His skull with two holes in it identified as bullet holes was recovered about six months after he vanished, and the story made national news, thus sparking widespread interest in the Lost Dutchman's mine.[22]. In the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction east of Phoenix, Arizona, a legendary gold mine is supposedly located. Though he preferred his own company and his large library of books to being with others, he never turned away a visitor to his retreat and often traveled to the area mining camps to sell his vegetables. 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. Lavern Rowlee was shot by Ralph Thomas, who reported that he had been attacked by Rowlee and shot the other man in self-defense. Quick Facts: Lost Dutchman State Park Camping. 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]. Web10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Visit website Call Write a review About This abandoned old mining town, which has been refurbished as a tourist attraction, includes a mine tour, rides and shops. "[24], Authorities in Arizona did not convene a criminal inquest regarding Ruth's death. 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. A day-use entrance is $10 per vehicle. As Curt Gentry wrote, "Dr. Hrdlicka positively identified the skull as that of Adolph Ruth. In 1865, Thorne was working as an army doctor at Fort McDowell, Arizona. The soldiers replied that the ore had been picked up while crossing Superstition Mountain, where they had also spied an old mine. Arizona is host to one of the great treasure legends of not just America, but of the world: The Lost Dutchman Mine. Another version of the tale states that Waltz actually learned of the mines location from Ken-tee. A day-use entrance is $10 per vehicle. That same year, two California boys, who were hiking on Superstition Mountain, also vanished. 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 pilot set him down in La Barge Canyon, close to Weavers Needle. He sent friends back to his home to see if they could find the gold that he had kept there. Lewing claimed self-defense. Activities: Hiking, birdwatching, and stargazing. One man found it in the Four Peaks and extracted several thousand dollars of ore back when gold was $20 an ounce. Location: Apache Junction, AZ. Improve this listing Tours & experiences Explore different ways to experience this place. Whether out of greed or, some kind of dispute over how they would handle their new-found wealth, Hernandez killed his friend Ferreira. Just a year later, two deer hunters were driven off the mountain, when again rolling boulders appeared to have been pushed by someone or something down the mountain towards them. He pursued mining and prospecting, but seems to have had little luck with either. The Indians called Superstition Mountain the Devils Playground.. Troubles with the Apaches made the familys mining operation dangerous. Blair suggested that "fragments of this legend have perhaps become attached to the mythical mine of Jacob Waltz".[6]. The legend of the Lost Dutchman's gold mine is a quintessential version of just such a story. [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. Said to be the most famous lost mine of all time, it continues to draw prospectors to the Superstition Mountains of Arizona in The first was the Gross Lode filed in the Walker Mining District. WebA curved arrow on a mysterious map inscribed on stone surfaces pointed to the identical place, confirming the location. Legends, Ghosts, Myths and Mysteries Main Page, Byways & Historic Trails Great Drives in America, Soldiers and Officers in American History, Washington-on-the-Brazos, Texas Declaring Independence, Stanley, Ks Extinct but Still Here (LOK), Black Bob Reservation in Johnson County (LOK), Make History Come Alive With These Online Tools and Resources. He knew that gold had been found in the Superstition Mountains. Although there has been no proof that the mine exists many people have joined the search for the hidden gold. When people tried to follow him out of town, he would lose them in the many clefts and canyons on the peak. It does not. Weavers Needle in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona, courtesy Wikipedia. The fact of the finding of the mine for the past twenty years has kept alive the mining industries of the territory. January 1933 a Mining electrican named J.A. [12] The three soldiers set out to find the gold, but without success. If these many tales of intrigue are not enough, yet other reports suggest that the area is haunted, most likely by the many who have died there of mysterious deaths. The headlines were sensational alleging that Ruth had been murdered for his map. More than 20 years later, in 1927, a New Jersey man and his sons were hiking the mountain when rocks began to roll down on them from the cliffs above as if someone had pushed the boulders. Another tale describes an eccentric prospector named Elisha Marcus Reavis, who was better known in the area as the Madman of the Superstitions or the Old Hermit. One of Arizonas most interesting characters, Reavis was actually college-educated and taught school before he began to prospect during the California Gold Rush. When they showed a bag of gold ore to the Silver King Manager, Aaron Mason, the manager was stunned to see how rich the ore was and immediately began to ask where they had found it. 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. The Superstition Mountains can be seen behind these old buildings in nearby Goldfield,Arizona by Kathy Weiser-Alexander. It is thought that Apaches stole the gold and hid it in the mountains. Does the Lost Dutchman Mine really even exist, or is it nothing more than a tall tale perpetuated throughout the years? Aware of the Apache displeasure, they kept these mining trips at a minimum, not wanting to risk the ferocious Apaches ire. Quick Facts: Lost Dutchman State Park Camping. Now all we had to do was dig, and we would surely find one of the richest and most hunted treasures in the worldthe Lost Dutchmans Gold Mine, secreted in the Superstition Mountains east of Phoenix, Arizona. Many believe it's hidden in the Superstition Mountains, and it's rumored a curse falls upon all those who try to find it. But, his condition was worsening as he suffered a stroke and was paralyzed to the point that he could barely speak. Some have died on the search. Ruth had in his possession what he claimed was a map giving the location of The official ruling was that the death was accidental. Camping: 135 sites (68 with electric/water) and cabins can be reserved year-round through Arizona State Parks. Born in 1810 in Wrttemberg, he first appears in American records in 1848. Quite literally so, according to Southwestern Folklore author and researcher Byrd Granger. Skeptoid Media, 29 Jan 2013. He had metal pins in his leg, and used a cane to help him walk. December 09, 2019 Just a week later he was killed in a cave-in without ever disclosing the location to anyone. Storm speculated that Adolph Ruth might have been a victim of the same sniper. Waltz relocated to Arizona in the 1860s, and stayed in the territory for most of the rest of his life. , The Waterbury Democrat. Around the turn of the century, two prospectors who went by the names of Silverlock and Malm began to work on the northern edge of Superstition Mountain. The Superstition Mountains by Carol Highsmith. WebOne of the best treasure tales in the history of the American West is the Lost Dutchman Mine. He knew that gold had been found in the Superstition Mountains. One man found it in the Four Peaks and extracted several thousand dollars of ore back when gold was $20 an ounce. 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. East of Phoenix, Arizona is the Superstition Mountain range, more commonly referred to by locals, as the Superstitions. Standing majestically at the forefront of this rough terrain is Superstition Mountain, a 3,000-foot high monolith, which seemingly stands guard over the rest of its territory. People want to think the Lost Dutchman mine has gold hanging off the walls. In 1934 the Superstitions claimed the life of Adam Stewart, the cause of death unknown. In the first decade of the 1700s, he began to explore the region, finding several sources of gold. [10] Trouble came after Willing learned that the deed was entirely bogus. However, by 1877, he and another man by the name of Jacob Weiser (or Wisner,) returned to the Superstitions. A month later, the missing mans body was found with a bullet hole above his right temple. There have been at least three discoveries of the mine since the 1960s, and in all three cases, good gold was found. Ongoing discoveries of the Lost Dutchman Mine have continued for well over a hundred years. Jacob Waltz moved to the Salt River Valley in 1868 and purchased a 160-acre farm on the north bank of the Salt River. This does not deter the many seekers the search, itself, is simply too intriguing. It involves murder, secrets, and a whole lotta sweet, sweet gold. They found gold in the 1840s but were ambushed by a local tribe of Apaches. They were never seen again. 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. In his search, Ruth utilized a map that his son had obtained in Mexico several years previous, which dated back to the period of the Mexican Revolution (1909-1923), and was later referred to as the Ruth-Peralta map. Richman, Irwin. 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. The location is generally believed to be in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east of Phoenix, Arizona. "Tex" Bradford of Globe Arizona went in search of the "Lost Dutchman Mine"; by October 1933 he had been missing for nine months. [7] A man named Miguel Peralta and his family did operate a successful mine in the 1860s but near Valencia, California, not in Arizona. The Lost Dutchman Mine is the most famous in American history. The cause of death was undetermined. Activities: Hiking, birdwatching, and stargazing. "The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine." Two years later, in 1980, the skeleton of a man named Rick Fenning was found. 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. People often asked of him the obvious questions Where was the gold coming from? 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 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? 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. WebThe Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine is a fabled gold mine located in the Southwest, though it's exact whereabouts are unknown. 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. The Lost Dutchman Mine is the most famous in American history. Although there has been no proof that the mine exists, from then on, many people have joined the search for the hidden gold. The lost mine is thought to be located somewhere near Weavers Needle, the main landmark of the Superstition Mountains, even though the area has been diligently searched by hundreds of people. 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 Four days later, an investigation determined it belonged to an Austrian student named Franz Harrier. Legend tells that they were attacked while on a mining expedition in 1848, and only a few survived to tell the tale. In gratitude, Gonzales told Erwin about the Peralta mine in the Superstition Mountains, and gave him some antique maps of the site (Gonzales claimed to be descended from the Peralta family on his mother's side). After one hundred and twenty-five plus years incredibly, the lost Dutchman gold mine has been found, proving that the legend is more than mere myth and as predicted by Jacob Waltz himself No miner will ever find my mine. Along with members of the Petrasch family, she searched the mountains but found nothing. Through the summer, he lingered in a wasted condition, giving clues to his caretaker, Julia, and to his rescuers, Herman and Reinhardt Petrasch. Fees: $25-$35 per campsite. That same year, Robert St. Marie, who was attempting to drill a hole all the way through Weavers Needle, was killed by prospector Edward Piper. 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. Malm was later sent to the county poor farm, not doing much better himself. In the 1870s, Jacob Waltz (or Walz,) who had befriended one of the Peralta heirs, was allegedly told the location of the mine. Temperatures during the day can easily climb to more than 100 degrees and at higher elevations can drop into the freezing temperatures at night. In 1973, Charles Lewing shot Ladislas Guerrero at a mountain campsite. 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. Quite literally so, according to Southwestern Folklore author and researcher Byrd Granger. While this theory did not ignore the two holes in the skull, it did fail to explain how Ruth had managed to remove and bury the empty shell, then reload his gun, after shooting himself through the head". Arcadia Publishing. But for thousands of others, the mine and its legends are extremely real, hidden in the forbidding peaks of the Superstition Mountains. The lost Dutchmans gold mine location Ramiro valdez Oct 28, 2021 2 Replies 38 Views 8K Sunday at 7:31 PM EDN E Peter's Canyon, The Jeauits, and the Lost Dutchman LDWhitneyAuthor Jan 22, 2023 2 3 Replies 55 Views 3K Feb 16, 2023 LDWhitneyAuthor Clue 4 Peaks Lined up as 1 ConceptualizedNetherlandr Apr 19, 2014 8 9 10 Replies 181 Views 23K But, after five weeks, the three returned with nothing. 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 "Dutchman's Gold" was a chart hit in 1960 for, "When the Man Comes, Follow Him" episode of the, "The Peralta Map" episode of the CBS Radio series, The Lost Dutchman Mine ride was a popular attraction at, The Lost Dutchman's Mine features prominently in the, The Lost Dutchmans Mine is the subject of Season 6, Episode 10 of podcast Unexplained. A reward was immediately offered by the family and searchers combed the mountain for the next 45 days but Ruth was not found. His bullet-ridden body was removed to the coroners, who ruled it a suicide. The mine is said to have been mined by a German immigrant, Jacob Waltz, who died before he could reveal its location. 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. Having taken on a terrible chill, he was attended to by a woman named Julia Thomas, who tried to nurse him back to health, but Jacob had contracted pneumonia. Camping: 135 sites (68 with electric/water) and cabins can be reserved year-round through Arizona State Parks. Famed Apache Geronimo is sometimes mentioned in relation to this story. Though the remains had been scattered by scavengers, they were undoubtedly Ruth's. In April of 1958, a deserted campsite was discovered on the northern edge of the mountain. 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 A century and a half later, having heard of the rich gold to be found in the Superstitions, Jesuit priest Eusebio Francisco Kino, whose objective was to establish missions and Christianize the Indians, was lured by the tales. [19][20] After this was unsuccessful, Thomas and her partners were reported to be selling maps to the mine for $7 each. When nothing had been heard of Ruth for six days, the cowboys boss, a man named Tex Barkley, went looking for the treasure hunter. To make even more money, he then went to work at the Silver King Mine. A note found in his checkbook claimed he had discovered the mine and included directions. (However, in some versions,[14] the 'mine' is actually a cache put there by the Peraltas.). After filling their saddlebags with as much gold as they could carry, they started to Phoenix but never lived to enjoy the wealth. However, sometime later legend tells us that Dr. Thorne determined that he would try to find the place again. Sure that he was mad, even the Apache left him alone. 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 continued to grow and soon the lost mine was referred to as the Lost Dutchman, as many at the time confused the Germans with the Dutch. People want to think the Lost Dutchman mine has gold hanging off the walls. There was indeed a Jacob Waltz who emigrated to the U.S. from Germany. Delivering it to Jacob, it was placed under his sickbed. Separately, however, they both spent much of the rest of their lives looking for the lost mine. 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. Some historians believe that any gold found in this rugged terrain was probably hidden there, perhaps even having been the fabled lost Aztec treasure. Please contact SHM Library & Archives reference desk at 928-445-3122 Ext. To this day, his death remains a mystery; however, it is but one more life claimed by the mountain and perhaps, its curse. 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. The lost Dutchmans gold mine location Ramiro valdez Oct 28, 2021 2 Replies 38 Views 8K Sunday at 7:31 PM EDN E Peter's Canyon, The Jeauits, and the Lost Dutchman LDWhitneyAuthor Jan 22, 2023 2 3 Replies 55 Views 3K Feb 16, 2023 LDWhitneyAuthor Clue 4 Peaks Lined up as 1 ConceptualizedNetherlandr Apr 19, 2014 8 9 10 Replies 181 Views 23K This and other Days Past articles are also available at https://sharlothallmuseum.org/articles/days-past-articles.l. Ruth was searching for lost Peralta Mines, especially that of the Lost Dutchman. 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. Two months later, Piper was found dead. The Peralta Massacre is a legend that Apaches supposedly ambushed a mining expedition the Peralta family sent into the mountains. Skeptoid Podcast. The start of the most famous legend to come from the mountains, that of the Lost Dutchman Mine, begins with these fortune-seekers. Also in 1910, the skeleton of a woman was found in a cave high up on Superstition Mountain. 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. Two more men who were hiking in the Superstitions that year became involved in some kind of dispute. He was living in Arizona in the 1860s and did mine for a living. In 1955, Charles Massey, who was hunting with a 22, was found shot between the eyes by a heavy-caliber rifle bullet. He is blindfolded and taken there by a circuitous route, and is allowed to take as much gold ore as he can carry before again being escorted blindfolded from the site by the Apaches. The 66-year-old Ruth stayed at the ranch of Tex Barkely as he prepared for his expedition. Not having much luck in California, he made his way to Arizona in the 1860s. This tale involves two German men, Jacob Waltz and Jacob Weiser. Kathy Weiser/Legends of America, updated November 2019. 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 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. 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. The Lost Dutchman is Americas most famous lost mine, and many people have risked their lives searching for it. 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. Web10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Visit website Call Write a review About This abandoned old mining town, which has been refurbished as a tourist attraction, includes a mine tour, rides and shops. However, the original coroner said that he could not be positive the skull had bullet holes in it. Waltz is attacked and wounded by marauding Apaches, but survives at least long enough to tell a man called Dr. Walker about the mine. 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. The Symposium is co-sponsored by the Sharlot Hall Museum and the Prescott Corral and is open to the public free of charge. Old Fort McDowell, photo by Tom McCurnin, courtesy Ghosttowns.com. It does not. In the Spring of 1891, Waltzs homestead was caught in a flood and he was saved from certain death by two brothers named Herman and Reinhardt Petrasch. The Lost Dutchman Mine is said to be a rich goldmine located somewhere in the southwestern American state of Arizona. 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. Next to his decomposing body was a small sack of gold ore. Several trails lead from the park into the Superstition Mountain Wilderness and surrounding Tonto National Forest. In 1976, a prospector named Howard Polling was found dead of a gunshot wound. When Cravey failed to hike out as planned, a search was started and although his camp was found, Cravey was not. 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. The Apache let him pick up as much as he could before the doctor was once again blindfolded for the return trip. WebThe Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine is a fabled gold mine located in the Southwest, though it's exact whereabouts are unknown. [21], Were it not for the death of amateur explorer and treasure hunter Adolph Ruth, the story of the Lost Dutchman's mine would probably have been little more than a footnote in Arizona history as one of hundreds of "lost mines" rumored to be in the American West. Later that year, two easterners went looking for the lost 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. There have been many stories about how to find the mine, and each year people search for the mine. The death was accidental expedition in 1848 at least three discoveries of the American West is the Dutchman! 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