The story of the missing mine started when the Peralta family moved to the area in the early 19th century to try their luck at mining. 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. They were attacked by the Apache. Skeptoid Media, 29 Jan 2013. The Superstition Mountains can be seen behind these old buildings in nearby Goldfield,Arizona by Kathy Weiser-Alexander. The official ruling was that the death was accidental. WebLegend tells of the Lost Dutchmans gold mine hidden somewhere within the 160,000 acres of brutal Arizona desert known as the Superstition Mountains.. A day-use entrance is $10 per vehicle. It is thought that Apaches stole the gold and hid it in the mountains. The cause of death was unknown. 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. Silverlock was picked up by lawmen, judged insane and sent to an asylum. [21], Were it not for the death of amateur explorer and treasure hunter Adolph Ruth, the story of the Lost Dutchman's mine would probably have been little more than a footnote in Arizona history as one of hundreds of "lost mines" rumored to be in the American West. These many variations and tales; however, only add to the intrigue of the Lost Dutchman enticing hundreds of treasure-hunting hobbyists, as well as seasoned prospectors, to continue to search for the elusive gold. A few years later Weiser disappeared without a trace. 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. [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=1137505190. 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. Herman Petrasch accused his brother, Rhinehart, of not paying attention to Jacobs bedside clues and the disagreement led to their never speaking again. Scientists say that the Superstition Mountains dont contain the type of mineral deposits that produce gold. That same year, two California boys, who were hiking on Superstition Mountain, also vanished. Mason bought the ore from the men, outfitted them and entered a partnership with the pair to share in the profits. In 1910, Malm appeared in Mesa, Arizona telling everyone that Silverlock had tried to kill him. January 1933 a Mining electrican named J.A. This was the first official recording of the mines existence. The lost Dutchmans gold mine location Ramiro valdez Oct 28, 2021 2 Replies 38 Views 8K Sunday at 7:31 PM EDN E Peter's Canyon, The Jeauits, and the Lost Dutchman LDWhitneyAuthor Jan 22, 2023 2 3 Replies 55 Views 3K Feb 16, 2023 LDWhitneyAuthor Clue 4 Peaks Lined up as 1 ConceptualizedNetherlandr Apr 19, 2014 8 9 10 Replies 181 Views 23K Over the years, many people have tried to find the Lost Dutchmans mine, and several have lost their lives searching for gold hidden in the Superstition Mountains. Several trails lead from the park into the Superstition Mountain Wilderness and surrounding Tonto National Forest. The tales of the Lost Dutchman mine might have passed into history if it wasnt for Adolph Ruth, who decided to find the gold in the summer of 1931. However, Thorne had to agree to be blindfolded for the 20-mile trip. 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? WebA curved arrow on a mysterious map inscribed on stone surfaces pointed to the identical place, confirming the location. Around the turn of the century, two prospectors who went by the names of Silverlock and Malm began to work on the northern edge of Superstition Mountain. It is easily accessible about 40 miles east of Phoenix via U.S. Highway 60, the Superstition Freeway. A further search found the rest of his remains and effects, but the maps were gone. Waltz is also said to make a deathbed confession to Julia Thomas, and draws or describes a crude map to the gold mine. Another version of the tale states that Waltz actually learned of the mines location from Ken-tee. The next year, with the Mexican-American War in full swing, Pedro was the only one willing to return to Arizona, determined to extract as much gold as possible before their holdings became part of the United States. 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). While there, he met an Apache girl named Ken-tee, who despite the fact that Waltz was almost 60 years old, became his mistress. The path to these riches is paved in mystery and doom. His wife could not remember the location of the find. In January 1956, a man from Brooklyn, New York reported to police that his brother, Martin Zywotho, who he believed was searching for the Lost Dutchman Mine, had been missing for several weeks. Suggest edits to improve what we show. The lost mine is thought to be located somewhere near Weavers Needle, the main landmark of the Superstition Mountains, even though the area has been diligently searched by hundreds of people. As Curt Gentry wrote, "Dr. Hrdlicka positively identified the skull as that of Adolph Ruth. Days Past is a collaborative project of the Sharlot Hall Museum and the Prescott Corral of Westerners International (www.prescottcorral.org). But the mine remains shrouded in mystery, so much so that it might not exist at all. Said to be the most famous lost mine of all time, it continues to draw prospectors to the Superstition Mountains of Arizona in In 1945, a book about the Lost Dutchman Mine was written by Barry Storm, who claimed to have narrowly escaped from a mysterious sniper. 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. December 09, 2019 WebOne of the best treasure tales in the history of the American West is the Lost Dutchman Mine. Location: Apache Junction, AZ. Some historians believe that any gold found in this rugged terrain was probably hidden there, perhaps even having been the fabled lost Aztec treasure. 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. WebBackground: The Lost Dutchman Mine was founded by a German prospector named Jacob "The Dutchman" Waltz in 1876. 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. They found gold in the 1840s but were ambushed by a local tribe of Apaches. When nothing had been heard of Ruth for six days, the cowboys boss, a man named Tex Barkley, went looking for the treasure hunter. The legend of the Lost Dutchman's gold mine is a quintessential version of just such a story. Two years later, in December 1936, another life was claimed by the mountain when hobbyist, Roman OHal, a broker from New York, died from a fall when he was searching for the Lost Dutchman. In 1934 the Superstitions claimed the life of Adam Stewart, the cause of death unknown. WebOngoing discoveries of the Lost Dutchman Mine have continued for well over a hundred years. Although there has been no proof that the mine exists many people have joined the search for the hidden gold. In 1937, a man named Jenkins, along with his wife and two children were having a picnic on the mountain. In February 1951, Dr. John Burns, a physician from Oregon, was found shot to death on Superstition Mountain. Julia Thomas, having invested everything she owned into the venture to find the mine, never attempted to find it again. In November, he was found shot in the stomach on the side of a trail in or near La Barge Canyon. Never again did the Peralta family venture back to the mine and all maps and knowledge of its location were lost through the years. There have been at least three discoveries of the mine since the 1960s, and in all three cases, good gold was found. 2017 Sharlot Hall Museum - Library & Archives. Although there has been no proof that the mine exists, from then on, many people have joined the search for the hidden gold. Web10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Visit website Call Write a review About This abandoned old mining town, which has been refurbished as a tourist attraction, includes a mine tour, rides and shops. He was a student of mining and was knowledgeable in geology. The fact of the finding of the mine for the past twenty years has kept alive the mining industries of the territory. Quite literally so, according to Southwestern Folklore author and researcher Byrd Granger. Two months later, Piper was found dead. 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. 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. 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. Sinking dozens of shafts into the mountainside, they found little gold, other than some scarce remains from the Peralta Massacre. WebThe Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine is a fabled gold mine located in the Southwest, though it's exact whereabouts are unknown. Where was the mine? WebLost Dutchman Mine is a non-linear adventure game which puts the player in the role of a gold miner, circa 1860. To this day, his death remains a mystery; however, it is but one more life claimed by the mountain and perhaps, its curse. Thomas Glover is the author of three books on Jacob Waltz and the Lost Dutchman Mine. It does not. There have been many stories about how to find the mine, and each year people search for the mine. WebLost Dutchman State Park About Lost Dutchman State Park Named after the fabled lost gold mine, Lost Dutchman State Park is located in the Sonoran Desert, at the base of the Superstition Mountains, only 40 miles east of Phoenix. In June 1947, a prospector named James A. Cravey made a much-publicized trip into the Superstition canyons by helicopter, searching for the Lost Dutchman Mine. Waltz began prospecting in California in the 1850s. Though the coroner acceded that foul play might have been involved, the original statement was never changed. The two, sure that they could find the place, then headed towards Weavers Needle, but after two weeks had not returned. The story of the Lost Dutchman Mine might have become just another obscure legend had it not been for an easterner named Dr. Adolph Ruth, an amateur treasure-seeker who ambled into the Superstitions in the summer of 1931. He soon returned to Pinal, saying that he had found an old mine, describing it as the most God-awful rough place you can imagine a ghostly place. Dearing; however, continued to work as a bartender until he could save enough money for the excavation. The player can freely explore a town and a vast desert, limited only by the protagonist's necessity to eat and rest. 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