Sailors’ Diggings, Oregon and the Triskitt Gang’s Lost Loot
The story of Sailors’ Diggings, Oregon, is a captivating blend of gold rush fever, frontier justice, and lingering mystery. This once-thriving mining camp, later known as Waldo, boomed in the mid-19th century, fueled by the promise of riches and attracting a diverse population – from hardworking prospectors to desperate outlaws. The echoes of its past resonate even today, whispering tales of fortunes made and lost, and a legendary treasure that remains hidden.
The genesis of Sailors’ Diggings can be traced back to 1851 when a group of sailors, weary of life at sea, deserted their ship in Crescent City, California. Driven by the lure of gold, they ventured northwards, eventually stumbling upon promising deposits near the confluence of Josephine and Canyon Creeks, close to present-day O’Brien, Oregon. This discovery marked the birth of Sailors’ Diggings, a name that paid homage to its seafaring founders.
News of the gold strike spread like wildfire, igniting a frenzied rush to the area. What began as a makeshift tent city quickly transformed into a bustling settlement, solidifying its status as the heart of the Waldo Mining District, officially established in 1852. The camp experienced exponential growth, rapidly acquiring the trappings of a permanent town. Blacksmith shops, shoe stores, butcher shops, dry goods emporiums, hotels, and saloons sprang up to cater to the burgeoning population. At its peak, Sailors’ Diggings boasted a population rivaling, and perhaps even exceeding, several thousand inhabitants, a significant number considering that the entire state of Oregon had fewer than 10,000 residents at the time.
However, as with many boomtowns of the American West, the allure of wealth also attracted a less savory element. Among these were the notorious Triskett Gang, whose arrival in Sailors’ Diggings on August 3, 1852, would forever stain the town’s history. The Triskett Gang, already infamous for a string of robberies and killings in Northern California, were on the run, desperately seeking to evade a pursuing posse by crossing into the rugged terrain of Oregon.
Upon entering Sailors’ Diggings, the five outlaws – Jack Triskett, Henry Triskett, Fred Cooper, Miles Hearn, and Chris Stover – found the town relatively unguarded. Most of the able-bodied men were away, diligently working their claims or prospecting in the surrounding hills. The gang members, flush with the proceeds of their crimes, spent the afternoon indulging in copious amounts of alcohol. Then, without warning, Fred Cooper stepped out into the street, drew his revolver, and fatally shot an innocent passerby.
This act of senseless violence unleashed a reign of terror upon the unsuspecting town. The other gang members swiftly followed Cooper, indiscriminately firing upon anyone who happened to be outside. For the next half-hour, they rampaged through the streets of Sailors’ Diggings, sowing chaos and death. In their bloody spree, they murdered 17 people, including women and children. The defenseless town, save for a few courageous merchants, was at their mercy. The Triskett Gang’s final act of depravity was to raid the assay office, where they stole an estimated $75,000 in gold and murdered the assayer, bringing their death toll to 18.
The sounds of gunfire reached the ears of the miners working in the nearby hills. Realizing the gravity of the situation, they quickly armed themselves and rushed towards Sailors’ Diggings. Within minutes of their arrival, a miners’ posse was formed, hot on the trail of the fleeing fugitives. The Triskett Gang, weighed down by nearly 250 pounds of gold loaded onto two stolen horses, were struggling to make a quick escape. Their pursuers were closing in, and a confrontation was inevitable.
The miners finally caught up with the Triskett Gang on a small hill just outside of O’Brien, another mining camp located less than six miles away. The posse surrounded the outlaws, and a fierce gunfight erupted. Four of the gang members were killed in the exchange. Only Chris Stover survived. However, the stolen gold was nowhere to be found. Stover was apprehended and taken back to Sailors’ Diggings, but he died before revealing the location of the hidden loot.
To this day, the gold stolen by the Triskett Gang remains lost, a tantalizing mystery that has captivated treasure hunters for generations. Some believe it is buried somewhere near the hill where the final shootout occurred. Others speculate that the gang may have stashed their ill-gotten gains along the trail between Sailors’ Diggings and O’Brien. Its estimated present-day value exceeds $5 million, adding to the allure of this enduring legend. The lure of the Triskett Gang’s lost loot continues to draw treasure seekers to the area, hoping to uncover a piece of history and a significant fortune.
Despite the tragic events perpetrated by the Triskett Gang, Sailors’ Diggings persevered. In 1853, the town’s name was officially changed to Waldo. The Waldo Mining District soon became the region’s first seat of local government, playing a crucial role in the establishment of Josephine County on January 22, 1856, when it separated from Jackson County. Waldo was initially designated as the county seat, and a post office was established on September 4, 1856.
However, in 1857, the county seat was moved from Waldo to Kerbyville, primarily due to Kerbyville’s strategic location on the main route connecting California to the goldfields. Kerbyville remained the county seat for nearly three decades until 1886, when Grants Pass assumed the role following the arrival of the railroad.
Even with its growing reputation for civility, Waldo’s history of attracting rough characters was not entirely over. In 1859, the notorious gunfighter and gambler Ferd Patterson arrived in the mining camp. Standing over six feet tall and weighing approximately 200 pounds, Patterson cut a striking figure, presenting himself as a "dandy" with his cashmere shirts, silk vests, and a long black frock coat trimmed with fur. His ensemble was completed by an ivory-handled Colt .31 caliber revolver and a matching Bowie knife.
Patterson had no intention of working the mines. Instead, he quickly began frequenting the gaming tables in the local saloons. The local miners were no match for his skills, and Patterson quickly amassed a fortune at their expense. On one occasion, Patterson reportedly engaged in an argument with two miners during a card game, resulting in him fatally shooting them both.
Patterson also crossed paths with George Wells, the local lawman and a former Texas Ranger. One afternoon, in front of a saloon, the two men became embroiled in a heated argument, which escalated into a gunfight. Wells shot Patterson in the side, but as Patterson fell, he returned fire, hitting Wells in the arm. Both men survived their injuries, although Wells was left with a permanently disabled arm. Following the incident, Patterson was forced to leave town. He continued his gambling and gunfighting exploits across Oregon, California, and Idaho before being killed in Walla Walla, Washington, in February 1866.
Another infamous character who passed through Waldo was the outlaw Boone Helm, who later gained notoriety as a member of the Henry Plummer Gang in Montana. Helm arrived in Waldo around 1863, fleeing from California and heading towards The Dalles, Oregon, a well-known haven for criminals. During his time in Oregon, Helm was rumored to have committed several murders.
On one occasion, Helm, unaware of his murderous reputation, begged a local farmer for food. The farmer, taking pity on him, invited him into his home. After receiving the farmer’s kindness and generosity for several weeks, Helm plotted to kill the man, steal his cattle, and pilfer any valuables he could find. Fortunately, the farmer was warned of Helm’s intentions, and when Helm attempted to carry out his plan, the farmer confronted him with a shotgun, forcing him to flee the property. Like Ferd Patterson, Helm was quickly expelled from the county by the townsmen. The Montana Vigilantes later hanged Helm on January 14, 1864.
At its zenith, the Waldo area was estimated to have had as many as 30,000 residents. In 1860, the town boasted three hotels, a livery stable, several blacksmith shops, a bowling alley, a Chinese boarding house, numerous hotels and saloons, and even a brewery. However, like many other mining boomtowns in the American West, Waldo’s prosperity was not destined to last.
By the 1880s, many miners had left the area, seeking opportunities in Kerbyville or the newly discovered goldfields along the Fraser River. In 1919, a land development company attempted to sell speculative housing lots, but their efforts proved unsuccessful. Property values plummeted, and a few years later, the entire town was purchased by a local miner.
In 1927, Waldo was largely destroyed by massive hydraulic equipment, used to wash away the remaining gold deposits. In December 1928, Waldo’s post office was officially closed. During the 1930s, it was discovered that Waldo had been built upon a rich gravel bench, and a local mining company acquired the townsite.
Today, little remains of the once-thriving community of Waldo. The hilltop cemetery stands as a silent sentinel, overlooking the site where the town once stood. The Waldo Mining District, which predates the creation of the State of Oregon, continues to exist, advocating for mining rights in the state. The site of old Waldo is located on private land approximately five miles north of the California border, near the modern town of Cave Junction. The elusive Triskett Gang’s lost loot and its whereabouts is just another mystery to add to the area’s rich history.
To reach the site from Cave Junction, drive south on Highway 199 towards Crescent City, California. After 6.6 miles, turn left onto Waldo Road. At 2.7 miles, you will find a dirt embankment topped with large rocks and a metal gate.
The tale of Sailors’ Diggings, or Waldo, serves as a poignant reminder of the fleeting nature of boomtowns and the enduring allure of the American West. While the gold rush may have faded, the legends of Sailors’ Diggings, the Triskett Gang, and their lost loot continue to captivate the imagination, drawing visitors to this historic site in search of adventure, history, and perhaps, a long-lost treasure.