George Curry (Wild Bunch)
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George Curry (1864 - April 17, 1900), was a robber of the Wild West.
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[edit] Early outlaw career
Curry was born on Prince Edward Island about 1864. His family moved to Chadron, Nebraska where he started rustling as a young man. He gained the soubriquet "Big Nose" and took up residence at the outlaw hideout Hole-in-the-Wall, Wyoming. While there, he met Harvey Logan, who adopted his surname and became known as Kid Curry. The Kid's brothers Lonny and Johnnie Logan, following his example, also adopted Curry as a surname. Kid Curry would go on to become one of the most dangerous and feared gunmen of the Old West.
George Curry formed a gang that included Kid Curry, and was captured with him on June 28, 1897. The gang had held up the Butte County Bank at Belle Fourche, South Dakota earlier in the month. All bar one of them (Tom O'Day, whose horse had run away without him) had escaped with the money, but while planning another robbery a posse caught them in Fergus County, Montana and captured Curry, along with the Kid and Walt Putney. They escaped from Deadwood jail in November by overpowering the jailer.
The three men stole horses and made their way back to Montana, stealing supplies as they went. Another posse caught up with them in the Bearpaw mountains. There was a gunfight from which the fugitives escaped on foot, leaving the stolen goods and horses behind. They retreated to the Hole-in-the-Wall, robbing two post offices on their route.
[edit] Joining the Wild Bunch gang
At the Hole they were involved in a gun battle with another posse, but the rough terrain, and the defensive structures built and manned by the several dozen outlaw members of the Wild Bunch hiding there, were too much for the lawmen.
Curry participated in the Wild Bunch raid on the Union Pacific Overland Flyer train at Wilcox, Wyoming, on June 2, 1899, which became famous, as well as taking part in several other robberies. The Overland Flyer's train crew provided descriptions of the robbers, which local Sheriff Joe Hazen recognised as being Butch Cassidy, Kid Curry, Big Nose George Curry, and Elzy Lay. Hazen formed a posse immediately but Kid Curry and George Curry shot Hazen during his posses pursuit of them, which slowed the posse. In the ensuing confusion the Wild Bunch were able to wade downstream and escape without their horses. The outlaws walked to a sheep ranch at Castle Creek, where they rested before continuing to the Tisdale mountains on the north fork of the Powder River. Here they were able to obtain replacement horses and resupply. Local Deputy Sheriff William Deane came into contact with the gang there, and also was shot and killed by Kid Curry.
Although the posse greatly outnumbered them and could cover a lot of ground in its search, the Wild Bunch reached the safe stronghold of the Hole-in-the-Wall. Pinkerton agent Charlie Siringo and contracted Pinkerton agent Tom Horn developed information that identified Kid Curry as killing Hazen. There were never any definite accounts connecting Kid Curry to the killing of Deputy Deane, but rumors uncovered by Siringo while he worked undercover indicated that Kid Curry had been the killer.
The Curry's and some of the other members of the Wild Bunch went to hide at Robbers Roost in Utah, after getting supplies at the ranch of female outlaws Josie and Ann Bassett. While hiding out, Kid Curry heard of the death of his brother Lonny and vowed to get revenge. He had also heard of the killing of Big Nose George Curry by lawmen, in April 1900.
George Curry was shot and killed on April 17, 1900 by Sheriff Jessie M. Tyler while rustling in Grand County, Utah. In May, Kid Curry, who was also enraged by the recent law enforcement shooting of his younger brother Lonny in Missouri, rode from New Mexico to Utah, and took revenge for his brother and George Curry's deaths by killing Tyler and his Deputy Sheriff Sam Jenkins in a gunfight.
[edit] Note
The above photograph is that of George "Big Nose" Parrott. See the following link [1] {For reference only}
[edit] References
- Nash, Jay Robert. Encyclopedia of Western Lawmen & Outlaws, (New York: Marlowe, 1992) ISBN 1-55778-507-4
