In 1945, a book about the Lost Dutchman Mine was written by Barry Storm, who claimed to have narrowly escaped from a mysterious sniper. This tale involves two German men, Jacob Waltz and Jacob Weiser. The soldiers replied that the ore had been picked up while crossing Superstition Mountain, where they had also spied an old mine. People often asked of him the obvious questions Where was the gold coming from? The headlines were sensational alleging that Ruth had been murdered for his map. The Apache; however, refused to help them, telling them that if they dared to trespass on the sacred ground, the Thunder God would take revenge upon them, causing tremendous suffering and horrible deaths. [12] The three soldiers set out to find the gold, but without success. There was indeed a Jacob Waltz who emigrated to the U.S. from Germany. It involves murder, secrets, and a whole lotta sweet, sweet gold. A short list of people reported as having found it, or to have found an abandoned mine they thought to be the Lost Dutchman Mine, include in 1900 Joe Mulhatton; in 1901 Charlie Wood and John Chunning (separate discoveries); in 1903 a man chasing his dog found it; in 1906 Henry Young Blood found it: in 1908 a man named Morton and his wife found it; and in 1909 the old prospector Barnscheldt found it. They were discovered by the Apache, who killed them before they could escape with the gold. People have been seeking the Lost Dutchman's mine since at least 1892,[2] while according to one estimate, 9,000 people annually made some effort to locate the Lost Dutchman's mine. A group found the Lost Dutchman Mine in the Eastern Superstitions and extracted a considerable amount of rich gold ore. Mining records show that Jacob Waltz did file claims, two claims with others. Thorne earned the respect of tribal leaders as he cared for the sick and injured, and after curing several Apache of an eye disease, he was offered an opportunity to be led to the gold in the Superstitions in 1870. The Mojave County Miner reported in its 1901 October 12 issue: The Lost Dutchman mine has again been found. Apparently, he 2017 Sharlot Hall Museum - Library & Archives. 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. WebBackground: The Lost Dutchman Mine was founded by a German prospector named Jacob "The Dutchman" Waltz in 1876. Ruth had in his possession what he claimed was a map giving the location of Unfortunately, for these two, nothing was ever found of them. According to the story, in about 1912 Erwin C. Ruth gave some legal aid to Gonzales, saving him from almost certain imprisonment. The Lost Dutchman Mine is said to be a rich goldmine located somewhere in the southwestern American state of Arizona. As Curt Gentry wrote, "Dr. Hrdlicka positively identified the skull as that of Adolph Ruth. "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. He had metal pins in his leg, and used a cane to help him walk. In 1937, a man named Jenkins, along with his wife and two children were having a picnic on the mountain. The second was the Big Rebel filed in the Walnut Grove Mining District. After the land was ceded to the United States, the Peralta party was trespassing on U.S. soil. Five days later, another skeleton was found, which was later identified as William Richard Harvey, a painter from San Francisco. One man found it in the Four Peaks and extracted several thousand dollars of ore back when gold was $20 an ounce. Fees: $25-$35 per campsite. The answer to the question involves fraud, Indian wars, destruction, claim jumping and death. "Tex" Bradford of Globe Arizona went in search of the "Lost Dutchman Mine"; by October 1933 he had been missing for nine months. For more than 120 years, the legend of the Lost Dutchman Mine has been told over and over, growing in proportions to such an extent that some claim the entire legend is nothing but a myth. If he had, we still wouldnt know where the mine is, but we would know where it isnt a useful piece of information, since the mine has been found multiple times in at least five counties. Silverlock was picked up by lawmen, judged insane and sent to an asylum. Hiking and camping are popular activities. Born in 1810 in Wrttemberg, he first appears in American records in 1848. According to legend, a family by the name of Peralta moved north from Mexico in the early 19th century to try their luck at mining in the American West and their efforts were The Lost Dutchman story actually begins in the 1800s when the wealthy, Mexican Peralta family came to the region to work mines under a Spanish land grant. WebThe Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Found! In the Spring of 1891, Waltzs homestead was caught in a flood and he was saved from certain death by two brothers named Herman and Reinhardt Petrasch. In October 1960, a group of hikers found a headless skeleton near the foot of a cliff on Superstition Mountain. Most believed that Ruth died, probably from the extreme desert heat, and his body was carried away in parts by wild animals. The coroner could tell that the womans death was recent, but the gold was never explained. Quite literally so, according to Southwestern Folklore author and researcher Byrd Granger. WebThe Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine (also known by similar names) is, according to legend, a rich gold mine hidden in the southwestern United States. The pack mules scattered in all directions, spilling the gold everywhere. Apache Before the Storm, Edwards S. Curtis, 1906. Does the Lost Dutchman Mine really even exist, or is it nothing more than a tall tale perpetuated throughout the years? Barkely feared for his safety and repeatedly told him to give up the search, and his fears came true when Ruth failed to return from a two-week trip to find the mine. Another detail which casts doubt on the story is the fact that, according to Blair, there was never any Dr. Thorne in the employ of the Army or indeed of the Federal Government in the 1860s. The fact of the finding of the mine for the past twenty years has kept alive the mining industries of the territory. In his 1945 book about the Lost Dutchman's mine. The public is encouraged to submit proposed articles and inquiries to dayspast@sharlothallmuseum.org. WebOne of the best treasure tales in the history of the American West is the Lost Dutchman Mine. In April of 1958, a deserted campsite was discovered on the northern edge of the mountain. Though it is not known if he found the fabled Dutchmans Mine, his forays did produce the coveted shining metal, adding more fuel to the legend of gold in the Superstitions. Arriving in the area in May, Ruth convinced two local cowboys to pack him into the mountains, where they left him to his exploring at a place called Willow Springs in West Boulder Canyon around June 14th, 1931. The Superstition Mountains can be seen behind these old buildings in nearby Goldfield,Arizona by Kathy Weiser-Alexander. However it occurred, in the 1870s, the mine was worked, and Waltz found the gold that had been hidden in the Superstition Mountains. This land grant was the basis of the James Reavis Arizona land swindle (Reavis became Willing's partner and continued to try to prove the authenticity of the land grant for years after Willing's death). However, the original coroner said that he could not be positive the skull had bullet holes in it. The Lost Dutchman Mine is the most famous in American history. See options Full view So, if any of the earlier tales of gold founds are true, where did it come from? Blair suggested that this Waltz could be the same Waltz who later came to be regarded as the legendary Dutchman, and that he Americanized the spelling of his family name. A skull with two bullet holes was found six months later. This account is usually dated to about 1870. The Lost Dutchman is Americas most famous lost mine, and many people have risked their lives searching for it. Here amongst this vast maize of volcanic interior, fixed and clinging to the mountain side, flanked on one side by a very small almost invisible ledge is the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine, like a small birds nest perched in the middle of a forest of giant oaks, concealed by the natural elements it obscures itself from all beasts of prey, especially As the Indians were subdued by the soldiers, a reservation was established near Fort McDowell, where Thorne began to provide his services. 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. Never shaving or cutting his hair, he seldom bathed and rumors said he was prone to running naked through the canyons, firing a pistol into the sky. But in the 1990s, roughly 100 years after the Dutchmans death, Feldman believes he found it. The next person to come across the mine was a man named Dr. Abraham Thorne. The note ended with a Latin phrasetranslating to I came, I saw, I conquered.. The location is generally believed to be in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east of Phoenix, Arizona. 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. The Superstition range covers approximately 160,000 acres of desolate, rugged terrain, so arid that only a bit of desert vegetation and a few sparse strands of Ponderosa Pine are all that grows. 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