Sundance Kid & Butch Cassidy

[bburton]

Where today in Fort Worth can they be found?

Butch Cassidy's gang came to Ft. Worth after the September 19, 1900 bank robbery in Winnemucca, Nevada. The central figures had split up after Winnemucca and arrived by different routes in Ft. Worth. Since the gang had never committed a crime in Texas, the area was considered a safe hideout. Their staggered arrivals, from late September to early October, coincided with the October 10, 1900 start of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in Ft. Worth, an event that attracted 11,000 people.

The main purpose of the Ft. Worth reunion was a last hurrah before the departure of Butch and Sundance for South America. Flush with $33,000 in gold and banknotes, they had several hangouts in Cowtown's "Hell's Half Acre," among them Maddox Flats at 1014½ Main Street, and the Randall Apartments.

In December 1900, the gang decided to have a group photograph taken by photographer John Swartz at his second floor studio over 705 Main Street. Downstairs at 705 Main was Sheehan's Place saloon.

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, alias News Carver & Harvey Logan, alias Kid Curry; Fort Worth, Texas, 1901.

[Bruce M. Morris]

Little tidbit about this photo. Until this photo was shot, the Hole in the Wall Gang had never had their photos taken. Authorities didnt even know what Butch and Sundance looked like until this photo surfaced.

[Hogleg 44]

I dunno... But I have one of Butch's old cartridge belt and holster rigs.

[bburton]

The above portrait along with a 150-year history, mostly in photographs, of the city of Fort Worth can be found in Fire Station No. 1.

[babybluetx23]

Wow thanks for the tidbit of info!

[DEMDeepEllumMusic]

Yeah that is a great little museum if you have never gone into it.
Hells Half Acre was torn down and the Convention Center is over that area that was full of salloons, opium dens and houses of ill repute for the soiled doves. This area was a lot tougher than down in the Stockyards area which is a couple miles north.

[Hogleg 44]

Originally Posted by DEMDeepEllumMusic

Yeah that is a great little museum if you have never gone into it.
Hells Half Acre was torn down and the Convention Center is over that area that was full of salloons, opium dens and houses of ill repute for the soiled doves. This area was a lot tougher than down in the Stockyards area which is a couple miles north.

It was still very Wild when I first came to Ft. Worth in 1959. Not a good place to be after dark! It was well named!

[Jehos]

I'll have to check that out soon, I work just a few blocks down the street in the DR Horton building.

[Sonnydigs]

I was wondering how you can get documentation as to whether the rig was Butch's?? I'm not doubting it, just wonder.. That's really cool.. Would love to see a pic of it.. Thanks for the post.
PS: It was that picture that put the Pinkerton's on their trail..I love our Ft. Worth history..
Sonnydigs

Originally Posted by Hogleg 44

I dunno... But I have one of Butch's old cartridge belt and holster rigs.

[Hogleg 44]

Originally Posted by Sonnydigs

I was wondering how you can get documentation as to whether the rig was Butch's?? I'm not doubting it, just wonder.. That's really cool.. Would love to see a pic of it.. Thanks for the post.
PS: It was that picture that put the Pinkerton's on their trail..I love our Ft. Worth history..
Sonnydigs

I bought the rig about 18 years ago from 'Jackson Arms' on Hillcrest, in Dallas, by SMU. They were a very reputable antique arms dealer. The rig came with an affidavit telling the story of how Butch lost it. Actually, he went off and LEFT it in a Kaycee WY home, where he was visiting, in his haste to get away from an approaching Pinkerton Agent. It is a sworn and witnessed affidavit, but wheather it is actually real...Who Really Knows!!!
I guess Jackson Arms thought it was, or they would not have offered it as such. Either way, it is a very nice, very desirable, very old but well preserved sixgun rig.

[Hogleg 44]

Originally Posted by Hogleg 44

I bought the rig about 18 years ago from 'Jackson Arms' on Hillcrest, in Dallas, by SMU. They were a very reputable antique arms dealer. The rig came with an affidavit telling the story of how Butch lost it. Actually, he went off and LEFT it in a Kaycee WY home, where he was visiting, in his haste to get away from an approaching Pinkerton Agent. It is a sworn and witnessed affidavit, but wheather it is actually real...Who Really Knows!!!
I guess Jackson Arms thought it was, or they would not have offered it as such. Either way, it is a very nice, very desirable, very old but well preserved sixgun rig.

If you're ever up in my neck of the woods...North Richland Hills, Holler, and I'll show it to you!

[Sonnydigs]

Thanks Paul,
It's a great story and it's probaly for real.. As you said they wouldn't have sold it as such if not.. I love the old west gun leather and it does nothing but appreciate in value..
Thanks again,
Sonny