The location in question is called the Pit Mine or The Silver Chief. However, they eventually disappeared after a trip into the Superstitions. The beginning and end of the tale will be told with ore. Gold ore has its own fingerprint, discernible from other gold ore. This is their turf and only the highly experienced and prepared should venture forward. 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. The Pit Mine IS the Silver Chief Mine. In his 1945 book about the Lost Dutchman's mine. The Apaches were either enraged over the violation of their sacred mountains or wanted to steal the gold from them. Come on. Arcana Exploration is made up of a group of five friends and supporters, from central Ohio, who until five years ago knew very little if anything about the LDM. ZERO ZIP NADA!! Peralta Stones are fake - DesertUSA Waltz relocated to Arizona in the 1860s, and stayed in the territory for most of the rest of his life. We miss it. It is easily accessible about 40 miles east of Phoenix via U.S. Highway 60, the Superstition Freeway. There is a lot of speculation about Aaron Mason and his involvement, but one interesting fact is that the man became a millionaire during this time. Many people have dismissed them as a hoax. Intrigue Journal. Get Mysteries of the Superstition Mountains gear at https://my-store-cadb1e.creator-sprin. Blair had little doubt that Waltz related to Thomas the location of an alleged gold mine. The praying hands formation at the Superstition Mountains range. As the story goes, Waltz had some minor success drawing gold out of the mountains, and eventually, he started coming back to town with huge loads of high-grade gold ore. Previously, comparative tests which could prove that the matchbox and the Pit Mine samples were related were destructive in nature. 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. If these conditions do not exist, gold will not exist. 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. 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. 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. The Lost Dutchman Mine, Arizona - Legends of America 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]. [1], The Lost Dutchman's is perhaps the most famous lost mine in American history. To begin with, there was never any real Dutchman involved with the lost gold mine. When you visit, follow the hard rock mining process from mine to bullion. Those of us local to the area and who have researched the subject know that. After traveling to the region, Ruth stayed several days at the ranch of Tex Barkely to outfit his expedition. Now riddled with tunnels, the mountain is a death trap for the . Children 10 and under Yet, legend insists that it does. While he allegedly worked as a miner at numerous mines earlier in his life, eventually Waltz decided he wanted to prospect on his own. Supposedly one of their 18 mines was very rich and they considered it their alfa mine. The Superstition Mountains and the Legend of the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine The Pennsylvania Dutch Country. 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. First, let's talk about the geology of the mountains. Later, he remarked that he had noticed a towering rock formation nearby, but otherwise remained clueless about the whereabouts of the place. 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. Two prominent landmarks here are the Weavers Needle and the Miners Needle. Later I will give more details and then begin providing information on how things fit together. Supposedly, the Peraltas actually found a very rich gold vein and set up a mining operation. 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. His expeditions led to the discovery of several of what he called Spanish mines which, at the time, was in contradiction to accepted history. Instead, he went missing and his skull was found 6 months later with two large circular holes. 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. 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. 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. 9 May 2022. Magill's adventures were chronicled in the book The Killer Mountains, by Curt Gentry. He spent much of his spare time reading about it and searching for it. The legend goes that an immigrant named Jacob Waltz found the mine and then took his secret to the grave. [3] Former Arizona Attorney General Robert K. Corbin is among those who have looked for the mine. Legends have. Travis Tumlinson, a policeman, discovered the Peralta Stones on a roadside near the Superstition Mountains in the 1940s. There's some evidence to suggest he engaged in a shady practice called highgrading basically claiming ore is more valuable than it really is. The one, tangible piece of evidence still in existence are the samples remaining from the ore taken by Dick Holmes, namely the matchbox. 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. The Peralta Stones are a set of engraved stone tableted works that are approximately 18 inches long and weigh about 25 lbs. Recently, however, non-destructive tests have become possible and the two samples have been compared. This problematic paradox, I believe, is the product of years of misdirection to steer seekers to the west side of the mountains. Within the refuge are 14 trail heads that cover 190 miles. Still, there is by no means a consensus among Dutch Hunters and many dismiss it entirely, regardless of scientific evidence. January 1933 a Mining electrican named J.A. The legend of the Lost Dutchman's gold mine is a quintessential version of just such a story. Rogers was partnered with Aaron Mason, foreman of the Silver King 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. 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. Silvermines - Wikipedia Skeptoid Podcast. He had worked as a miner but was an amateur prospector at best. In June 1931, Ruth set out to locate the lost Peralta mine. Both of these legends are sometimes set before the Dutchman arrived in Arizona, but some time afterward, and thus Dr. Thorne and the soldiers may have stumbled across the Lost Dutchman's mine. 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. Front View of the Peralta Stones. gold is where you find it. These steep, jagged volcanic mountains were formed over 29 million years ago and they cover an area of 160,000 acres. Once again, only rumors kept the legend alive, and these events drove even more Dutch hunters to the dangerous mountains. [11] According to Blair, the origin of this story can be traced to a doctor named Thorne who was in private practice in New Mexico in the 1860s. In fact, the location fits well for both the Doc Thorn and the Two Soldiers stories. Director: Earl Bellamy | Stars: Dale Robertson, John Litel, Myron Healey, John Dennis. Silvermines, historically known as Bellagowan (Irish: Bal tha Gabhann), is a village in County Tipperary in Ireland.It lies immediately north of the Silvermine mountain range and takes its name from the extensive mines of lead, zinc, copper, baryte and silver nearby. Many believe there is a connection and that they sold their families mine to Waltz and his partner. George Flemming and Charles Enslinger filed claim on the Silver Chief mine in 1875. This is what brought him to the Superstition Mountains (yes, that's their real name) near what is today the city of Phoenix, Arizona. Like most legends, when you strip it down as close to the truth as possible, it is never as glorious as imagined. [19][20] After this was unsuccessful, Thomas and her partners were reported to be selling maps to the mine for $7 each. TheSuperstition Mountains, furthermore, are the abode of the Thunder God, and he causes the frequent regional thunderstorms. Towards the very south of the Silvermine Mountains is the highest peak in the mountains, Keeper Hill or in Irish Sliabh . 2: Cashiers for questions about whats happening at the museum and local area Julia, whose occupation is sometimes listed as a nurse and sometimes as a baker, took care of Waltz late in life and the two became close friends. A map is available in the gift shop and signage along the path explains the stages. 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. Dec 4, 2008 4,168 3,192. But the map to the Peralta mine was said to be missing. And, amazingly, a few of these people were also found in the same headless state as Adolph Ruth. [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. However, Ruth ignored Barkely's advice, and set out for a two-week stint in the mountains. Cox also believed he had found the Dutchman, though it is unclear to which one of his claims he made this attribution. The trails in the Superstition Mountains range from short, easy strolls in the desert to strenuous climbs of some of the most dramatic volcanic peaks and everything in between. 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. [27], Throughout the 20th century, various expeditions and individuals continued to search the Superstitions for the Lost Dutchman Mine. Still, there is by no means a consensus among Dutch Hunters and many dismiss it entirely, regardless of scientific evidence. In some versions of this story, Waltz was actually plundering these shrines for his own gold. While popular with campers, hikers, and adventure seekers, these mountains are also known for their exceedingly hot summers, freezing winters, harsh winds, unpredictable storms, treacherous terrain, and mysterious happenings. Do you think the Silver Chief Mine is where Jacob Waltz got his gold Forgive me if I currently do not have the technical documentation for the claim as the current pandemic has prohibited me from obtaining the source material. 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. Then around 1692, the Jesuit padre father Eusebio Francisco Kino arrived. 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. People off his Mine that he cover up with a ironwood tree :The books give me my 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. There's the thrill of the hunt, solving the clues, and what could be a better payoff than a big cache of riches? Perhaps this is why many of the legends involve people bringing gold to the mountain and leaving it hidden there. As the mountains have a desert climate and few water resources, there is not much vegetation here. [2] [3] Generally speaking, this mine is claimed to be situated in the Superstition Mountains, described by one source as "a collection of rough terrain that has gained the name of a single mountain" which lies to the east of Phoenix, the Arizonan capital. 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. James Rogers was the man who actually discovered the ledge and he became a partner with Enslinger. 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. The location is generally believed to be in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east of Phoenix, Arizona. Ask any prospector and they will tell. New posts Top Treasure Finds Search forums Members Current visitors New profile posts Search profile posts. Silver prices plummeted around the turn of the century, causing most silver mines, including The Silver Chief, to shut down and be abandoned. It's unclear if Waltz himself ever specifically claimed to have a secret gold mine in the mountains, but one woman said he did claim just that Julia Thomas, Jacob Waltz's friend and neighbor, according to Skeptoid. Over the decades, this tale was gradually absorbed into the Lost Dutchman's story. 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. It does not matter if Tomlinson engraved them or someone else did, exactly when they were made is not important, what matters is what is on them. Keep in mind for security reasons for now I have to be selective on what we divulge. Some have died on the search. 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. Searching for The Gold of the Lost Dutchman Mine in Superstition Mountain [10] Trouble came after Willing learned that the deed was entirely bogus. Indeed, there's yet another legend purporting to explain where the Dutchman might have acquired his gold. 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. Supposedly a mine with fabulously rich gold deposits. Blindbowman Bronze Member. In 1875, James Rogers made a claim there and dubbed it The Silver Chief. 4: Volunteer Coordinator One day he travelled to the fabled site of the mother lode, Superstition Mountains near Phoenix, Arizona, and never came back. However, things started going wrong immediately as men began to disappear, later being found decapitated. Without going into a lengthy scientific explanation, I will say that geology defies the existence of gold in most of the Superstition Mountains, especially on the western side. 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. Then, she took the map that was either from Waltz's imagination or her own and made a whole lot of money selling copies of it. Regardless, Dr. Thorne helped the man and he recovered, according to Legends of America. The two Jacobs found the gold but refused to tell anyone else where it was. The Lost Dutchman State Park, which opened in 1977 and has the Peralta Trail, is also a nod at the legend. 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. 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. Every week see new adventures that unfold another Mystery of the Superstition Mountains on our YouTube Channel. When the townspeople went to look for them, they found nearly all of the family slaughtered. [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.
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