Sundance Kid American criminal, member of the Wild Bunch Country: USA

1. Biography of Sundance Kid
2. Early Life and Imprisonment
3. Life Before the Wild Bunch
4. The Wild Bunch Gang
5. Pursuit and Escape
6. Mysterious Fate

Biography of Sundance Kid

Sundance Kid, whose real name was Harry Longbaugh, was an American criminal and a member of the notorious "Wild Bunch" gang. He was known for his exceptional skills with firearms and was considered a sharpshooter. It is believed that he had not killed anyone until the infamous shootout in Bolivia, where he and Butch Cassidy were allegedly killed.

Early Life and Imprisonment

In 1887, Harry Longbaugh was sentenced to 18 months in prison for cattle rustling. He served his entire sentence in the Sands prison in Wyoming, which earned him the nickname "Sundance Kid." In 1896, Harry met Butch Cassidy (real name Robert Leroy Parker), and together they formed the "Wild Bunch" gang. This gang would go on to have the most extensive and successful series of train and bank robberies in the history of the Wild West and America as a whole.

Life Before the Wild Bunch

Little is known about Longbaugh's activities before his encounter with Parker. In 1891, at the age of 25, he worked on the Bar U Ranch in Alberta, Canada. The Bar U Ranch was one of the largest and most profitable farms at that time. Despite being highly skilled with firearms and a reputed sharpshooter, Longbaugh was said to have never killed anyone until the shootout in Bolivia.

The Wild Bunch Gang

The Wild Bunch gang distinguished itself by relying on negotiations and intimidation during their robberies, rarely resorting to violence. However, if captured, they faced the threat of execution by hanging. The gang members were responsible for several killings during their robberies, contrary to the more peaceful image often portrayed in Hollywood movies. Wanted posters with the message "Wanted, dead or alive" and a $30,000 reward for information leading to their capture or death were posted throughout the country.

Pursuit and Escape

The Pinkerton Detective Agency, led by Charlie Siringo, relentlessly pursued the gang for several years. The gang sought refuge in a hideout called "Hole in the Wall" in the Wyoming mountains. This location allowed them to attack and retreat safely due to its elevated position, providing a clear view of the surrounding area in all directions.

Mysterious Fate

On February 20, 1901, Longbaugh, along with his "wife" Etta and Parker, left the United States and sailed to Argentina, likely intending to diminish their notoriety back home. The circumstances of Longbaugh's death remain unknown to this day. On November 3, 1908, a courier from the company "Aramayo Franke y Cia Silver Mine" was robbed by two American bandits near the town of San Vicente in southern Bolivia. The criminals then took refuge in a small hotel in San Vicente. The building was surrounded by local police and two soldiers. In the ensuing shootout, the bandits were most likely killed, but it is still uncertain whether they were Longbaugh and Parker.