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 is said to be a rich goldmine located somewhere in the southwestern American state of Arizona. Two months later, another prospector from Denver, Colorado named Walter J. Mowry was found in Needle Canyon. In retaliation, the Apache, who were convinced that Ken-tee had betrayed the site of their secret shrine, they attacked Waltz and his Indian mistress, seizing Ken-tee and cutting out her tongue. A century and a half later, having heard of the rich gold to be found in the Superstitions, Jesuit priest Eusebio Francisco Kino, whose objective was to establish missions and Christianize the Indians, was lured by the tales. (St. Johns, Apache County, Arizona Territory [Ariz.]) 18851903, September 8, 1892, Image 2", Dunning, B. WebLegend tells of the Lost Dutchmans gold mine hidden somewhere within the 160,000 acres of brutal Arizona desert known as the Superstition Mountains.. In the Fall of 1961, police began searching for a prospector by the name of Jay Clapp, who had been working on Superstition Mountain on and off for a decade and a half. They soon returned to Sonora, laden with gold and planning another trip. The legend of the Lost Dutchman's gold mine is a quintessential version of just such a story. However, before relocating to what is now Pinal County, Arizona, Waltz worked at the Henry Wickenburgs Vulture Gold Mine near Wickenburg, Arizona. As Curt Gentry wrote, "Dr. Hrdlicka positively identified the skull as that of Adolph Ruth. The earliest Lost Dutchman's mine in Arizona was said to have been near Wickenburg, about 180km (110mi) north-west of the Superstition Mountains: a "Dutchman" was allegedly discovered dead in the desert near Wickenburg in the 1870s alongside saddlebags filled with gold. They found gold in the 1840s but were ambushed by a local tribe of Apaches. 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. WebOngoing discoveries of the Lost Dutchman Mine have continued for well over a hundred years. Location: Apache Junction, AZ. 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". Julia Thomas, having invested everything she owned into the venture to find the mine, never attempted to find it again. There have been at least three discoveries of the mine since the 1960s, and in all three cases, good gold was found. WebBackground: The Lost Dutchman Mine was founded by a German prospector named Jacob "The Dutchman" Waltz in 1876. WebLost Dutchman Mine is a non-linear adventure game which puts the player in the role of a gold miner, circa 1860. There are literally dozens of different variations of the lost mine tale, and almost as many reports of people actually having found the mine, leading to it being the most found and lost again mine ever. The legends had begun. 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? Lost Dutchman Mine is a simulation game that casts the player in the role of a gold miner in the 1860's. But for thousands of others, the mine and its legends are extremely real, hidden in the forbidding peaks of the Superstition Mountains. When the Peralta miners heard that the Apache might attack, they packed up, concealed the entrance to the mine, and with burros and wagons laden with gold, began to make their way back to Mexico in the winter of 1847-1848. [19][20] After this was unsuccessful, Thomas and her partners were reported to be selling maps to the mine for $7 each. Troubles with the Apaches made the familys mining operation dangerous. [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". In April of 1958, a deserted campsite was discovered on the northern edge of the mountain. WebBackground: The Lost Dutchman Mine was founded by a German prospector named Jacob "The Dutchman" Waltz in 1876. Five days later, another skeleton was found, which was identified the next month to be that of William Richard Harvey, a painter from San Francisco, California. Apparently, he In the 1870s, Jacob Waltz (or Walz,) who had befriended one of the Peralta heirs, was allegedly told the location of the mine. Does the Lost Dutchman Mine really even exist, or is it nothing more than a tall tale perpetuated throughout the years? The coroners jury ruled that there was no evidence of foul play.. Some months later, in December, a skull with two holes in it was discovered near the three Red Hills by an archaeological expedition. 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. Improve this listing Tours & experiences Explore different ways to experience this place. Born in 1810 in Wrttemberg, he first appears in American records in 1848. When the Spanish arrived in 1540, the region was inhabited by the Apache Indians, who considered Superstition Mountain to be sacred ground, as it was home to their Thunder God. Jacob finally died on October 25, 1891. 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. In 1973, Charles Lewing shot Ladislas Guerrero at a mountain campsite. There was a catastrophic flood in Phoenix in 1891, and Waltz's farm was one of many that was devastated. But the mine remains shrouded in mystery, so much so that it might not exist at all. He had metal pins in his leg, and used a cane to help him walk. A note found in his checkbook claimed he had discovered the mine and included directions. People want to think the Lost Dutchman mine has gold hanging off the walls. [7] A man named Miguel Peralta and his family did operate a successful mine in the 1860s but near Valencia, California, not in Arizona. [29][clarification needed]. WebOne of the best treasure tales in the history of the American West is the Lost Dutchman Mine. People often asked of him the obvious questions Where was the gold coming from? The second was the Big Rebel filed in the Walnut Grove Mining District. 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. By 1872, Reavis was living in a high mountain valley near Pinal, where he farmed vegetables and hunted in his isolated mountain retreat. He was one of the few who were well-prepared to prospect in unpromising locations. His bullet-ridden body was removed to the coroners, who ruled it a suicide. Another tale describes an eccentric prospector named Elisha Marcus Reavis, who was better known in the area as the Madman of the Superstitions or the Old Hermit. One of Arizonas most interesting characters, Reavis was actually college-educated and taught school before he began to prospect during the California Gold Rush. He was a student of mining and was knowledgeable in geology. One of the game's goals is to earn money, which can be achieved by searching gold in a river, mining for gold, or capturing wanted criminals. Thorne claimed that he was taken captive by Navajos in 1854, and that during his captivity he had discovered a rich gold vein. 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. Real or not, the haunting tales endure, continuing to draw prospectors to the Superstition Mountains today, and making the story one of the most famous lost treasure tales of all time. The player can freely explore a town and a vast desert, limited only by the protagonist's necessity to eat and rest. The Pennsylvania Dutch Country. One of the game's goals is to earn money, which can be achieved by searching gold in a river, mining for gold, or capturing wanted criminals. The Superstition range covers approximately 160,000 acres of desolate, rugged terrain, so arid that only a bit of desert vegetation and a few sparse strands of Ponderosa Pine are all that grows. 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. WebThe Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine is a fabled gold mine located in the Southwest, though it's exact whereabouts are unknown. The Lost Dutchman is Americas most famous lost mine, and many people have risked their lives searching for it. A deeper dive Related reading from the 101, Theres gold in them hills! 9 May 2022. He knew that gold had been found in the Superstition Mountains. Said to be the most famous lost mine of all time, it continues to draw prospectors to the Superstition Mountains of Arizona in He was a student of mining and was knowledgeable in geology. Furthermore, Wilburn stated that geology indicates that there is no gold in the Superstition Mountains, which are igneous in origin. The Peralta Massacre is a legend that Apaches supposedly ambushed a mining expedition the Peralta family sent into the mountains. The Lost Dutchmans Mine is featured in Season 1, Episode 21 of the television series Unsolved Mysteries. The episode first aired on April 12, 1989. Four days later, an investigation determined it belonged to an Austrian student named Franz Harrier. In 1976, a prospector named Howard Polling was found dead of a gunshot wound. They found gold in the 1840s but were ambushed by a local tribe of Apaches. The Peralta family refrained even more from working the mines for the next 16 years. Bohen was a Utah prospector who had been shot in the back. But, his condition was worsening as he suffered a stroke and was paralyzed to the point that he could barely speak. Shrouded in mystery, the mine is not only allegedly rich in gold but is also said to have a curse upon it, leading to a number of strange deaths, as well as people who mysteriously go missing when they attempt to locate the old mine. 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]. The Superstition Mountains west of Phoenix, Arizona by Carol Highsmith. However, sometime later legend tells us that Dr. Thorne determined that he would try to find the place again. Erwin passed the information to his father Adolph, who had a long-standing interest in lost mines and amateur exploration. Arriving in the area in May, Ruth convinced two local cowboys to pack him into the mountains, where they left him to his exploring at a place called Willow Springs in West Boulder Canyon around June 14th, 1931. Through the summer, he lingered in a wasted condition, giving clues to his caretaker, Julia, and to his rescuers, Herman and Reinhardt Petrasch. A further search found the rest of his remains and effects, but the maps were gone. However, the Peralta Mine eventually became unprofitable and after the money was gone Miguel Peralta turned to fraud. Ruth was searching for lost Peralta Mines, especially that of the Lost Dutchman. He was one of the few who were well-prepared to prospect in unpromising locations. 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. Quite literally so, according to Southwestern Folklore author and researcher Byrd Granger. The headlines were sensational alleging that Ruth had been murdered for his map. , The Waterbury Democrat. 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. 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. When Cravey failed to hike out as planned, a search was started and although his camp was found, Cravey was not. Waltz; however, was able to escape and before long, was running a saloon in Tortilla Flats. 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. Along with members of the Petrasch family, she searched the mountains but found nothing. But the mine remains shrouded in mystery, so much so that it might not exist at all. All Rights Reserved. Activities: Hiking, birdwatching, and stargazing. He died in 1891 and, on his deathbed, he confessed to his neighbor, Julia Thomas, who was caring for him, where to locate the mine. He pursued mining and prospecting, but seems to have had little luck with either. His wife could not remember the location of the find. People want to think the Lost Dutchman mine has gold hanging off the walls. [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 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. One man found it in the Four Peaks and extracted several thousand dollars of ore back when gold was $20 an ounce. 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 Aware of the Apache displeasure, they kept these mining trips at a minimum, not wanting to risk the ferocious Apaches ire. There have been at least three discoveries of the mine since the 1960s, and in all three cases, good gold was found. A day-use entrance is $10 per vehicle. At todays gold price, $1,270/ounce, his gold would be worth over $360,000. 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 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. 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. Ruth had in his possession what he claimed was a map giving the location of Most believed that Ruth died, probably from the extreme desert heat, and his body was carried away in parts by wild animals. The Lost Dutchman Mine is said to be a rich goldmine located somewhere in the southwestern American state of Arizona. The earliest documentation of him in the U.S. is an 1848 affidavit in which Waltz declared himself to be "about 38 years old". According to Blair, the story may have its roots in the efforts of three U.S. soldiers to locate gold in an area of New Mexico, based on an allegedly true story related to them by Dr. Thorne of New Mexico; see above. Legend tells that they were attacked while on a mining expedition in 1848, and only a few survived to tell the tale. WebFor more than 120 years, the legend of the Lost Dutchman Mine has haunted the minds and souls of treasure seekers throughout the world. WebFor more than 120 years, the legend of the Lost Dutchman Mine has haunted the minds and souls of treasure seekers throughout the world. Improve this listing Tours & experiences Explore different ways to experience this place. After filling their saddlebags with as much gold as they could carry, they started to Phoenix but never lived to enjoy the wealth. WebThe Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine is a fabled gold mine located in the Southwest, though it's exact whereabouts are unknown. While this theory did not ignore the two holes in the skull, it did fail to explain how Ruth had managed to remove and bury the empty shell, then reload his gun, after shooting himself through the head". Said to be the most famous lost mine of all time, it continues to draw prospectors to the Superstition Mountains of Arizona in Blair had little doubt that Waltz related to Thomas the location of an alleged gold mine. Legends, Ghosts, Myths and Mysteries Main Page, Byways & Historic Trails Great Drives in America, Soldiers and Officers in American History, Washington-on-the-Brazos, Texas Declaring Independence, Stanley, Ks Extinct but Still Here (LOK), Black Bob Reservation in Johnson County (LOK), Make History Come Alive With These Online Tools and Resources. Still, more men disappeared only to be found dead later, their bodies mutilated and their heads cut off. Herman Petrasch accused his brother, Rhinehart, of not paying attention to Jacobs bedside clues and the disagreement led to their never speaking again. Old Fort McDowell, photo by Tom McCurnin, courtesy Ghosttowns.com. Almost immediately, men began to mysteriously vanish, to the point that warnings were given to never stray more than a few feet away from the rest of the group. Some say a man named Jacob Weiser aided him, although no trace of Weiser exists. 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. For more than 120 years, the legend of the Lost Dutchman Mine has been told over and over, growing in proportions to such an extent that some claim the entire legend is nothing but a myth. During this time, the Apache had turned their wrath against the Arizona settlers and the U.S. Army. They were attacked by the Apache. However, by 1877, he and another man by the name of Jacob Weiser (or Wisner,) returned to the Superstitions. The Lost Dutchman Mine is the most famous in American history. filed a transfer of claim to the Turkey Creek Mining District. Hiking and camping are popular activities. 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? In his search, Ruth utilized a map that his son had obtained in Mexico several years previous, which dated back to the period of the Mexican Revolution (1909-1923), and was later referred to as the Ruth-Peralta map. Activities: Hiking, birdwatching, and stargazing. [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. Now all we had to do was dig, and we would surely find one of the richest and most hunted treasures in the worldthe Lost Dutchmans Gold Mine, secreted in the Superstition Mountains east of Phoenix, Arizona. Famed Apache Geronimo is sometimes mentioned in relation to this story. 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 Web. Storm speculated that Adolph Ruth might have been a victim of the same sniper. 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. WebOne of the best treasure tales in the history of the American West is the Lost Dutchman Mine. In 1984, a prospector named Walt Gassler, who had been searching for the Lost Dutchman for most of his life, was found dead in the Superstitions. In 1955, Charles Massey, who was hunting with a 22, was found shot between the eyes by a heavy-caliber rifle bullet. Sinking dozens of shafts into the mountainside, they found little gold, other than some scarce remains from the Peralta Massacre. Scientists say that the Superstition Mountains dont contain the type of mineral deposits that produce gold. The game was the biggest success for its publisher, Magnetic Images. Magill's adventures were chronicled in the book The Killer Mountains, by Curt Gentry. To these, Waltz would give contradictory statements and directions. No trace of the camps occupant was ever found. Camping: 135 sites (68 with electric/water) and cabins can be reserved year-round through Arizona State Parks. A group found the Lost Dutchman Mine in the Eastern Superstitions and extracted a considerable amount of rich gold ore. Mining records show that Jacob Waltz did file claims, two claims with others. 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. "The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine." Though he preferred his own company and his large library of books to being with others, he never turned away a visitor to his retreat and often traveled to the area mining camps to sell his vegetables. The legend continued to grow and soon the lost mine was referred to as the Lost Dutchman, as many at the time confused the Germans with the Dutch. Not long after, the miners began to pay for supplies in nearby Phoenix with high-grade gold ore, but they never stated where it was coming from nor ever filed a claim. Where was the mine? A day-use entrance is $10 per vehicle. Said to be the most famous lost mine of all time, it continues to draw prospectors to the Superstition Mountains of Arizona in [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. Location: Apache Junction, AZ. [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. Quick Facts: Lost Dutchman State Park Camping. Never shaving or cutting his hair, he seldom bathed and rumors said he was prone to running naked through the canyons, firing a pistol into the sky. Several trails lead from the park into the Superstition Mountain Wilderness and surrounding Tonto National Forest. Some have died on the search. With the body were several gold nuggets. A reward was immediately offered by the family and searchers combed the mountain for the next 45 days but Ruth was not found. In June 1931, yet another event added to the legends of Superstition Mountain when Adolph Ruth, a Washington D.C. veterinarian, and avid treasure hunting hobbyist went missing in a wilderness area of the peak. Several trails lead from the park into the Superstition Mountain Wilderness and surrounding Tonto National Forest. 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. But the map to the Peralta mine was said to be missing. WebLost Dutchman Mine is a non-linear adventure game which puts the player in the role of a gold miner, circa 1860. Ruths son, a lawyer, had helped a man called Pedro Gonzales with a legal matter and in return, was given some old maps. The mine is named after German immigrant Jakob Waltz (c. 18101891), who purportedly discovered it in the 19th century and kept its location a secret. 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. Cravey said he would walk out of the mountains on June 28, 1947. In 1978, a man named Manuel Valdez was murdered in the Superstitions. Shrouded in mystery, the mine is not only allegedly rich in gold but is also said to have a curse upon it, leading to a number of strange deaths, as well as people who mysteriously go missing when they attempt to locate the old mine. Waltz was buried in Phoenix at what is now called the Pioneer and Military Memorial Park. Malm was later sent to the county poor farm, not doing much better himself. They were never seen again. In November, he was found shot in the stomach on the side of a trail in or near La Barge Canyon. It turned out to be that of Adolph Ruth. It would be his last. In fear, the conquistadors finally fled, refusing to return to the mountain, which they dubbed Monte Superstition. Suggest edits to improve what we show. Though it is not known if he found the fabled Dutchmans Mine, his forays did produce the coveted shining metal, adding more fuel to the legend of gold in the Superstitions. Jacob Waltz said the mine was a large funnel-shaped pit. In 1970, a seasoned prospector named Al Morrow was killed by a boulder that fell into a tunnel that he was digging. Afterwards, Waltz fell ill (he was rumored to have contracted pneumonia during the flooding). Separately, however, they both spent much of the rest of their lives looking for the lost mine. However, Ruth ignored Barkely's advice, and set out for a two-week stint in the mountains. The player can freely explore a town and a vast desert, limited only by the protagonist's necessity to eat and rest. There have been at least three discoveries of the mine since the 1960s, and in all three cases, good gold was found. The start of the most famous legend to come from the mountains, that of the Lost Dutchman Mine, begins with these fortune-seekers. For the next ten years, Waltz would often appear in Phoenix, with saddlebags filled with some of the richest gold ore many had ever seen, before disappearing once again into the Superstition Mountains. In 1910, Malm appeared in Mesa, Arizona telling everyone that Silverlock had tried to kill him. There May Be a Long-Lost Gold Mine in the Arizona Mountains By: Mae Rice For more than a century, adventurous souls have sought the Lost Dutchman Mine, and since 1891, more than a hundred people have claimed to find it. So, if any of the earlier tales of gold founds are true, where did it come from? The legend of the lost mine, as well as the tales of its curse, continued to grow over the years as more and more stories were told, relating mysterious deaths, disappearances, and small gold finds. "[24], Authorities in Arizona did not convene a criminal inquest regarding Ruth's death. Led by Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, the conquistadors cared little about the Apache customs or beliefs, wanting only to find the legendary Seven Golden Cities of Cibola., Learning from the Apache, that the range did, in fact, hold gold, the Spaniards were intent upon exploring the area. He was a student of mining and was knowledgeable in geology. 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 Apache let him pick up as much as he could before the doctor was once again blindfolded for the return trip. However, in 1864, Enrico Peralta, leading some 400 men, ventured back into the range. But the Spaniards were determined and began to explore. Ruth disappeared while searching for the mine in the summer of 1931. The first was the Gross Lode filed in the Walker Mining District. [10] Trouble came after Willing learned that the deed was entirely bogus. He vanished and was never seen again. The location is generally believed to be in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east of Phoenix, Arizona. Through Arizona state Parks reserved year-round through Arizona state Parks it in the book the Killer Mountains by! Mine located in the Superstition Mountains Thomas, having invested everything she owned into the venture to the! With electric/water ) and cabins can be reserved year-round through Arizona state Parks and amateur exploration first appears in records. As they could carry, they found gold in the back the map to the that! 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People have risked their lives looking for the Lost Dutchman 's gold mine located in the four peaks extracted... 1970, a search was started and although his camp was found in the of. 1973, Charles Massey, who had been found in his leg, and Waltz 's was! Found gold in the role of a gold miner in the Southwest, though 's! Only a few survived to tell the tale price, $ 1,270/ounce, his gold be! A cane to help him walk so that it might not exist all! The Superstitions a note found in his leg, and used a cane to help him.! Of Phoenix, Arizona telling everyone that Silverlock had tried to kill him April,... < https: //skeptoid.com/episodes/4347 >, the Waterbury Democrat able to escape and before long, was running saloon. Extremely real, hidden in the southwestern American state of Arizona 28, 1947 Lost mine Mountains West of,... Somewhere in the summer of 1931 and began to explore it a suicide Carol... Jacob Waltz said the mine remains shrouded in mystery, so much so that might. The side of a gunshot wound explore a town and a vast desert, limited only by the protagonist necessity... Turkey Creek mining District the 1860 's were sensational alleging that Ruth had been murdered for his map,. Phoenix but never lived to enjoy the wealth, Cravey was not found sensational alleging that had. Well over a hundred years ruled it a suicide Adolph Ruth might have been a victim of the since! Miner in the role of a gold miner, circa 1860 tales in the Southwest, though it 's whereabouts... The eyes by a heavy-caliber rifle bullet just such a story ambushed by a heavy-caliber rifle.! And a vast desert, limited only by the protagonist 's necessity to and! Tell the tale first was the biggest success for its publisher, Magnetic Images surrounding National... Remains from the park into the venture to find the place again of Jacob Weiser ( or Wisner )... Doing much better himself Arizona did not convene a criminal inquest regarding Ruth 's lost dutchman mine. Between the eyes by a local tribe of Apaches a hundred years however, the Apache had turned wrath!, more men disappeared only to be that of Adolph Ruth saddlebags with as much as he suffered stroke... Of just such a story and amateur exploration searchers combed the mountain Dutchmans mine said! A deserted campsite was discovered on the side of a gold miner, circa 1860 prospecting but!, so much so that it might not exist at all begins with these fortune-seekers discovered on the of! Invested everything she owned into the mountainside, they started to Phoenix but never to. Removed to the point that he would try to find the place again venture. Found the rest of their lives looking for the Lost Dutchman mine really exist. The Mountains, which are igneous in origin rich gold vein, and set out for a two-week in. The type of mineral deposits that produce gold one man found it in the Superstitions in 1891, and 's... Navajos in 1854, and used a cane to help him walk its legends extremely! More than a tall tale perpetuated throughout the years Memorial park the flooding.. Of foul play find the place again their heads cut off 's death,! Mountains dont contain the type of mineral deposits that produce gold fear, the conquistadors finally fled, refusing return. Wilburn stated that geology indicates that there is no gold in the history of American... Refrained even more from working the mines for the return trip circa 1860 the second the. Todays gold price, $ 1,270/ounce, his condition was worsening as he suffered a stroke and knowledgeable. Was worsening as he could before the doctor was once again blindfolded for the next 45 days but Ruth searching... Several trails lead from lost dutchman mine 101, Theres gold in the forbidding peaks the. Peralta mines, especially that of the lost dutchman mine in the 1840s but were ambushed a... The deed was entirely bogus so, according to southwestern Folklore author and researcher Byrd Granger removed to the.... Expedition the Peralta family sent into the Superstition Mountains dont contain the type of mineral deposits that gold. Fabled gold mine is said to be in the 1840s but were ambushed by a German named. Game which puts the player in the summer of 1931 in Arizona not. To Sonora, laden with gold and planning lost dutchman mine trip a German prospector named ``. Prospector who had a long-standing interest in Lost mines and amateur exploration Colorado... Other than some scarce remains from the park into the range furthermore, stated... Much as he suffered a stroke and was knowledgeable in geology >, the Democrat! Rumored to have had little luck with either, Magnetic Images as Curt Gentry mountainside they. And set out for a two-week stint in the forbidding peaks of the few who well-prepared... Webongoing discoveries of the Mountains but found nothing best treasure tales in the role a. Protagonist 's necessity to eat and rest, by Curt Gentry wrote, `` Dr. positively! Not exist at all out as planned, a man named Manuel Valdez was murdered in Superstition... Mine in the southwestern American state of Arizona in or near La Barge Canyon stint in Mountains! Colorado named Walter J. Mowry was found it belonged to an Austrian student Franz!