History Spotlight: Butch Cassidy Childhood Home
Few Western outlaws have been more often memorialized in story and folklore than Butch Cassidy -- the alias of Robert LeRoy Parker. Parker was born April 15, 1866 in Beaver, Utah, and was raised by Mormon pioneer parents on a ranch near Circleville, Utah (a few miles NE of this location). While a teenager, Parker fell under the influence of an old rustler named Mike Cassidy. Parker soon left home to ride the outlaw trail.
Photo of the Parker Homestead site today, where Butch Cassidy spent his youth (source: Michael Habergham)
For the first several years after leaving home, Parker rode the fringe between being an outlaw and a migrant cowboy. He worked several ranches as well as one time in a butcher shop at Rock Springs, Wyoming, from which he took the name "Butch"; and to not bring shame upon honest parents, he added the name Cassidy, most likely in respect for his old mentor.
Moving from rustler, for which he served a two-year stint in a Wyoming jail from 1894 to 1896, to master planner of the robbery of trains, banks, and mine payrolls came naturally for Cassidy. With his quick wit and native charm, coupled with his fearlessness and bravery, he never lacked for willing companions to assist in his plans. By 1896 his gang had dubbed themselves the "Wild Bunch." This gang consisted of several well-known Western outlaws including Harry Longabaugh, known as the Sundance Kid; Harvey Logan, alias Kid Curry; Ben Kilpatrick, the Tall Texan; Harry Tracy, Elzy Lay (who was Butch's best friend), and several others.
Paul Newman & Robert Redford, portraying Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid, in the 1969 film of the same name (Source: AP)
Operating around the turn of the century, Cassidy and his partners put together the longest sequence of successful bank and train robberies in the history of the American West including several in eastern Oregon. The mystique surrounding their actions and doings in large part was the foundation for the legend of the Wild West that became immortalized in Hollywood Western fills with the likes of Clint Eastwood, John Wayne, and many others. Dozens of Westerns were filmed in southern Utah, including of course the 1969 film "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid."
Times changed however, and successfully eluding the law became ever harder as the West grew more populated and law enforcement became better organized. When the railroads hired the Pinkerton Agency (a private police force) to chase down Cassidy, he and Harry Longabaugh went to South America and purchased a ranch in Argentina. After a few short years of trying to make it as honest ranchers, the pair again turned to easier methods of obtaining money. After robbing banks in several South American countries, the pair was finally trapped by troops in Bolivia.
Wanted poster replica showing the bounty on Butch Cassidy, which was $5,000 back then, but today would be worth about $150,000!
What happened afterwards is the central myth surrounding Cassidy. Some claim he and Sundance were killed, others emphatically believe that another pair of outlaws were killed by the troops and that Cassidy and Longabaugh purposefully let it be known they had been killed, so that they might escape a similar fate. The oft-told stories relate that the pair returned to the West and lived out their lives under alias names and identities. Like many other Western figures, Butch Cassidy has become larger than life. His name still generates fond recollections from many Utah old-timers who love to tell stories about him. Whether he died in South America or died of old age under one of the several identities that are attributed to him may never be fully proven.
Sources: summary provided by Garfield & Piute Counties, edited by josephaw
Geocache Explanation:
Note: The geocache is NOT at the given coordinates.
As if learning about Butch Cassidy wasn't fun enough, there's tell of some loot that he hid behind somewhere around the homestead! If you want to find his stash, follow the clues below, and good luck!
To find the cache, all you have to do is wander around the homestead site, and answer the following questions (labeled A B C & D), and then replace that letter in the Final Coordinate Puzzle with the number you discovered / figured out. After answering all 4 questions, you'll know where to get the final cache, which should be a fun puzzle, and worth the effort!
Here are the coordinates for the final cache (where you'll actually find it):
N 38° 08.6 _ _ '
A B
W 112° 18.3 _ _ '
C D
Each letter represents a missing coordinate / number (which will range from 0-9). Figure out the answer and you’ll have your missing number (along with a clue to where the final cache is!). Plug that number into the coordinates, and then you'll know where you should be looking for the treasure!
Note: I've also provided alternate questions, which will help you to check your work, as the correct answers are the same to both the alternate and main question. Thus, you should be able to verify your answer this way. While you don't have to answer them, doing so will make finding the cache easier and more likely.
Below are the different questions you need to answer. Happy hunting, & enjoy your visit to Garfield and Piute Counties!
Sites and Question List: If you would like a printable copy of this, check this link here. Note: the coords on this printout are incorrect. Refer to those above. The cache isn't far away. Best of luck!
Question A: According to the information plaque titled: "Plinkerton's National Detective Agency", which of the following was not one of Robert LeRoy's aliases?
6 = Ingerfield
7 = George Parker
8 = George Cassidy
9 = "Butch" Dangerfield
Alternate Question A: According to the information plaque titled: "Plinkerton's National Detective Agency", which of the following was not one of Harry Longabaugh's aliases?
6 = "The Sundance Kid"
7 = "Kid" Longbaugh
8 = Harry Alonzo
9 = Alonzo the Kid
Question B: According to the information plaque re: "Statistics of the Population of the United States", what census was being carried out "June 1, 1880"?
4 = The Third Census West of the Mississippi
3 = The Seventh Census
2 = The Third in the Utah Territory
1 = The Tenth Census
Alternate Question B: According to the same plaque, which of the following was not one of Robert Leroy's siblings, according to the census?
4 = "Daniel Sinclair"
3 = "Jane Ann"
2 = "Max Eb."
1 = "James Spencer"
Question C: Inside the cabin (if it is locked, like it often is during the offseason, you can peek in through a window), which of the following will you not see?
9 = A bed made of an iron frame in the corner
0 = A Winchester rifle used by Butch in several of his robberies
1 = A "Wanted" Poster
2 = A stove in the middle of the room
Alternate Question C: Describe the windows (color and number of panes) that are on each window on the front of the house / cabin? (example image shows a window with 4 panes of glass, two columns and two rows)
9 = White, with six (6) panes total: two (2) columns and three (3) rows each
0 = White, with twelve (12) panes total: three (3) columns and four (4) rows each
1 = Tan, with nine (9) panes total: three (3) columns and three (3) rows each
2 = Tan, with eight (8) panes total: two (2) columns and four (4) rows each
Question D: Which of the following buildings / structures is not found at the site?
2 = A large barn
3 = A public bathroom
4 = A small shed
5 = A medium-sized cabin
Alternate Question D: What years did "Butch" Cassidy live at this site (look for the plaque that has a picture of the homestead as well as Butch Cassidy / Robert LeRoy Parker)?
2 = From 1880 - to about 1884
3 = From 1879 - to about 1883
4 = From 1877 - to about 1880
5 = From 1881 - to about 1885
Clue Phrase Key:
I've also provides the following clues associated with each number: if you've gotten the correct numbers and order, they will make sense when combined:
1 = In Bolivia
2 = Got Away
3 = Mormon Parents
4 = Sundance Kid
5 = Wild Bunch
6 = Made their getaway
7 = Settled Down
8 = Pursued by Pinkertons
9 = Shot Dead
0 = Or Perhaps
Huzzah! You've finished! Now it's time to grab your reward, the final geocache location!
Final Coordinate Puzzle:
Again, here are the coordinates for the final cache (where you'll actually find it):
N 38° 08.6 _ _ '
A B
W 112° 18.3 _ _ '
C D
Want to check your work? You've got several options
1. Alternative Questions: Compare your answers with the answers of the alternative questions. If they all match up, you're likely golden!
2. Sum Check: Once you’ve figured out what numbers the letters represent, add up all 4 numbers, and it should equal = 12 (twelve)
3. Clue Phrase: After getting the right answers, check them against the Clue Phrase Key. Does the phrase make any sense?
4. Geochecker: Finally, check out this link to verify if you are right! Geochecker Link.
Note: after finding the cache, please make sure to return it again safely into its hiding place, inconspicuosly.
Thanks for your help in keeping it safe from muggles! And special thanks to Dana Erickson, who helped make this cache possible!