[12] The three soldiers set out to find the gold, but without success. Weavers Needle, a peak located in the Superstition Mountains. The map is supposedly filled with clues, and there are many others purportedly given by Waltz at various points in his life according to legends, but it's hard to prove he actually ever said any of those things. ZERO ZIP NADA!! The Legend Of The Lost Dutchman And His Gold Mine Explained 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. In fact, the Dutchman lies on the eastern edge of the Superstitions, a few miles southwest of Iron Mountain. People off his Mine that he cover up with a ironwood tree :The books give me my Kino is believed to have had a rich goldmine somewhere in the Superstition Mountains. Superstition Mountain has an elevation of 5,024 feet. The beginning and end of the tale will be told with ore. Gold ore has its own fingerprint, discernible from other gold ore. Explore The Mysteries. It is my understanding that the results, while not conclusive, state that there is about a seventy-five percent chance that they came from the same source. The highest peak of the range is Keeper Hill or Slievekimalta at 694 metres (2,277 ft) high. However, there were no directions to the conquest mentioned in his diary. The Superstition Mountains ( Yavapai: Wi:kchsawa) is a range of mountains in Arizona located to the east of the Phoenix metropolitan area. 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). It was the fifth-largest fire in Arizonas history, it raged for over a month, despite the strenuous containment efforts of over 600 firefighters. 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]. Much of the truth has laid obscured in old Spanish, Jesuit and Catholic Church documentation, including maps, expedition journals, and diaries and in many cases with those buried in long ago lost and forgotten graves. Finally - The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Is Found! Paperback $39.95 9 Used from $24.95 The Saga of the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine legend. However, despite bankrupting herself and spending a very long time in the mountains, she and her search party never found any evidence of a hidden gold cache, per Arizona Report. "Tex" Bradford of Globe Arizona went in search of the "Lost Dutchman Mine"; by October 1933 he had been missing for nine months. 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. Come on. [29][clarification needed]. While the Jesuits were eventually allowed to return to the area, it seems they either forgot the treasure or couldn't find it, and so it was still in the mountains when it was perhaps discovered by none other than the Dutchman himself, Jacob Waltz. Yet, legend insists that it does. From this base he easily could have worked a gold mine in the Superstition Mountains. There's another story that supposedly took place three centuries earlier also involving a treasure stashed away in the area. We miss it. To recoup the costs of the search, Julia Thomas actually began to make handmade copies of Waltz's map and sell it to others. So where did all these rumors of lost gold in the Superstition Mountains originate? 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. Do you think the Silver Chief Mine is where Jacob Waltz got his gold 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. [1], The Lost Dutchman's is perhaps the most famous lost mine in American history. He pursued mining and prospecting, but seems to have had little luck with either. The search, nevertheless, still continues. The neighboursJulia Thomas, Rhinehart Petrasch, and Hermann Petraschspent weeks looking for the gold, but failed to find it. The elder Ruth had fallen and badly broken several bones while seeking the lost Pegleg mine in California. Aug 15, 2007 1,941 906 Primary Interest: Finally The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Is Found! 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. 1: Recorded description of the museum. Treasure Map of the Superstition MountainsThe Peralta Stones A few folks who had claims prior to 1983 were allowed to continue to work them for a time, but I don't believe any of those claims are still being worked today. James Rogers was the man who actually discovered the ledge and he became a partner with Enslinger. They came back from the mountains hauling a lot of gold and saying there was far more from whence it came. 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. [42] The park was expanded to 320 acres (130ha) in 1983. Not only that, but some legends claim there were a number of shrines in the mountains filled with gold meant to be an offering to the Thunder God. The Gold Rush was in full swing and Waltz wanted a piece of those potential fortunes. Regardless, Dr. Thorne helped the man and he recovered, according to Legends of America. The soldiers are alleged to have presented some of the gold, but to have been killed or to have vanished soon after. Sign up for exclusive updates, previews and special content: So, where is it then? To underline his great find, he had also written Veni, Vidi, Vici (I came, I saw, and I conquered) in his diary. We know today they're not actually sedimentary rock, but volcanic, according to Lost Dutchman State Park. 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. We are currently in the process of planning for a return trip to further document our findings. 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. Here he worked at the Vulture Mine as a paid miner. The conquistador ordered the men to stay close together so they weren't picked off, but this didn't help. Dec 4, 2008 4,168 3,192. Next week I will list some clues that are absolutely relevant to what we have physically on site. It's likely this legend just got re-adapted to the Superstitions to boost the legend of the Lost Dutchman's mine. There's even been a ban on mining in the Superstition Mountains since 1984 due to the number of people coming and getting killed in mining accidents searching for the Lost Dutchman's gold. His expeditions led to the discovery of several of what he called Spanish mines which, at the time, was in contradiction to accepted history. Jesuits - Ancient Lost Treasures Also, there's no documentation showing he ever filed a claim for a mine in the Superstitions or any paperwork showing where he allegedly sold mass amounts of gold. If you find the above article inaccurate or biased, please let us know at[emailprotected]. Image property of Arcana Exploration, photo taken at the Lost Dutchman Museum Apache Junction, Arizona. Waltz is also said to make a deathbed confession to Julia Thomas, and draws or describes a crude map to the gold mine. Mining History - Superstition Mountain Lost Dutchman Museum Please note that admission prices for Special Events are subject to change. Through the years, truth and fiction about . This, of course, is how the Dutchman is supposed to havereally found his treasure. Famed Apache Geronimo is sometimes mentioned in relation to this story. As Curt Gentry wrote, "Dr. Hrdlicka positively identified the skull as that of Adolph Ruth. The early Spanish the Peraltas the Jesuits and many others all came to the Superstition Mountains looking for legendary gold. Other prominent features that fit Waltzs clues, among many others, include: Skeptics will tell you, as will anyone who has hiked those mountains, that there are many other places that fit these descriptions and that seeing faces, or other objects, in rocks can be simple pareidolia, and there is a fair amount of truth in that. The breathable air on some surfaces actually gets even hotter; this is the biggest killer in the Superstition Mountains and dont forget the rattle snakes, scorpions, tarantula spiders, Gila monsters plus huge mountain lions and dozens of other things that will take your life. For instance, about six of the maps are relevant, others may be relevant, but for now do not appear to be. Museum Members are FREE. Thorne claimed that he was taken captive by Navajos in 1854, and that during his captivity he had discovered a rich gold vein. It is believed that all were killed except for two Peralta family members who were severely wounded but managed to escape. In 1847-1848 during the time of the Hidalgo Treaty when Mexico sold the territory to the United Sates the Peraltas, knowing they would lose access to their mines made one last trip bringing hundreds of miners from Sonora to mine as much as they could, but were attacked by Apaches. 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. It's also worth noting the mountains aren't known to have gotten their ironic name from any of the above legends. Going on a year now. There, his blindfold was removed and he saw a cave full of gold. The legend goes that an immigrant named Jacob Waltz found the mine and then took his secret to the grave. Waltz is attacked and wounded by marauding Apaches, but survives at least long enough to tell a man called Dr. Walker about the mine. What there is documentation to support is that the Dutchman may have been a con man. According to the tales, a Spanish conquistador (often said to be Francisco Vazquez de Coronado, but sometimes reported as any number of other explorers, real and fictional) came to the Superstition Mountains in the mid-1500s searching for a mythical city of gold, one of the legendary Seven Cities of Gold, somewhere in the mountains, according to Legends of America. 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. There was indeed a Jacob Waltz who emigrated to the U.S. from Germany. Recently, however, non-destructive tests have become possible and the two samples have been compared. The search has been a profound one and I discovered that it wasnt the mine I was looking for, but the story. It is here were you will reach areas that are barely penetrable, this is where most trails stop abruptly for safety reasons. 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 short "Discovery Trail" is a clear route with several placards giving the natural history of the area. Cox also believed he had found the Dutchman, though it is unclear to which one of his claims he made this attribution. Yet, legend insists that it does. 3: Gift Shop and Event Manager Dave McElligott And importantly I have hard facts that the Stones are linked to other historical information. Tales of these other Lost Dutchman's mines can be traced to at least the 1870s. Arcana Exploration has been there on four separate trips the first in October of 2015. According to legends, a man named Jacob Waltz, the titular Dutchman (though he was actually German and not Dutch), came to America to seek out his fortune around the 1860s, according to Lost Dutchman State Park. I cannot speak for the current condition of the mine. Previously, comparative tests which could prove that the matchbox and the Pit Mine samples were related were destructive in nature. This beautiful program is designed to start with a famous Arizona sunset draping gracefully over the Superstition Mountains, and end under the light of the full moon. Waltz did claim to have a treasure, but he really didn't and was simply telling tall tales to make his life seem more interesting, then Julia Thomas believed him. The Pit Mine is located close to the Randolph Mining District, which is historically well known and produced vast amounts of silver. Since Ruth's death, there have been several other deaths or disappearances in the Superstition Mountains. There is a lot of speculation about Aaron Mason and his involvement, but one interesting fact is that the man became a millionaire during this time. Among the many legends to have emerged from the area, one of the most enduring ones is that of The LostDutchmansGold Mine. Votes: 53 There have been many stories about how to find the mine, and each year people search for the mine. The Jesuit priests were the most educated and loyal orders to the King of Spain (and to the Pope). At the low elevations, you will encounter tall saguaro cactusand Ponderosa pines at higher levels, and these are generally near the streams. However, things started going wrong immediately as men began to disappear, later being found decapitated. The Superstitions Mountains lie within the Tonto National wildlife refuge and consist of 242 square miles not counting other designated and preserved areas that boarder the Tonto National Forest and wildlife refuge. Later I will give more details and then begin providing information on how things fit together. It is about three and a half miles of rough trail, though, if youre observant, you will eventually come across some of the more infamous Dutchman clues. Another well-known Dutch Hunter, Jack San Felice, boldly made the case for the Pit Mine in his bookThe Lost El Dorado of Jacob Waltz. 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. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Instead, he went missing and his skull was found 6 months later with two large circular holes. The Superstition Mountains to the east of Phoenix, AZ reportedly hold a legendary motherlode of gold known as the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine. January 1933 a Mining electrican named J.A. As the mountains have a desert climate and few water resources, there is not much vegetation here. Traditionally, the mountains were deemed to be part of the Slieve Felim Mountains. There's some evidence to suggest he engaged in a shady practice called highgrading basically claiming ore is more valuable than it really is. Not much silver was recovered in the 1979 time period and there was no mention of gold having been taken. 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. In 1977, 292 acres (118ha) abutting the Tonto National Forest were set aside as the Lost Dutchman State Park. He said the bars were all stamped with what appeared to be a crown. Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine is a supposedly rich gold mine either in the Superstition Mountains near Phoenix, Arizona, or somewhere in Mexico. This tale involves two German men, Jacob Waltz and Jacob Weiser. The Peralta Stones are a set of engraved stone tableted works that are approximately 18 inches long and weigh about 25 lbs. [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. The trails in the Superstition Mountains range from short, easy strolls in the desert to strenuous climbs of some of the most dramatic volcanic peaks and everything in between. After the conquistadors and priests are purported to have come and gone from the Superstition Mountains, legend tells of another group who arrived sometime in the earlier half of the 1800s. While popular with campers, hikers, and adventure seekers, these mountains are also known for their exceedingly hot summers, freezing winters, harsh winds, unpredictable storms, treacherous terrain, and mysterious happenings. 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. 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). 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It is a ranger-guided hike focusing on the aesthetic . It is known as the Pit Mine because of the funnel like shape it was dug in, which was common in Spanish and Mexican mining. Some have died on the search. Except perhaps not. There have been many stories about how to find the mine, and each year people search for the mine. The hellhole supposedly also sends out tremendous winds, and these cause the infamous dust storms of the region. Nov 19, 2003 #8. Many other mysterious deaths in the Superstition Mountains followed that of Ruths in the subsequent years, including two soldiers from the U.S. Army. A two-room rock house in a cave across the canyon from the mine, The peak of Weavers needle being visible from the top of the mine, The military trail being visible below, but not vice versa, It being in a smaller east-west canyon inside a north-south running canyon, The case for the Pit Mine is not new, in fact it has been an open secret for quite some time. The Pit Mine IS the Silver Chief Mine. The Apaches were either enraged over the violation of their sacred mountains or wanted to steal the gold from them. It can also be a touchy subject to broach, depending on who you are speaking with. 12 People Who Vanished Looking For The Lost Dutchman Treasure - Ranker The Peralta Massacre is a legend that Apaches supposedly ambushed a mining expedition the Peralta family sent into the mountains. There are secrets yet in those mountains, blood and gold in the most literal sense. 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. There's the thrill of the hunt, solving the clues, and what could be a better payoff than a big cache of riches? How To Enjoy The Beauty Of Arizona's Superstition Mountains Jacob Waltz took possession of his mine in 1869, six years before the Silver Chief was filed as an original location. However, Blair argued that there is a strong likelihood that there never was a second man named Weiser, but rather that a single person named Waltz was, over the years, turned into two men as the legend of the Dutchman's mine evolved. He never returned, and months later, an archaeological expedition encountered his remains, which indicated he had been shot, and a hand-written note claiming he had found the entrance to the mine. The location in question is called the Pit Mine or The Silver Chief. Mystery of 'deathtrap' lost gold mine where people seek fortune - but In any case, the event led to the naming of the Massacre Falls after it. 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. Join us as we explore the Mysteries, Legends and stories of the Superstition Mountains. There May Be a Long-Lost Gold Mine in the Arizona Mountains - 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. The newcomers, thus, became the Pennsylvania Dutch. Even if the stories of soldiers looking specifically for the Lost Dutchman mine are true, there's no evidence they actually found anything at all and didn't just move on empty-handed, no mysterious deaths required. There was a catastrophic flood in Phoenix in 1891, and Waltz's farm was one of many that was devastated. Elevation: 6,001 Feet (1,829 Meters) Primary Mineral: Copper Lat, Long: 46.3369, -113.26190 Map: View on Google Maps 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. They are anchored by Superstition Mountain, a large mountain that is a popular recreation destination for residents of the Phoenix, Arizona, area. Bellhop Jesse Capen, 35, was obsessed with the legend of the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine. So, where is it then? While Francisco Coronado did exist and did explore what is now the southwestern United States, there's nothing indicating he ever visited the Superstitions. 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. 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. So what do we really know about these legends, Waltz, and the Superstition Mountains? 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). Mysteries of the Superstition Mountains - YouTube (Doug Dolde / Wikimedia Commons). 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". Pingback: Legend of the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Parts 2 & 3: Finally Found! Peralta Stones are fake - DesertUSA It's impossible to know for certain, but there is one big clue. Ruth did not return as scheduled, and no trace of him could be found after a brief search. 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. There are several paths that go through the brush and cacti. 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. For more. While not unique features, they are extremely consistent with Jacob Waltzs descriptions. This is very important! In fact, the Dutchman lies on the eastern edge of the Superstitions, a few miles southwest of Iron Mountain. Silvermines, historically known as Bellagowan (Irish: Bal tha Gabhann), is a village in County Tipperary in Ireland.It lies immediately north of the Silvermine mountain range and takes its name from the extensive mines of lead, zinc, copper, baryte and silver nearby. Still, there is by no means a consensus among Dutch Hunters and many dismiss it entirely, regardless of scientific evidence. Apparently, Waltz began to hint he knew of a secret gold vein hidden in the mountains, even giving out a few clues to its location. (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.). 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. [10] Trouble came after Willing learned that the deed was entirely bogus.
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