Ruth had in his possession what he claimed was a map giving the location of The answer to the question involves fraud, Indian wars, destruction, claim jumping and death. This tale involves two German men, Jacob Waltz and Jacob Weiser. Quite literally so, according to Southwestern Folklore author and researcher Byrd Granger. Some say a man named Jacob Weiser aided him, although no trace of Weiser exists. A note found in his checkbook claimed he had discovered the mine and included directions. One man found it in the Four Peaks and extracted several thousand dollars of ore back when gold was $20 an ounce. [11] According to Blair, the origin of this story can be traced to a doctor named Thorne who was in private practice in New Mexico in the 1860s. For years afterward, prospectors flocked to the area not only in search of the mine but also in search of Mexican gold spilled during the massacre. However, these expeditions further enraged the Apache, who then began to prey on all trespassers. They found gold in the 1840s but were ambushed by a local tribe of Apaches. Real or not, the haunting tales endure, continuing to draw prospectors to the Superstition Mountains today, and making the story one of the most famous lost treasure tales of all time. However, Ruth ignored Barkely's advice, and set out for a two-week stint in the mountains. 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 WebBackground: The Lost Dutchman Mine was founded by a German prospector named Jacob "The Dutchman" Waltz in 1876. The Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine hit the headlines in 2009 when Denver native Jesse Capen, 35, disappeared in Arizona's Tonto National Forest during a search for the mine. A group found the Lost Dutchman Mine in the Eastern Superstitions and extracted a considerable amount of rich gold ore. Mining records show that Jacob Waltz did file claims, two claims with others. Quick Facts: Lost Dutchman State Park Camping. Many believe it's hidden in the Superstition Mountains, and it's rumored a curse falls upon all those who try to find it. Upon arriving at Ruths camp, the rancher could tell that no one had been there for at least a day and reported Ruth missing. The Lost Dutchman Mine is the most famous in American history. Blair suggested that this Waltz could be the same Waltz who later came to be regarded as the legendary Dutchman, and that he Americanized the spelling of his family name. The story of the missing mine started when the Peralta family moved to the area in the early 19th century to try their luck at mining. In 1976, a prospector named Howard Polling was found dead of a gunshot wound. He sent friends back to his home to see if they could find the gold that he had kept there. In April of 1958, a deserted campsite was discovered on the northern edge of the mountain. Whether out of greed or, some kind of dispute over how they would handle their new-found wealth, Hernandez killed his friend Ferreira. Two months later, another prospector from Denver, Colorado named Walter J. Mowry was found in Needle Canyon. Waltz is also said to make a deathbed confession to Julia Thomas, and draws or describes a crude map to the gold mine. Does the Lost Dutchman Mine really even exist, or is it nothing more than a tall tale perpetuated throughout the years? 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. WebLost Dutchman State Park About Lost Dutchman State Park Named after the fabled lost gold mine, Lost Dutchman State Park is located in the Sonoran Desert, at the base of the Superstition Mountains, only 40 miles east of Phoenix. Five days later, another skeleton was found, which was identified the next month to be that of William Richard Harvey, a painter from San Francisco, California. Weavers Needle in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona, courtesy Wikipedia. It involves murder, secrets, and a whole lotta sweet, sweet gold. During their outing, Jenkins found a heavy quartz rock that he later learned was heavily laden with gold. Ruth did not return as scheduled, and no trace of him could be found after a brief search. Apparently, he "Dutchman" was a common American term for a German ("Dutch" being the English cognate to the German demonym "Deutsch", and not a reference to the Dutch people). Quick Facts: Lost Dutchman State Park Camping. Furthermore, Wilburn stated that geology indicates that there is no gold in the Superstition Mountains, which are igneous in origin. Waltz relocated to Arizona in the 1860s, and stayed in the territory for most of the rest of his life. Shrouded in mystery, the mine is not only allegedly rich in gold but is also said to have a curse upon it, leading to a number of strange deaths, as well as people who mysteriously go missing when they attempt to locate the old mine. Thomas Glover is the author of three books on Jacob Waltz and the Lost Dutchman Mine. Blair suggested that "fragments of this legend have perhaps become attached to the mythical mine of Jacob Waltz".[6]. Where was the mine? WebOne of the best treasure tales in the history of the American West is the Lost Dutchman Mine. There have been at least three discoveries of the mine since the 1960s, and in all three cases, good gold was found. In 1865, Thorne was working as an army doctor at Fort McDowell, Arizona. "Tex" Bradford of Globe Arizona went in search of the "Lost Dutchman Mine"; by October 1933 he had been missing for nine months. Lost Dutchman Mine is a simulation game that casts the player in the role of a gold miner in the 1860's. The Apache; however, refused to help them, telling them that if they dared to trespass on the sacred ground, the Thunder God would take revenge upon them, causing tremendous suffering and horrible deaths. The mines location remains a mystery to this day. 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. Lost Dutchman Mine is a simulation game that casts the player in the role of a gold miner in the 1860's. Gonzales claimed descendant from the Peralta family and said he had information on the whereabouts of the mine. Tales of these other Lost Dutchman's mines can be traced to at least the 1870s. Julia Thomas became the first searcher for the lost mine. WebFor more than 120 years, the legend of the Lost Dutchman Mine has haunted the minds and souls of treasure seekers throughout the world. One of the game's goals is to earn money, which can be achieved by searching gold in a river, mining for gold, or capturing wanted criminals. 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 For the next ten years, Waltz would often appear in Phoenix, with saddlebags filled with some of the richest gold ore many had ever seen, before disappearing once again into the Superstition Mountains. WebLost Dutchman State Park About Lost Dutchman State Park Named after the fabled lost gold mine, Lost Dutchman State Park is located in the Sonoran Desert, at the base of the Superstition Mountains, only 40 miles east of Phoenix. Some historians believe that any gold found in this rugged terrain was probably hidden there, perhaps even having been the fabled lost Aztec treasure. Said to be the most famous lost mine of all time, it continues to draw prospectors to the Superstition Mountains of Arizona in However, before relocating to what is now Pinal County, Arizona, Waltz worked at the Henry Wickenburgs Vulture Gold Mine near Wickenburg, Arizona. Troubles with the Apaches made the familys mining operation dangerous. A further search found the rest of his remains and effects, but the maps were gone. Another version of the tale states that Waltz actually learned of the mines location from Ken-tee. Arriving in the area in May, Ruth convinced two local cowboys to pack him into the mountains, where they left him to his exploring at a place called Willow Springs in West Boulder Canyon around June 14th, 1931. The Superstitions are now a federal wilderness area and Arizona State Park, so even if the gold were found it would have to be surrendered to the government. Troubles with the Apaches made the familys mining operation dangerous. But for thousands of others, the mine and its legends are extremely real, hidden in the forbidding peaks of the Superstition Mountains. There have been at least three discoveries of the mine since the 1960s, and in all three cases, good gold was found. The Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine hit the headlines in 2009 when Denver native Jesse Capen, 35, disappeared in Arizona's Tonto National Forest during a search for the mine. There are literally dozens of different variations of the lost mine tale, and almost as many reports of people actually having found the mine, leading to it being the most found and lost again mine ever. The true story of a prospecting success. Afterwards, Waltz fell ill (he was rumored to have contracted pneumonia during the flooding). The first was the Gross Lode filed in the Walker Mining District. "Dutchman's Gold" was the season 4, episode 19 of, This page was last edited on 5 February 2023, at 00:14. WebOngoing discoveries of the Lost Dutchman Mine have continued for well over a hundred years. 2, or via email at archivesrequest@sharlothallmuseum.org for information or assistance with photo requests. Waltz began prospecting in California in the 1850s. 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. Dr. George M. Willing Jr. paid Peralta $20,000 for the mining rights for an enormous swath of land about 3,000,000 acres (12,000km2) in southern Arizona and New Mexico based on a deed originally granted by the Spanish Empire in the 18th century. Apache Before the Storm, Edwards S. Curtis, 1906. Two years later, in December 1936, another life was claimed by the mountain when hobbyist, Roman OHal, a broker from New York, died from a fall when he was searching for the Lost Dutchman. When nothing had been heard of Ruth for six days, the cowboys boss, a man named Tex Barkley, went looking for the treasure hunter. According to legend, a family by the name of Peralta moved north from Mexico in the early 19th century to try their luck at mining in the American West and their efforts were Web. Clapp had been missing since July. One man found it in the Four Peaks and extracted several thousand dollars of ore back when gold was $20 an ounce. Two years later, in 1980, the skeleton of a man named Rick Fenning was found. Please direct any comments or errors to webmaster@sharlot.org. The Pennsylvania Dutch Country. In 1910, Malm appeared in Mesa, Arizona telling everyone that Silverlock had tried to kill him. In 1984, a prospector named Walt Gassler, who had been searching for the Lost Dutchman for most of his life, was found dead in the Superstitions. However, by 1877, he and another man by the name of Jacob Weiser (or Wisner,) returned to the Superstitions. Just a week later he was killed in a cave-in without ever disclosing the location to anyone. In the 1850s, two prospectors are said to have come upon three dead burros with intact pack saddles that contained some $37,000 worth of gold. It involves murder, secrets, and a whole lotta sweet, sweet gold. WebA curved arrow on a mysterious map inscribed on stone surfaces pointed to the identical place, confirming the location. WebFor more than 120 years, the legend of the Lost Dutchman Mine has haunted the minds and souls of treasure seekers throughout the world. 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. Activities: Hiking, birdwatching, and stargazing. It does not. Allowed to remove the blindfold, Thorne found himself in a canyon where a large unusual rock pinnacle loomed to the south. According to legend, a family by the name of Peralta moved north from Mexico in the early 19th century to try their luck at mining in the American West and their efforts were For more details, call the Museum at 445-3122 or visit the sponsors websites at www.sharlothallmuseum.org and www.prescottcorral.org. Several trails lead from the park into the Superstition Mountain Wilderness and surrounding Tonto National Forest. The Lost Dutchman story actually begins in the 1800s when the wealthy, Mexican Peralta family came to the region to work mines under a Spanish land grant. But in the 1990s, roughly 100 years after the Dutchmans death, Feldman believes he found it. Shrouded in mystery, the mine is not only allegedly rich in gold but is also said to have a curse upon it, leading to a number of strange deaths, as well as people who mysteriously go missing when they attempt to locate the old mine. [1], The Lost Dutchman's is perhaps the most famous lost mine in American history. WebThe Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine is a fabled gold mine located in the Southwest, though it's exact whereabouts are unknown. A reward was immediately offered by the family and searchers combed the mountain for the next 45 days but Ruth was not found. 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. To determine if the skull was Ruth's, it was examined by Dr. Ale Hrdlika, a well-respected anthropologist who was given several photos of Ruth, along with Ruth's dental records. The Superstition range covers approximately 160,000 acres of desolate, rugged terrain, so arid that only a bit of desert vegetation and a few sparse strands of Ponderosa Pine are all that grows. Magill's adventures were chronicled in the book The Killer Mountains, by Curt Gentry. To this day, his death remains a mystery; however, it is but one more life claimed by the mountain and perhaps, its curse. WebThe Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Found! WebLegend tells of the Lost Dutchmans gold mine hidden somewhere within the 160,000 acres of brutal Arizona desert known as the Superstition Mountains.. He further stated, after examining the two holes [in the skull], that it appeared that a shotgun or high-powered rifle had been fired through the head at almost point-blank range, making the small hole when the bullet entered and the large hole when it exited".[23]. The Peralta family refrained even more from working the mines for the next 16 years. A lack of historical records leaves uncertainty as to whether a Peralta family ever had possession of land, or mines, in or near the Superstition Mountains. Led by Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, the conquistadors cared little about the Apache customs or beliefs, wanting only to find the legendary Seven Golden Cities of Cibola., Learning from the Apache, that the range did, in fact, hold gold, the Spaniards were intent upon exploring the area. Two more men who were hiking in the Superstitions that year became involved in some kind of dispute. Generally speaking, this mine is claimed to be situated in the Superstition Mountains, described by one source as a collection of rough terrain that has gained the name of a single mountain which lies to the east of Phoenix, the Arizonan capital. After traveling to the region, Ruth stayed several days at the ranch of Tex Barkely to outfit his expedition. WebThe Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Found! $89+ per night for cabins. WebA curved arrow on a mysterious map inscribed on stone surfaces pointed to the identical place, confirming the location. The same year, a Tempe man and his wife (unnamed) found it a days travel from Tempe. But the mine remains shrouded in mystery, so much so that it might not exist at all. The Lost Dutchmans Mine is featured in Season 1, Episode 21 of the television series Unsolved Mysteries. The episode first aired on April 12, 1989. Ongoing discoveries of the Lost Dutchman Mine have continued for well over a hundred years. The start of the most famous legend to come from the mountains, that of the Lost Dutchman Mine, begins with these fortune-seekers. However, the original coroner said that he could not be positive the skull had bullet holes in it. People want to think the Lost Dutchman mine has gold hanging off the walls. 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. He knew that gold had been found in the Superstition Mountains. Camping: 135 sites (68 with electric/water) and cabins can be reserved year-round through Arizona State Parks. Ongoing discoveries of the Lost Dutchman Mine have continued for well over a hundred years. Richman, Irwin. Several trails lead from the park into the Superstition Mountain Wilderness and surrounding Tonto National Forest. Improve this listing Tours & experiences Explore different ways to experience this place. Days Past is a collaborative project of the Sharlot Hall Museum and the Prescott Corral of Westerners International (www.prescottcorral.org). Searchers should never enter the wilderness area by themselves, should take plenty of water, and pack lightly in order not to overexert themselves. December 09, 2019 When the Spanish arrived in 1540, the region was inhabited by the Apache Indians, who considered Superstition Mountain to be sacred ground, as it was home to their Thunder God. 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