Years later, a man called Dr. Thorne treats an ailing or wounded Apache (often alleged to be a chieftain) and is rewarded with a trip to a rich gold mine. Bellhop Jesse Capen, 35, was obsessed with the legend of the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine. Pingback: Legend of the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Parts 2 & 3: Finally Found! Kino is believed to have had a rich goldmine somewhere in the Superstition Mountains. Frank Jacobs. Combine these with the legends of the indigenous Pima Indians and the mountains live up to their name. When and where we can get a direct line of sight, we use high tech Walkie talkies, to communicate with each other. This is considered to be the starting and gathering point for most Dutch Hunters. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Aug 15, 2007 1,941 906 Primary Interest: It is generally accepted that the Peraltas and roughly 400 peon miners were massacred by the Apaches sometime around 1848. Instead, he went missing and his skull was found 6 months later with two large circular holes. 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. Official estimates vary (the Superstition Mountains are also a popular hiking area and sometimes it's likely difficult to tell if someone was just hiking and got lost or was looking for the Lost Dutchman), but there are at least some every decade. "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. 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? Cox was a contrarian to the accepted Waltz lore of the day and had his own theories about thePeraltasand Waltz. Kinos Mission San Xavier del Bac near Tucson unlike other missions in California was both massive and opulent, and still stands today. There are many stories about hidden gold in the Superstition Mountains, and these usually mention the Peralta Family. The average high temperature in June, July and August, is 104 degrees. According to Thomas, it was on his deathbed that Jacob Waltz shared the story of his secret mine, and even provided a map to it filled with clues. Of course, one obvious argument against this being the Dutchman is the fact that The Silver Chief was a silver mine, not a gold mine. 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. 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. To underline his great find, he had also written Veni, Vidi, Vici (I came, I saw, and I conquered) in his diary. And importantly I have hard facts that the Stones are linked to other historical information. Seniors $6.00 (65 and older) As predicted by Waltz none are miners, they are in fact like most folks that are reading this post, just regular hard-working everyday folks with normal jobs, going to their kids ball games, playing a round of golf, and in the fall deer hunting and going to Blue Jackets NHL games. I understand that it has been filled in recently and the surrounding area may have been hit by recent wildfires. Rogers was partnered with Aaron Mason, foreman of the Silver King mine. 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. These Native American legends aren't the only tales involving religion and gold stores in the area. Everyone loves a good treasure hunting story. In any case, the event led to the naming of the Massacre Falls after it. Thorne sold the ore for $6000 and became a wealthy man. In it, he puts together the clues and evidence and makes a convincing case for the Pit Mine. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Ask any prospector and they will tellyou,gold is where you find it. Many people have died trying to find it over the years, and, even with all the modern technology at our disposal today, the exact location of the mine in the vast wilderness still remains an enigma. Hanna-Barbara, Jean Giraud, and Don Rosa have incorporated the story in their cartoons. Magill's adventures were chronicled in the book The Killer Mountains, by Curt Gentry. Unfortunately, when a group followed the clues given in Ruth's letter, they found nothing. Dec 4, 2008 4,168 3,192. Arcana Exploration. It's an entire genre all its own, from pirate maps to all the stuff Nicolas Cage got up to in the National Treasure movies. I feel the information on the Peralta stones is most likely from a very old map of Jesuit origin. When you visit, follow the hard rock mining process from mine to bullion. 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. This seems to have been made up solely for the various legends, according to Tom Kollenborn Chronicles. And the answer is absolutely yes! The search has been a profound one and I discovered that it wasnt the mine I was looking for, but the story. If you find the above article inaccurate or biased, please let us know at[emailprotected]. Devils Tower in Wyoming: A National Monument and a Geological Wonder, Ennedi Plateau and Aloba Arch: Home to Exquisite Natural Formations and Extinct Animals, Fingals Cave: The Musical Geometry of Natures Domain, The Moeraki Boulders of New Zealand: Naturally Formed Spherical Boulders from the Paleocene Era, Scaly-foot Gastropod: A Snail with an Iron Armour That Lives Near the Hydrothermal Vents, Stanford Torus & Bernal Sphere: Model Space Colonies for Mankind to Set up Base in Space, Coconut Crab: The Monstrous Predator that Might Have Killed Amelia Earhart, Mammoth Camera: When George Lawrence Built an Enormous Camera for One Particular Picture, Nixons Pyramid: The $6 Billion Safeguard Program Which Lasted One Day, Market Theater Gum Wall: The Sticky Story of a Wall Decorated in Chewing Gum, Sanaa, Yemen: The Cradle of Arabian Ancestry, A Strange Predatory Link Between Killer Whales and Moose, Balut: A Filipino Delicacy Not Many Have the Stomach to Digest, Leonardos Robot: Leonardo da Vincis Mechanical Knight and Other Robots, Mowgli was Real: Dina Sanichar, the Indian Boy Raised by Wolves, Green Boots: Dead Climbers Not Brought Back from Mount Everest Now Serve as Milestones. "Dutchman's Gold" was the season 4, episode 19 of, This page was last edited on 6 April 2023, at 12:08. The initial search party found no trace of him, but then, in December 1931, they found a human skull with two holes from a .44 caliber. 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. 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. As a counter to Ed Piper, we have Celeste Jones, who was kind of a cult leader from California who . Jesse Feldman, son of Ron Feldman, indicated his belief that the mine was in the Rogers Trough area in his book, . An alternate view which better fits the lost mine legend is that he periodically appeared with large amounts of gold, The Sterling Legend by Estee Conatser reports that a Jacob Walzer sold $250,000 in gold to the U.S. Mint during the 1880s and had $1500 when he died in 1891. In June 1931, Dr. Adolph Ruth set out on a two-week voyage through the legendary Superstition Mountains in search for the lost treasure. Around 1860 a German immigrant named Jacob Waltz moved into the Wickenburg Arizona area about 80 miles from Phoenix. each. It next surfaced in history in 1957 when it was claimed by a man named Quentin Ted Cox. Some think this mine was first excavated by Mexico's Peralta family, then commandeered by Apaches or simply abandoned. The neighboursJulia Thomas, Rhinehart Petrasch, and Hermann Petraschspent weeks looking for the gold, but failed to find it. He was able to find the richest ore in history right smack dab in the middle of the Superstition Mountains. The location is generally believed to be in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east of Phoenix, Arizona. . ZERO ZIP NADA!! Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Erwin passed the information to his father Adolph, who had a long-standing interest in lost mines and amateur exploration. , The Waterbury Democrat. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. James Rogers was the man who actually discovered the ledge and he became a partner with Enslinger. This is only speculation, what I do know is that, people who have dismissed the information on the stones, no matter who carved the stones, those non believers have been badly mistaken. So what do we really know about these legends, Waltz, and the Superstition Mountains? As Curt Gentry wrote, "Dr. Hrdlicka positively identified the skull as that of Adolph Ruth. Take, for example, the story of Adolph Ruth, an experienced treasure hunter who typically worked with his son, Erwin. In some versions, he's not just a man but the chieftain of the Apache tribe. The Chief Silver mine is completely dry except for one area. Further legends claim the conquistador and his men were bearing their own reserves of gold, looted from previous expeditions, but ended up leaving it behind when they escaped whatever was killing them. [28], One fact against the existence of "Lost Dutchman Mine" is that Waltz was a "placer miner"; while the gold pieces he had were in quartz, the Superstition Mountains are in fact volcanic. I cannot speak for the current condition of the mine. In an addition to this legend, it's claimed two soldiers came to the Superstitions after hearing of Dr. Thorne's story to see if they could locate the cache. The story sometimes claims there were arrows all around, and so thus it must have been the Apache protecting their sacred mountains. Over the next few weeks we will provide some images and photos taken at or very near the site. The beginning and end of the tale will be told with ore. Gold ore has its own fingerprint, discernible from other gold ore. Surprisingly, he was a real man. In the year 1870, with his consent, they blindfolded him and took him on a 20-mile trip to an unknown location piled with gold ore. Supposedly, the Peraltas actually found a very rich gold vein and set up a mining operation. This account is usually dated to about 1870. The story goes that in the mid-1700s, the Superstition Mountains were visited by a group of priests of the Jesuit Order, and they came with over 240 mules loaded down with gold, according to the Denver Post. Is it possible he took his own life? But Blair suggested that this core story was distorted in subsequent retellings, comparing the many variants of the Lost Dutchman's story to the game of Chinese whispers, where the original account is distorted in multiple retellings of the tale.[15]. They came back from the mountains hauling a lot of gold and saying there was far more from whence it came. 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. 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. Sometimes, this discarded cache of gold is said to be the origin of Jacob Waltz's treasure. 4087 East Apache Trail The men must deal with a lack of water and the fact that the map leads him into lands held sacred by the Apaches. 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. Supposedly a mine with fabulously rich gold deposits. 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. The praying hands formation at the Superstition Mountains range. The stories of conquistadors and Jesuits bearing gold are completely unverifiable without documentation or archaeological evidence. And, amazingly, a few of these people were also found in the same headless state as Adolph Ruth. Because of what we have discovered at the site, Arcana Exploration believes we have proof for the first time that there is a common link between Waltz and the Peraltas. He turned out to be the surviving Peralta, and, to express his gratitude, he gave them directions to his familys gold mine in the Superstition Mountains. These include Barry Storms book Thunder Gods Gold, published in 1945, detailing his own efforts to find the gold, and the Glen Ford and Ida Lupino movie, Lust for Gold, from 1949. 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. In 1875, James Rogers made a claim there and dubbed it The Silver Chief. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. OH, I almost forgot there is no cell phone service absolutely none. As the mountains have a desert climate and few water resources, there is not much vegetation here. I personally spoke with Ron a few months back when he described his findings to me, which he is publishing in a forthcoming book. Intrigue Journal. Just to connect some dots, Mason was the fellow who staked the two soldiers who turned up dead while seeking their lost bonanza. If you were inclined to seek it out, your starting location would be the Rogers Trough Trailhead, though you would not be taking that trail, rather you would be backtracking along the ridge, roughly northwest, in generally the same direction as the primitive road you drove in. At the low elevations, you will encounter tall saguaro cactusand Ponderosa pines at higher levels, and these are generally near the streams. Those of us local to the area and who have researched the subject know that. While walking out of the horizontal shaft, you will walk over a 2' x 8' walkway. Also, as previously mentioned, no Native American tribes in the region seem to have any history of treating the mountains as anything other than regular mountains. Some of you reading this may know a lot, about the Lost Dutchman Goldmine, others may be new to the story of the Lost Dutchman Mine, so before going much further, I will do a very quick overview. Through the years, truth and fiction about . Willing died in 1874 before there had been a thorough investigation of the documents or opportunity to cross examine him on the stand as was later done with Reavis. Get Mysteries of the Superstition Mountains gear at https://my-store-cadb1e.creator-sprin. The closest approximate was a German miner of the PennsylvaniaGerman community. This is very important! The Pit Mine is located close to the Randolph Mining District, which is historically well known and produced vast amounts of silver. Behind The Scenes menu tab will take you to additional "Behind the Scenes" materials . The search, nevertheless, still continues. Adults $7.00 The area is filled with ghost tales, monster . Home. Mike . Sep 2, 2019 5 6 . Arcadia Publishing. In researching this, I have had the fortune of speaking with some of the most knowledgeable historians and experts on the subject, which has only deepened my love for the Superstitions. Follow the Process. [12] The three soldiers set out to find the gold, but without success. 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. Apache Junction, AZ 85119-8409, Phone options: 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. The Peralta Massacre is a legend that Apaches supposedly ambushed a mining expedition the Peralta family sent into the mountains. The Supers are east northeast of Phoenix. 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. "Jesse James Feldman has uncovered compelling new evidence of a chain of events that link pre-Anglo mining in Arizona's famed Superstition Mountains with Jacob Waltz and the Peralta miners. [2] [3] (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.). 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. Alleged lost gold mine in the Superstition Mountains. A map is available in the gift shop and signage along the path explains the stages. "Tex" Bradford of Globe Arizona went in search of the "Lost Dutchman Mine"; by October 1933 he had been missing for nine months. Keep in mind for security reasons for now I have to be selective on what we divulge. So who killed the Spanish treasure hunters that came to the land? [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. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year. This is what brought him to the Superstition Mountains (yes, that's their real name) near what is today the city of Phoenix, Arizona. There was indeed a Jacob Waltz who emigrated to the U.S. from Germany. Still, there is by no means a consensus among Dutch Hunters and many dismiss it entirely, regardless of scientific evidence. After traveling to the region, Ruth stayed several days at the ranch of Tex Barkely to outfit his expedition. He reportedly said it came from a secret mine in the Superstition Mountains. [9] As of 1975, ruins of the Peralta mine were standing.[9]. While Francisco Coronado did exist and did explore what is now the southwestern United States, there's nothing indicating he ever visited the Superstitions. They found what they were looking for and then some, according to Lost Dutchman State Park. Reports of inexplicable sounds, sightings, and events have led to claims of supernatural beings and even aliens. He had worked as a miner but was an amateur prospector at best. Let may say this; it is not important who engraved the stones, and if itwas Tomlinson and he being the maker or someone else being the engraver of the stones while historically interesting it is not the most important thing. Padre Kino founded many missions including Mission San Xavier del Bac near Tucson. The Jesuit Treasure of the Superstition Mountains. Then later the Mexicans including the powerful Peralta family made forays to the area from Sonora and are believed to have had 18 gold mines in the Supers. Now riddled with tunnels, the mountain is a death trap for the . The soldiers are alleged to have presented some of the gold, but to have been killed or to have vanished soon after. While this is true, it is also true that gold pockets can exist alongside of silver veins. Forgive me if I currently do not have the technical documentation for the claim as the current pandemic has prohibited me from obtaining the source material. When you visit, follow the hard rock mining process from mine to bullion. Full Moon Hike at Lost Dutchman. It is common knowledge that someone was working the mine in the late 1990s, though what exactly they extracted varies between tellers. The Pit Mine IS the Silver Chief Mine. Ruth disappeared while searching for the mine in the summer of 1931. Mike . So where did all these rumors of lost gold in the Superstition Mountains originate? Two prominent landmarks here are the Weavers Needle and the Miners Needle. There have been many books, films, and cartoons about the Lost Gold of the Superstition Mountains. What is important is the informational content recorded on the stones. The Apaches were either enraged over the violation of their sacred mountains or wanted to steal the gold from them. . The exact year varies, but the story goes that a rich Mexican mining family named Peralta also came to the area in search of gold. Still, there is by no means a consensus among Dutch Hunters and many dismiss it entirely, regardless of scientific evidence. (Part 1) When the Spanish explorers discovered and began the exploration of the Americas the King of Spain required that a priest accompany the conquistadors. And is that information relevant? He'll tell you the ore assayed out to something like 10,000 ounces of gold to the ton. Arcana has had the luxury of having had the site location for over three years, and for this reason we have been able to reverse engineer, historical information and put many of the pieces together. [29][clarification needed]. Early on during the Spanish Conquest, Conquistadors such as Francisco Vazquez de Coronado (1535) came to the American southwest (New Spain) in search of gold trying to locate, Montezumas Seven Cities of Cibola. It seems likely there was no Dr. Thorne, but there was a doctor in New Mexico who told a similar tall tale, except he was kidnapped by the Navajo tribe in his story. Weavers Needle, a peak located in the Superstition Mountains. Like most legends, when you strip it down as close to the truth as possible, it is never as glorious as imagined. Waltz found it in the mountains and came to grab gold out of it as needed. 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. In fact, the Dutchman lies on the eastern edge of the Superstitions, a few miles southwest of Iron Mountain. (Latin Heart Reader / Wikimedia Commons). In many areas they cannot, and will not for any reason land, and actually have designated no fly zones. [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. Admission While he allegedly worked as a miner at numerous mines earlier in his life, eventually Waltz decided he wanted to prospect on his own. In his 1945 book about the Lost Dutchman's mine. Traditionally, the mountains were deemed to be part of the Slieve Felim Mountains. Lastly, the alleged mine directions Ruth had were from an 1895 newspaper account. 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. 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. One of the best treasure tales in the history of the American West is the Lost Dutchman Mine. The clues themselves do not prove that it is the Dutchman. 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. Since James Reavis, "the Baron of Arizona", was convicted of fraud when the Peralta family genealogy and other documents to support the land grant (and a barony associated with that land) were determined to be forgeries it also raises questions about the original purchase of the land grant by Dr. George M. Willing Jr. (the transaction had supposedly occurred at a primitive campsite to the southeast of Prescott without the benefit of the typical documentation; instead of a notarized deed, the conveyance was recorded on a piece of greasy camp paper bearing signature of several witnesses). [17] Note that tombstone pictured shows birth year as 1808. What really matters, though, is that Waltz the namesake Dutchman, or "Deutsch" (German) man wouldn't reveal the mine's location.