[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. Some searchers for the mine have disappeared in likely wilderness accidents. Since Ruth's death, there have been several other deaths or disappearances in the Superstition Mountains. I cannot speak for the current condition of the mine. To determine if the skull was Ruth's, it was examined by Dr. Ale Hrdlika, a well-respected anthropologist who was given several photos of Ruth, along with Ruth's dental records. A map is available in the gift shop and signage along the path explains the stages. 4087 East Apache Trail "The St. Johns herald. It is generally accepted that the Peraltas and roughly 400 peon miners were massacred by the Apaches sometime around 1848. Blair had little doubt that Waltz related to Thomas the location of an alleged gold mine. 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. Pingback: Legend of the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Parts 2 & 3: Finally Found! The Superstition Mountain Historical Society was formed on December 27, 1979. Please note that admission prices for Special Events are subject to change. Over the decades, this tale was gradually absorbed into the Lost Dutchman's story. 2: Cashiers for questions about whats happening at the museum and local area Many people took the landmark to be the Weavers Needle but had no luck finding any gold nuggets in its vicinity. They are bound on three sides by U.S. Route 60, Arizona State Route 88, and Arizona State Route 188, and are visible from miles away. 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. But there's no evidence he was any sort of engineering or mining genius like some legends claim. The only thing slightly off the cuff, is that three of them do ride their Harleys from central Ohio to Sturgis and back on a regular basis, but more about them later. Rogers was partnered with Aaron Mason, foreman of the Silver King mine. While walking thru the shaft holding a digging iron one day, I was tapping the floor to make sure it was solid. Either way, she went to the mountains for a while to search. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. There are many variations of this story, including that the mine is cursed, killing anyone who . Votes: 53 What really matters, though, is that Waltz the namesake Dutchman, or "Deutsch" (German) man wouldn't reveal the mine's location. 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. (However, in some versions,[14] the 'mine' is actually a cache put there by the Peraltas.). 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. "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). 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. OH, I almost forgot there is no cell phone service absolutely none. This tale involves two German men, Jacob Waltz and Jacob Weiser. "The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine." Waltz is attacked and wounded by marauding Apaches, but survives at least long enough to tell a man called Dr. Walker about the mine. [5] One Lost Dutchman's mine is said to be in Colorado, another in California; two are said to be located in Arizona. 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. He turned out to be the surviving Peralta, and, to express his gratitude, he gave them directions to his familys gold mine in the Superstition Mountains. gold is where you find it. Legends have. In 1977, 292 acres (118ha) abutting the Tonto National Forest were set aside as the Lost Dutchman State Park. The Lost Dutchman mine is far from the beginning of the legends of gold hidden in the Superstition Mountains. The location is generally believed to be in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east of Phoenix, Arizona. The Pennsylvania Dutch Country. And importantly I have hard facts that the Stones are linked to other historical information. Instead, he went missing and his skull was found 6 months later with two large circular holes. 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. Nov 19, 2003 #8. Frank Jacobs. 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. There's some evidence to suggest he engaged in a shady practice called highgrading basically claiming ore is more valuable than it really is. 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. Intrigue Journal. These steep, jagged volcanic mountains were formed over 29 million years ago and they cover an area of 160,000 acres. As Curt Gentry wrote, "Dr. Hrdlicka positively identified the skull as that of Adolph Ruth. 5: Museum Administration and Membership matters, E-MAILVolunteering questions: [emailprotected]Site rentals: [emailprotected]Membership questions: [emailprotected]Retail and event issues: [emailprotected]Accounting issues: [emailprotected]Administrative and other issues: [emailprotected]FAX(480) 288-6524, Closed: Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Day and Easter. The map is supposedly filled with clues, and there are many others purportedly given by Waltz at various points in his life according to legends, but it's hard to prove he actually ever said any of those things. Certainly, do not expect it to be an open space you can pop into and have a look around. 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. 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. This is what brought him to the Superstition Mountains (yes, that's their real name) near what is today the city of Phoenix, Arizona. The clues themselves do not prove that it is the Dutchman. While this doesn't mean it's impossible there's gold to mine up there, it makes it far less likely. The tests were initiated by Ron Feldman and also included what is known as the Kochera Ore, another sample believed to be from the Dutchman, though lacking the same provenance. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 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. Supposedly one of their 18 mines was very rich and they considered it their alfa mine. 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. One of the best treasure tales in the history of the American West is the Lost Dutchman Mine. Supposedly, the Peraltas actually found a very rich gold vein and set up a mining operation. The 500-year-old mines of Bolivia's Cerro Rico mountain produced the silver that once made the Spanish empire rich. 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 fact, Julia Thomas was the very first so-called "dutch hunter," combing through the mountains and seeking the lost gold. 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. 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. 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. For instance, about six of the maps are relevant, others may be relevant, but for now do not appear to be. They didnt find it because its not in the superstitions Too bad i cant post pictures, because i know exactly where it is, Did you ever think the Dutchman might have used another mine location to through On 8 June 2019, a fire broke out in the Superstitions Wilderness area and soon spread across 26,000 acres. C. Colt1911 Tenderfoot. While this is true, it is also true that gold pockets can exist alongside of silver veins. Tales of these other Lost Dutchman's mines can be traced to at least the 1870s. Indeed, there's yet another legend purporting to explain where the Dutchman might have acquired his gold. First, let's talk about the geology of the 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. Considering that any mining activity in the area would be a federal crime, you can understand why folks might not be so forthcoming with information. There was a catastrophic flood in Phoenix in 1891, and Waltz's farm was one of many that was devastated. This problematic paradox, I believe, is the product of years of misdirection to steer seekers to the west side of the 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). It is about three and a half miles of rough trail, though, if youre observant, you will eventually come across some of the more infamous Dutchman clues. While a few versions have Waltz outright stealing the gold, in other versions, he either rescued or fell in love with an Apache woman who shared the secret of a gold vein her people had been mining for centuries, but as punishment for sharing the knowledge with an outsider, her tongue was cut out, ensuring she could never speak again. 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. In his 1945 book about the Lost Dutchman's mine. The search has been a profound one and I discovered that it wasnt the mine I was looking for, but the story. The legend goes that an immigrant named Jacob Waltz found the mine and then took his secret to the grave. 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. Thorne claimed that he was taken captive by Navajos in 1854, and that during his captivity he had discovered a rich gold vein. Arcana Exploration has been there on four separate trips the first in October of 2015. Then around 1692, the Jesuit padre father Eusebio Francisco Kino arrived. I have been lucky enough to uncover a few, which you will forgive me if I keep, at least for now. This problematic paradox, I believe, is the product of years of misdirection to steer seekers to the west side of the mountains. The average high temperature in June, July and August, is 104 degrees.