The soldiers are alleged to have presented some of the gold, but to have been killed or to have vanished soon after. In 1959, two men by the names of Stanley Hernandez and Benjamin Ferreira thought they had found the jackpot. However, what they actually discovered was pyrite, more often called Fools Gold. But, these two were sure they had found the elusive mine. A reward was immediately offered by the family and searchers combed the mountain for the next 45 days but Ruth was not found. But in the 1990s, roughly 100 years after the Dutchmans death, Feldman believes he found it. Temperatures during the day can easily climb to more than 100 degrees and at higher elevations can drop into the freezing temperatures at night. The short "Discovery Trail" is a clear route with several placards giving the natural history of the area. WebA curved arrow on a mysterious map inscribed on stone surfaces pointed to the identical place, confirming the location. Despite his efforts, Willing was never able to recover the money he gave to Peralta. Let the prospector keep on finding the old lost mine and he is made, no matter it is not the original.. Lost Dutchman Mine is a simulation game that casts the player in the role of a gold miner in the 1860's. 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. WebThe Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Found! Since Ruth's death, there have been several other deaths or disappearances in the Superstition Mountains. This does not deter the many seekers the search, itself, is simply too intriguing. 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 The next year, with the Mexican-American War in full swing, Pedro was the only one willing to return to Arizona, determined to extract as much gold as possible before their holdings became part of the United States. Mason sent out a search party, who found the nude bodies of both men, shot in the head. "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). The Peralta Massacre is a legend that Apaches supposedly ambushed a mining expedition the Peralta family sent into the mountains. A day-use entrance is $10 per vehicle. 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. July 3, 1947 James A Cravey, age 62, a retired photographer, was reported missing after he had chartered a helicopter June 19, 1947 to drop him off in the Superstition Mountains to look for the Lost Dutchmans Mine. The Superstition Mountains west of Phoenix, Arizona by Carol Highsmith. Yet, another year later, an old prospector by the name of Guy Hematite Frink was lucky enough to return from the mountain with a number of rich gold samples. It was even said a candle box containing high-grade gold ore was found under his bed. After spending all her money, Thomas made a living from selling maps of the supposed location. The Lost Dutchman Mine is said to be a rich goldmine located somewhere in the southwestern American state of Arizona. The next person to come across the mine was a man named Dr. Abraham Thorne. 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. When the Peralta miners heard that the Apache might attack, they packed up, concealed the entrance to the mine, and with burros and wagons laden with gold, began to make their way back to Mexico in the winter of 1847-1848. It involves murder, secrets, and a whole lotta sweet, sweet gold. 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. Tales of these other Lost Dutchman's mines can be traced to at least the 1870s. But the mine remains shrouded in mystery, so much so that it might not exist at all. The earliest documentation of him in the U.S. is an 1848 affidavit in which Waltz declared himself to be "about 38 years old". 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. Quite literally so, according to Southwestern Folklore author and researcher Byrd Granger. It turned out to be that of Adolph Ruth. Furthermore, Wilburn stated that geology indicates that there is no gold in the Superstition Mountains, which are igneous in origin. 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. WebThe Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine is a fabled gold mine located in the Southwest, though it's exact whereabouts are unknown. 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. However, in 1864, Enrico Peralta, leading some 400 men, ventured back into the range. The game was the biggest success for its publisher, Magnetic Images. The shot in his skull was ruled an accidental shooting incident. But in the 1990s, roughly 100 years after the Dutchmans death, Feldman believes he found it. According to the story, in about 1912 Erwin C. Ruth gave some legal aid to Gonzales, saving him from almost certain imprisonment. 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". The Lost Dutchman Mine is said to be a rich goldmine located somewhere in the southwestern American state of Arizona. Ongoing discoveries of the Lost Dutchman Mine have continued for well over a hundred years. Upon arriving at Ruths camp, the rancher could tell that no one had been there for at least a day and reported Ruth missing. 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. [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. The second was the Big Rebel filed in the Walnut Grove Mining District. He was a student of mining and was knowledgeable in geology. "The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine." 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. A few years later Weiser disappeared without a trace. WebOngoing discoveries of the Lost Dutchman Mine have continued for well over a hundred years. The following February, his headless skeleton was found in a canyon, a good distance from his camp. [7] A man named Miguel Peralta and his family did operate a successful mine in the 1860s but near Valencia, California, not in Arizona. Several trails lead from the park into the Superstition Mountain Wilderness and surrounding Tonto National Forest. Waltz relocated to Arizona in the 1860s, and stayed in the territory for most of the rest of his life. One man found it in the Four Peaks and extracted several thousand dollars of ore back when gold was $20 an ounce. Three years later his headless skeleton was finally discovered. In his 1945 book about the Lost Dutchman's mine. Some say a man named Jacob Weiser aided him, although no trace of Weiser exists. Later, the Turkey Creek Mining District was carved out of the Walker District, and Waltz et al. 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. But the map to the Peralta mine was said to be missing. 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. 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. The cause of death was said to have been a perforated ulcer.. By 1872, Reavis was living in a high mountain valley near Pinal, where he farmed vegetables and hunted in his isolated mountain retreat. The path to these riches is paved in mystery and doom. 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. For over a century, treasure hunters have sought the treasures supposedly lost in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona, but what do we really know about the events surrounding this tale? Fees: $25-$35 per campsite. In October 1960, a group of hikers found a headless skeleton near the foot of a cliff on Superstition Mountain. Some historians believe that any gold found in this rugged terrain was probably hidden there, perhaps even having been the fabled lost Aztec treasure. Jacob finally died on October 25, 1891. A deeper dive Related reading from the 101, Theres gold in them hills! However, by 1877, he and another man by the name of Jacob Weiser (or Wisner,) returned to the Superstitions. But, Adophs son, Erwin, was convinced his father had been killed. On the northwest slope of the mountain, in an area now referred to as Massacre Ground, all but one of the miners were ambushed and killed by the Apache. Where was the mine? For the next century, the Peralta family and their laborers would make infrequent forays into Arizona bringing out loads of ore. In his pack was gold ore, later discovered to be identical to that of the rich ore Jacob Waltz had found earlier. Quite literally so, according to Southwestern Folklore author and researcher Byrd Granger. The player was free to roam around the desert and town at will constrained only by the need to make sure they had enough food to eat and a safe place to sleep. One of the boys legs was crushed. The coroner ruled it an accidental death resulting from a ricochet. Hiking and camping are popular activities. During their outing, Jenkins found a heavy quartz rock that he later learned was heavily laden with gold. The Apache let him pick up as much as he could before the doctor was once again blindfolded for the return trip. He was a student of mining and was knowledgeable in geology. He was one of the few who were well-prepared to prospect in unpromising locations. After the land was ceded to the United States, the Peralta party was trespassing on U.S. soil. In 1970, a seasoned prospector named Al Morrow was killed by a boulder that fell into a tunnel that he was digging. Gathering up a few of his friends, the group amazingly stumbled onto the mines location. But, they wouldnt make it. Malm was later sent to the county poor farm, not doing much better himself. There have been at least three discoveries of the mine since the 1960s, and in all three cases, good gold was found. In June 1947, a prospector named James A. Cravey made a much-publicized trip into the Superstition canyons by helicopter, searching for the Lost Dutchman Mine. It involves murder, secrets, and a whole lotta sweet, sweet gold. Although there has been no proof that the mine exists, from then on, many people have joined the search for the hidden gold. 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. See options Full view Weavers Needle in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona, courtesy Wikipedia. In June 1931, Ruth set out to locate the lost Peralta mine. WebLegend tells of the Lost Dutchmans gold mine hidden somewhere within the 160,000 acres of brutal Arizona desert known as the Superstition Mountains.. Erwin passed the information to his father Adolph, who had a long-standing interest in lost mines and amateur exploration. Kathy Weiser/Legends of America, updated November 2019. Another found it in the Western Superstitions. Quick Facts: Lost Dutchman State Park Camping. WebA curved arrow on a mysterious map inscribed on stone surfaces pointed to the identical place, confirming the location. However, the original coroner said that he could not be positive the skull had bullet holes in it. Many of Ruth's personal effects were found at the scene, including a pistol (not missing any shells) and the metal pins used to mend his broken bones. Some searchers for the mine have disappeared in likely wilderness accidents. The legend of the Lost Dutchman's gold mine is a quintessential version of just such a story. It does not. See options Full view WebLost Dutchman Mine is a non-linear adventure game which puts the player in the role of a gold miner, circa 1860. Some have died on the search. He soon returned to Pinal, saying that he had found an old mine, describing it as the most God-awful rough place you can imagine a ghostly place. Dearing; however, continued to work as a bartender until he could save enough money for the excavation. In retaliation, the Apache, who were convinced that Ken-tee had betrayed the site of their secret shrine, they attacked Waltz and his Indian mistress, seizing Ken-tee and cutting out her tongue. The game was the biggest success for its publisher, Magnetic Images. Two months later, Piper was found dead. $89+ per night for cabins. Over the years, many people have tried to find the Lost Dutchmans mine, and several have lost their lives searching for gold hidden in the Superstition Mountains. Location: Apache Junction, AZ. In the 1870s, Jacob Waltz (or Walz,) who had befriended one of the Peralta heirs, was allegedly told the location of the mine. In 1870, Waltz had a homestead of about 160 acres (0.65km2) near Phoenix where he operated a farm.[18]. So, if any of the earlier tales of gold founds are true, where did it come from? WebThe Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine is a fabled gold mine located in the Southwest, though it's exact whereabouts are unknown. After the land was ceded to the United States, the Peralta party was trespassing on U.S. soil. Though the coroner acceded that foul play might have been involved, the original statement was never changed. This account is usually dated to about 1870. Delivering it to Jacob, it was placed under his sickbed. WebBackground: The Lost Dutchman Mine was founded by a German prospector named Jacob "The Dutchman" Waltz in 1876. 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. 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. The legend of the Lost Dutchman's gold mine is a quintessential version of just such a story. In a story that echoes some of the earlier tales, Ruth's son Erwin C. Ruth was said to have learned of the Peralta mine from a man called Pedro Gonzales (or Gonzalez). Never again did the Peralta family venture back to the mine and all maps and knowledge of its location were lost through the years. Please direct any comments or errors to webmaster@sharlot.org. 2017 Sharlot Hall Museum - Library & Archives. 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. That same year, two California boys, who were hiking on Superstition Mountain, also vanished. 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. Ruths son, a lawyer, had helped a man called Pedro Gonzales with a legal matter and in return, was given some old maps. WebFor more than 120 years, the legend of the Lost Dutchman Mine has haunted the minds and souls of treasure seekers throughout the world. They found gold in the 1840s but were ambushed by a local tribe of Apaches. [16] A man called Jacob Walz was born in September 1810 in Wrttemberg. Said to be the most famous lost mine of all time, it continues to draw prospectors to the Superstition Mountains of Arizona in Extensive flooding devastated the farm in 1891, and Waltz contracted pneumonia. There May Be a Long-Lost Gold Mine in the Arizona Mountains By: Mae Rice For more than a century, adventurous souls have sought the Lost Dutchman Mine, and since 1891, more than a hundred people have claimed to find it. Thorne is said to be either unwilling or unable to relocate the mine. The Mojave County Miner reported in its 1901 October 12 issue: The Lost Dutchman mine has again been found. Please contact SHM Library & Archives reference desk at 928-445-3122 Ext. He died on October 25, 1891, after having been nursed by an acquaintance named Julia Thomas (she was usually described as a quadroon). [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. A day-use entrance is $10 per vehicle. The secret or the mystery as to why Waltz never filed another claim after leaving the Bradshaws is the question addressed in the presentation of The Lost Dutchmans Mine: A Mystery Solved? One of the best treasure tales in the history of the American West is the Lost Dutchman Mine. However, before he could return to the spot, he had a heart attack. "Tex" Bradford of Globe Arizona went in search of the "Lost Dutchman Mine"; by October 1933 he had been missing for nine months. Ongoing discoveries of the Lost Dutchman Mine have continued for well over a hundred years. His head had been severed from his body and was lying several feet away. Blair argued that this Peralta story (well known to Arizona residents) was eventually incorporated in the Lost Dutchman's story, in a severely distorted version, following the renewed interest in the Lost Dutchman's mine in the 1930s. One man found it in the Four Peaks and extracted several thousand dollars of ore back when gold was $20 an ounce. Though the house was gone, searchers were later able to locate five sacks of gold worth about $15,000. 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). 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 Improve this listing Tours & experiences Explore different ways to experience this place. Legend tells that they were attacked while on a mining expedition in 1848, and only a few survived to tell the tale. Quick Facts: Lost Dutchman State Park Camping. 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. Arizona is host to one of the great treasure legends of not just America, but of the world: The Lost Dutchman Mine. The true story of a prospecting success. The legend of the Lost Dutchman's gold mine is a quintessential version of just such a story. After traveling to the region, Ruth stayed several days at the ranch of Tex Barkely to outfit his expedition. Not having much luck in California, he made his way to Arizona in the 1860s. Richman, Irwin. There have been many stories about how to find the mine, and each year people search for the mine. It is thought that Apaches stole the gold and hid it in the mountains. A short list of people reported as having found it, or to have found an abandoned mine they thought to be the Lost Dutchman Mine, include in 1900 Joe Mulhatton; in 1901 Charlie Wood and John Chunning (separate discoveries); in 1903 a man chasing his dog found it; in 1906 Henry Young Blood found it: in 1908 a man named Morton and his wife found it; and in 1909 the old prospector Barnscheldt found it. 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. Suggest edits to improve what we show. At todays gold price, $1,270/ounce, his gold would be worth over $360,000. [27], Throughout the 20th century, various expeditions and individuals continued to search the Superstitions for the Lost Dutchman Mine. A month later, the missing mans body was found with a bullet hole above his right temple. There was indeed a Jacob Waltz who emigrated to the U.S. from Germany. The tales of the Lost Dutchman mine might have passed into history if it wasnt for Adolph Ruth, who decided to find the gold in the summer of 1931. Herman Petrasch accused his brother, Rhinehart, of not paying attention to Jacobs bedside clues and the disagreement led to their never speaking again. They were discovered by the Apache, who killed them before they could escape with the gold. There was a catastrophic flood in Phoenix in 1891, and Waltz's farm was one of many that was devastated. Magill's adventures were chronicled in the book The Killer Mountains, by Curt Gentry. These many variations and tales; however, only add to the intrigue of the Lost Dutchman enticing hundreds of treasure-hunting hobbyists, as well as seasoned prospectors, to continue to search for the elusive gold. 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 Thorne claimed that he was taken captive by Navajos in 1854, and that during his captivity he had discovered a rich gold vein. Group of hikers found a headless skeleton was found under his bed to that of the television Unsolved! 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