinner in the mid-1890s at the Davenport ranch, complete with roast turkey and pumpkin pie, served to thirty-five locals. Such acts endeared him to communities resentful of wealthy cattle barons.

Legal Troubles and Imprisonment

In 1894, Butch was arrested in Wyoming for horse theft, a charge stemming from his rustling activities. He served two years in the Wyoming State Penitentiary in Laramie, from 1894 to 1896. His time in prison did little to deter him; upon release, he resumed his criminal career with renewed vigor, organizing the Wild Bunch for their most prolific period. However, the increasing presence of law enforcement and the Pinkerton Detective Agency, hired by railroad companies, made evading capture more difficult.

Life in Utah’s Outlaw Havens

Utah’s rugged terrain provided ideal hideouts for Butch and the Wild Bunch. Robbers Roost, located between the Colorado, Green, and Dirty Devil Rivers, was a labyrinth of canyons where outlaws could disappear. Browns Park, a remote enclave along the Green River, offered another safe haven, where ranchers like the Carlisle family provided jobs and cover. Butch’s ability to blend into these communities, coupled with his genial demeanor, allowed him to operate with relative impunity for years. His romantic involvement with Ann Bassett, a Browns Park rancher’s daughter, further tied him to the region, with some speculating she was Etta Place, the Sundance Kid’s companion.

Escape to South America

By 1901, the Wild Bunch was unraveling under pressure from relentless manhunts. With bounties on their heads and Pinkerton detectives closing in, Butch, the Sundance Kid, and Etta Place fled to New York City, then sailed to Buenos Aires, Argentina, on February 20, 1901. Posing as James Ryan, Butch settled with his companions in a four-room log cabin on a 15,000-acre ranch near Cholila, Chubut. They attempted a legitimate life, raising 300 cattle, 1,500 sheep, and 28 horses, as noted in a 1902 letter Butch wrote to Elzy Lay’s mother-in-law. However, by 1906, they returned to banditry, robbing banks and trains across South America.

The Mystery of Butch Cassidy’s Fate

The traditional narrative holds that Butch and Sundance died in a shootout with the Bolivian Army on November 7, 1908, near San Vicente, Bolivia. After robbing a mine payroll, they were cornered in a boarding house, where a firefight ended with two gunshots, presumed to be suicides. However, the exact circumstances remain uncertain, fueling speculation that Butch survived. Family members, including his sister Lula Parker Betenson, claimed he returned to Circleville in 1925, visiting family and sharing stories of his exploits. Others, including residents of Utah and Wyoming, reported sightings of Butch in the 1930s, living under aliases like William T. Phillips, a Spokane engineer who wrote an unpublished manuscript, The Bandit Invincible, believed by some to be Butch’s autobiography.

Historian Larry Pointer, in In Search of Butch Cassidy, argues that Butch faked his death in Bolivia, underwent facial surgery in Paris, and lived quietly in Washington until 1937. A 1930s account from a Utah doctor, Francis Smith, claimed Butch showed him a repaired bullet wound, supporting the survival theory. However, other historians, like Charles Kelly, found it odd that Butch never visited his father, Maximillian, who died in 1938, if he were alive. DNA tests in 2008 on remains exhumed in Bolivia failed to confirm Butch’s identity, leaving the mystery unresolved.

Legacy in Utah

Butch Cassidy’s legend looms large in Utah, where his boyhood home in Circleville remains a historical site, restored and open to visitors. The Cassidy Trail in Red Canyon and the Robbers Roost region in Capitol Reef National Park attract adventurers seeking traces of his life, including rumors of buried treasure from the Castle Gate robbery. His story, romanticized in the 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford, has cemented his status as a folk hero. In Utah, he is celebrated as a charismatic outlaw who challenged powerful institutions, embodying the rebellious spirit of the Old West.

Butch’s reputation as a “gentleman criminal” stems from his non-violent approach and generosity. Stories of him aiding poor families, like the Thanksgiving feast in Browns Park, and his refusal to harm victims during robberies, earned him admiration. His connection to Utah’s rugged landscapes and communities, from Circleville to Robbers Roost, makes him a central figure in the state’s cultural and folklore heritage. Whether he died in Bolivia or lived on in obscurity, Butch Cassidy’s legacy as Utah’s “Robin Hood of the West” endures.