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). The legend continues to explain that the luck of the Peraltas eventually ran out and they were ambushed by the Apache, who left no trace of the treasure and only a few survivors who brought the tale of the hidden horde back to Mexico. We have imaging taken, with Go-pros, Sony 7000s; Osmo stabilized film cameras and Dji Phantom and Bee-bop drones. LIKELY TO SELL OUT*. Small Group Apache Trail Day Tour with Dolly Steamboat from Phoenix. Unfortunately, when a group followed the clues given in Ruth's letter, they found nothing. The elder Ruth had fallen and badly broken several bones while seeking the lost Pegleg mine in California. Apparently, Waltz began to hint he knew of a secret gold vein hidden in the mountains, even giving out a few clues to its location. [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. [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. Today along route 88 is a pull off gravel road, that leads out behind the Lost Dutchman Museum, you follow it to a designated area, here you will find marked trail signs with trails simply marked as the Massacre Grounds.. In Lost Dutchman Mine 3D the player takes on the role of Fred Homestake. This account is usually dated to about 1870. Monagan wrote that some valued the mine at $40 million. Ruth . For one, the desert area bears remnants of the cliff dwellings of an ancient people whose identity is still unknown. Armed with a new clue that could unearth the location of the famed Lost Dutchman Mine, lifelong Dutch Hunter Wayne Tuttle, leads a team into Arizona's Superstition Mountains. 14 - 18 years. The stories of conquistadors and Jesuits bearing gold are completely unverifiable without documentation or archaeological evidence. Adolph Ruth, a government veterinarian, had an obsession with finding the Lost Dutchman Mine. However, despite bankrupting herself and spending a very long time in the mountains, she and her search party never found any evidence of a hidden gold cache, per Arizona Report. Take, for example, the story of Adolph Ruth, an experienced treasure hunter who typically worked with his son, Erwin. Though the remains had been scattered by scavengers, they were undoubtedly Ruth's. 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. He never returned, and months later, an archaeological expedition encountered his remains, which indicated he had been shot, and a hand-written note claiming he had found the entrance to the mine. Intrigue Journal. Here he worked at the Vulture Mine as a paid miner. It involves murder, secrets, and a whole lotta sweet, sweet gold. 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. It is here were you will reach areas that are barely penetrable, this is where most trails stop abruptly for safety reasons. Dark Mountain: Directed by Tara Anase. He gradually gained the respect of the old-timers who, in their later years, shared much of the knowledge they had gathered themselves. First. 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]. File size. 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. This is their turf and only the highly experienced and prepared should venture forward. This bug is to make my fortune, he continued, with a triumphant smile, to reinstate me in my family possessions. In the Old West, Dutchman was close enough. 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. In the weeks and months to come we will use much of the historical information, and show how it ties directly to what we have found. They also claimed to have seen the ghost of the Dutchman, and his Apache wife and young assistant. There's no evidence they ever came to Arizona at all. Jacob Walzer and Heidelberg (Germany) were punched in the edges of the tintype, leading Ron Feldman to think it could be of Jacob Waltz. Despite his efforts, Willing was never able to recover the money he gave to Peralta. So who killed the Spanish treasure hunters that came to the land? OH, I almost forgot there is no cell phone service absolutely none. 2016 ISSUE. As the story of Waltz supposed discovery goes, he and his partner Jacob Weiser re-opened the mine and were able to stash away gold of their own in the Superstitions. 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). 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]. The location is generally believed to be in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east of Phoenix, Arizona. Over the next few weeks we will provide some images and photos taken at or very near the site. (St. Johns, Apache County, Arizona Territory [Ariz.]) 18851903, September 8, 1892, Image 2", Dunning, B. Kinos Mission San Xavier del Bac near Tucson unlike other missions in California was both massive and opulent, and still stands today. [7] A man named Miguel Peralta and his family did operate a successful mine in the 1860s but near Valencia, California, not in Arizona. For over a third of a century, he read stories and books about the Peralta Mines and the lost Spanish treasures hidden deep in the Superstitions, and he heard the tale of Jacob Waltzs famous Lost Dutchman Mine. Background Jesse Capen was born on June 2, 1974 in Colorado to parents David Capen and Cynthia Burnett. All of these elements can be found in the search for the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine, reportedly well hidden in Arizona's mysterious-looking (and aptly named) Superstition Mountains (pictured above). each. Admission: $7 . 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. After this look at the Lost Dutchman Mine, read up on historys most fascinating sunken ships, some of which went down with legendary treasures. RaksyBH/Shutterstock #1. Jumping ahead to the late 1860s, German prospector Jacob Waltz moved to Phoenix and began prospecting in the mountains east of the new city. Lost Mine found in the Superstition Mountains David Jones 14.3K subscribers Subscribe 6.6K 728K views 4 years ago #MOTSM #superstitionmountains #lostmine Mysteries of the Superstition. 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. Gold fever is infectious. The location is generally believed to be in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east of Phoenix, Arizona. We miss it. This late 1800s ore chute is proof of mining activity in the Superstition Wilderness. And the answer is absolutely yes! Some have died on the search. In the years after the massacre, the legend around the Lost Dutchman Mine grew, attracting treasure-seekers who hoped to find the cache (perhaps worth about $200 million according to one estimate). Thomas admitted she drew the map herself but claimed she based it on descriptions given by the Dutchman, according to Skeptoid. 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. Blair suggested that "fragments of this legend have perhaps become attached to the mythical mine of Jacob Waltz".[6]. Researchers point to an old beliefby local farmersthat the nearby Pima Native American tribe were superstitious about the mountains. APACHE JUNCTION, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) - Arizona's Superstition Mountains draw people from around the world, coming to see not just to . This image was made from a tintype found in the Superstition Mountains by Bud Dunn, circa 1960. Ruth disappeared while searching for the mine in the summer of 1931. Shortly after the Dutchmans death in 1891, a cache of incredibly rich gold ore was taken from a candle box beneath his bed. Regardless, Dr. Thorne helped the man and he recovered, according to Legends of America. Skeptoid Media, 29 Jan 2013. When he was young he found the famous Lost Dutchman mine, but due to an accident shortly after he has no memory of the mines location. They didnt find it because its not in the superstitions Too bad i cant post pictures, because i know exactly where it is, Did you ever think the Dutchman might have used another mine location to through There's the thrill of the hunt, solving the clues, and what could be a better payoff than a big cache of riches? 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". He really did die in 1891 of pneumonia. 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]. 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. They planned to return, but once they left, they were never seen again. (From left) Eric Shervey, Ron Feldman and Josh Feldman discuss sweeping the area to ensure the tunnels are where they suspect. "Dutchman's Gold" was the season 4, episode 19 of, This page was last edited on 5 February 2023, at 00:14. True. The Peralta Massacre is a legend that Apaches supposedly ambushed a mining expedition the Peralta family sent into the mountains. Finding gold at the Lost Dutchman mine. So what do we really know about these legends, Waltz, and the Superstition Mountains? If no one comes forth to rightfully claim the treasure, its anyones guess. History of the Lost Dutchman Mine The rugged range of mountains east of the Salt River Valley encompasses some of the most breathtaking, untouched wilderness recesses in America. As Curt Gentry wrote, "Dr. Hrdlicka positively identified the skull as that of Adolph Ruth. 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. In some versions of this story, Waltz was actually plundering these shrines for his own gold. He pursued mining and prospecting, but seems to have had little luck with either. Feb 21, 2021. 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. 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. [10] Trouble came after Willing learned that the deed was entirely bogus. You can Google the story of how I solved the Peralta stones and the Peralta deerskin map in LOST TREASURE MAGAZINE JUNE ISSUE COVER STORY LOST DUTCHMAN GOLD MINE. Waltz relocated to Arizona in the 1860s, and stayed in the territory for most of the rest of his life. Later that year, two easterners went looking for the lost mine. Jacob Waltz was a German immigrant, the Dutchman of the eponymous mine (dutch being a corruption of deutsch, the German word for German). According to the tales, a Spanish conquistador (often said to be Francisco Vazquez de Coronado, but sometimes reported as any number of other explorers, real and fictional) came to the Superstition Mountains in the mid-1500s searching for a mythical city of gold, one of the legendary Seven Cities of Gold, somewhere in the mountains, according to Legends of America. Is it any wonder then, that I prize it? Is it possible he took his own life? December 09, 2019 It appears no one ever bothered to just ask the Native Americans in the area if the mountains were sacred. Waltz, now the sole possessor of all the gold, eventually moved to Phoenix where he died in 1891, but not before relaying his story to his neighbor, Julia Thomas. The soldiers are alleged to have presented some of the gold, but to have been killed or to have vanished soon after. Waltz found it in the mountains and came to grab gold out of it as needed. A group of modern day treasure hunters search for the Lost Dutchman mine in the Superstition mountain range of Arizona. I want some feedback from people with knowledge about the lost Dutchman gold mine. Both fabled and mythical, they have helped to drive the legend of the Lost Dutchman Mine. Even though some have said the stones story is much older (it is true the source information is likely much older) than the Dutchmans time and therefor there is no connection, they are going to be slapping themselves in the face trying to overcome their denial when they realize the stones leadto the same birds nest. When is the documentary goimg to start back up? These Native American legends aren't the only tales involving religion and gold stores in the area. 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. The exact location of the Lost Dutchmen's Mine remains a mystery. 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. In January 1932, human remains were discovered about three-quarters of a mile (1.21km) from where the skull had been found. 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. Jesse Capen was obsessed with the legendary Dutchman Gold Mine and was convinced he could locate the treasure hidden deep in the Superstition Mountains. Quite a few people have made skeptical statements on some treasure forums including Treasurenet, THunting dot com, DesertUSA and a few others. 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. However, the Peralta Mine eventually became unprofitable and after the money was gone Miguel Peralta turned to fraud. 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. Skeptoid Podcast. This tale involves two German men, Jacob Waltz and Jacob Weiser. 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. Jacob Waltz said, "From the RIDGE ABOVE my mine you can see the Military Trail, but from the trail you cannot see my mine". 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. These trails traverse from the desert floor up into the edges of the mountains. A note from Ruth saying he needed help and had discovered the mine was found in the Salt River. Courtesy Collection of Greg Davis / Superstition Mountain Museum , The Lost Dutchman is one of the greatest lost mine stories of them all. Top ways to experience Goldfield Ghost Town and nearby attractions. "Waltz said it was a vein of gold surrounded by hematite in quartz," according to Tuttle. The Superstition Mountains are a mountain range east of Phoenix and are known for their picturesque volcanic peaks and and jagged canyons. Most likely because Pedro de Peralta had been the Spanish Governor of New Mexico (in the 1600s) his family name of "Peralta" was the inspiration for a number of legends in the American Southwest. 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