No, were not really a mining company. The Jesuit priests were the most educated and loyal orders to the King of Spain (and to the Pope). These Native American legends aren't the only tales involving religion and gold stores in the area. [25] Blair noted that the conclusion of the Arizona authorities was rejected by many, including Ruth's family, and "those who held onto the more romantic murdered-for-the-map story". So, where is it then? Blair suggested that "fragments of this legend have perhaps become attached to the mythical mine of Jacob Waltz".[6]. The Jesuits, who had been collecting the gold for many years from various sources, were said to be fleeing as they had been expelled from the Spanish empire, who owned most of the land that would eventually become the southwestern United States at the time, according to the Great American History Blog. Previously, comparative tests which could prove that the matchbox and the Pit Mine samples were related were destructive in nature. Children 10 and under While this doesn't mean it's impossible there's gold to mine up there, it makes it far less likely. 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. On the east side of Phoenix in Arizona lies the spectacular range of the Superstition Mountains that straddle the Tonto National Forest and the Superstition Wilderness area. When is the documentary goimg to start back up? Supposedly, the Superstition Mountains have long been a sacred site for the nearby Apache tribe of Native Americans. The legend of the Lost Dutchman's gold mine is a quintessential version of just such a story. Arcadia Publishing. In it, he puts together the clues and evidence and makes a convincing case for the Pit Mine. Sometimes, this discarded cache of gold is said to be the origin of Jacob Waltz's treasure. But there's no evidence he was any sort of engineering or mining genius like some legends claim. Bellhop Jesse Capen, 35, was obsessed with the legend of the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine. Thorne is said to be either unwilling or unable to relocate the mine. They're convinced the mine is to the east of the mountains at the. To begin with, there was never any real Dutchman involved with the lost gold mine. It is here were you will reach areas that are barely penetrable, this is where most trails stop abruptly for safety reasons. Some have died on the search. The Peralta Massacre is a legend that Apaches supposedly ambushed a mining expedition the Peralta family sent into the mountains. Like most legends, when you strip it down as close to the truth as possible, it is never as glorious as imagined. He died of pneumonia in 1891 and, according to the three neighbours who cared for him, he left them the box of gold under his bed and directions to the gold mine. Students 11-17 $4.00 These cookies do not store any personal information. 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). Museum Members are FREE. Jesuit Treasure in the Superstitions - DesertUSA.com/mb3 It is generally accepted that the Peraltas and roughly 400 peon miners were massacred by the Apaches sometime around 1848. The soldiers are alleged to have presented some of the gold, but to have been killed or to have vanished soon after. A not-insignificant number of those Dutch hunters have gotten hurt or even killed. The lost Dutchman Gold mine is generally believed to be somewhere near or in the Superstition Mountains in Arizona. While not unique features, they are extremely consistent with Jacob Waltzs descriptions. Another detail which casts doubt on the story is the fact that, according to Blair, there was never any Dr. Thorne in the employ of the Army or indeed of the Federal Government in the 1860s. Combine these with the legends of the indigenous Pima Indians and the mountains live up to their name. Despite his efforts, Willing was never able to recover the money he gave to Peralta. . . Towards the very south of the Silvermine Mountains is the highest peak in the mountains, Keeper Hill or in Irish Sliabh . I have been lucky enough to uncover a few, which you will forgive me if I keep, at least for now. It's very possible the clues are also unverifiable legends people have clung on to in hopes of finding riches. The Lost Dutchman Mine, Arizona - Legends of America More questions about the Silver Chief Mine - TreasureNet The (Chris J / Flickr). However, things started going wrong immediately as men began to disappear, later being found decapitated. New posts Top Treasure Finds Search forums Members Current visitors New profile posts Search profile posts. It involves murder, secrets, and a whole lotta sweet, sweet gold. When and where we can get a direct line of sight, we use high tech Walkie talkies, to communicate with each other. One day he travelled to the fabled site of the mother lode, Superstition Mountains near Phoenix, Arizona, and never came back. Forums. 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. Ruth did not return as scheduled, and no trace of him could be found after a brief search. In December, 1931, The Arizona Republic reported on the recent discovery of a human skull in the Superstition Mountains. The Superstition Mountains, with a name like that you might as well give away fancy proton-backs, of the Ghostbuster variety, at the visitor's center, is a series of jagger tooth mountains in Arizona just the east of Phoenix. Frank Jacobs. The Legend Of The Lost Dutchman And His Gold Mine Explained 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. Next week I will list some clues that are absolutely relevant to what we have physically on site. Seniors $6.00 (65 and older) In 1870, Waltz had a homestead of about 160 acres (0.65km2) near Phoenix where he operated a farm.[18]. (However, in some versions,[14] the 'mine' is actually a cache put there by the Peraltas.). From this base he easily could have worked a gold mine in the Superstition Mountains. [29][clarification needed]. Those who have been inside describe it as like an hourglass on its side, with a narrow entrance, an open area with a wide,stopedceiling, and a tapering end. Waltz relocated to Arizona in the 1860s, and stayed in the territory for most of the rest of his life. Searching for The Gold of the Lost Dutchman Mine in Superstition Mountain This, of course, is how the Dutchman is supposed to havereally found his treasure. In 1875, James Rogers made a claim there and dubbed it The Silver Chief. "Tex" Bradford of Globe Arizona went in search of the "Lost Dutchman Mine"; by October 1933 he had been missing for nine months. The hellhole supposedly also sends out tremendous winds, and these cause the infamous dust storms of the region. Sort by Popularity - Most Popular Movies and TV Shows tagged - IMDb He had metal pins in his leg, and used a cane to help him walk. Reports of inexplicable sounds, sightings, and events have led to claims of supernatural beings and even aliens. 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. 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. gold is where you find it. There's some evidence to suggest he engaged in a shady practice called highgrading basically claiming ore is more valuable than it really is. Is it possible he took his own life? The Peralta Stones are a set of engraved stone tableted works that are approximately 18 inches long and weigh about 25 lbs. Skeptoid Media, 29 Jan 2013. Through the years, truth and fiction about . Granger wrote that "fact and fiction blend in the tales",[3] but that there are three main elements to the story: In 1977, Granger identified 62 variants of the Lost Dutchman's story some of the variations are minor, but others are substantial, casting the story in a very different light from the other versions. However, things can go wrong. Web. As the mountains have a desert climate and few water resources, there is not much vegetation here. 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. 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. Mike . The conquistador ordered the men to stay close together so they weren't picked off, but this didn't help. 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. These steep, jagged volcanic mountains were formed over 29 million years ago and they cover an area of 160,000 acres. Elevation: 6,001 Feet (1,829 Meters) Primary Mineral: Copper Lat, Long: 46.3369, -113.26190 Map: View on Google Maps (Doug Dolde / Wikimedia Commons). 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. Furthermore, Wilburn stated that geology indicates that there is no gold in the Superstition Mountains, which are igneous in origin. Nov 19, 2003 #8. [12] Thorne related his claims to three U.S. soldiers in about 1858. This also fits Waltzs description. Of course, one obvious argument against this being the Dutchman is the fact that The Silver Chief was a silver mine, not a gold mine. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Over the next few weeks I will share some images that are safe for us to show. He never came home. It can also be a touchy subject to broach, depending on who you are speaking with. It next surfaced in history in 1957 when it was claimed by a man named Quentin Ted Cox. This problematic paradox, I believe, is the product of years of misdirection to steer seekers to the west side of the mountains. Ask any prospector and they will tellyou,gold is where you find it. They are anchored by Superstition Mountain, a large mountain that is a popular recreation destination for residents of the Phoenix, Arizona, area. They were supposedly dug up in the desert, in area east of Gold canyon and Tucson in the late 1940s byTravis E Tomlinson. Once again, only rumors kept the legend alive, and these events drove even more Dutch hunters to the dangerous mountains. The praying hands formation at the Superstition Mountains range. Waltz is attacked and wounded by marauding Apaches, but survives at least long enough to tell a man called Dr. Walker about the mine. It's likely this legend just got re-adapted to the Superstitions to boost the legend of the Lost Dutchman's mine. Once again, just ask Gollum. (2004). The Pit Mine IS the Silver Chief Mine. You need at a bare minimum, at least a three- man team. Superstition Mountains - Wikipedia 12 People Who Vanished Looking For The Lost Dutchman Treasure - Ranker 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? ENTER THE HEART OF DARKNESS | Legend of the Superstition Mountains (S1 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]. To paraphrase an old Dutch Hunter, I dont know where the Dutchman is, but I know a thousand places it isnt! The meaning here is that gold can only exist in a prerequisite set of geological conditions. Arcana Exploration. Silver King Mine Superstition Mountains. So what about Jacob Waltz? 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. Intrigue Journal. Ruth ended his note with the phrase "Veni, vidi, vici. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 4: Volunteer Coordinator He pursued mining and prospecting, but seems to have had little luck with either. 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]. 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. 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. [4] 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. Free Lecture: Arizona's Four Peaks Amethyst Mine - Superstition Please note that admission prices for Special Events are subject to change. 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. As a counter to Ed Piper, we have Celeste Jones, who was kind of a cult leader from California who . In the year 1870, with his consent, they blindfolded him and took him on a 20-mile trip to an unknown location piled with gold ore. [2] [3] 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. 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. 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. Among the many legends to have emerged from the area, one of the most enduring ones is that of The LostDutchmansGold Mine. Ruth disappeared while searching for the mine in the summer of 1931. In June 1931, Ruth set out to locate the lost Peralta mine. The legend of the lost gold continued to attract people, and, in 1932, a veterinarian in the Park Service, Adolph Ruth, decided to go treasure hunting. Intrigue Journal. According to Legends of America, the Native Americans in the area believed the Thunder God of their religion lived in the Superstition Mountains, and thus they were required to protect it with lethal force, killing any who might set foot on the mountain and disturb their deity. Supposedly one of their 18 mines was very rich and they considered it their alfa mine. 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. Legend of the Superstition Mountains - History Just what does the LDM cave/mine entrance look like? According to the Apaches (North American Indians), the entryway to hell is in the Superstition Mountains. The area is filled with ghost tales, monster . 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. [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). 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. The earliest documentation of him in the U.S. is an 1848 affidavit in which Waltz declared himself to be "about 38 years old". 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. 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. The Pennsylvania Dutch Country. One of the best treasure tales in the history of the American West is the Lost Dutchman Mine. Nearly fifty years later, Ron Feldman proved Coxs theory to be true, documenting a Spanish mine at Rogers Springs, only a few miles from the Pit Mine. The legend goes that an immigrant named Jacob Waltz found the mine and then took his secret to the grave. There May Be a Long-Lost Gold Mine in the Arizona Mountains - Discovery One of the worst kept secrets of the Superstition Mountains. It is common knowledge that someone was working the mine in the late 1990s, though what exactly they extracted varies between tellers. These include Barry Storms book Thunder Gods Gold, published in 1945, detailing his own efforts to find the gold, and the Glen Ford and Ida Lupino movie, Lust for Gold, from 1949. The Superstition Mountain Historical Society was formed on December 27, 1979. Now riddled with tunnels, the mountain is a death trap for the . [9] As of 1975, ruins of the Peralta mine were standing.[9]. The story sometimes claims there were arrows all around, and so thus it must have been the Apache protecting their sacred mountains. James Reavis tried to assert that the Peralta family had a Spanish land grant and a barony granted by the King of Spain, which included a huge swath of Arizona and New Mexico, including the Superstition Mountains. The Jesuit Treasure of the Superstition Mountains. For more. There have been many stories about how to find the mine, and each year people search for the mine. Hardie agrees to join a father searching for his son who is seeking a lost gold mine in Arizona's Superstition Mountains. The Supers are east northeast of Phoenix. When the townspeople went to look for them, they found nearly all of the family slaughtered. He'll tell you the ore assayed out to something like 10,000 ounces of gold to the ton. 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. (In truth, Apaches make up just one of the tribes found in the area, but these were typically all lumped in as "Apache" by white settlers who didn't appreciate the differences in Native American tribes.). 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. [42] The park was expanded to 320 acres (130ha) in 1983. Certainly, do not expect it to be an open space you can pop into and have a look around. He reportedly said it came from a secret mine in the Superstition Mountains. The old Silver Chief mine, Ted Cox's Ridge Pit Mine is documented by Dept. Kinos Mission San Xavier del Bac near Tucson unlike other missions in California was both massive and opulent, and still stands today. 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. These are rectangular, cross-shaped, and heart-shaped stones with etchings of a horse, a priest, a dagger, a trail, topographic features, and Spanish inscriptions. A lack of historical records leaves uncertainty as to whether a Peralta family ever had possession of land, or mines, in or near the Superstition Mountains. The location is generally believed to be in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east of Phoenix, Arizona. His expeditions led to the discovery of several of what he called Spanish mines which, at the time, was in contradiction to accepted history. After he had spent many years in their midst, the Apache Elders decided to reward his selfless service with gold. There have been many books, films, and cartoons about the Lost Gold of the Superstition Mountains. We are a non-profit corporation under Section 501 (c) 3, organized to collect and preserve the history and legends of Arizona's Superstition Mountains, and to support research, education and publications involving the region. However, there were no directions to the conquest mentioned in his diary. Front View of the Peralta Stones. Jacob Waltz took to returning to the mountains only when he needed the gold. 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. Early on during the Spanish Conquest, Conquistadors such as Francisco Vazquez de Coronado (1535) came to the American southwest (New Spain) in search of gold trying to locate, Montezumas Seven Cities of Cibola. 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'. Regardless, Dr. Thorne helped the man and he recovered, according to Legends of America. 3: Gift Shop and Event Manager Dave McElligott [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. 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. George Flemming and Charles Enslinger filed claim on the Silver Chief mine in 1875. To paraphrase an old Dutch Hunter, I dont know where the Dutchman is, but I know a thousand places it isnt! The meaning here is that gold can only exist in a prerequisite set of geological conditions. There are many variations of this story, including that the mine is cursed, killing anyone who . Going on a year now. The stories of conquistadors and Jesuits bearing gold are completely unverifiable without documentation or archaeological evidence. Cerro Rico: Devil worship on the man-eating mountain - BBC News 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. Other storytellers claim that the Peralta Family escaped with gold, but another family died in the massacre. Your browser doesn't support the HTML5 CANVAS tag. These trails traverse from the desert floor up into the edges of the mountains. The beginning and end of the tale will be told with ore. Gold ore has its own fingerprint, discernible from other gold ore. Follow the Process. So where did all these rumors of lost gold in the Superstition Mountains originate? The Superstition Mountains and the Legend of the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine Also, as previously mentioned, no Native American tribes in the region seem to have any history of treating the mountains as anything other than regular mountains. He said the bars were all stamped with what appeared to be a crown. Since Ruth's death, there have been several other deaths or disappearances in the Superstition Mountains. The closest approximate was a German miner of the PennsylvaniaGerman community. Blair had little doubt that Waltz related to Thomas the location of an alleged gold mine. Instead, he went missing and his skull was found 6 months later with two large circular holes. 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. 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). He had worked as a miner but was an amateur prospector at best. As the mountains have a desert climate and few water resources, there is not much vegetation here. Pingback: Legend of the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Parts 2 & 3: Finally Found! 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. It is believed that all were killed except for two Peralta family members who were severely wounded but managed to escape. I feel the information on the Peralta stones is most likely from a very old map of Jesuit origin. Ted Cox and the Ridge Pit Mine Some have died on the search. The Pima Indians famously feared the mountain that they knew as Ain-we-gophon (Superstition Mountain). It was the fifth-largest fire in Arizonas history, it raged for over a month, despite the strenuous containment efforts of over 600 firefighters. There's the thrill of the hunt, solving the clues, and what could be a better payoff than a big cache of riches? He spent much of his spare time reading about it and searching for it. Image property of Arcana Exploration, photo taken at the Lost Dutchman Museum Apache Junction, Arizona. Arizona place-name expert Byrd Granger wrote, as of 1977, the Lost Dutchman's story had been printed or cited at least six times more often than two other fairly well-known tales, the story of Captain Kidd's lost treasure, and the story of the Lost Pegleg mine in California.
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