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Monday, August 28, 2006
Millard County Progress 01.11.1918
WOMAN ELUDES ALL BUT DEATH
Notorious Bandit Escapes Most Famous Detectives of Four Continents
WAS LEADER OF GANG
Cow Girl of West Finds Husband Is Bandit, Joins His Band and Leads Followers in Daring Bandit Work.
New York.--Out of the wilds of Argentina came a recent news dispatch that thrilled the New York police department and detectives throughout the world. The news was that Etta Longabaugh, the woman bandit, was dead. This daring girl, who had eluded the world's most famous criminal catchers, had been shot down by one of her dupes, according to the message.
Years ago, a cowgirl, Etta Place, began to attract attention on a ranch in the West. Her fame spread and she was soon known as one the most expert horsewomen in America. She could ride and shoot as good as the best cowboys, and had pluck and courage. Then she was married to Harry Longbaugh.
Learned Husband Was a Bandit.
Shortly after her marriage Etta learned that her husband was a bandit. When she made this discovery the woman not only joined his gang, but became the leader of it. Butch Cassidy, Kid Curry and a number of other notorious bandits were members of the gang. While a "job" was being "pulled" the woman, in man's attire, waited on guard. She bore the brunt of the fight with civilians and police and was the last to leave the scene.
The gang had its headquarters in the Grand Encampment, Wyo., and rode hundreds of miles to strike in unexpected places. Throughout Wyoming, Texas, Montana, Arizona and other nearby states the band reaped rich harvests and always evaded the authorities. In a Nevada town one day the gang robbed a bank in broad daylight. Etta held bank a posse of citizens until her comrades were safely away, then swung into the saddle and galloped off with a derisive laugh.
Avoided the Government.
When the government took a hand in the pursuit of the gang, Etta led her followers openly to New York. There they had a group picture taken, boarded a ship for Argentina and disappeared from view. Detectives later found the picture--after the gang had escaped.
In Argentina the bandits penetrated into the wilds and began cattle rustling. They made a fortune, honestly, but the lure of banditry drew them back to their old ways. They raided banks and stores in Argentina, then crossed into Chile and left a trail of looted banks behind them. Then back to Buenos Aires the gang had another group picture taken and then fled to Paris.
In Monte Carlo detectives finally located them and planned to catch the entire gang at once. A few hours before the raid the bandits disappeared. Nothing more was heard until months later word came that a gang of bandits led by a woman, was operating in Cape Horn.
Now the report comes from Argentina of Etta's death, but New York police are slow to accept it. With the authorities of four continents on her trail, Etta might wish to be officially "dead" and then come back to live quietly in the West that she loved so well in her younger days.
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