Legend tells of the Lost Dutchman's gold mine hidden somewhere within the 160,000 acres of brutal Arizona desert known as the "Superstition Mountains." The promise of a $200 million mother. Follow the Process. The hellhole supposedly also sends out tremendous winds, and these cause the infamous dust storms of the region. So where did all these rumors of lost gold in the Superstition Mountains originate? Skeptoid Media, 29 Jan 2013. The area is filled with ghost tales, monster . The legend of the lost gold continued to attract people, and, in 1932, a veterinarian in the Park Service, Adolph Ruth, decided to go treasure hunting. He died of pneumonia in 1891 and, according to the three neighbours who cared for him, he left them the box of gold under his bed and directions to the gold mine. Supposedly, the Peraltas actually found a very rich gold vein and set up a mining operation. Silver King Mine The Pit Mine is located close to the Randolph Mining District, which is historically well known and produced vast amounts of silver. Researchers point to an old beliefby local farmersthat the nearby Pima Native American tribe were superstitious about the mountains. However, despite bankrupting herself and spending a very long time in the mountains, she and her search party never found any evidence of a hidden gold cache, per Arizona Report. The search has been a profound one and I discovered that it wasnt the mine I was looking for, but the story. While this doesn't mean it's impossible there's gold to mine up there, it makes it far less likely. Many believe there is a connection and that they sold their families mine to Waltz and his partner. While popular with campers, hikers, and adventure seekers, these mountains are also known for their exceedingly hot summers, freezing winters, harsh winds, unpredictable storms, treacherous terrain, and mysterious happenings. Padre Kino founded many missions including Mission San Xavier del Bac near Tucson. The Superstition Mountain Historical Society Inc is a non-profit corporation organized to collect and preserve the history, legends, and lore of Arizonas Superstition Mountain, to support research, education, and publications involving the region, and to maintain a historical museum devoted to these endeavors. Thus, it seems these Jesuit priests might have stashed their treasure somewhere in the mountains as they passed through, thus ensuring the Spanish empire couldn't get their hands on the Jesuit fortune. The case for the Pit Mine is not new, in fact it has been an open secret for quite some time. (In truth, Apaches make up just one of the tribes found in the area, but these were typically all lumped in as "Apache" by white settlers who didn't appreciate the differences in Native American tribes.). While walking out of the horizontal shaft, you will walk over a 2' x 8' walkway. He never came home. [27], Throughout the 20th century, various expeditions and individuals continued to search the Superstitions for the Lost Dutchman Mine. Silver Member. To begin with, there was never any real Dutchman involved with the lost gold mine. (Doug Dolde / Wikimedia Commons). Now the Last Similarities There is a Company that claims there millions of tons of copper under a Area in the Superstition's. They tested that area, it just so happens to be a Area the Mexicans mined back in the day. One of the worst kept secrets of the Superstition Mountains. It next surfaced in history in 1957 when it was claimed by a man named Quentin Ted Cox. (St. Johns, Apache County, Arizona Territory [Ariz.]) 18851903, September 8, 1892, Image 2", Dunning, B. The legend then states that, sometime later, the last Peralta survivor(s) were helped out of some kind of bind by Jacob Waltz, and in his debt, they gave him the only thing they had of value: a map to the Peralta family mine in the Superstition Mountains, according to Cowboys and Indiansmagazine. Blair cited evidence of the historical Jacob Waltz and suggested that additional evidence supports the core elements of the story that Waltz claimed to have discovered (or at least heard the story of) a rich gold vein or cache. The story of the Peralta Stones is that they lead you to a small almost invisible ledge, like a small birds nest perched in the middle of a forest of giant oaks concealed by the natural elements, it obscures itself from all beasts of prey especially man. Jacob Waltz took possession of his mine in 1869, six years before the Silver Chief was filed as an original location. Another detail which casts doubt on the story is the fact that, according to Blair, there was never any Dr. Thorne in the employ of the Army or indeed of the Federal Government in the 1860s. Blair insisted that the Peralta portion of the story is unreliable, writing: "The operation of a gold mine in the Superstitions by a Peralta family is a contrivance of 20th century writers". In June 1931, Ruth set out to locate the lost Peralta mine. His expeditions led to the discovery of several of what he called Spanish mines which, at the time, was in contradiction to accepted history. Tantalizingly, Ruth's checkbook was also recovered, and proved to contain a note written by Ruth wherein he claimed to have discovered the mine and gave detailed directions. Erwin passed the information to his father Adolph, who had a long-standing interest in lost mines and amateur exploration. He was able to find the richest ore in history right smack dab in the middle of the Superstition Mountains. One day he travelled to the fabled site of the mother lode, Superstition Mountains near Phoenix, Arizona, and never came back. Previously, comparative tests which could prove that the matchbox and the Pit Mine samples were related were destructive in nature. The highest peak of the range is Keeper Hill or Slievekimalta at 694 metres (2,277 ft) high. Behind The Scenes menu tab will take you to additional "Behind the Scenes" materials . We will share as much as we can for now, but as I stated earlier we are preparing for a return trip, and the location has to remain secret. It is here were you will reach areas that are barely penetrable, this is where most trails stop abruptly for safety reasons. He'll tell you the ore assayed out to something like 10,000 ounces of gold to the ton. Pingback: Legend of the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Parts 2 & 3: Finally Found! There is a lot of speculation about Aaron Mason and his involvement, but one interesting fact is that the man became a millionaire during this time. It is easily accessible about 40 miles east of Phoenix via U.S. Highway 60, the Superstition Freeway. By Catharina Moh. Nobody has been able to interpret them correctly. Regardless, Dr. Thorne helped the man and he recovered, according to Legends of America. In fact, after five years including thousands of hours of research and then four expeditions starting in 2015, The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine has been found by Arcana Exploration and Discovery. [26], Blair wrote that "the national wire services picked up the story [of Ruth's death] and ran it for more than it was worth", possibly seeing the mysterious story as a welcome reprieve from the bleak news that was otherwise typical of the Great Depression. Here's the thing about the Julia Thomas map to the Lost Dutchman's gold mine, which is still sold and used today: Jacob Waltz didn't actually draw it. Rogers was partnered with Aaron Mason, foreman of the Silver King mine. When I started this series on the Lost Dutchman Mine, I opened with the claim that the mine had been located, which I believe to be true. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Jesse Feldman, son of Ron Feldman, indicated his belief that the mine was in the Rogers Trough area in his bookJacobs Trail. None of this rules out that he simply found a cache of abandoned gold, of course, and when he died, he did have in his possessions some high-grade gold ore, though its value is unclear and it may have just been for attracting potential investors in his prospecting operations. However, things can go wrong. Here he worked at the Vulture Mine as a paid miner. Don Miguel Peralta was the head of a powerful and wealthy Mexican family from Sonora, and they were either ranchers or operated mines or did both. People have been seeking the Lost Dutchman's mine since at least 1892,[2] while according to one estimate, 9,000 people annually made some effort to locate the Lost Dutchman's mine. In fact, Julia Thomas was the very first so-called "dutch hunter," combing through the mountains and seeking the lost gold. Arcana Exploration has been there on four separate trips the first in October of 2015. What is important is the informational content recorded on the stones. It is known as the Pit Mine because of the funnel like shape it was dug in, which was common in Spanish and Mexican mining. However, things started going wrong immediately as men began to disappear, later being found decapitated. Supposedly, the Superstition Mountains have long been a sacred site for the nearby Apache tribe of Native Americans. Among the many legends to have emerged from the area, one of the most enduring ones is that of The LostDutchmansGold Mine. The one, tangible piece of evidence still in existence are the samples remaining from the ore taken by Dick Holmes, namely the matchbox. While this is true, it is also true that gold pockets can exist alongside of silver veins. There's no evidence they ever came to Arizona at all. In 1847-1848 during the time of the Hidalgo Treaty when Mexico sold the territory to the United Sates the Peraltas, knowing they would lose access to their mines made one last trip bringing hundreds of miners from Sonora to mine as much as they could, but were attacked by Apaches. On our may trip in 2016 one day it reached 108 degrees, that same day up on the mountain, climbing on a surface of Granite and sandstone ours guys Trek watches read what they were breathing at an actual 119 degrees. However, Ruth ignored Barkely's advice, and set out for a two-week stint in the mountains. In January 1932, human remains were discovered about three-quarters of a mile (1.21km) from where the skull had been found. Except perhaps not. This land grant was the basis of the James Reavis Arizona land swindle (Reavis became Willing's partner and continued to try to prove the authenticity of the land grant for years after Willing's death). In yet another version of the tale, two (or more) U.S. Army soldiers are said to have discovered a vein of almost pure gold in or near the Superstition Mountains. They are anchored by Superstition Mountain, a large mountain that is a popular recreation destination for residents of the Phoenix, Arizona, area. 3: Gift Shop and Event Manager Dave McElligott It is a ranger-guided hike focusing on the aesthetic . While Francisco Coronado did exist and did explore what is now the southwestern United States, there's nothing indicating he ever visited the Superstitions. 4087 East Apache Trail Arizona place-name expert Byrd Granger wrote, as of 1977, the Lost Dutchman's story had been printed or cited at least six times more often than two other fairly well-known tales, the story of Captain Kidd's lost treasure, and the story of the Lost Pegleg mine in California. Combine these with the legends of the indigenous Pima Indians and the mountains live up to their name. The soldiers are alleged to have presented some of the gold, but to have been killed or to have vanished soon after. As Curt Gentry wrote, "Dr. Hrdlicka positively identified the skull as that of Adolph Ruth. To paraphrase an old Dutch Hunter, I dont know where the Dutchman is, but I know a thousand places it isnt! The meaning here is that gold can only exist in a prerequisite set of geological conditions. However, there were no directions to the conquest mentioned in his diary. Mike . Richman, Irwin. Both fabled and mythical, they have helped to drive the legend of the Lost Dutchman Mine. Even though some have said the stones story is much older (it is true the source information is likely much older) than the Dutchmans time and therefor there is no connection, they are going to be slapping themselves in the face trying to overcome their denial when they realize the stones leadto the same birds nest. Most likely because Pedro de Peralta had been the Spanish Governor of New Mexico (in the 1600s) his family name of "Peralta" was the inspiration for a number of legends in the American Southwest. This tale involves two German men, Jacob Waltz and Jacob Weiser. [8] The mine was quite profitable, earning about $35,000 in less than one year; Blair described this as "an unusually good return" for such a small gold mine to earn in such a relatively brief period. [13] In most versions of the tale, Jacob Waltz locates a rich gold mine in the Superstition Mountains (in many versions of the story, they rescue or help a member of the Peralta family and are rewarded by being told the location of the mine). The earliest Lost Dutchman's mine in Arizona was said to have been near Wickenburg, about 180km (110mi) north-west of the Superstition Mountains: a "Dutchman" was allegedly discovered dead in the desert near Wickenburg in the 1870s alongside saddlebags filled with gold. (Chris J / Flickr). The western portion of the Superstitions was made a national wilderness area in 1983, and it's been closed to prospecting and mining ever since. The praying hands formation at the Superstition Mountains range. According to Legends of America, the Native Americans in the area believed the Thunder God of their religion lived in the Superstition Mountains, and thus they were required to protect it with lethal force, killing any who might set foot on the mountain and disturb their deity. [12] The three soldiers set out to find the gold, but without success. Front View of the Peralta Stones. Some have died on the search. Dec 4, 2008 4,168 3,192. Come on. In 1870, Waltz had a homestead of about 160 acres (0.65km2) near Phoenix where he operated a farm.[18]. According to their folklore, the mountain guards an ancient storehouse of precious metals and treasures, and anyone who ventures forth to get the treasure is likely to die. When they immigrated to Pennsylvania from Deutschland (Germany), the locals mistook Deutsch for Dutch. Thats just the name we use for the group of mining exhibits that youll experience when you visit the museum. [10] Trouble came after Willing learned that the deed was entirely bogus. According to Blair, the story may have its roots in the efforts of three U.S. soldiers to locate gold in an area of New Mexico, based on an allegedly true story related to them by Dr. Thorne of New Mexico; see above. [19][20] After this was unsuccessful, Thomas and her partners were reported to be selling maps to the mine for $7 each. [3] Former Arizona Attorney General Robert K. Corbin is among those who have looked for the mine. Those of us local to the area and who have researched the subject know that. Ask any prospector and they will tell. As early as September 1, 1892, The Arizona Enterprise was reporting on the efforts of Thomas and several others to locate the lost mine whose location was told to her by Waltz. Waltz relocated to Arizona in the 1860s, and stayed in the territory for most of the rest of his life. Nobody else has ever been able to find that rich of ore since then anywhere else in AZ. George Flemming and Charles Enslinger filed claim on the Silver Chief mine in 1875. (Latin Heart Reader / Wikimedia Commons). Superstition Mountain is located within the greater Superstition Mountains range 43 miles east of Phoenix, Arizona, in the fringe of the state's central mountain region. Additionally, there is a partial tunnel, or drift, in the canyon below that moves in the direction of the main shaft and was crudely walled up. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. And importantly I have hard facts that the Stones are linked to other historical information. [4] This problematic paradox, I believe, is the product of years of misdirection to steer seekers to the west side of the mountains. There are lots of similar tales of gold-hunting soldiers, too, from all over the southwest. The beginning and end of the tale will be told with ore. Gold ore has its own fingerprint, discernible from other gold ore. Kinos Mission San Xavier del Bac near Tucson unlike other missions in California was both massive and opulent, and still stands today. One of the most professional and serious-minded efforts was led by Oklahoma City private detective Glen Magill, who organized multiple expeditions in the late 1960s and early '70s, and claimed on at least two occasions to have identified the location of the mine, later to concede he was either mistaken or the locations were "played out," or bereft of gold. One of the best treasure tales in the history of the American West is the Lost Dutchman Mine. Sign up for exclusive updates, previews and special content: So, where is it then? Within the refuge are 14 trail heads that cover 190 miles. Like most legends, when you strip it down as close to the truth as possible, it is never as glorious as imagined. Blair contended that this story can be divided into "hawk" and "dove" versions, depending on whether the German(s) are said to behave violently or peacefully. In any case, the event led to the naming of the Massacre Falls after it. So let me say it again, the documentation found ON the stones is the most important thing not so much who carved them. Lastly, the alleged mine directions Ruth had were from an 1895 newspaper account. Reports of inexplicable sounds, sightings, and events have led to claims of supernatural beings and even aliens. Waltz is also said to make a deathbed confession to Julia Thomas, and draws or describes a crude map to the gold mine. Dec 18, 2016 #6 JFDIAFF: The location is generally believed to be in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east of Phoenix, Arizona. Julia, whose occupation is sometimes listed as a nurse and sometimes as a baker, took care of Waltz late in life and the two became close friends. It can also be a touchy subject to broach, depending on who you are speaking with. Is it possible he took his own life? In some versions of this story, Waltz was actually plundering these shrines for his own gold. That is not to say that it was hidden in plain sight, defying discovery under our very noses, but rather that it was concealed by the collective expectations of generations of Dutch Hunters, veiled in legend. This is considered to be the starting and gathering point for most Dutch Hunters. The Lost Dutchman Mine Part Eleven: The Stone Maps, The Lost Dutchman Mine Part Ten: The Dutch Hunters, Linda Hazzard: Seattles First Serial Killer. In fact, the location fits well for both the Doc Thorn and the Two Soldiers stories. It seems likeliest one of two things happened. The Superstition Mountains ( Yavapai: Wi:kchsawa) is a range of mountains in Arizona located to the east of the Phoenix metropolitan area. Barkely repeatedly urged Ruth to abandon his search for the mine, because the terrain of the Superstition Mountains was treacherous even for experienced outdoorsmen, let alone for the 66-year-old Ruth in the heat of the Arizona summer. Later I will give more details and then begin providing information on how things fit together. However, even armed with the clues and map, no one in the area could find the Dutchman's mine, thus giving it the name of the Lost Dutchman's gold mine. Many people have dismissed them as a hoax. In the weeks and months to come we will use much of the historical information, and show how it ties directly to what we have found. Unfortunately, when a group followed the clues given in Ruth's letter, they found nothing. Take, for example, the story of Adolph Ruth, an experienced treasure hunter who typically worked with his son, Erwin. Arcana Exploration. Everyone loves a good treasure hunting story. Admission The record high temperature is 128 degrees. In many areas they cannot, and will not for any reason land, and actually have designated no fly zones. Going on a year now. While he allegedly worked as a miner at numerous mines earlier in his life, eventually Waltz decided he wanted to prospect on his own. Considering that any mining activity in the area would be a federal crime, you can understand why folks might not be so forthcoming with information. While the Jesuits were eventually allowed to return to the area, it seems they either forgot the treasure or couldn't find it, and so it was still in the mountains when it was perhaps discovered by none other than the Dutchman himself, Jacob Waltz. We are currently in the process of planning for a return trip to further document our findings. Hanna-Barbara, Jean Giraud, and Don Rosa have incorporated the story in their cartoons. The location in question is called the Pit Mine or The Silver Chief. Home. Full Moon Hike at Lost Dutchman. However, Blair argued that there is a strong likelihood that there never was a second man named Weiser, but rather that a single person named Waltz was, over the years, turned into two men as the legend of the Dutchman's mine evolved. The easy 1.5 mile trail features some rocky, rough terrain but with little elevation gain. In 1875, James Rogers made a claim there and dubbed it The Silver Chief. The mountain is also frequented with mysterious sounds that many people have claimed to have heard. Superstition Mountain hasan elevation of 5,024 feet. Mike . Alleged lost gold mine in the Superstition Mountains. Indeed, there's yet another legend purporting to explain where the Dutchman might have acquired his gold. It is rumoured that if the stones are put together in the right way, they are a map to the Peralta Familys gold deposits. As the mountains have a desert climate and few water resources, there is not much vegetation here. Over the next few weeks I will share some images that are safe for us to show. Blair had little doubt that Waltz related to Thomas the location of an alleged gold mine. What really matters, though, is that Waltz the namesake Dutchman, or "Deutsch" (German) man wouldn't reveal the mine's location. In most variants of the story, the family of a man called Miguel Peralta discovered the mine and began mining the gold there, only to be attacked or massacred by Apaches in about 1850 in the supposed Peralta massacre. The Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine (also known by similar names) is, according to legend, a rich gold mine hidden in the southwestern United States. While walking thru the shaft holding a digging iron one day, I was tapping the floor to make sure it was solid. Just to connect some dots, Mason was the fellow who staked the two soldiers who turned up dead while seeking their lost bonanza. I will make a statement in the near future that will surprise a lot of Dutch Hunters it surprised me. Humankind has been enthralled by lost treasure legends for ages. Explore The Mysteries. Then, she took the map that was either from Waltz's imagination or her own and made a whole lot of money selling copies of it. Supposedly a mine with fabulously rich gold deposits. No, were not really a mining company. During Kinos time other Missionaries in California and Mexico were jealous and suspicious of Kino because, while they were poor and struggled his missions were rich and flourished, they said he had a secret gold mine from which he took rich gold and funded his missions and rancheros amassing 50 thousand head of cattle making him the Southwests first mega rancher. The Superstition Mountains, with a name like that you might as well give away fancy proton-backs, of the Ghostbuster variety, at the visitor's center, is a series of jagger tooth mountains in Arizona just the east of Phoenix. They are bound on three sides by U.S. Route 60, Arizona State Route 88, and Arizona State Route 188, and are visible from miles away. These cookies do not store any personal information. When you visit, follow the hard rock mining process from mine to bullion. It was the fifth-largest fire in Arizonas history, it raged for over a month, despite the strenuous containment efforts of over 600 firefighters. Arcadia Publishing. It involves murder, secrets, and a whole lotta sweet, sweet gold. The Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Silver prices plummeted around the turn of the century, causing most silver mines, including The Silver Chief, to shut down and be abandoned. After the conquistadors and priests are purported to have come and gone from the Superstition Mountains, legend tells of another group who arrived sometime in the earlier half of the 1800s. The weather in the Superstition Mountains is notoriously unpredictable, with storms seeming to come out of nowhere and accompanied by abrupt drops in temperatures. Children 10 and under Some searchers for the mine have disappeared in likely wilderness accidents. We miss it. 1: Recorded description of the museum. I always heard about the Lost Dutchman Mine in the Superstition Mountain. Within the refuge are 14 trail heads that cover 190 miles. The map is supposedly filled with clues, and there are many others purportedly given by Waltz at various points in his life according to legends, but it's hard to prove he actually ever said any of those things. Later, he remarked that he had noticed a towering rock formation nearby, but otherwise remained clueless about the whereabouts of the place. This is what brought him to the Superstition Mountains (yes, that's their real name) near what is today the city of Phoenix, Arizona. Nearly fifty years later, Ron Feldman proved Coxs theory to be true, documenting a Spanish mine at Rogers Springs, only a few miles from the Pit Mine. As a reward, Dr. Thorne was blindfolded and led to a cave in the mountains. Ruth ended his note with the phrase "Veni, vidi, vici. Or, he never made any such claims at all and Thomas made up the whole story based on some gold ore she found in Waltz's possessions. Over the next few weeks we will provide some images and photos taken at or very near the site. Despite his efforts, Willing was never able to recover the money he gave to Peralta. Here amongst this vast maize of volcanic interior, fixed and clinging to the mountain side, flanked on one side by a very small almost invisible ledge is the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine, like a small birds nest perched in the middle of a forest of giant oaks, concealed by the natural elements it obscures itself from all beasts of prey, especially man.
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