As Curt Gentry wrote, "Dr. Hrdlicka positively identified the skull as that of Adolph Ruth. 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. Superstition Mountain has an elevation of 5,024 feet. We will share as much as we can for now, but as I stated earlier we are preparing for a return trip, and the location has to remain secret. Both of these legends are sometimes set before the Dutchman arrived in Arizona, but some time afterward, and thus Dr. Thorne and the soldiers may have stumbled across the Lost Dutchman's mine. Dec 18, 2016 #6 JFDIAFF: He had metal pins in his leg, and used a cane to help him walk. Today along route 88 is a pull off gravel road, that leads out behind the Lost Dutchman Museum, you follow it to a designated area, here you will find marked trail signs with trails simply marked as the Massacre Grounds.. And, amazingly, a few of these people were also found in the same headless state as Adolph Ruth. After traveling to the region, Ruth stayed several days at the ranch of Tex Barkely to outfit his expedition. Museum Members are FREE. It's unclear if Waltz himself ever specifically claimed to have a secret gold mine in the mountains, but one woman said he did claim just that Julia Thomas, Jacob Waltz's friend and neighbor, according to Skeptoid. Is it possible he took his own life? The mountain is also frequented with mysterious sounds that many people have claimed to have heard. Join us as we explore the Mysteries, Legends and stories of the Superstition Mountains. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. 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. Silvermine Mountains - Wikipedia Among the many legends to have emerged from the area, one of the most enduring ones is that of The LostDutchmansGold Mine. Reports of inexplicable sounds, sightings, and events have led to claims of supernatural beings and even aliens. 2: Cashiers for questions about whats happening at the museum and local area They either mined or found enormous gold deposits in the Superstition Mountains. Then around 1692, the Jesuit padre father Eusebio Francisco Kino arrived. Frank Jacobs. Allegedly, Dr. Thorne tried to find the cave again but was unsuccessful, or found it and was killed. Up on the mountain, if someone breaks a leg; it will take at least two on the team to get you down; it is dangerous for three healthy climbers, much less one with broken body parts. [19][20] After this was unsuccessful, Thomas and her partners were reported to be selling maps to the mine for $7 each. That is not to say that it was hidden in plain sight, defying discovery under our very noses, but rather that it was concealed by the collective expectations of generations of Dutch Hunters, veiled in legend. Your browser doesn't support the HTML5 CANVAS tag. Just to connect some dots, Mason was the fellow who staked the two soldiers who turned up dead while seeking their lost bonanza. The Lost Dutchman Mine, Arizona - Legends of America Waltz died in 1891 of pneumonia, but before he passed, he gave a few final clues to the location of his mine and even provided a crude map to it. Admission Jesse Feldman, son of Ron Feldman, indicated his belief that the mine was in the Rogers Trough area in his book, . There was indeed a Jacob Waltz who emigrated to the U.S. from Germany. As early as September 1, 1892, The Arizona Enterprise was reporting on the efforts of Thomas and several others to locate the lost mine whose location was told to her by Waltz. Towards the very south of the Silvermine Mountains is the highest peak in the mountains, Keeper Hill or in Irish Sliabh . [3] Former Arizona Attorney General Robert K. Corbin is among those who have looked for the mine. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. The mine is there to be seen, appraised, and judged in any way you see fit, but the story of how it got there is the real treasure. . Do some math. 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. The Superstition Mountain Mining Company (SMMC) No, we're not really a mining company. 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. 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. Once again, only rumors kept the legend alive, and these events drove even more Dutch hunters to the dangerous mountains. Animals like deer coyotes, pumas and bobcats live here, existing alongside birds, rodents, snakes, and other reptiles. A doctor from Illinois, Doctor Abraham Thorne, provided his service to treat the indigenous people of the Southwest. The highest peak of the range is Keeper Hill or Slievekimalta at 694 metres (2,277 ft) high. 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. In the version in which the Apaches killed the Peralta Family, the surviving member then went on to get embroiled in a brawl fight years later. Supposedly one of their 18 mines was very rich and they considered it their alfa mine. 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. In June 1931, Dr. Adolph Ruth set out on a two-week voyage through the legendary Superstition Mountains in search for the lost treasure. Thomas admitted she drew the map herself but claimed she based it on descriptions given by the Dutchman, according to Skeptoid. When you visit, follow the hard rock mining process from mine to bullion. Arcana Exploration is made up of a group of five friends and supporters, from central Ohio, who until five years ago knew very little if anything about the LDM. One of the worst kept secrets of the Superstition Mountains. While walking out of the horizontal shaft, you will walk over a 2' x 8' walkway. Instead, he went missing and his skull was found 6 months later with two large circular holes. [11] According to Blair, the origin of this story can be traced to a doctor named Thorne who was in private practice in New Mexico in the 1860s. Some searchers for the mine have disappeared in likely wilderness accidents. Though the remains had been scattered by scavengers, they were undoubtedly Ruth's. However, there were no directions to the conquest mentioned in his diary. 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. Adults $7.00 Through the years, truth and fiction about . Blair suggested that "fragments of this legend have perhaps become attached to the mythical mine of Jacob Waltz".[6]. 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". More questions about the Silver Chief Mine - TreasureNet The Unfortunately, when a group followed the clues given in Ruth's letter, they found nothing. He said the bars were all stamped with what appeared to be a crown. There's another story that supposedly took place three centuries earlier also involving a treasure stashed away in the area. 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. This also fits Waltzs description. 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. This problematic paradox, I believe, is the product of years of misdirection to steer seekers to the west side of the mountains. 4: Volunteer Coordinator Web. 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. Fact Analysis: I cannot speak for the current condition of the mine. Cravey said he would walk out of the mountains on June 28, 1947. 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. That's not even counting those hunting the treasure in the ensuing years. According to Legends of America, the Native Americans in the area believed the Thunder God of their religion lived in the Superstition Mountains, and thus they were required to protect it with lethal force, killing any who might set foot on the mountain and disturb their deity. 12 People Who Vanished Looking For The Lost Dutchman Treasure - Ranker 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. Depending on the season, you'll see not only gorgeous desert vegetation but also wildlife. In January 1932, human remains were discovered about three-quarters of a mile (1.21km) from where the skull had been found. Votes: 53 The 500-year-old mines of Bolivia's Cerro Rico mountain produced the silver that once made the Spanish empire rich. 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. In this story (actually two interconnected stories), members of the Apache tribe are said to have a very rich gold mine located in the Superstition Mountains. Other storytellers claim that the Peralta Family escaped with gold, but another family died in the massacre. Chief Silver Mine Tour - Desert Adventures, Vail AZ Great discoveries have been made in the name of hunting for hidden wealth, but much blood has been shed in those same pursuits, too. Once again, just ask Gollum. (Doug Dolde / Wikimedia Commons). 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. [volume], October 11, 1933, Page NINE, Image 9, "Arizona desert searched for missing Denver man seeking gold mine", "Mother of missing treasure hunter holds onto hope", "Body of man who hunted legendary 'Lost Dutchman's' gold mine believed found in Arizona mountains", "3 Utah men still missing on Arizona treasure hunt", "3 Search for men looking for Lost Dutchman's gold suspended", "More remains found in Superstitions; may be hiker's", "Escape - When The Man Comes, Follow Him", "The Lost Dutchman's Mine History and Bibliography", Arizona Mining Scams and Unassayable Ore Projects of the Late 20th Century, "Skeptoid #347: The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lost_Dutchman%27s_Gold_Mine&oldid=1148479290, All articles with bare URLs for citations, Articles with bare URLs for citations from April 2023, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from July 2022, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. In 1977, 292 acres (118ha) abutting the Tonto National Forest were set aside as the Lost Dutchman State Park. These steep, jagged volcanic mountains were formed over 29 million years ago and they cover an area of 160,000 acres. They removed his blindfold and let him take away as much as he could carry. Jesuit Treasure in the Superstitions - DesertUSA.com/mb3 It involves murder, secrets, and a whole lotta sweet, sweet gold. "Tex" Bradford of Globe Arizona went in search of the "Lost Dutchman Mine"; by October 1933 he had been missing for nine months. [2] [3] Ruth ended his note with the phrase "Veni, vidi, vici. He was able to find the richest ore in history right smack dab in the middle of the Superstition Mountains. It was the fifth-largest fire in Arizonas history, it raged for over a month, despite the strenuous containment efforts of over 600 firefighters. 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. Nov 19, 2003 #8. The earliest documentation of him in the U.S. is an 1848 affidavit in which Waltz declared himself to be "about 38 years old". Kino is believed to have had a rich goldmine somewhere in the Superstition Mountains. Another well-known Dutch Hunter, Jack San Felice, boldly made the case for the Pit Mine in his book. 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. The Supers are east northeast of Phoenix. They were supposedly dug up in the desert, in area east of Gold canyon and Tucson in the late 1940s byTravis E Tomlinson. It does not matter if Tomlinson engraved them or someone else did, exactly when they were made is not important, what matters is what is on them. These Native American legends aren't the only tales involving religion and gold stores in the area. He reportedly said it came from a secret mine in the Superstition Mountains. The weather in the Superstition Mountains is notoriously unpredictable, with storms seeming to come out of nowhere and accompanied by abrupt drops in temperatures. There are secrets yet in those mountains, blood and gold in the most literal sense. Two prominent landmarks here are the Weavers Needle and the Miners Needle. Mining History - Superstition Mountain Lost Dutchman Museum In December, 1931, The Arizona Republic reported on the recent discovery of a human skull in the Superstition Mountains. Sometimes, this discarded cache of gold is said to be the origin of Jacob Waltz's treasure. When I was a young buck, I used to always visit my dad in Arizona. 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? Ruth disappeared while searching for the mine in the summer of 1931. He had worked as a miner but was an amateur prospector at best. Thorne sold the ore for $6000 and became a wealthy man. 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. Waltz is attacked and wounded by marauding Apaches, but survives at least long enough to tell a man called Dr. Walker about the mine. Ask any prospector and they will tell. In speaking with one local historian and trusted source, he connects quite a few players to the site, not the least of which is Herman Petrasch. Since Ruth's death, there have been several other deaths or disappearances in the Superstition Mountains. The location is generally believed to be in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east of Phoenix, Arizona. While this doesn't mean it's impossible there's gold to mine up there, it makes it far less likely. However, the Peralta Mine eventually became unprofitable and after the money was gone Miguel Peralta turned to fraud. There's the thrill of the hunt, solving the clues, and what could be a better payoff than a big cache of riches? As a counter to Ed Piper, we have Celeste Jones, who was kind of a cult leader from California who . Many other mysterious deaths in the Superstition Mountains followed that of Ruths in the subsequent years, including two soldiers from the U.S. Army. They are anchored by Superstition Mountain, a large mountain that is a popular recreation destination for residents of the Phoenix, Arizona, area. It's likely this legend just got re-adapted to the Superstitions to boost the legend of the Lost Dutchman's mine. There May Be a Long-Lost Gold Mine in the Arizona Mountains - Discovery Finally - The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Is Found! 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. Yet, legend insists that it does. 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. In it, he puts together the clues and evidence and makes a convincing case for the Pit Mine. "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. Beyond Oak Island: Season 1 Episode 4; The Lost Dutchman Curse The western portion of the Superstitions was made a national wilderness area in 1983, and it's been closed to prospecting and mining ever since. In 1875, James Rogers made a claim there and dubbed it The Silver Chief. While Francisco Coronado did exist and did explore what is now the southwestern United States, there's nothing indicating he ever visited the Superstitions. The closest approximate was a German miner of the PennsylvaniaGerman community. James Rogers was the man who actually discovered the ledge and he became a partner with Enslinger. Follow the Process. The stories of conquistadors and Jesuits bearing gold are completely unverifiable without documentation or archaeological evidence. Tales of these other Lost Dutchman's mines can be traced to at least the 1870s. The soldiers are alleged to have presented some of the gold, but to have been killed or to have vanished soon after. Erwin passed the information to his father Adolph, who had a long-standing interest in lost mines and amateur exploration. Still, this doesn't dissuade treasure hunters. 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. (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.). Recently, however, non-destructive tests have become possible and the two samples have been compared. Home. 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. Arizona place-name expert Byrd Granger wrote, as of 1977, the Lost Dutchman's story had been printed or cited at least six times more often than two other fairly well-known tales, the story of Captain Kidd's lost treasure, and the story of the Lost Pegleg mine in California. The Jesuit Treasure of the Superstition Mountains. Famed Apache Geronimo is sometimes mentioned in relation to this story. 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). Waltz found it in the mountains and came to grab gold out of it as needed. The newcomers, thus, became the Pennsylvania Dutch. In June 1931, Ruth set out to locate the lost Peralta mine. Over the next few weeks we will provide some images and photos taken at or very near the site.
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