The death & discovery of The Sundance Kid

As the story goes... Bill Long died in Duchesne, Utah by a gun shot to the head. The family never believed he would kill himself. At the time of his death Matt Warner had wrote a book and it was about to be released... Some people believed old Matt came to talk with Bill about the things that were going to come out in his new book and then Bill Long was dead. The family found Grandpa Long lying dead out back of the house they were so upset at the sight they took the rifle and threw it in the canal, the gun was never recovered. This is a photo of how the house looks today.

Below is a photograph of Bill and Luzernia Morrell Long.The pair met while her first husband (Silas Morrell) was still alive, but suffering from serious injuries that would later kill him. They later married and lived in Fremont, Utah for many years farming and living the family life. She had six children with her previous husband and they had 2 daughters together Viola & Evinda. Turns out this was just a pretty great cover story for an Outlaw. All while he was out robbing banks and trains, gambling and drinking with the Wild Bunch and his good buddy Butch.  

                                                     

Long's remains were unearthed, Dr McCullough conducted a physical examination of the bones as well. That analysis revealed that Long may not have committed suicide, as his death certificate stated. McCullough found evidence that the .22-caliber bullet that killed Long entered his skull from an angle that indicates someone else shot him.

The work of University of Utah anthropology professor John M. McCullough, another person involved in the 2008 exhumation studied the similarities in the Long/Longabaugh photos. In court papers filed to obtain permission to exhume Long, the anthropologist declared: "It is clear that these two photographs are of the (same) person. 

         William (Bill) Henry Long                                                                                    Henry Longabaugh "The Sundance Kid"

"McCullough's photo analysis revealed identical traits in both men -- including a notch in an ear, evidence of a broken nose, and a cleft chin. There are also matches in height, hair color and eye color. The photos below are transparencies of both photos above laying on top of one another. As you can see... The faces match EXACTLY!

The documentary and a book of The Sundance Kids exciting adventures and romances are forth coming by the Great Grandson Jerry Nickle. For updates and photos check out our face book page Outlaw Stories of the Wild West. If you would like to support our endeavor check out our Kickstarter Project for a TV pilot on Outlaw Stories of the Wild West. The Horses and riders were all supplied by Extreme Outlaw Rides here in Utah. A Documentary on the whole project is being created by Mike Karr of Scene by Scene Productions.

Outlaw Art

Local artist Kami Taylor has been involved with the filming of the Documentary, Discovering the Sundance Kid for 3 years now. She has found a connection with the Outlaws of the Wild West and has done many paintings along the way. She often says she is married to a modern day Outlaw, Her husband is West Taylor of Extreme Outlaw Rides and she lives on the Wild West Mustang Ranch full time in Fremont, Utah. Kami has adopted 2 Wild mustangs herself and finds great joy in painting the horses and the cowboys that have come and gone over the past few years.  

This oil on canvas painting is called "Hollywood Outlaws" She painted it for herself as she is a fan of Robert Redford and Paul Newman.

This oil on canvas painting was a fun experiment with a new style. "Modern day Outlaws" was Painted from a photo taken at the old Motel 6 at Blue John Spring on a cowboy trip out to Robbers Roost. Kami herself is the woman in this painting.

This painting is a watercolor she painted while at the Roost and named it "The Outlaw" This piece was painted as a gift to her Father in law "Crazy Kelly" who has spent many nights out at the Roost and traveling around in search of the Outlaw Stories of the Wild West.

This painting was a present for her husband West Taylor. This oil on canvas piece is of him jumping an old log on his first Moab Mustang "Norman" This horse has passed on and West has replenished his herd with Wild Mustangs  he has adopted through the BLM and Mustang Heritage Foundation. You can follow his herd and the use of these Mustangs in the Documentary and a pilot for an upcoming TV series on Outlaws of the Wild West at Extreme Outlaw Rides 

This oil on canvas Wanted Poster was a commissioned piece by Author and Friend Jerry Nickel for his book, The Real Sundance Kid, My Great Grandfather. Jerry's book is scheduled to be released summer 2013. You can get you own Wanted poster/self portrait as a "reward" for supporting the up coming Kickstarter Project for a TV pilot on the Outlaw Stories of the Wild West.

Caffeinated Cowdog

Its the 2nd night out in the Roost for me and my gang (Saddle horse Cassidy, Pack horse Diesel, trusted dog Bullet). I am out here in the most remote region of southern Utah to do some filming for my Kickstarter Project. I have made it into the inner camp that the Outlaws used to hide out from the pursuing posse. I made my campfire right next to the remains of their campfire spot. Set up all my grub..well whats left of it after my pack mustang Diesel decided it was his duty to test every knot, string, strap, and buckle on my pack rig the day before. After a decent dinner of MRE "chunky chicken" I wondered over to my cowboy kitchen sandstone table top and made up a cup of instant coffee.             
 now the cowboy kitchen sandstone table top is not close enough to the camp fire to provide much light. I dumped some instant coffee in my cup, looked in to see how much made it in the cup..too dark to tell, so I added a bit more...After heating up my cup o joe on the fire I gently sipped what I wanted to be a relaxing cup of cowboy juice by the fire while gazing at the awesome display of stars one can only see from the bottom of Horseshoe canyon...  no light pollution here!!

Once the cup got close enough to smell...I could tell right away I may have added a slight amount too much on the instant coffee, after a small sip...CONFIRMNED way too much coffee, now I like to say I am cowboy tough and serve it to me hot and black...not man enough to take another sip of this rocket fuel!! I left the cup close to the fire....thinking maybe in the morning I will feel a bit "tougher". I awoke in at first light, rolled out of my bedroll, noticed that the horses were still hobbled and within eyesight of camp (that feels good!!)

Thought I may take another chance at the coffee....Thats when I remember waking up somewhere in the night to sounds of my dog drinking, tongue lapping act....I looked at my coffee cup still sitting upright by the now burnt out fire...EMPTY! I glanced over at my dog...who has been circling around my campsite since I got up...she cant hold still......around my bedroll....around the campfire.....around my cowboy kitchen....out to the mustangs...back to camp...hahahahha Never would have thought the dog liked coffee, She does however "think she's a cowboy" Very entertaining having a Caffeinated Cowdog :)

                                                                     Now she sleeps! ~Wild West

 If you would like to support our endeavor check out our Kickstarter Project for a TV pilot on Outlaw Stories of the Wild West. The Horses and riders were all supplied by Extreme Outlaw Rides here in Utah. For more information a book is about to be released and you can get it at Outlaw Stories of the Wild West. A Documentary on the whole project is being created by Mike Karr of Scene by Scene Productions.

Bucking, farting and Mtn Dew...

First bit of fun started out with bucking, farting, and spilled Mtn Dew, then... I got out of my sleeping bag. 

I was ready for some awesome cowboy riding. My pack horse for this trip is Diesel, he is a 5 year old gelding from the Winemucca herd, I have had him here at the ranch for less than one year. I have never done any "packing" so this 3 day trip was to break me and Diesel in! Two days before I left the ranch I thought it would be wise to familiarize Diesel with the pack equipment I found out in the barn. He did great! A little spooky of the boxes, nothin he didn't figure out pretty quick. So I'm thinking "heck ya I love these Mustangs" let's go for a 3 day trip. 

So it is the first morning, I slept in just a bit to compensate for the tossing of the night before out on the desert floor of Blue John spring. Feed Diesel his favorite breakfast, grass hay on the rocks, swung the sawbuck frame on, cinched it down, all is going great, I have Diesel hobbled so he will hold still as I work around him with the pack equipment. Now it's time for the boxes, I'm a bit nervous, could he really just be ok with one time? I take it slow, letting him check check out all the new equipment, ....boxes on all is well, I'm thinking "oh ya this Pakin stuff is great" I walk over to my bedroll, it's rolled up nice and tight in a canvas liner. As I swing it up to gently place it on top of the boxes, Diesel says...what the $&@$ is that!?!? He decides it's is much safer for him to remove all newly added equipment, spins on his hind end and off he goes, bucking, farting, and punching holes in every thing!! I must have been quite the site, standing there like a school kid holding my sleeping bag watching as my "packin Mustang" proceeds to scatter my stuff all over Blue John canyon.. All I could do was stand there and watch....thinking "wish I would have held on the the lead rope". Damage, busted sawbuck pack frame, scrambled all my eggs, and poked holes in 4 of my Mtn Dews! I'm no quitter, bagged the pack boxes, took the bare necessities of survival for a two day trip, stuffed it all inside my sleeping bag, rolled up and strapped it on to what was left of the busted up sawbuck frame..ridin at the Roost is never easy, always worth it :)  ~Wild West

If you would like to support our endeavor check out our Kickstarter Project for a TV pilot on Outlaw Stories of the Wild West. The Horses and riders were all supplied by Extreme Outlaw Rides here in Utah. For more information a book is about to be released on the Sundance Kid and you can get it at Outlaw Stories of the Wild West. A Documentary on the whole project is being created by Mike Karr of Scene by Scene Productions. We thank you and Good Day!