On June 24, 1889, Slippery Butch Cassidy (born April 13, 1866) Only 22 years old, would graduate from a cattle rustler to a bank robber and into the Old West Outlaw history books.
Paired up with accomplices Matt Warner, and Matt’s brother-in-law Tom McCarty; they robbed the San Miguel Valley Bank on what is now the Mahr Building, at 129/131 W Colorado Ave in Telluride, Colorado. The successful robbery was estimated to be $20,750 (more than a half a million dollars in today’s currency!) The men were able to evade the posse by relying on fresh horses staged throughout their getaway route.
The three men met a year earlier when Butch went to Telluride and started racing horses for money. Typically their winnings were blown in town at brothels and saloons. Eventually, the three began to struggle to find racehorses and opponents and took up work on a nearby ranch. Working on a ranch was less lucrative and less exciting than horse racing. Maybe this is what drew them to robbing the bank?
History Moment 9 of 20
