The annals of the California Gold Rush are rife with tales of daring outlaws and elusive treasures, none perhaps more intriguing than the legend surrounding Rattlesnake Dick’s lost loot. Richard Barter, known famously as Rattlesnake Dick, etched his name into Western lore as a formidable California outlaw whose criminal exploits, including horse theft and audacious mining camp robberies, culminated in a substantial portion of stolen gold bullion vanishing into the rugged Trinity Mountains, never to be seen again.
The mystery of the unrecovered Rattlesnake Dick loot continues to captivate treasure hunters and historians alike, marking him as one of the era’s most infamous figures whose legacy is forever tied to the allure of hidden wealth.
The Genesis of an Outlaw: Richard Barter’s Early Life
From Quebec to the California Gold Rush Frontier
Born in Quebec, Canada, in 1833, Richard Barter was the son of a British army officer. Though details of his youth remain scarce, he was reportedly a reckless individual from an early age. As an adult, Barter was described as nearly six feet tall, weighing approximately 160 pounds, with a slight yet notably muscular build. His life took a dramatic turn around 1850 following the death of his parents. Along with his brother, sister, brother-in-law, and a cousin, Barter embarked on a perilous journey, joining a wagon train bound for Oregon.
The family initially settled in Sweet Home, near Corvallis, Oregon. However, the lure of riches proved irresistible for Dick, his brother, and cousin, who soon ventured south to partake in the frenzied California Gold Rush. Their destination was Rattlesnake Bar on the American River in Placer County. Discovering that all viable claims had already been staked, they resorted to working for other miners. It was during this period that Richard Barter acquired the distinctive moniker “Rattlesnake Dick.” Approximately a year later, his brother and cousin returned to Oregon, but Barter, steadfast in his ambition to strike gold, chose to remain. When legitimate mining proved unfruitful, he swiftly descended into a life of crime, specializing in horse rustling. His first major brush with the law came in 1853, resulting in a conviction for grand larceny and a year-long sentence at the infamous San Quentin prison.
Embracing the Outlaw Life and Leading a Gang
Upon his release, Rattlesnake Dick quickly allied himself with the notorious Tom Bell’s gang, a band of criminals responsible for a string of horse thefts, robberies, and even killings throughout California’s burgeoning mining regions. Following Bell’s demise in 1856, Barter, demonstrating a clear aptitude for leadership and a hardened resolve, assumed command of the gang, continuing their predatory spree across the frontier.
The Legendary Trinity Mountain Gold Heist: An Unsolved Mystery
The Bold Robbery and Initial Success
In 1856, a pivotal moment in Rattlesnake Dick’s criminal career unfolded. He received intelligence from a garrulous mining engineer regarding significant gold shipments traversing Trinity Mountain, originating from the prosperous Yreka and Klamath River Mines. Seizing this opportunity, Dick dispatched his associate George Skinner and three other confederates to intercept the mule train. The bandits successfully ambushed the unsuspecting muleskinners outside Nevada City, California. With weapons drawn, they commandeered the valuable shipment, securing an astonishing $80,600 in raw gold bullion without firing a single shot. This audacious act established the foundation of the legendary Rattlesnake Dick loot.
The Pursuit, the Death, and the Hidden Gold
With their prize in hand, the outlaws intended to rendezvous with Barter and Cyrus Skinner in Folsom. However, transporting such a substantial amount of gold through the arduous mountain passes without fresh mules proved an insurmountable challenge for George Skinner. Consequently, he made the fateful decision to divide the stolen gold, burying half of it deep within the mountains. As the remaining outlaws continued their journey towards Auburn, they were ambushed by a determined Wells Fargo posse. A fierce gunfight erupted, resulting in the death of George Skinner. His surviving confederates scattered, leaving behind $40,600 of the stolen gold. Despite extensive efforts by the lawmen, the remaining $40,000, half of the original Rattlesnake Dick loot, remained undiscovered.
Meanwhile, Rattlesnake Dick and Cy Skinner had been unexpectedly detained for mule theft, causing them to miss their planned meeting in Folsom. Upon their release, Barter immediately sought out George Skinner, only to learn of his death and the loss of the other half of the gold. For several weeks, both Cy Skinner and Barter painstakingly scoured the mountains, desperately searching for the buried treasure, but ultimately, they were forced to abandon their quest, leaving the Trinity Mountain gold an enduring mystery.
A String of Daring Crimes and Elusive Escapes
The Pirate of the Placers: Continued Raids
Undaunted by the loss of a significant portion of their gold and the death of an associate, Rattlesnake Dick and his gang continued their reign of terror. Their criminal enterprises included the daring February 1857 burglary of a Wells Fargo safe in Fiddletown, followed by the robberies of three stagecoaches in a single heist that yielded over $30,000. As their notoriety grew, law enforcement agencies issued substantial rewards for their capture. The public imagination, fueled by dime novels, christened Richard Barter “The Pirate of the Placers,” a testament to his elusive nature and daring exploits.
Repeated Captures and Defiant Breaks
Despite the persistent efforts of various posses, Rattlesnake Dick proved to be a master of escape. He was captured and brought to justice on multiple occasions, only to repeatedly slip through the grasp of the law. In 1858, while awaiting trial in an Auburn prison, he was caught attempting to escape. Highly reluctant to endure another term at San Quentin, Dick strategically filed for numerous continuances, effectively delaying his court date. Eventually, he succeeded in another daring escape. Driven by a thirst for vengeance against those who had captured him, he spent an entire night lurking outside the home of Sheriff John Craig Boggs. Finding the lawman absent, Barter left a menacing note pinned to the sheriff’s front door, a bold declaration of his defiance.
The Final Showdown and Rattlesnake Dick’s Demise
The Auburn Ambush and a Fatal Escape
Soon after his escape, Rattlesnake Dick, once again accompanied by Cy Skinner, resumed their criminal activities, targeting stagecoaches and mule trains laden with gold from Nevada City. However, their luck was destined to run out. On July 11, 1859, a determined posse comprising Undersheriff George C. Johnston, Deputy Sheriff W. M. Crutcher, and Deputy Tax Collector George W. Martin, finally cornered Dick and Skinner on a stage road near Auburn. In the ensuing ambush, the outlaws bravely fought their way out, a desperate exchange of gunfire resulting in the death of George W. Martin and a severe wound to Johnston’s left hand.
Though both Barter and Skinner sustained wounds, they managed to escape the immediate confrontation. The very next day, Rattlesnake Dick’s lifeless body was discovered outside Auburn. He had suffered two bullet wounds to the chest, presumably from the earlier shootout, and a third, fatal shot to his brain. It was determined that rather than face yet another incarceration, Barter had chosen to end his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot to the head. Clutched in his gloved hand was a crudely scrawled pencil note: “If J. Boggs is dead, I am satisfied.” Ironically, Sheriff John Craig Boggs, the target of his last vengeful thoughts, would live until 1909, far outliving his notorious adversary. Cyrus Skinner was eventually apprehended and sentenced to a lengthy prison term.
The Lasting Mystery of the Unrecovered Loot
For a period spanning over three tumultuous years, from 1856 to 1859, Rattlesnake Dick Barter terrorized the rugged Sierra foothills. His remains now rest in the Old Auburn Cemetery in Auburn, California. However, his legend persists, largely due to the enduring mystery of the Rattlesnake Dick loot. The $40,000 in gold from the 1856 mule-train robbery, hidden deep within the Trinity Mountains near Redding, has never been recovered. This substantial fortune in unminted gold continues to await its finder, though the sheer vastness and challenging terrain of the more than two million-acre Shasta-Trinity National Forest make the prospect of discovery an arduous and perhaps ultimately futile endeavor.
Conclusion: The Enduring Allure of Rattlesnake Dick’s Treasure
The story of Rattlesnake Dick, a bold and elusive California outlaw, is a compelling narrative of ambition, crime, and an ultimately tragic end. His brief but impactful career as “The Pirate of the Placers” left an indelible mark on the history of the Wild West. While his life of crime met a definitive conclusion in 1859, the legend of his lost wealth continues to echo through the canyons and forests of California. The unrecovered portion of the Rattlesnake Dick loot, specifically the $40,000 in gold bullion concealed within the rugged Trinity Mountains, remains one of California’s most tantalizing and enduring unsolved mysteries. It stands as a testament to an era of unbridled lawlessness and the eternal human fascination with hidden treasure, forever cementing Rattlesnake Dick as a central figure in the lore of forgotten fortunes.
