Richard H. Barter
Outlaw / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Richard H. Barter (c. 1833 – July 11, 1859), known as "Rattlesnake Dick", was born in Lower Canada. Around 1850, he came to California on the Oregon Trail with three other family members. He tried his luck at mining at Rattlesnake Bar during the California Gold Rush. He was twice charged, and once convicted, of being a thief, the second time for stealing a mule. Once the mule and the real thief were found, he was released.
Richard H. Barter | |
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Born | ca. 1833 |
Died | July 11, 1859(1859-07-11) (aged 25–26) |
Resting place | Old Auburn Cemetery, Auburn, California |
Other names | Rattlesnake Dick[lower-alpha 1] Richard A. Barter[lower-alpha 2] Dick Woods |
Known for | Outlaw during California Gold Rush |
For two years, Barter mined in Shasta County under the assumed name of Dick Woods. It was an uneventful period for him until a former foe from Rattlesnake Bar enter the county and shared information about Barter's reputation. Barter's name was sullied again. Turning outlaw, he became a highwayman and joined a gang that was known for stagecoach robbery.
In the summer of 1856, Barter planned one of the biggest holdups during the gold rush.[3] His gang stole $80,000 of gold bullion (equivalent to $2,712,889 in 2023) from a mule train guarded by the Wells Fargo Express, but Barter and Cyrus Skinner were arrested for stealing mules, which foiled the successful completion of the crime. Barter was killed on July 11, 1859 after a shoot-out with lawmen.