If these conditions do not exist, gold will not exist. It is a prominent landmark located generally south and east of the Salt River, rising approximately 3,000 feet (910 m) above the Salt River Valley. 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. Mike . ZERO ZIP NADA!! . To recoup the costs of the search, Julia Thomas actually began to make handmade copies of Waltz's map and sell it to others. 1: Recorded description of the museum. 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. If you get it hurt you better have your own team. [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. George Flemming and Charles Enslinger filed claim on the Silver Chief mine in 1875. Yet, legend insists that it does. I have been lucky enough to uncover a few, which you will forgive me if I keep, at least for now. His expeditions led to the discovery of several of what he called Spanish mines which, at the time, was in contradiction to accepted history. 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. 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. STSTW Media strives to deliver accurate information through careful research. These are tall, volcanic formations in the wilderness and are popular as hiking destinations. 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. Jacob Waltz took to returning to the mountains only when he needed the gold. Then the Apaches killed Jacob Weiser,or according to some, Waltz himself did it. Like most legends, when you strip it down as close to the truth as possible, it is never as glorious as imagined. There's another story that supposedly took place three centuries earlier also involving a treasure stashed away in the area. Weavers Needle, a peak located in the Superstition Mountains. Follow the Process. [12] Thorne related his claims to three U.S. soldiers in about 1858. 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? 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. However, they eventually disappeared after a trip into the Superstitions. Many believe there is a connection and that they sold their families mine to Waltz and his partner. Ruth ended his note with the phrase "Veni, vidi, vici. The soldiers are alleged to have presented some of the gold, but to have been killed or to have vanished soon after. In 1870, Waltz had a homestead of about 160 acres (0.65km2) near Phoenix where he operated a farm.[18]. 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. He'll tell you the ore assayed out to something like 10,000 ounces of gold to the ton. These Native American legends aren't the only tales involving religion and gold stores in the area. Finally, there really was a successful gold mining family named Peralta, but they were in California, not Arizona, according to Gold Rush Nuggets. A note in a bottle found floating down the Salt River said that he needed help on account of his leg and that he had found the Lost Dutchmans gold mine. Explore The Mysteries. In 1875, James Rogers made a claim there and dubbed it The Silver Chief. However, things can go wrong. Two prospectors saved his life and, in gratitude, he gave them directions to the gold mine, thus setting off a wild goose chase that continues to the present day. Here he worked at the Vulture Mine as a paid miner. The average high temperature in June, July and August, is 104 degrees. Cox was a contrarian to the accepted Waltz lore of the day and had his own theories about thePeraltasand Waltz. And now we get to the real problem with these legends there's basically zero evidence any of them ever happened. 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. In 1875, James Rogers made a claim there and dubbed it The Silver Chief. (However, in some versions,[14] the 'mine' is actually a cache put there by the Peraltas.). The area is filled with ghost tales, monster . Pingback: Legend of the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Parts 2 & 3: Finally Found! Silver Member. First, let's talk about the geology of the mountains. Previously, comparative tests which could prove that the matchbox and the Pit Mine samples were related were destructive in nature. 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. 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. While not unique features, they are extremely consistent with Jacob Waltzs descriptions. There are other legends about gold in the Superstition Mountains. One of the worst kept secrets of the Superstition Mountains. [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. 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. "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. Allegedly, people saw the Jesuits come up to the Superstition Mountains with their loads of gold, but when they were spotted again on the other side, the mules carried no loads. Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine is a supposedly rich gold mine either in the Superstition Mountains near Phoenix, Arizona, or somewhere in Mexico. He pursued mining and prospecting, but seems to have had little luck with either. The Silvermine Mountains or Silvermines Mountains ( Irish: Sliabh an Airgid) [1] are a mountain range in County Tipperary, Ireland. By Catharina Moh. [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". The early Spanish the Peraltas the Jesuits and many others all came to the Superstition Mountains looking for legendary gold. 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. Image property of Arcana Exploration, photo taken at the Lost Dutchman Museum Apache Junction, Arizona. 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. Supposedly one of their 18 mines was very rich and they considered it their alfa mine. It is easily accessible about 40 miles east of Phoenix via U.S. Highway 60, the Superstition Freeway. A doctor from Illinois, Doctor Abraham Thorne, provided his service to treat the indigenous people of the Southwest. Without doubt the most controversial but easily the most studied, researched and written about of all the historical documentation involving the Superstition Mountains, are the famous Peralta Stones. Fact Analysis: 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. 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. Humankind has been enthralled by lost treasure legends for ages. When they immigrated to Pennsylvania from Deutschland (Germany), the locals mistook Deutsch for Dutch. 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. Later, he remarked that he had noticed a towering rock formation nearby, but otherwise remained clueless about the whereabouts of the place. This account is usually dated to about 1870. 4: Volunteer Coordinator "Dutchman" was a common American term for a German ("Dutch" being the English cognate to the German demonym "Deutsch", and not a reference to the Dutch people). None of the tribes in the area ever considered the mountains to be sacred, and while the Apache tribe does have a thunder deity in their religious beliefs, they don't claim he lives in the Superstitions. [12] The three soldiers set out to find the gold, but without success. (Doug Dolde / Wikimedia Commons). We know today they're not actually sedimentary rock, but volcanic, according to Lost Dutchman State Park. For instance, about six of the maps are relevant, others may be relevant, but for now do not appear to be. 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. Jesse Feldman, son of Ron Feldman, indicated his belief that the mine was in the Rogers Trough area in his bookJacobs Trail. Front View of the Peralta Stones. Cravey said he would walk out of the mountains on June 28, 1947. 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. Blindbowman Bronze Member. The neighboursJulia Thomas, Rhinehart Petrasch, and Hermann Petraschspent weeks looking for the gold, but failed to find it. One of the best treasure tales in the history of the American West is the Lost Dutchman Mine. Your browser doesn't support the HTML5 CANVAS tag. TheSuperstition Mountains, furthermore, are the abode of the Thunder God, and he causes the frequent regional thunderstorms. 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 man. 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. 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. 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. 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. Over the decades, this tale was gradually absorbed into the Lost Dutchman's story. Home. The Gold Rush was in full swing and Waltz wanted a piece of those potential fortunes. 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'. Over the next few weeks we will provide some images and photos taken at or very near the site. Since Ruth's death, there have been several other deaths or disappearances in the Superstition Mountains. 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. To begin with, there was never any real Dutchman involved with the lost gold mine. 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). According to some storytellers, in September 1848, a band of Apaches slaughtered the entire Peralta Family, except one (someone had to live to tell the tale). 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. 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. Without going into a lengthy scientific explanation, I will say that geology defies the existence of gold in most of the Superstition Mountains, especially on the western side. They were supposedly dug up in the desert, in area east of Gold canyon and Tucson in the late 1940s byTravis E Tomlinson. Unfortunately, when a group followed the clues given in Ruth's letter, they found nothing. 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 . While walking out of the horizontal shaft, you will walk over a 2' x 8' walkway. Still, there is by no means a consensus among Dutch Hunters and many dismiss it entirely, regardless of scientific evidence. 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. . I will make a statement in the near future that will surprise a lot of Dutch Hunters it surprised me. [2] [3] New posts Top Treasure Finds Search forums Members Current visitors New profile posts Search profile posts. Waltz is attacked and wounded by marauding Apaches, but survives at least long enough to tell a man called Dr. Walker about the mine. Due to the out-of-control fire, the Arizona authorities were forced to close the State Route 88, and, along with it, public access to the Canyon, Apache Lake, Apache Campground, picnic sites, and trailheads. He was able to find the richest ore in history right smack dab in the middle of the Superstition Mountains. There is a Superstition Mountain Museum at 4087 N. Apache Trail, Highway 88 in Apache Junction. 9 May 2022. 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. The location is generally believed to be in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east of Phoenix, Arizona. On our may trip in 2016 one day it reached 108 degrees, that same day up on the mountain, climbing on a surface of Granite and sandstone ours guys Trek watches read what they were breathing at an actual 119 degrees. 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. The location is generally believed to be in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east of Phoenix, Arizona. 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. There are many variations of this story, including that the mine is cursed, killing anyone who . C. Colt1911 Tenderfoot. 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. I personally spoke with Ron a few months back when he described his findings to me, which he is publishing in a forthcoming book. In many areas they cannot, and will not for any reason land, and actually have designated no fly zones. In fact, Julia Thomas was the very first so-called "dutch hunter," combing through the mountains and seeking the lost gold. While walking thru the shaft holding a digging iron one day, I was tapping the floor to make sure it was solid. (2004). The search, nevertheless, still continues. They removed his blindfold and let him take away as much as he could carry. 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. Tales of these other Lost Dutchman's mines can be traced to at least the 1870s. In January 1932, human remains were discovered about three-quarters of a mile (1.21km) from where the skull had been found. 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. "The St. Johns herald. The Apaches were either enraged over the violation of their sacred mountains or wanted to steal the gold from them. They are anchored by Superstition Mountain, a large mountain that is a popular recreation destination for residents of the Phoenix, Arizona, area. Great discoveries have been made in the name of hunting for hidden wealth, but much blood has been shed in those same pursuits, too. It next surfaced in history in 1957 when it was claimed by a man named Quentin Ted Cox. 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. Next week I will list some clues that are absolutely relevant to what we have physically on site. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Arcana Exploration has been there on four separate trips the first in October of 2015. Get Mysteries of the Superstition Mountains gear at https://my-store-cadb1e.creator-sprin. Both fabled and mythical, they have helped to drive the legend of the Lost Dutchman Mine. Even though some have said the stones story is much older (it is true the source information is likely much older) than the Dutchmans time and therefor there is no connection, they are going to be slapping themselves in the face trying to overcome their denial when they realize the stones leadto the same birds nest. Adults $7.00 The legend of the Lost Dutchman's gold mine is a quintessential version of just such a story. The Jesuit Treasure of the Superstition Mountains. Still, there is by no means a consensus among Dutch Hunters and many dismiss it entirely, regardless of scientific evidence. As the story goes, Waltz had some minor success drawing gold out of the mountains, and eventually, he started coming back to town with huge loads of high-grade gold ore. 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. The record high temperature is 128 degrees. After traveling to the region, Ruth stayed several days at the ranch of Tex Barkely to outfit his expedition. Or, he never made any such claims at all and Thomas made up the whole story based on some gold ore she found in Waltz's possessions. Animals like deer coyotes, pumas and bobcats live here, existing alongside birds, rodents, snakes, and other reptiles. 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. 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 Pima Indians famously feared the mountain that they knew as Ain-we-gophon (Superstition Mountain). The conquistador and his men arrived and made their way deep into the mountains, despite the warnings of danger from the local Apache. 4087 East Apache Trail When and where we can get a direct line of sight, we use high tech Walkie talkies, to communicate with each other. Later I will give more details and then begin providing information on how things fit together. It appears no one ever bothered to just ask the Native Americans in the area if the mountains were sacred. (Chris J / Flickr). Mike . Famed Apache Geronimo is sometimes mentioned in relation to this story. Nobody has been able to interpret them correctly. As a reward, Dr. Thorne was blindfolded and led to a cave in the mountains. We at Arcana Exploration believe we can show that this was later worked by Jacob Waltz, and after his death came to be known as the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine. He said the bars were all stamped with what appeared to be a crown. A not-insignificant number of those Dutch hunters have gotten hurt or even killed. 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. 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. Superstition Mountains - Ghost, lost mines, murder and mayhem. Forums. In some versions of this story, Waltz was actually plundering these shrines for his own gold. 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. It's impossible to know for certain, but there is one big clue. Not much silver was recovered in the 1979 time period and there was no mention of gold having been taken. There's no evidence they ever came to Arizona at all. But what they actually found has been a hidden secret that people have been trying to piece together for last 125 years. In his 1945 book about the Lost Dutchman's mine. 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. This problematic paradox, I believe, is the product of years of misdirection to steer seekers to the west side of the mountains. 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. Despite his efforts, Willing was never able to recover the money he gave to Peralta. 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. Aug 15, 2007 1,941 906 Primary Interest: 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. Blair suggested that "fragments of this legend have perhaps become attached to the mythical mine of Jacob Waltz".[6]. 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. 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. VISIT The case for the Pit Mine is not new, in fact it has been an open secret for quite some time. Just to connect some dots, Mason was the fellow who staked the two soldiers who turned up dead while seeking their lost bonanza. I always heard about the Lost Dutchman Mine in the Superstition Mountain. [8] The mine was quite profitable, earning about $35,000 in less than one year; Blair described this as "an unusually good return" for such a small gold mine to earn in such a relatively brief period. Gary also spoke to the Feldman family, who have been searching for the mine since the 1960s, under patriarch Ron's tutelage. Researchers point to an old beliefby local farmersthat the nearby Pima Native American tribe were superstitious about the mountains. Padre Kino founded many missions including Mission San Xavier del Bac near Tucson. each. From this base he easily could have worked a gold mine in the Superstition Mountains. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. He had metal pins in his leg, and used a cane to help him walk. Apache Junction, AZ 85119-8409, Phone options: Travis Tumlinson, a policeman, discovered the Peralta Stones on a roadside near the Superstition Mountains in the 1940s. Click here for Part Eleven ofThe Lost Dutchman Mine. Votes: 53 [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. Waltz found it in the mountains and came to grab gold out of it as needed. This is what brought him to the Superstition Mountains (yes, that's their real name) near what is today the city of Phoenix, Arizona. Closer than ever to the $200 million payday, Wayne and the team head into the heart of darkness where a cryptic find weaves an even bigger mystery, in Season. Come on. Paperback $39.95 9 Used from $24.95 The Saga of the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine legend. As a counter to Ed Piper, we have Celeste Jones, who was kind of a cult leader from California who . The Supers are east northeast of Phoenix. The men must deal with a lack of water and the fact that the map leads him into lands held sacred by the Apaches. Thomas admitted she drew the map herself but claimed she based it on descriptions given by the Dutchman, according to Skeptoid. In yet another version of the tale, two (or more) U.S. Army soldiers are said to have discovered a vein of almost pure gold in or near the Superstition Mountains. Thorne is said to be either unwilling or unable to relocate the mine. Intrigue Journal. Hardie agrees to join a father searching for his son who is seeking a lost gold mine in Arizona's Superstition Mountains. The Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine (also known by similar names) is, according to legend, a rich gold mine hidden in the southwestern United States. 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.
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