There's another story that supposedly took place three centuries earlier also involving a treasure stashed away in the area. 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. There, his blindfold was removed and he saw a cave full of gold. It wasnt until the late 1870s that the man who would give the mine its legendary name was able to lock down the location with the help of one of the Peraltas descendants. Monagan wrote that some valued the mine at $40 million. Thus, it seems these Jesuit priests might have stashed their treasure somewhere in the mountains as they passed through, thus ensuring the Spanish empire couldn't get their hands on the Jesuit fortune. ARIZONA, USA It's arguably the most famous legend in all of Arizona: A gold mine of unfathomable riches in the . We will share as much as we can for now, but as I stated earlier we are preparing for a return trip, and the location has to remain secret. The main shaft heads down to two tunnels. Troubles with the Apaches made the family's mining operation dangerous. 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. Watch on The reported mine was dubbed Lost Dutchman around 1892 after Waltz died. 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. (St. Johns, Apache County, Arizona Territory [Ariz.]) 18851903, September 8, 1892, Image 2", Dunning, B. The man said Dr. Thorne could take as much as he could carry, at which point he was blindfolded again and led out. 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. We know today they're not actually sedimentary rock, but volcanic, according to Lost Dutchman State Park. Willing died in 1874 before there had been a thorough investigation of the documents or opportunity to cross examine him on the stand as was later done with Reavis. Intrigue Journal. Keep in mind for security reasons for now I have to be selective on what we divulge. There are lots of similar tales of gold-hunting soldiers, too, from all over the southwest. 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. One of the most professional and serious-minded efforts was led by Oklahoma City private detective Glen Magill, who organized multiple expeditions in the late 1960s and early '70s, and claimed on at least two occasions to have identified the location of the mine, later to concede he was either mistaken or the locations were "played out," or bereft of gold. The land contained parts of Arizona and New Mexico, including the Superstition Mountains. Arizona's most notorious lost treasure story for both believers and otherwise takes place in the mysterious Superstition Mountains. Although the Lost Dutchman Mine has always remained a popular local story (which many people accept as fact), there is very little actual proof of the mines existence besides word of mouth. However, despite several men claiming to have found the mine, no one ever came forward with the gold. He pursued mining and prospecting, but seems to have had little luck with either. Waltz, now the sole possessor of all the gold, eventually moved to Phoenix where he died in 1891, but not before relaying his story to his neighbor, Julia Thomas. Surprisingly, he was a real man. The fabled Lost Dutchman Mine may be about to be discovered in the Supernatural. He contracted it as a young child, when he was enthralled with books and stories of hidden treasures and lost gold. The body of George Mallory was found in 1999, while Irvine's body is still missing (allegedly). The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Has Been Found! 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. This seems to have been made up solely for the various legends, according to Tom Kollenborn Chronicles. After growing up on the East Coast and California, Feldman moved in 1968 to Arizona where he established a successful stable offering trail rides and pack trips into the rugged mountains that were once home to the Apaches. They found what they were looking for and then some, according to Lost Dutchman State Park. After one hundred and twenty- five plus years incredibly, the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine has been found, proving that the legend is more than mere myth and as predicted by Jacob Waltz himself "No miner will ever find my mine". [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. The legend continues to explain that the luck of the Peraltas eventually ran out and they were ambushed by the Apache, who left no trace of the treasure and only a few survivors who brought the tale of the hidden horde back to Mexico. George Mallory's Lost Camera. 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. After one hundred and twenty-five plus years incredibly, the lost Dutchman gold mine has been found, proving that the legend is more than mere myth and as predicted by Jacob Waltz himself "No miner will ever find my mine". The Arizona fable about a mysterious gold mine east of Phoenix turns out to have real-life participants and corroboration. OH, I almost forgot there is no cell phone service absolutely none. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Thorne claimed that he was taken captive by Navajos in 1854, and that during his captivity he had discovered a rich gold vein. However, things started going wrong immediately as men began to disappear, later being found decapitated. Humankind has been enthralled by lost treasure legends for ages. Because of poor health, Cox never returned to the mine, and it almost became forgotten. So where did all these rumors of lost gold in the Superstition Mountains originate? His skull with two holes in it identified as bullet holes was recovered about six months after he vanished, and the story made national news, thus sparking widespread interest in the Lost Dutchman's mine.[22]. 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. 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. 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. He was one of the few who were well-prepared to prospect in unpromising locations. 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. When the townspeople went to look for them, they found nearly all of the family slaughtered. Campground check-in is 2 p.m. The Gold Rush was in full swing and Waltz wanted a piece of those potential fortunes. 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". [27], Throughout the 20th century, various expeditions and individuals continued to search the Superstitions for the Lost Dutchman Mine. The Superstition Mountains in Arizona are bound to be home to at least a few good stories by virtue of their name alone. Now, he may be on the edge of finding it. In many areas they cannot, and will not for any reason land, and actually have designated no fly zones. [17] Note that tombstone pictured shows birth year as 1808. Troubles with the Apaches made the familys mining operation dangerous. While the Jesuits were eventually allowed to return to the area, it seems they either forgot the treasure or couldn't find it, and so it was still in the mountains when it was perhaps discovered by none other than the Dutchman himself, Jacob Waltz. People off his Mine that he cover up with a ironwood tree :The books give me my Since James Reavis, "the Baron of Arizona", was convicted of fraud when the Peralta family genealogy and other documents to support the land grant (and a barony associated with that land) were determined to be forgeries it also raises questions about the original purchase of the land grant by Dr. George M. Willing Jr. (the transaction had supposedly occurred at a primitive campsite to the southeast of Prescott without the benefit of the typical documentation; instead of a notarized deed, the conveyance was recorded on a piece of greasy camp paper bearing signature of several witnesses). The Lost Dutchman Mine - Kindle edition by Ely, Sims. HISTORY is the leading destination for award-winning original series and specials that connect viewers with history in an informative, immersive, and entertaining manner across all platforms. have experience in the Superstition Mountains, actually looked for the mine themselves, found evidence to support the mines existence . In the years after the massacre, the legend around the Lost Dutchman Mine grew, attracting treasure-seekers who hoped to find the cache (perhaps worth about $200 million according to one estimate). This is the story of the men who went searching for it's hidden gold our links: https://www.instagram.com/lostinthewoodspodcast/ In fact, Julia Thomas was the very first so-called "dutch hunter," combing through the mountains and seeking the lost gold. 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. Much of the interior is so brutal with severe weather shifts (the Apache winds) that much of the interior is off limits for search and rescue. Supposedly one of their 18 mines was very rich and they considered it their alfa mine. As Curt Gentry wrote, "Dr. Hrdlicka positively identified the skull as that of Adolph Ruth. Weiser (if he ever existed at all) eventually met the same unfortunate fate as the Peraltas and was killed by the Apache, although some versions of the story have him murdered by his former partner. Updated: 10:22 PM MST May 13, 2022. And now we get to the real problem with these legends there's basically zero evidence any of them ever happened. Today, the lost gold would be worth over 200 million dollars. This is very interesting and both are true. [16] A man called Jacob Walz was born in September 1810 in Wrttemberg. It is an easy thing 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 rewarded when they struck gold in the 1840s. 1873. 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]. For one, the desert area bears remnants of the cliff dwellings of an ancient people whose identity is still unknown. Here's the thing about the Julia Thomas map to the Lost Dutchman's gold mine, which is still sold and used today: Jacob Waltz didn't actually draw it. The start of the most famous legend to come from the mountains, that of the Lost Dutchman Mine, begins with these fortune-seekers. With Ron Eagle D'Andre II, Adam Haley, Sage Howard, George E. Johnston. Blair had little doubt that Waltz related to Thomas the location of an alleged gold mine. Located east of Phoenix, the Superstition Mountains stretch across 160,000 acres of desert, and somewhere in these almost supernatural-looking canyons . Among those hunters was Ted Cox, who had lived with several ranchers in the region who personally knew Waltz. Over the years, Feldman has accumulated a serious band of like-minded treasure seekers and Dutch hunters. Quite a few people have made skeptical statements on some treasure forums including Treasurenet, THunting dot com, DesertUSA and a few others. As a reward, Dr. Thorne was blindfolded and led to a cave in the mountains. Its believed the group buried their amassed bullion, hoping to return at a later time. Is it any wonder then, that I prize it? All were unsuccessful; a few are said to have never left the mountains. As the legend grew, so did the size of the fortune. The reason you can see Weavers Needle to the south is the same . The story of the Peralta Stones is that they lead you to a small almost invisible ledge, 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 story continues that the Peralta family found and mined gold in 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. The prospector went searching in 1961, and his headless body was found three years later. Later on came a long list of early and newly appointed Dons of Spain who also made forays into the Prima Alta looking for riches. Jacob Waltz does appear to have been a real person; whether he was simply used as the basis for the story or actually found the lost gold is another story. We are currently in the process of planning for a return trip to further document our findings. He joined an expedition looking for a rich. He was a student of mining and was knowledgeable in geology. 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. 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. The network's all-original programming slate features a roster of hit series, premium documentaries, and scripted event programming. (From left) Eric Shervey, Ron Feldman and Josh Feldman discuss sweeping the area to ensure the tunnels are where they suspect. 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. For 25 years he lives the good life and enjoys his riches. 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. Small Group Apache Trail Day Tour with Dolly Steamboat from Phoenix. True. After one hundred and twenty-five plus years incredibly, the lost Dutchman gold mine has been found, proving that the legend is more than mere myth and as predicted by Jacob Waltz himself "No miner will ever find my mine". Through Coxs widow, Feldmans group gathered firsthand knowledge that Cox excavated a mine and uncovered a stash of Spanish bullion, a fact that has been almost substantiated by the use of Ground Penetrating Radar. [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 some versions of this story, Waltz was actually plundering these shrines for his own gold. National ArchivesA band of Apache braves in Arizona. In a story that echoes some of the earlier tales, Ruth's son Erwin C. Ruth was said to have learned of the Peralta mine from a man called Pedro Gonzales (or Gonzalez). "The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine." Feldman absorbed every bit of information he could find on the history of mining in the region. Afterwards, Waltz fell ill (he was rumored to have contracted pneumonia during the flooding). "[24], Authorities in Arizona did not convene a criminal inquest regarding Ruth's death. It's likely this legend just got re-adapted to the Superstitions to boost the legend of the Lost Dutchman's mine. Top ways to experience Goldfield Ghost Town and nearby attractions. The Lost Dutchman mine is far from the beginning of the legends of gold hidden in the Superstition Mountains. After the conquistadors and priests are purported to have come and gone from the Superstition Mountains, legend tells of another group who arrived sometime in the earlier half of the 1800s. 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. The park is said to be haunted by the spirits of people who died over the years searching for the mine. But the map to the Peralta mine was said to be missing. The elder Ruth had fallen and badly broken several bones while seeking the lost Pegleg mine in California. The conquistador and his men arrived and made their way deep into the mountains, despite the warnings of danger from the local Apache. The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine is the most famous lost mine in American history. He told friends he had discovered the mine. 35-year-old Jesse Capen was last seen in Apache Junction, Arizona on December 4, 2009. Only one (sometimes two) could not be accounted for. He found that even a neophyte like himself could pick up nuggets of information from other Dutch hunters who virtually inhabited the Superstitions. The story sometimes claims there were arrows all around, and so thus it must have been the Apache protecting their sacred mountains. 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? For more than 120 years, the legend of the Lost Dutchman Mine has haunted the minds and souls of treasure seekers throughout the world. First. Recommended. 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. 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. Jesse Capen was obsessed with the legend of the lost gold, despite the lack of hard historical evidence. There was a catastrophic flood in Phoenix in 1891, and Waltz's farm was one of many that was devastated. "Dutchman's Gold" was the season 4, episode 19 of, This page was last edited on 5 February 2023, at 00:14. A cache of gold ore was stolen from a candle box . [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. Few others, he may be about to be home to at least a few are said to found! Family & # x27 ; s Lost Camera over 200 million dollars century, various and. In Wrttemberg network 's all-original programming slate features a roster of hit series, premium,! 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