Bonnie & Clyde Footage | Eyewitness Account Of A Shoot-Out [1933]

Bonnie Elizabeth Parker and Clyde Chestnut Barrow became the most infamous gangster couple in U.S History after participating in a long string of robberies, murders, and general mayhem throughout the central United States during the great depression. The gang typically preferred to rob small stores and businesses including gas stations.

In today’s blog post I am going to be sharing an eyewitness account of a shoot-out that occurred between the couple and law enforcement in July of 1933 following actual footage of the shoot out that had taken place a year later resulting in the death of the couple. Bonnie and Clyde were shot to death by police officers on May 23rd, 1934 in Lousianna near Bienville Parish.

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Blanch Barrow’s Account of A Shoot-Out Occuring in July Of 1933:

Background Information:

Blanche Caldwell Barrow was married to Clyde Barrow’s older brother, Buck. Both Blanche and Buck joined Bonnie and Clyde on their crime spree through the mid-West. Blanch was the only one of the four who survived the experience. She and Buck were captured after a shoot-out with police in July 1933. Buck subsequently died of his wounds while Blanche was sentenced to ten years in prison. During her incarceration she wrote her memoirs. In the following excerpt, she describes an incident that occurred in July 1933 while the four were staying in two adjoining cabins near Platte City, Missouri. We join her story as someone knocks at their door:

Blanche’s Full Account:

“I wasn’t quite asleep, just starting to doze, when someone flashed a light on our window and door. Then someone knocked. I woke Buck and told him there was someone at the door. Then I jumped over the foot of the bed and began putting clothes on. Buck told me to ask who it was and what they wanted. They told me it was the law. Buck began to put his trousers and shoes on. The man at the door told me to send out the man I had in there. I whispered to Buck, asking what to say.

‘Tell them there isn’t any man in here,’ he said. So that’s what I told them.

‘Well,’ the man said. ‘Put your trousers on and come out yourself.’ I asked again what they wanted, stalling for time. I felt the end was near for all of us. Then he asked where the men were.

‘Tell them the men are in the other cabin,’ said Buck. ‘And shout it loud enough so Clyde can hear you.’ So I told them the men were in the other cabin.

‘Well, come on out here yourself’ the man said.

‘Wait until I get my clothes on and I will come out,’ I said. I knew I couldn’t hold out much longer and I didn’t know what the next move would be. By this time, Buck was at the door. ‘Baby,’ he said. ‘I sure hate to have to kill him, but it looks like I am going to have to do it. So get back as close to the wall as you can and stay as close behind me as you can.’

Buck grabbed one pistol, a .45, and put it in his belt, then got the rifle from beside the bed. Suddenly it seemed as if the men outside were driving a car through the garage door, or trying to knock the cabin door down. Then the fireworks started. I don’t know who fired the first shot, but I do know Buck shot at the corner of the room instead of through the door where he could have killed anyone in front of it. He had said he didn’t want to kill anyone. Those who were in front of our cabin should be thankful they were not in front of Clyde’s cabin instead. They would have been dead men because Buck could see their shadows against the window and through the glass panel in the door. He could have killed them if he had wanted too.

After he started shooting, Buck began firing through all the windows, cocking the rifle as he moved from window to window. I stayed as close to Buck as I could. At one point, he accidentally hit the dresser with the guns stock and broke the mirror to pieces, Then the shooting stopped as suddenly as it had started. The car that seemed to be breaking down one of the garage doors started backing away with its horn screaming. We thought this meant they were calling for more help, but I later learned that some of Clyde’s shots had found their mark, passing through the officers’ armored car and wounding one officer in both knees. Another bullet struck the horn and caused it to blow continually.

‘Are you alright?’ Buck called out.

‘Yes,’ answered Clyde. ‘Are you both still okay?’ ‘Yes,’ we both said.

‘Let’s get away from here!’ Clyde said.

I opened the door. I meant to go out first, hoping they would shoot at the first one so Buck would have a chance to get to the car.

‘Don’t do that, Baby,’ Buck said as I opened the door. ‘You will get killed. Come back.’

Then we heard the motor of Clyde’s car start. ‘Okay,’ he said. ‘Let’s go. Get the bag by the door.’ I did.

‘Maybe we can make it while they are reloading.’

We were outside. I was about halfway to the car when a shot rang out from the station. I turned and screamed. I saw Buck fall and ran back to him. I wasn’t afraid anymore. If he were dead, they could shoot all the lead they had into my body. I didn’t fear the bullets.

‘They’ve killed Buck!’ I shouted to Clyde.

Clyde came out and asked where the shot came from. I told him. Then he picked up Buck’s rifle. The barrel was so hot it blistered his hand. It was about all I could do to lift Buck up and get my arm around his waist so I could get him to the car. I lost all feeling. My body was numb. After I got him up, I couldn’t even feel his weight. How I got him to the car alone I’ll never know. And I still had the bag in my right hand!

I had a little difficulty getting Buck into the car. His head bumped the side of the garage. I tried so hard not to hurt him anymore. I finally got him in the car. W. D. got in beside me. I was in the center. Buck was on my right, W. D. on my left. Clyde got in, stepped on the gas, and backed out of the garage. W. D. asked for a gun. Buck mumbled that he had dropped his gun and then lost consciousness. I was holding his head as close to my breast as I could, and had both my arms wrapped around him, trying to protect him should the officers shoot into the car, as I was sure they would do. My face was turned toward the right side of the car and I had my head bent as near Buck as I could. Then a hail of bullets was fired into the right side of the car. I couldn’t protect my face because I was trying to shield Buck as much as I could. Glass broke. Something hard hit the side of my head. I was also struck in my right arm, though I didn’t feel it at the time. But none of the glass or bullets hit Buck.

Then my vision suddenly faded out. All was dark. I thought my eyes had been damaged by bullets and glass. But I felt no pain. I was past feeling pain. Then, when hot blood began to stream down on my face, I thought some of it was water from my shattered eyes.

‘They got my eyes!’ I said. ‘I can’t see.’

No one heard me.”

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FOOTAGE OF SHOOT OUT AFTERMATH:

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PHOTOS OF BONNIE & CLYDE’S VEHICLE:

The following are photographs of the vehicle driven by Clyde Barrows and Bonnie Parker during their spree of havoc. The car itself at the time had been a brand new 1934 Ford Model Deluxe Sedan. The couple had stolen it during a robbery from Ruth Warren, a woman from Topeka, Kansas. The damage is extensive due to the exuberance of law enforcement armed with an automatic rifle, shotgun, and pistols. The risk and danger was well known when police approached the Bonnie and Clyde. They took no chances and continued shooting long after return fire had ceased.

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