Kid Curry — Fact and Fiction

Igenlode Wordsmith, September 2001

Authorial disclaimer

This is not, strictly speaking, a biography of Harvey 'Kid Curry' Logan.

It might have been... if I had had any primary sources to work from. And if I had set out with the original intention of producing a sober historical document. But since this project began almost accidentally, the only claim I can make is to have done my best in using what pitiful store of facts I could establish from the secondary sources available to me.

Thus, this is not the authentic story of Harvey Alexander Logan. It is instead the tale that lies behind the character 'Kid Curry', a more-or-less willing participant in a certain wild story that evolved over the course of one spring and summer on the Usenet newsgroup rec.arts.drwho.

But — to quote the words of William Goldman — not that it matters, but most of what follows is true.

Fact

• Beginnings
  
  Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid — how I first encountered Harvey Logan — a uniquely unpopular outlaw
  
• The Hoedown
  
  The newsgroup rec.arts.drwho — a flood of Anti-McCoy Trolls — Ann Magill and the Second Annual Pro-Fun Troll Hoedown — I am tempted to become involved
  
• Background
  
  • Harvey Logan, a sketchy biography
    
  • The Logan boys
    
    The birth of Harvey Logan — the four boys are orphaned — possible Red Indian ancestry
    
  • Kid Curry and brothers
    
    Origin of the 'Curry' alias — ranching in Montana — the murder of John Logan and later of the man who shot him
    
  • The Landusky affair
    
    Lonie and Elfie — the killing of Pike Landusky — Harvey becomes an outlaw
    
  • The Outlaw Trail
    
    Harvey Logan photographed in 1895 — Lonie, John and Harvey in group photograph — origin of the 'tent story' — rivalry between Kid Curry and Butch Cassidy — Belle Fourche robbery — Harvey in prison — escape, and Harvey's alleged brutality
    
  • Little Brother
    
    Wilcox train robbery — Lonie's involvement — attempted arrest by Pinkerton's detectives — Lonie is killed — was there affection between the brothers?
    
  • Further Photographs
    
    Annie Rogers — the Fort Worth Five
    
  • The Last of the Wild Bunch
    
    Wagner train robbery — the only notable success of Kid Curry's career — close links back to Montana era
    
  • Aftermath
    
    Dangerous money — Kid Curry arrested — imprisonment and trial in Knoxville — how guilty was Kid Curry? — garotting of guard, and escape
    
  • Logan's Run; or, Whatever Happened to Harvey Logan?
    
    Doctor forced to treat Curry at pistol point — attempted robbery at Parachute — suicide of wounded outlaw — was Tap Duncan really Harvey Logan? — requirements of Hoedown plot — Harvey Logan in Argentina — a crazy outlaw killed by his own companions
    
• Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know
  
  • An outlaw's life
    
  • Appearance
    
    Contemporary descriptions — 'wanted' posters — Lonie and John
    
  • Personality
    
    The 'Bandit Invincible' manuscript — possible influence of Alias Smith & Jones programme — Web pages more favourable — a sweet and bashful person
    

Fiction

• The Contessa and Vortex City
  
• Kid Curry
  
• Alias Smith & Jones
  
• Kid Curry Christmas - a brief piece of fiction found on a Western memorabilia site
  
• The Hoedown itself
  

Sources

(updated 2011)

• Books
  
• The Web
  
• Footnotes to main article