Where the Wild Bunch Roam

Utah is the home of several famous places once homesteaded by many robbers, rustlers, outlaws and bandits. Some names more common than others, all modern day ‘Robin Hoods’ competing with the rich to help give back to the poor.

Starting out with the most famous of them all was Robert LeRoy Packer, or better known as Butch Cassidy. Born in 1866, this Utah native was the first of twelve children in a devout Mormon family. He grew up working close to his mother and idol Mike Cassidy at a nearby ranch to help earn money for their struggling family. Packer quickly won the family’s approval as the youngest cowhand apprentice in his area. After spending a lot of time with Mike Cassidy out on his moonlight raids drinking old crow and learning the ways of a true cattle hustler, Packer changed his name to Butch Cassidy, after his profession as a butcher and to protect his family’s reputation.

Cassidy was a bold, good looking man who made a good impression. He was reckless, but smart, and he knew how far to push and when to back off. He liked people, ranchers, farmers and Indians, who in turn liked him a lot as well. He was part of many robberies in the areas of Brown’s Hole, Robber’s Roost, Hole-in-the-wall of Utah and Colorado and Hell’s Half Acre in Texas. His sidekicks also known as the Wild Bunch consisted of Harry Longabaugh (the Sundance Kid), Well Carver (Will Case), Ben Kilpatrick (the Tall Texan) and Harvey Logan (Kid Curry).  

In 1901 Cassidy sailed for South America to start fresh, yet came back to the United States around 1910-1913 in hopes of being forgotten. He settled in Spokane, Washington under a new name of William Phillips and is reported to have died in 1937.

On the opposite side of the spectrum was a hard working one of a kind woman named Elizabeth Bassett who was an impetuous, headstrong dreamer and doer. Orphaned at an early age, Bassett was brought up by her grandfather who raised racehorses, giving her a skill not many had. She was a good judge of horses, a talent that came in handy when she started breeding them on a ranch.

Bassett had a great deal of influence on Butch Cassidy and made the Bassett Ranch a safe haven for Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch. Two famous employees working at the ranch were Matt Rash and Isom Dart, both whom were part of the Bassett Gang and murdered by Tom Horn, a friend in the area of Brown’s Hole. Elizabeth became quite a rustler leading the way for her beautiful daughters Anne and Josie whom both were born to ride and shoot and borrow cattle if the notion took them.

Ann and Josie fought over Cassidy, throwing punches, kicking, biting and screaming at each other until sometimes one would draw blood.  In the end, Ann lost the battle and Josie and Butch Cassidy became an item for several years, but she knew that because of his lifestyle it would never work out. The two daughters were forced out of Browns Park after several mishaps with the law.

Etta Place is also one historically associated with the Wild Bunch. Best known as the love interest of the Sundance Kid, she was his paramour during the height of their criminal activity. It is strongly suggested that Etta Place was actually Ann Bassett. There is a lot of evidence supporting the disguise and the probability of this mystery.

Browns Park or “hole” seemed to be the resting and safe haven for the Wild Bunch and Bassett Gang. It is found in Western Colorado and the sign entering such a town read, “Browns Hole-Honest ranchers, outlaws, rustlers, gunmen, welcome! Sheriffs, marshals, deputies, busybodies, range detectives, cattle barons, enter at your own risk!”

The Hole was wintering home for many fur trappers and mountain men participating in the mountain men rendezvous. John Wesley Powell floated on the Green in 1869 and called the region Brown’s Park instead of Brown’s Hole. Today you can drive through and see some of the old cabins and homesteads of people from that area. The town may have lost a lot of its population, but the soul and memories still live on as the wind continues to blow through the open range.

Photo Source: Lamar, Howard R, ed. The New Encyclopedia of the American West. New Haven and London, Yale University Press.

Written by Natali Zollinger