Butch was shot several times, and, rather than allow himself and Sundance to be captured, he killed his dying friend then turned the gun on himself. Legendary figures like Wyatt Earp, Jesse James, Belle Starr and the Apache Kid had their exploits built up far out of proportion to the actuality. Crouching low, Butch led his cohorts inside the tiny, vacant caf. On February 1, 1901, Etta and Sundance posed together for a picture at DeYoungs Photography Studio in New York after having made a purchase at Tiffany Jewelers. Originally named Robert LeRoy Parker, Butch Cassidy was the celebrated leader of the Wild Bunch, a loosely knit group of outlaws and ne'er-do-wells. According to historians, on February 20, 1901, the husband and wife and Cassidy boarded the SS Herminius at New Yorks Pier 32 under the aliases Mr. and Mrs. Harry Place and James Ryan. According to legend, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (Harry Longabaugh) infamous Utah outlaws noted throughout the She recorded the hit ballad, My Dearest Darling, in 1960, to the accompaniment of string instruments, and sang background vocals on label mate Chuck Berry's, Back in the U.S.A. This photo shows the Sundance Kid, Etta Place and Butch Cassidy getting ready to have tea on their Cholila ranch in 1903. The three were members of the outlaw gang known as Butch Cassidy's Wild Bunch. Butch Cassidy and a girlfriend, Etta Place, and in 1901 drifted to New York City and then South America, where they set up ranching in Chubut province, Argentina. Etta and Sundance boarded a ship to New York, ostensibly to visit Longabaugh's relatives in Pennsylvania and Atlantic City. This petition was signed by Place and Ryan, per Santiago. Upon their arrival in Argentina some time in March, Pinkerton records show that Longabaugh went to the London and River Platte Bank and "opened an account with the bank on March 23, 1901, depositing $12,000 in gold notes. The Sundance Kids widow Etta Place joins up with Pancho Villa. She did not know what became of the Sundance Kid, but Lula believed Etta settled in Denver and taught school. This unfortunate lack of facts only adds to the curiosity about one of the most mysterious figures of the American West, the woman who rode with the Wild Bunch. Matthew Lee , freelance writer, Colorado Springs, Colorado. Excerpt from My Antonia HER STORY CONTINUES - TO Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, To Pancho Villa and His Rebel BanditsShe Was a Lot of WomanTo a Lot of Men! It is also possible that they traveled to a Dr. Pierce's Invalid Hotel in Buffalo, New York State, for (unspecified) treatment. WebEtta Place was involved with the Sundance Kid and was a member of the Butch Cassidys Wild Bunch. Al Sharpton and she was entombed at Inglewood Park Cemetery in Los Angeles County, California. A bloody stand-off ensued, ending with the injured Butch shooting the mortally wounded Sundance in a mercy killing, and then taking his own life. "Leaving Cholila: Butch and Sundance Documents Surface in Argentina," in True West. Kelly, Charles. Ethel Etta Place, Western Woman of Mystery. According to historians, on February 20, 1901, the husband and wife and Cassidy boarded the, Shortly after the trio arrived in South America, they opened a bank account with $12 thousand in gold notes. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (112 min. Their trip included a sojourn to Coney Island, and possible further medical treatment for Longabaugh's unknown condition. Please enable JavaScript in your browser's settings to use this part of Geni. History Blazer, May 1995. July 31, 1909: Place attempts to obtain a death certificate following his alleged death in Bolivia so that she can settle his estate. She wanted to avoid capture, New York law enforcement officials told the press. There are at least shreds of evidence to support that claim. 1907: Place is living in San Francisco, without Longabaugh, and there is no evidence that they have seen one another since his departure two years prior. "Place, Etta (fl. The assistant manager was forced to put "all of the bank's money into a white canvas sack," after which one of the bandits "took under his arm a small tin box that contained approximately 483 pounds sterling." The Pinkerton Agency, which had a strong interest in Etta, described her as attractive, speaking with an educated tone. They moved to Cholilaand began raising livestock. According to the Buenos Aires Herald: Four well-mounted horsemen rode up to the [bank] and, knife in hand, entered, taking the employees by surprise. This photo shows the Sundance Kid, Etta Place and Butch Cassidy getting ready to have tea on their Cholila ranch in 1903. Encyclopedia.com gives you the ability to cite reference entries and articles according to common styles from the Modern Language Association (MLA), The Chicago Manual of Style, and the American Psychological Association (APA). THE administration of Theodore Roosevelt was in some respects the first modern presidency. A novel accurately relates the difficulties experienced by European immigrants in the United S, Pickett, Bill 18701932 History writer Edward Kirby noted in his book The Saga of Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch that she was truly the mystery woman of the Wild Bunch story.. In 2003, she was honored with a Walk of Fame star at 7080 Hollywood Blvd. She was awarded Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance for the album Mystery Lady, and two more for, Let's Roll, and, Blues to the Bone, for Best Contemporary and Traditional Blues Albums categories respectively. Governor Julio Lezana issued an arrest warrant, but before it could be executed, Sheriff Edward Humphreys, a Welsh Argentine who was friendly with Parker and enamored of Place, tipped them off. In 1952, she met musician Johnny Otis who helped the band sign to Modern Records and changing their name to the Peaches and gave the singer her stage name reversing Jamesetta into "Etta James". She is the third of five children to be raised in the area her mother will rename Browns Park. The Pinkerton Agency, which had a strong interest in Etta, described her as attractive, speaking with an educated tone. The woman later known as Ethel Place, is most likely born in Texas in 1876. At this point, some accounts insist that Place and Longabaugh departed for South America while Cassidy returned to the American West, following his cohorts south in a year or so later. Many of the details of Place's life have been lost to time. mexico pancho villa nogales mexico nogales arizona arizona 6 more. Soldier Prince from Argentina to New York City. Shortly after the trio arrived in South America, they opened a bank account with $12 thousand in gold notes. Since they obviously occupied the land but the transaction had not been completed, it was noted that the property was "Not Sold Yet, Place and Ryan are squatters.". Popular myth has Etta leaving the men, and Butch and Sundance alternately robbing and working for mining concerns throughout southern and eastern South America. After returning to the U.S., Pinkerton agents sent a letter to the Buenos Aires police: It is our firm belief that it is only a question of time until these men commit some desperate robbery in the Argentine Republic. They returned to Buenos Aires from New York on July 10, 1902, aboard the steamer Honorius, posing as stewards. According to the San Antonio Light, three outlaws matching the description of Etta and her male cohorts were spotted at Cape Horn in early 1907. The album included her version of Otis Redding's Security, and I'd Rather Go Blind, regarded a blues classic. Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. NE: University of Nebraska, 1998. Again, those claims have no supporting evidence, and are merely rumor. Wagons without springs pulled by half-wild horses passed by, and the rattle of the wheels over rocks and gravel added to the commotion. Without further evidence, it is most likely that on February 20, 1901, the three boarded the ship Herminius, bound for South America. The loss of their anonymity eventually led them back to the life they knew best: that of the outlaw. These tactics netted them much success, especially after railroad or bank robberies. One of their mules was recognized by a local as having been stolen, and a nearby Bolivian cavalry company was alerted. At 12, she moved north to San Francisco, formed a trio and was soon working for band leader Johnny Otis. Etta James was born Jamesetta Hawkins in Los Angeles and had a very tumultuous childhood as she was brought up by foster parents who ill-treated her. WebIn much the same way as she appeared, Etta Place suddenly vanished from history with only rumors and myth to explain her fate. Researcher Donna Ernst pointed out that Robert Longabaugh possibly was related to Harry Longabaugh, but it was unlikely he was Harry's son, and even less likely that he knew anything whatsoever about Etta Place. Both Bassett and Place were attractive women, with similar facial features, body frame, and hair color, and both were born in 1878. A gun suddenly fired, and a bullet almost took off Butchs head. Barring new information, their time ranching was most likely spent lawfully. Within the Cite this article tool, pick a style to see how all available information looks when formatted according to that style. In early 1905, the trio sold the Cholila ranch as once again the law was beginning to catch up with them. In 1901 she was going by the name Ethel and Etta is Spanish for Ethel. Optimistic rumors of capture soon changed to criticism as no results were forthcoming. Encyclopedia.com. Brawer, Moshe. While befriending the gang's leader, Butch Cassidy, she developed a romantic relationship with another central gang member, Harry Longabaugh, better known as the Sundance Kid. Other versions have Cassidy and Longabaugh eluding capture, and eventually splitting up to live anonymously throughout North and South America. In 1901 she was going by the name Ethel and Etta is Spanish for Ethel. She was the one who held the horses and remained on guard while they robbed and stole. With the exception of the Pinkerton Agency files, there is little concrete information about Etta. She was well educated and an excellent horsewoman. Research has also detected that Robert Longabaugh possibly was told by his mother that Etta Place was in reality her half-sister, and that her real name had been Hazel Tyrone. WebEtta James was born Jamesetta Hawkins in Los Angeles and had a very tumultuous childhood as she was brought up by foster parents who ill-treated her. Davis was the sheriff of Carbon County, WY. Place, shortly after he is photographed in the famous Fort Worth Five photo. Butch reasoned that law enforcement in Bolivia was lacking, and their chances of getting away with the crime great. She appears to be a refined type." She is semi-wealthy, and many speculate that she was Etta Place. In 1907, she was still known to have been living in San Francisco, and may have been the person who, on July 31, 1909, asked Frank Aller, the US vice-consul in Antofagasta, Chile, to contact the American Legation in La Paz, Bolivia, to enquire into the matter of a death certificate for Longabaugh. Palmer Lake, CO: Filter Press, 1977. Place. Pinkerton detectives raided the villa where the trio lived but found nothing that gave them a clue as to where the desperados were headed. Women in World History: A Biographical Encyclopedia. However, on March 3, 1902, she and Longabaugh sailed on the SS Soldier Prince from Buenos Aires to New York City, probably to visit family and friends in the USA. The Wild Bunch had been on, By the early 1900s, the law was closing in and Butch Cassidy was beginning to, George Scarborough was a tough and deadly lawmanuntil he ran into members of the Wild. With the arrival of spring, however, Place again disappears from record, her whereabouts remaining a mystery for nearly four more years. By the age of 5, she was known as a gospel prodigy, gaining fame by In 1962, she began using gospel elements and, Something's Got a Hold on Me, got to No.4 on the R&B chart while, Stop the Wedding, reached No.6 on the R&B charts. until things settled down." In the summer of 1904, she made another visit with Longabaugh to the USA, where the Pinkerton Detective Agency traced them to Fort Worth in Texas and to the St. Louis World Fair, but failed to arrest them before they again returned to Argentina. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University Press, 1975. Genres. What is known, with little doubt, is that she simply changed her name and began a new life, essentially disappearing from history. Once again Pinkerton detectives discover she is homesick, but again cannot discover the identity of her family. David Clayton Rogers plays as Butch, Ryan Browning plays as Sundance, and Rachelle Lefevre plays as Etta Place . Goldman, William (screenplay). With their take from the robbery reported at 12,000 pesos ($137,500 today), an extensive search for the trio was begun. Because Pinkerton's believed the story was true, historians believed it too. Gray was described as being a beautiful woman, but there are no known photographs of her from that period, and only one quality photograph from the period of Place. The Pinkerton Detective Agency gave out two official descriptions of Etta Place, both differing only in the age given, due to their being released over a four year gap. Bolivias plateaus were filled with silver, gold, copper and oil. A respected dentist and neighbor, George Newbery, stated that the three "were considered respectable citizens.". Their WANTED posters describe Etta as "about 27 years old, five feet four inches in height, weighing about 110 pounds, medium complexion and wears her brown hair on the top of her head in a roll from forehead. She possessed the vocal range of a contralto and was initially marketed as R&B and doo-wop singer but broke through as a traditional pop-styled singer, covering jazz and pop music standards. . The real Etta Place, according to Pinkerton's (per author James D. Horan) claimed Cassidy and Sundance met Place at Fannie Porter's brothel in San Antonio, Texas. February 1901: Longabaugh and Place visit New York City, and Tiffany's Jewelers. Its unlikely Etta, Ethel or Place is her real name. She then, on February 20, sailed with him and Parker (who was now posing as one James Ryan, her fictional brother), aboard the British ship Herminius for Buenos Aires in Argentina. if you hear of any one that want to sell please tell them about us." However, the most intriguing mystery is not her past but rather where Etta Place went after Longabaugh and Parker were killed. Etta and Sundance made it back to Argentina without interference from any law enforcement agency. When the political climate in the region began to change, and with rumors that the Pinkerton Agency had picked up a lead on their whereabouts, the three felt it was best to leave the country. Ethel Etta Place, Western Woman of Mystery. Many of the details of Place's life have been lost to time. WebEtta Place ( b. c. 1878, d. There have been various claims, in addition to those already mentioned, about her life after Longabaugh died . His death certificate lists his father as being Harry Longabaugh, and his mother as being Annie Marie Thayne. Curiously, the agency took no action, perhaps because of a reticence on the part of their North American clients to support the operation. With Etta as accomplice, they robbed a number of banks, handily avoiding capture. Etta Place, shown here in a photo taken in either Mexico or Texas with a womens group called Las Soldaderas, was a friend and outlaw companion of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. mexico pancho villa nogales mexico nogales arizona arizona 6 more. Gray once told Delbert Willis of the Fort Worth Press, "I've lived in Fort Worth since 1901. In 2009, a new novel about Etta Place was released. Some historians report that Etta was supposedly killed by an unknown assailant., When and where Etta Place lived out the remainder of her life once the key leaders of the Wild Bunch were no more will probably always be left to conjecture. 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