Sundance Square in Fort Worth in Tarrant County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

The Wild Bunch

Photographed By Denise Boose, May 20, 2010

1. The Wild Bunch Marker

Inscription. When professional photographer John Swartz snapped this famous photograph of five young men in 1901, he had no idea it would end up on a “wanted” poster. Swartz and his brothers, considered Fort Worth’s premier photographers, were unaware that the dandily-dressed men were notorious outlaws. Pleased with his work, Swartz placed a copy of the photo in his studio window. It wasn’t until a Pinkerton detective recognized one of the men in the photo that Swartz knew he had taken what was to become a legendary portrait of “the Wild Bunch.” The five men were Harry Longbaugh (the Sundance Kid), Ben Kilpatrick, George Lee Roy Parker (Butch Cassidy), Will Carver and Harvey Logan. They had been in Fort Worth for two months, but by the time law enforcement issued the poster on May 15, 1901, the elusive gang had already moved on. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were never captured.

Erected 2006 by Heritage Trails and Mollie L. and Garland M. Lasater, Jr. (Marker Number 12.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Law Enforcement. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1905.

Location. 32° 45.206′ N, 97° 19.82′ W. Marker is in Fort Worth, Texas, in Tarrant County. It is in Sundance Square. Marker is at the

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intersection of Main Street and East 6th Street, on the right when traveling north on Main Street. Across the street from The Ashton Hotel. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 610 Main St, Fort Worth TX 76102, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Amon G. Carter, Sr. (1879-1955) (a few steps from this marker); Blackstone Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker); Flying Machines (within shouting distance of this marker); Sinclair Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce (about 400 feet away); First National Bank Building (about 400 feet away); King Candy Co. (about 500 feet away); Cynthia Ann Parker and Native Americans of North Texas (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fort Worth.

Also see . . .
1. Wikipedia entry for Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch. First paragraph:

Butch Cassidy’s Wild Bunch was one of the loosely organized outlaw gangs operating out of Hole-in-the-Wall pass in Wyoming during the Old West era in the United States. It was popularized by the 1969 movie, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and took its name from the original Wild Bunch (the Doolin–Dalton Gang). The gang was led by Butch Cassidy, and it included his closest friend Elzy Lay, the Sundance Kid, Tall Texan, News Carver, Camilla
Photographed By QuesterMark, October 2, 2021

2. The Wild Bunch Marker in context
This marker is positioned to be viewed from the sidewalk. The Ashton Hotel is visible behind it, across the street.
‘Deaf Charley’ Hanks, Laura Bullion, Flat-Nose Curry, Kid Curry and Bob Meeks. They were the most successful train-robbing gang in history.

(Submitted on November 2, 2019.)

2. Wikipedia entry for John Swartz. Excerpt:

The best-known photograph shows the five members of the “Wild Bunch” (aka, the “Fort Worth Five”) posed in John’s studio in 1900. His studio was located at 705½ Main Street upstairs over John P. Sheehan’s Saloon. The studio was on the edge of the red-light district known as "Hell’s Half-Acre"—the town's vice district consisting of a concentrated area of saloons, gambling halls, dance parlors, and bawdy houses catering to the rough and rowdy tastes of the Chisholm Trail cowboys. One can imagine the outlaws having a few drinks at Sheehan’s then trooping upstairs to get their picture taken. Sometime later an unnamed Fort Worth detective was in Swartz's studio and recognized two or three of the men in a photo John had on display. The detective ordered sent the photo to the Denver office of the Pinkerton National Detective Agency who were leading the nationwide search for the gang. The Pinkerton’s printed large quantity of “Wanted” circulars and blanketed the country with them. By May 15, 1901, those circulars were in the hands of
Photographed By John Swartz, 1901

3. Fort Worth Five Photograph
On back: “THE WILD BUNCH / Left to Right: Standing: Wm. Carver; Harvey Logan / Sitting: Harry Longabaugh; Ben Kilpatrick, Geo. Parker, alias “Butch Cassidy.” Harry Longabaugh was the Sundance Kid.
lawmen from Nevada to Minnesota. That infamous image immortalized the gang and is credited with helping bring about their downfall.

(Submitted on November 2, 2019.)

3. Fort Worth Heritage Trails. (Submitted on February 7, 2012, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia.)

Additional keywords. Outlaws & Renegades

One of the “Wanted Dead or Alive” Posters image. Click for full size.

4. One of the “Wanted Dead or Alive” Posters

The Ashton Hotel image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Denise Boose, May 20, 2010

5. The Ashton Hotel

The hotel is across the street from this marker.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 2, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 5, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. This page has been viewed 1,914 times since then and 131 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week November 3, 2019. Photos: 1. submitted on February 5, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. 2. submitted on October 3, 2021, by QuesterMark of Fort Worth, Texas. 3. submitted on February 7, 2012, by Bernard Fisher of Richmond, Virginia. 4. submitted on November 2, 2019, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 5. submitted on February 5, 2012, by Denise Boose of Tehachapi, California. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.