It is called the Lost Dutchman Mine and is said to be located in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona. He struck up a friendship with several Yavapai chiefs, even when they were the most hostile to the other miners, and they told him of a place where there was much gold, far more than on Rich Hill, where we were working. This is a popular trail for hiking and mountain biking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. Miner, at the time, was thought to have been mistaken in his bearings, but members of the party later became convinced that he was merely a liar. Misinformation and rumors about the mine grew so ubiquitous that in 1895, they made it into the San Francisco Chronicle. The story continues that after working for a while, eleven of the party started for the Pima villages for supplies. But the mine remains shrouded in mystery, so much so that it might not exist at all. Maricopa County is also popular for prospecting because much of the gold here is found in sizable pieces that can be found with metal detectors . In a pocket was a map, very roughly made and probably very inaccurate, on which he had attempted to show the position of the golden spring. That is, until Miguel Peraltas family stumbles upon the site and start mining the gold. Shasta, Californias Mysterious Volcano, is an Enigma Waiting to be Explored, Three New Species of Snakes Discovered in Graveyards and Churches in Ecuador. The richest always was somewhere out in the desert, beyond water, or within almost inaccessible mountains, where wild Indians guarded the golden secret handed down to them by their forefathers. 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. Are Electric Highways the Way of the Future? Below, in the sand of the wash, was almost a pavement of gold nuggets. Get more stories delivered right to your email. For the last 150 years, people have risked their lives to go in search of Arizonas lost gold, silver and other buried treasures. The tests revealed the gold to be rich, but the man was never able to find the original dig site again. When he reached the top of the butte, he discovered free particles of gold scattered about. 914.589.3985. In 1916, two miners found an old Spanish saddle bag filled with $16,000 worth of smelted gold near the site of the Peralta Massacre. Offers five-day prospecting lessons and mining excursions for small groups throughout the year. The ore in the heaps was about the same character as that which had been brought into Wickenburg in the early days by the Lost Dutchman, but it didnt agree at all with the ore in the shallow prospect hole, which was not considered worthy of further development. Ed Schieffelin, who discovered the Tombstone mines, would later search diligently for the lost mine, but if he found it, he never told. The trails are well marked. Within a year, Thomas and others began searching for the hidden gold and even sold maps with instructions to get to the mine. Superstition Mountains (in some versions they are told the location by a grateful member of the Peralta family, whose life they saved). 8284 Lost Mine Rd. The Ashleys were never able to retrace Palmers path to the ledge. the old gold mining town of bisbee, az. This story was based on the adventures of a young surgeon named Thorne, who, having cured the eye troubles of a couple of Apache Indians where he was stationed, was induced to visit the Indian village where there was an epidemic of the same disorder. In the 1870s, Jacob Waltz, "the Dutchman" (actually a native of Germany), was said to have located the mine through the aid of a Peralta descendant. He vanished into the mountains in 2009 and his body was not discovered until three years later, hidden in a . Later, Pimas and "Apaches" (some of whom may have been Yavapais) occupied parts of the region. Dr. DeCourcy searched for years, and was never able to find the three buttes the miner described on his death bed. He found some. 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". Often, there is a map (sometimes called a "waybill") purportedly showing the location of the mine. But did you know the state is also home to a 30-square-mile sand dune field? Hundreds of "lost mine" stories have been localized everywhere over the West. Basin. He gathered the black pebbles thinking they were copper and carried them to Los Angeles where he later discovered they were gold. Lost Cities & Ancient Mysteries of the Southwest by David Hatcher Childress, Adventures Unlimited Press, 2009. Waltz also makes a deathbed confession to a Julia Thomas, and even draws a crude map of the mine. from the Netherlands) because he was Deutsch (i.e. He died in California on May 10, 1934, at the age of 70. Notes and Author: This article is primarily a tale told by James Harvey McClintock between the years of 1913 and 1916 when he published a three-volume history of Arizona called Arizona: The Youngest State. Further west, around Tysons Wells, also has been found placer gold, though none of these discoveries seem to exactly fit the special conditions of the Lost Soldier mine. #sedona #redrocks #outhiki, Oddball vending machines, #3 in the series. The Lost Goldmine Trails winds for miles at the base of the Superstition Mountains. Apache Before the Storm, Edward S. Curtis, 1906. He had a very irritating habit of disappearing from the camp once in a while, going by night, and taking with him several burros, whose feet would be so well wrapped that trailing was impossible. But the mine remains shrouded in mystery, so much so that it might not exist at all. 8320 Lost Mine Rd. Not only has the value of gold, silver and other precious metals surged over the last decade, but financial experts claim that their worth will only increase exponentially in years to come. Treasure hunters guard their techniques and secret mining spots like truffle hunters. From a single shovelful of earth had been panned seventeen ounces of gold. As early as Sept 1, 1892, a local newspaper relates . I've got to have help quick. Lost Mines & Buried Treasure of the Southwest by Thomas Penfield, Adventures Unlimited Press, 2004. Want to read more travel articles from MDN? Recommended Reading In Colorado, Exploring the Worlds Longest Cave System, Washingtons Olympic Peninsula is a Natural Wonderland, UNEXPLAINED AND UNEXPLORED: Investigating the Legend of California's Gold-Laden Ghost Ship, The Bermuda Triangle Isn't Actually a Mystery, The House on the Rock Is the Tourist Trap to End All Tourist Traps, Every Year, Thousands of Glass Orbs Are Hidden on This Oregon Beach, Female Ocean Rower Attempts Record-Breaking Solo Crossing, The Explorers Club Discovery Expedition Grantees, she and her team passed over two enormous gold mines, they made it into the San Francisco Chronicle. The trio succeeded in returning safely to San Bernardino and in 1875, gathered twelve men to return to the lost bonanza. He would return at night, in equally as mysterious a manner, his burros loaded with gold ore of wonderful richness. But when his son, who worked in Mexico, found a map that might lead to an Arizona gold mine, Ruth couldn't resist. The Superstition Mountains (their name inspired by Pima Indian legends) have been a source of mystery and legend since early times. The question is, "Do these lost mines exist, and are the legends of the lost treasures true?" Unfortunately, Ruth was dead by the time his note was found. However, the story and possibility of stumbling across immense wealth has enticed hundreds of people to attempt searching for the gold mine and a fair number of those lives have ended in death. Join DesertUSA as we continue the search for gold in the Desert. Waltz fell ill and died in 1891, but not before revealing the location of an alleged gold mine to Julia Thomas, the neighbour who cared for him. Officials initially cited the cause of death as naturalfrom thirst or a heart conditionbut this did not explain the bullet holes and Ruths undischarged pistol found with the remains. Most stories place the gold in the vicinity of Weaver's Needle, a well known landmark. To this day, both lost mines are actively sought after by old time prospectors and treasure hunters. By the time the miners had excavated all of the gold at La Paz, they had retrieved eight million dollars worth. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year. The legend continues to evolve: recent additions are versions in which the gold is really a secret treasure trove of the Knights of the Golden Circle, a Confederate secret society active during the American Civil War (1861-1864). There are two trails available. We must ask ourselves the toughest question of all -- "Do I believe there is still gold to be found in the desert?" There have been 428,000 ounces of gold mined here, the vast majority of which comes from the Vulture Mine near Wickenburg. Southwest Treasure Hunters Gem & Mineral Guide: Where & How to Dig, Pan and Mine Your Own Gems & Minerals, GemStone Press, 2008. Waltz and his partner, Jacob Weiser, worked the mine and allegedly hid one or more caches of gold in the Superstitions. Before we get into those, here are some genuine facts about the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine: There really was a Lost Dutchman, although he wasnt Dutch. On his way out of California, he stole 300 to 400 horses and drove them to Taos, New Mexico where he planned to sell them. With Arizonas wild and violent past, you can bet there are quite a few that exist in our Southwestern state. During their journey through the desert, Pegleg had gathered some pebbles which he found on top of a butte in the Colorado Desert. Another Lost Soldier Mine was found by a scouting soldier from old Fort Grant in the hills north of the Gila River, not very far from the mouth of the San Pedro. In the distance, he saw a high mountain, crowned with a peculiar rocky formation like a gigantic thumb turned backward (a description that might be Sombrero Butte) to the east of Cherry Creek Valley. He claimed to have been abducted by Navajo in 1854, discovering a rich gold vein during his captivity. Hundreds of lost mine stories have been localized everywhere over the West. Attempts have been made to locate it atleast since 1892. Maricopa County. One story describes the journey of a discharged soldier who followed Pegleg's trail from Yuma to Los Angeles. By Jim Bremner, More As he was nearing death in 1891, Waltz was being cared for by Julia Thomas, an acquaintance with whom he shared the golds location. The miner confided his discovery to Dr. DeCourcy, and they made plans to search for the buttes as soon as he was well enough to travel. Click here, Dig Here! Through the years, truth and fiction about this mine have been irrevokably mixed up, producing 62 varieties of the legend. All human development, from large cities to small towns, shines light into the night sky. Ben was taken to some water holes, about 65 miles northwest of Antelope, toward McCracken, in southern Mohave County. Sources: Eugene L. Conrotto, Lost Gold and Silver Mines of the Southwest, 1996; Jay Fraser, Lost Dutchman Mine Discoveries, 1988; John D. Mitchell, Lost Mines of the Great Southwest, The Rio . Attempts have been made to locate it at, The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine has been situated in four quite distinct locales. Click here to read the original article. The Lost Dutchman State Park, which opened in 1977 and has the Peralta Trail, is also a nod at the legend. He was able to tell the story of the gold find, and the rescuing party went farther to find Crossthwaites body. Some writers have indicated that there actually was a Miguel Peralta whose family operated a gold mine but this was in the 1860s, near Valenciana in California. As early as Sept 1, 1892, a local newspaper relates how Thomas and others were trying to locate the mine. Since its early Gold Rush days, Arizona has produced in excess of 498 tons or 16 million troy ounces (ozt.) To this day, both lost mines are actively sought after by old time prospectors and treasure hunters. What really matters, though, is that Waltz the namesake Dutchman, or "Deutsch" (German) man wouldn't reveal the mine's location. Lost mines are a popular form of lost treasure legend. The second significant gold discovery was made by Pauline Weaver (of Weavers Needle fame) in 1862 on the Colorado River at La Paz. The ore was not the same as that at the Vulture Mine. However, the name "Apache" came to be closely associated with the Superstitions, and the mountains became an Apache stronghold in the 1800s. He argued that each of these three legends contains some truth, but have become badly distorted through time. List of Arizona Mineral & Mining Museums. Lynx Lake Mineral Withdrawal Area & Gold Panning Trail, Prescott. Tiffany Owens is a freelance travel writer and the. He argued that each of these three legends contains some truth, but have become badly distorted through time. He led two expeditions into the country but found no less than four such formations such as he remembered and the bonanza never was discovered. Above it were two quartz veins, one narrow and the other sixteen feet wide. The lapse of time had made Adams very uncertain in his location, but he remembered that it was in a deep canyon running in an easterly direction, at a point where a gold ledge was sharply defined on the sides of the gulch, and near two black buttes. Packing their booty onto a number of mules, they fled, heading northwest toward a remote pass through the Arizona/Mexico border. The location is generally believed to be in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east of Phoenix, Arizona. You can reach her at monica.d.spencer@gmail.com. Wickenburg initially worked the mine by himself, but sold the gold ore to other prospectors. Numerous maps have surfaced over the years, only to become lost or misplaced when interested parties pressed for facts. In 2006, all of Arizonas gold production came as a fortuitous byproduct of copper mining. From Tucson and Sonora, they were joined by two large companies of Mexicans. A cryptic map of the gold mine, or just a fake? I had heard of a publicly declared gold excavation and panning trail in the Lynx Lake Recreational Area near Prescott and decided to investigate. Ruth". Gold fever has stricken thousands of men and women over the years. Lonely humans will become infatuated with AI-fabricated personas. 623.934.6882 Walk down Main Street, explore the many shops and historic buildings. Lost Mines & Buried Treasures of Arizona by W.C. Jameson, University of New Mexico Press, 2009. Before we get into those, here are some genuine facts about the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine: There really was a Lost Dutchman, although he wasnt Dutch. Desert Rocks & Minerals: GOLD! Lost Goldmine and Cougar Loop. They build files which contain details, bits and pieces of a legend so old and peculiar, they cannot rest until the mystery is solved. But with the dollars decline in recent years, gold mining has experienced a sudden resurgence: From the Discovery Channels show, Gold Rush Alaska, where six men risked it all to strike it rich mining the Alaskan wilderness to a distinct rise in gold claims filed in Arizona. All rights reserved. This story involves Jakob Waltz (some sources say Weitz, Weitzer, Walls, Welz,) and another German named Jakob Weiser although this second German probably is a spin-off of the first Jakob, which occurred in the re-telling of the story. Join Lawrence Fishburne as he uncovers the truth behind the strangest mysteries of all time in History's Greatest Mysteries: Solved - https://histv.co/HGMSTh. Stories abound of riches buried by Spanish explorers or Native Americans, as well as tales of precious ore pulled from mines whose . Almost every prospector, whether professional or tenderfoot, had his own pet lost mine that he looked for. To help you get started on your journey, I will share with you some of the most famous legends and tales about lost mines and how they were once discovered and then lost again. One variety of the Lost Dutchman story concerns the operations of a German who made his headquarters at Wickenburg, in the early 1870s. In the coastal town of Lincoln City, Oregon, beachcombers flock to the sand in hopes of finding one very specific treasure: glass fishing floats. The Apache separated into several bands, whose trails were followed by small detachments of soldiers, the most westerly by Sergeant Crossthwaite and two privates, Joe Wormley and Eugene Flannigan. Been localized everywhere over the years, truth and fiction about this mine have been everywhere... Many shops and historic buildings the year Junction, east of Phoenix, Arizona also. 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