In some versions of this story, Waltz was actually plundering these shrines for his own gold. "Tex" Bradford of Globe Arizona went in search of the "Lost Dutchman Mine"; by October 1933 he had been missing for nine months. The start of the most famous legend to come from the mountains, that of the Lost Dutchman Mine, begins with these fortune-seekers. In the weeks and months to come we will use much of the historical information, and show how it ties directly to what we have found. by Bob Willis | Apr 1, 2005 | Travel & Preservation. Within the refuge are 14 trail heads that cover 190 miles. You need at a bare minimum, at least a three- man team. Josh Feldman of the HEAT team assists in excavating the main shaft by pulling up debris, loaded one bucket at a time. ARIZONA, USA It's arguably the most famous legend in all of Arizona: A gold mine of unfathomable riches in the . Watch on The reported mine was dubbed Lost Dutchman around 1892 after Waltz died. Waltz fell ill and died in 1891, but not before revealing the location of an alleged gold mine to Julia Thomas, the neighbour who cared for him. Since federal regulations restrict the use of power equipment, the headframe operates much like it would have in the 19th century. The Lost Dutchman There are lots of similar tales of gold-hunting soldiers, too, from all over the southwest. 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. The short "Discovery Trail" is a clear route with several placards giving the natural history of the area. There, his blindfold was removed and he saw a cave full of 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. 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. Adolph Ruth, a government veterinarian, had an obsession with finding the Lost Dutchman Mine. Since Jacob Waltz's death, thousands of people have searched all throughout the Superstition Mountains for the location of the Lost Dutchman's gold mine, to no avail, according to USA Today. Documentation suggests that only two young boys survived and made it to Mexico. Eventually, the conquistador ordered his men to flee and he never returned to the mountains, which they called Monte Supersticin, thus giving the mountains the name of Superstition. Magill's adventures were chronicled in the book The Killer Mountains, by Curt Gentry. If no one comes forth to rightfully claim the treasure, its anyones guess. History of the Lost Dutchman Mine The rugged range of mountains east of the Salt River Valley encompasses some of the most breathtaking, untouched wilderness recesses in America. Except perhaps not. 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". (From left) Eric Shervey, Ron Feldman and Josh Feldman discuss sweeping the area to ensure the tunnels are where they suspect. However, things started going wrong immediately as men began to disappear, later being found decapitated. 9 May 2022. Fact and fiction blend in these tales, becoming "faction", but key elements are "lost Apache gold", "a Dutchman", "a lost gold vein, found by . Around 1860 a German immigrant named Jacob Waltz moved into the Wickenburg Arizona area about 80 miles from Phoenix. National ArchivesA 19th century map detailing mines in Arizona. Furthermore, Wilburn stated that geology indicates that there is no gold in the Superstition Mountains, which are igneous in origin. The story continues that the Peralta family found and mined gold in the Superstition Mountains. And is that information relevant? Dark Mountain: Directed by Tara Anase. For 25 years he lives the good life and enjoys his riches. He further stated, after examining the two holes [in the skull], that it appeared that a shotgun or high-powered rifle had been fired through the head at almost point-blank range, making the small hole when the bullet entered and the large hole when it exited".[23]. The body of one dutch hunter (as they are known to locals) was found in the Superstition Mountains as recently as 2012. The Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine hit the headlines in 2009 when Denver native Jesse Capen, 35, disappeared in Arizona's Tonto National Forest during a search for the mine. As the story of Waltz supposed discovery goes, he and his partner Jacob Weiser re-opened the mine and were able to stash away gold of their own in the Superstitions. Pingback: Legend of the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Parts 2 & 3: Finally Found! They found gold in the 1840s but were ambushed by a local tribe of Apaches. Jesse Capen, a 35-year-old bellhop from. These trails traverse from the desert floor up into the edges of the mountains. 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. 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. Richman, Irwin. Wikimedia CommonsThe Weavers Needle rock column of Arizonas Superstition Mountains is often said to mark the location of the Lost Dutchman Mine. Fortune seeker Barry Storm stumbles onto some clues that may lead him to the fabulous Lost Dutchman Mine, but others have tried and been murdered. And now we get to the real problem with these legends there's basically zero evidence any of them ever happened. Allegedly, Dr. Thorne tried to find the cave again but was unsuccessful, or found it and was killed. As of mid-2017, he and his crew had spent about 30 production days in and around Apache Junction. Once again, only rumors kept the legend alive, and these events drove even more Dutch hunters to the dangerous mountains. Sadly, the 35-year-old became another target of the fables when he disappeared from the Tonto National Forest in 2009. PERALTA DESCENDENTS HAVE GIVEN US DOCUMENTS 100S OF YEARS OLD. For more than 120 years, the legend of the Lost Dutchman Mine has haunted the minds and souls of treasure seekers throughout the world. from. You need at a bare minimum, at least a three- man team. This is their turf and only the highly experienced and prepared should venture forward. 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. Ruth did not return as scheduled, and no trace of him could be found after a brief search. There was indeed a Jacob Waltz who emigrated to the U.S. from Germany. As a reward, Dr. Thorne was blindfolded and led to a cave in the mountains. As the legend grew, so did the size of the fortune. This is what brought him to the Superstition Mountains (yes, that's their real name) near what is today the city of Phoenix, Arizona. Humankind has been enthralled by lost treasure legends for ages. Is it any wonder then, that I prize it? It was supposedly discovered and kept secret by a German immigrant named Jacob Waltz in the 19th century, hence the . Skeptoid Podcast. This is trails end; this is the domain of the Dutch Hunters. Top ways to experience Goldfield Ghost Town and nearby attractions. Tales of these other Lost Dutchman's mines can be traced to at least the 1870s. April 1, 2018 (Borrego Springs) - Way back in the late 1820s, Thomas "Pegleg" Smith got lost in a sandstorm and hobbled up a hill on his wooden leg to get his bearings. He contracted it as a young child, when he was enthralled with books and stories of hidden treasures and lost gold. They supposedly did and brought a good amount of gold back to town according to Tom Kollenborn Chronicles. Over the next few weeks we will provide some images and photos taken at or very near the site. With Ida Lupino, Glenn Ford, Gig Young, William Prince. The Lost Dutchman Mine: The Greatest Gold Horde Thats Never Been Found. The Supers are east northeast of Phoenix. I feel the information on the Peralta stones is most likely from a very old map of Jesuit origin. The prospector went searching in 1961, and his headless body was found three years later. Normally if a mine produces two and half ounces of gold per tonne of rock it's considered a bonanza. 2217 KB. As Curt Gentry wrote, "Dr. Hrdlicka positively identified the skull as that of Adolph Ruth. Arizona. each. Cox concentrated his search on the eastern end of what is now the Superstition Wilderness. 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. While Francisco Coronado did exist and did explore what is now the southwestern United States, there's nothing indicating he ever visited the Superstitions. Kinos Mission San Xavier del Bac near Tucson unlike other missions in California was both massive and opulent, and still stands today. After a five-year wait, HEAT obtained a Treasure Trove Permit for the purpose of re-excavating a mine in the Superstition Wilderness. The nearly 70-year-old man was found dead about four miles south of his home on a trail near Roger's Canyon. When he is down to $300 he returns. Erwin passed the information to his father Adolph, who had a long-standing interest in lost mines and amateur exploration. Over the years, the Lost Dutchman Mine legend grew to become the Wests most famous lost mine, reaching a fever pitch in the early 1950s when hundreds of Dutch hunters flocked into the western end of the Superstitions. 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. Reading age. So far, they've filmed at locations that include the Treasure Hunter of the Year Awards, held at Apache Junction's Mammoth Saloon in March, and at Goldfield Ghost Town, an attraction that features a zip line and live staged gunfights. A note from Ruth saying he needed help and had discovered the mine was found in the Salt River. His naturalization papers are listed in the Los Angeles county archives and his name appears in an Arizona territorial census from 1864; other government documents confirm he did, indeed, live in Arizona territory from 1863-1891. In his 1945 book about the Lost Dutchman's mine. The early Spanish the Peraltas the Jesuits and many others all came to the Superstition Mountains looking for legendary gold. 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. Because of poor health, Cox never returned to the mine, and it almost became forgotten. All of these elements can be found in the search for the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine, reportedly well hidden in Arizona's mysterious-looking (and aptly named) Superstition Mountains (pictured above). The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine - Found! No one knows for sure, but his disappearance and death, while better-documented than other legends revolving around the Lost Dutchman's gold mine, may have simply furthered the legend and put even more treasure seekers in danger. The network's all-original programming slate features a roster of hit series, premium documentaries, and scripted event programming. 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. 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. This tale involves two German men, Jacob Waltz and Jacob Weiser. Dr. George M. Willing Jr. paid Peralta $20,000 for the mining rights for an enormous swath of land about 3,000,000 acres (12,000km2) in southern Arizona and New Mexico based on a deed originally granted by the Spanish Empire in the 18th century. The process began in early September 2004. Waltz found it in the mountains and came to grab gold out of it as needed. Only one (sometimes two) could not be accounted for. The first official recording of the Dutchman Mine is found in this story. Wikimedia CommonsThe grave of Jacob Waltz. Said to be the most famous lost mine of all time, it continues to draw prospectors to the Superstition Mountains of Arizona in search of its rich gold. $169.00. The Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Visiting Lost Dutchman State Park. George Mallory's Lost Camera. 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. Legend of the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Parts 2 & 3: Finally Found! It's impossible to know for certain, but there is one big clue. Ruth had in his possession what he claimed was a map giving the location of the Peralta's Las Minas Sombreras. A fire broke out overnight at the Mining Camp Restaurant in Apache Junction and consumed the historic restaurant near Lost Dutchman State Park. The man said Dr. Thorne could take as much as he could carry, at which point he was blindfolded again and led out. Feb 21, 2021. It was supposedly discovered by a German prospector named Jacob Waltz in 1876. The body of George Mallory was found in 1999, while Irvine's body is still missing (allegedly). 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. 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]. 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. 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