Newman and Redford portray Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid as lovable rascals who blaze a trail of glory in Bolivia. But is the truth less glamorous?
In the 1890s Wild West, Butch and the Kid robbed trains, banks, and stole horses. Their legendary status stems from the 1969 film featuring Paul Newman as Butch and Robert Redford as the Kid.
Born Robert Leroy Parker on April 13, 1866, in Beaver, Utah, Butch came from a Mormon family, but he left home at 13 to work as a laborer. Chasing opportunity, he fell in with Mike Cassidy, a cattle and horse hustler, whose thrilling lifestyle lured Butch away from manual labor. Eventually, he joined Cassidy’s gang and adopted his name.
Pursued by the law, Butch fled to Wyoming, only to serve 18 months for horse theft. After his release, he formed the Wild Bunch gang, which included the Sundance Kid, born Harry Longabaugh. The Wild Bunch became known for their flair and daring as they successfully held up trains, rather than for violence.
However, their success attracted detectives and bounties. Desperate to escape, Butch, the Kid, and his fiancée Etta Place traveled to New York and sailed to Argentina in 1901.
In South America, the trio robbed banks and trains. They enjoyed a brief retirement running a ranch in Argentina, but the quiet life proved fleeting.
In 1908, the Bolivian government reported that soldiers had cornered Butch and the Kid, leading to a gunfight in which the Kid died and Butch shot himself. Yet, other claims suggest that the outlaws returned to the U.S. under aliases to live peacefully.
Numerous individuals have claimed to be Butch, with William Philips, a machine shop owner in Washington, presenting the most credible case.
In the 1920s, he authored a detailed manuscript titled “The Invincible Bandit – the Story of Butch Cassidy.” Philips not only resembled Butch but also owned a pistol engraved with Butch’s brand and a ring known to belong to him. He passed away in a nursing home in 1937.
Content for this question contributed by Terri Du Charme, resident of Marinette, Marinette County, Wisconsin, USA
