Then, she took the map that was either from Waltz's imagination or her own and made a whole lot of money selling copies of it. [13] In most versions of the tale, Jacob Waltz locates a rich gold mine in the Superstition Mountains (in many versions of the story, they rescue or help a member of the Peralta family and are rewarded by being told the location of the mine). In fact, Julia Thomas was the very first so-called "dutch hunter," combing through the mountains and seeking the lost gold. 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? Mine records show that one possibly two Peralta family members with possible links connecting them to the 1848 massacre, also worked at the Vulture mine during the same time period as Waltz. It is common knowledge that someone was working the mine in the late 1990s, though what exactly they extracted varies between tellers. Reports of inexplicable sounds, sightings, and events have led to claims of supernatural beings and even aliens. Once again, only rumors kept the legend alive, and these events drove even more Dutch hunters to the dangerous mountains. 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.. 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. If these conditions do not exist, gold will not exist. While Francisco Coronado did exist and did explore what is now the southwestern United States, there's nothing indicating he ever visited the Superstitions. Then the Apaches killed Jacob Weiser,or according to some, Waltz himself did it. The stories differ from here onward. (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. 1: Recorded description of the museum. 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. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. 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. 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. 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. James Rogers was the man who actually discovered the ledge and he became a partner with Enslinger. There have been many stories about how to find the mine, and each year people search for the mine. Weavers Needle, a peak located in the Superstition Mountains. 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. Follow the Process. The highest peak of the range is Keeper Hill or Slievekimalta at 694 metres (2,277 ft) high. There's the thrill of the hunt, solving the clues, and what could be a better payoff than a big cache of riches? He had metal pins in his leg, and used a cane to help him walk. Two Pennsylvania Dutchmen, Jacob Waltz and Jacob Weiser, were prospecting for gold in the area, when, one night, they happened to save a mans life in a bar brawl. 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. Then around 1692, the Jesuit padre father Eusebio Francisco Kino arrived. Recently, however, non-destructive tests have become possible and the two samples have been compared. Arcana Exploration. Web. Waltz relocated to Arizona in the 1860s, and stayed in the territory for most of the rest of his life. Regardless, Dr. Thorne helped the man and he recovered, according to Legends of America. 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. Blindbowman Bronze Member. 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. Supposedly a mine with fabulously rich gold deposits. . C. Colt1911 Tenderfoot. Nobody else has ever been able to find that rich of ore since then anywhere else in AZ. Intrigue Journal. The location in question is called the Pit Mine or The Silver Chief. Superstition Mountain, Arizona, by Kathy Alexander. In fact, the Dutchman lies on the eastern edge of the Superstitions, a few miles southwest of Iron Mountain. As the mountains have a desert climate and few water resources, there is not much vegetation here. Buy "In Search of the Heart" by Phil Reinhardt at http://www.superstitionmountainmuseum.org/museumgifts/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_. The Chief Silver mine is completely dry except for one area. We have imaging taken, with Go-pros, Sony 7000s; Osmo stabilized film cameras and Dji Phantom and Bee-bop drones. There is a Superstition Mountain Museum at 4087 N. Apache Trail, Highway 88 in Apache Junction. 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. And the answer is absolutely yes! They removed his blindfold and let him take away as much as he could carry. 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 and people who mysteriously go "missing" when they . It is here were you will reach areas that are barely penetrable, this is where most trails stop abruptly for safety reasons. What there is documentation to support is that the Dutchman may have been a con man. In the first, a doctor (sometimes said to be an Army doctor) called Dr. Thorne was said to have had a Native American man who needed medical assistance brought to him. 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. John D. Wilburn in his book Dutchman's Lost Ledge of Gold (1990), wrote that the Bulldog Gold Mine near Goldfield, Arizona, fits very well the description Jacob Waltz gave as the location of his 'lost mine'. Choice of of building material I like Ironwood +, There is a typo that should be alpha mine not alfa mine. In some versions, he's not just a man but the chieftain of the Apache tribe. Behind The Scenes menu tab will take you to additional "Behind the Scenes" materials . These steep, jagged volcanic mountains were formed over 29 million years ago and they cover an area of 160,000 acres. January 1933 a Mining electrican named J.A. The legend then states that, sometime later, the last Peralta survivor(s) were helped out of some kind of bind by Jacob Waltz, and in his debt, they gave him the only thing they had of value: a map to the Peralta family mine in the Superstition Mountains, according to Cowboys and Indiansmagazine. Students 11-17 $4.00 The mountain is also frequented with mysterious sounds that many people have claimed to have heard. I also believe the mine was never lost. He really did emigrate from Germany, though this seems to have occurred decades before the legends claim, because there are verified documents showing he filed to become an American citizen in 1848, long before he supposedly arrived in 1860, according to the Superstition Mountain Museum. He even has a gravesite you can visit today in Arizona. This problematic paradox, I believe, is the product of years of misdirection to steer seekers to the west side of the mountains. While walking out of the horizontal shaft, you will walk over a 2' x 8' walkway. 2: Cashiers for questions about whats happening at the museum and local area "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. Rogers was partnered with Aaron Mason, foreman of the Silver King mine. So, where is it then? There are secrets yet in those mountains, blood and gold in the most literal sense. Skeptoid Podcast. For the first time ever, Arcana Exploration has undeniable physical proof that the mine exists, proof that is to say, photographic physical documentation that many of the generally excepted clues, are in fact real and do exist and are physically present in one location. [4], Robert Blair wrote "[t]here have been at least four legendary Lost Dutchman's gold mines in the American West, including the famed Superstition mine of Jacob Waltz". Come on. 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. Many people have dismissed them as a hoax. Additionally, there is a partial tunnel, or drift, in the canyon below that moves in the direction of the main shaft and was crudely walled up. What is important is the informational content recorded on the stones. 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". Unfortunately, when a group followed the clues given in Ruth's letter, they found nothing. So let me say it again, the documentation found ON the stones is the most important thing not so much who carved them. The hellhole supposedly also sends out tremendous winds, and these cause the infamous dust storms of the region. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. In 1875, James Rogers made a claim there and dubbed it The Silver Chief. A not-insignificant number of those Dutch hunters have gotten hurt or even killed. 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. If you need rescued, they will land two miles away and hike in to get you. Another well-known Dutch Hunter, Jack San Felice, boldly made the case for the Pit Mine in his book. 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. Pingback: Legend of the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Parts 2 & 3: Finally Found! Among the many legends to have emerged from the area, one of the most enduring ones is that of The LostDutchmansGold Mine. 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. According to the story, in about 1912 Erwin C. Ruth gave some legal aid to Gonzales, saving him from almost certain imprisonment. The Apaches were either enraged over the violation of their sacred mountains or wanted to steal the gold from them. In any case, the event led to the naming of the Massacre Falls after it. TheSuperstition Mountains, furthermore, are the abode of the Thunder God, and he causes the frequent regional thunderstorms. Sign up for exclusive updates, previews and special content: So, where is it then? Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine is a supposedly rich gold mine either in the Superstition Mountains near Phoenix, Arizona, or somewhere in Mexico. 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. In most variants of the story, the family of a man called Miguel Peralta discovered the mine and began mining the gold there, only to be attacked or massacred by Apaches in about 1850 in the supposed Peralta massacre. There's another story that supposedly took place three centuries earlier also involving a treasure stashed away in the area. But the map to the Peralta mine was said to be missing. We are a non-profit corporation under Section 501 (c) 3, organized to collect and preserve the history and legends of Arizona's Superstition Mountains, and to support research, education and publications involving the region. Over the decades, this tale was gradually absorbed into the Lost Dutchman's story. The Superstition Mountain Historical Society was formed on December 27, 1979. Image property of Arcana Exploration, photo taken at the Lost Dutchman Museum Apache Junction, Arizona. [25] Blair noted that the conclusion of the Arizona authorities was rejected by many, including Ruth's family, and "those who held onto the more romantic murdered-for-the-map story". That's just the name we use for the group of mining exhibits that you'll experience when you visit the museum. 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 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. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. The case for the Pit Mine is not new, in fact it has been an open secret for quite some time. 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. Magill's adventures were chronicled in the book The Killer Mountains, by Curt Gentry. The location is generally believed to be in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east of Phoenix, Arizona. There's no evidence they ever came to Arizona at all. [19][20] After this was unsuccessful, Thomas and her partners were reported to be selling maps to the mine for $7 each. 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. There are many variations of this story, including that the mine is cursed, killing anyone who . Hanna-Barbara, Jean Giraud, and Don Rosa have incorporated the story in their cartoons. Tantalizingly, Ruth's checkbook was also recovered, and proved to contain a note written by Ruth wherein he claimed to have discovered the mine and gave detailed directions. 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. Only one (sometimes two) could not be accounted for. [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. 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). He reportedly said it came from a secret mine in the Superstition Mountains. While this doesn't mean it's impossible there's gold to mine up there, it makes it far less likely. He had worked as a miner but was an amateur prospector at best. [29][clarification needed]. In 1931, the two sought the Lost Dutchman's gold mine, but Adolph Ruth, against his son's wishes, went looking alone, according to Skeptoid. Hardie agrees to join a father searching for his son who is seeking a lost gold mine in Arizona's Superstition Mountains. Two prominent landmarks here are the Weavers Needle and the Miners Needle. It's not even out of the question the expedition was a misdirect to make it seem like she and her cohorts were looking for something to bolster the legend. The Silvermine Mountains or Silvermines Mountains ( Irish: Sliabh an Airgid) [1] are a mountain range in County Tipperary, Ireland. Seniors $6.00 (65 and older) STSTW Media strives to deliver accurate information through careful research. However, the Peralta Mine eventually became unprofitable and after the money was gone Miguel Peralta turned to fraud. There was indeed a Jacob Waltz who emigrated to the U.S. from Germany. 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. 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. And, amazingly, a few of these people were also found in the same headless state as Adolph Ruth. Some carved stones in the area are referred to as "Peralta Stones" and Spanish text and crude maps on them are considered by some to be clues to the location of a Peralta family gold mine in the Superstition Mountains, although others believe the stones to be modern fakes. 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. Legend of the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Parts 2 & 3: Finally Found! 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". 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. [17] Note that tombstone pictured shows birth year as 1808. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year. This is very important! 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. He really did die in 1891 of pneumonia. It's impossible to know for certain, but there is one big clue. 9 May 2022. [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. The mine is named after German immigrant Jakob Waltz (c. 18101891), who purportedly discovered it in the 19th century and kept its location a secret. When and where we can get a direct line of sight, we use high tech Walkie talkies, to communicate with each other. In June 1931, Ruth set out to locate the lost Peralta mine. [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. He pursued mining and prospecting, but seems to have had little luck with either. He said the bars were all stamped with what appeared to be a crown. Yet, legend insists that it does. 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. Is it possible he took his own life? Over the next few weeks we will provide some images and photos taken at or very near the site. It is a ranger-guided hike focusing on the aesthetic . They planned to return, but once they left, they were never seen again. However, things can go wrong. One of the best treasure tales in the history of the American West is the Lost Dutchman Mine. (Doug Dolde / Wikimedia Commons). So who killed the Spanish treasure hunters that came to the land? And importantly I have hard facts that the Stones are linked to other historical information. 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. 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. 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. The photographic evidence taken at the site along with a selection of maps combined with historical documentation together, links the most generally accepted and related informational evidence too present day boots on the ground reality. [9] As of 1975, ruins of the Peralta mine were standing.[9]. Supposedly one of their 18 mines was very rich and they considered it their alfa mine. Later, he remarked that he had noticed a towering rock formation nearby, but otherwise remained clueless about the whereabouts of the place. Now riddled with tunnels, the mountain is a death trap for the . [12] Thorne related his claims to three U.S. soldiers in about 1858. 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. He never came home. Other storytellers claim that the Peralta Family escaped with gold, but another family died in the massacre. The Peralta Stones are a set of engraved stone tableted works that are approximately 18 inches long and weigh about 25 lbs. This is considered to be the starting and gathering point for most Dutch Hunters. Now the Last Similarities There is a Company that claims there millions of tons of copper under a Area in the Superstition's. They tested that area, it just so happens to be a Area the Mexicans mined back in the day. 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. People off his Mine that he cover up with a ironwood tree :The books give me my It's also worth noting the mountains aren't known to have gotten their ironic name from any of the above legends. These Native American legends aren't the only tales involving religion and gold stores in the area. To underline his great find, he had also written Veni, Vidi, Vici (I came, I saw, and I conquered) in his diary.
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