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. (2004). He found that even a neophyte like himself could pick up nuggets of information from other Dutch hunters who virtually inhabited the Superstitions. The network's all-original programming slate features a roster of hit series, premium documentaries, and scripted event programming. The detailed record keepers the Mexican miners were, there is not another mine in here that would 'fit' for this time and location. 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. 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". The short "Discovery Trail" is a clear route with several placards giving the natural history of the area. Further legends claim the conquistador and his men were bearing their own reserves of gold, looted from previous expeditions, but ended up leaving it behind when they escaped whatever was killing them. To recoup the costs of the search, Julia Thomas actually began to make handmade copies of Waltz's map and sell it to others. Normally if a mine produces two and half ounces of gold per tonne of rock it's considered a bonanza. Keep in mind for security reasons for now I have to be selective on what we divulge. Humankind has been enthralled by lost treasure legends for ages. A group of modern day treasure hunters search for the Lost Dutchman mine in the Superstition mountain range of Arizona. "Waltz said it was a vein of gold surrounded by hematite in quartz," according to Tuttle. It is generally accepted that the Peraltas and roughly 400 peon miners were massacred by the Apaches sometime around 1848. When and where we can get a direct line of sight, we use high tech Walkie talkies, to communicate with each other. From this base he easily could have worked a gold mine in the Superstition Mountains. Except perhaps not. The name comes from a prominent local legend of the enigmatic . In his 1945 book about the Lost Dutchman's mine. The soldiers are alleged to have presented some of the gold, but to have been killed or to have vanished soon after. It seems likeliest one of two things happened. Many believe there is a connection and that they sold their families mine to Waltz and his partner. All Treasure Hunting. (Right) Bob Schoose (owner of Goldfield, Arizona) designed this headframe, which the team hand carried from the base camp to the site for construction. Ruth did not return as scheduled, and no trace of him could be found after a brief search. (St. Johns, Apache County, Arizona Territory [Ariz.]) 18851903, September 8, 1892, Image 2", Dunning, B. Troubles with the Apaches made the familys mining operation dangerous. Thus, it seems these Jesuit priests might have stashed their treasure somewhere in the mountains as they passed through, thus ensuring the Spanish empire couldn't get their hands on the Jesuit fortune. Gold fever is infectious. In subsequent years, the Dutchmanas Waltz was calledworked both placer and lode gold mines in the region. The Lost Dutchman mine is far from the beginning of the legends of gold hidden in the Superstition Mountains. $169.00. 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. 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". I will make a statement in the near future that will surprise a lot of Dutch Hunters it surprised me. Take AZ-101 to U.S. 60 east of Scottsdale to approach the towering peaks of the Superstition Mountains looming large over the horizon. The breathable air on some surfaces actually gets even hotter; this is the biggest killer in the Superstition Mountains and dont forget the rattle snakes, scorpions, tarantula spiders, Gila monsters plus huge mountain lions and dozens of other things that will take your life. In gratitude, Gonzales told Erwin about the Peralta mine in the Superstition Mountains, and gave him some antique maps of the site (Gonzales claimed to be descended from the Peralta family on his mother's side). More please. The body of one dutch hunter (as they are known to locals) was found in the Superstition Mountains as recently as 2012. [9] As of 1975, ruins of the Peralta mine were standing.[9]. 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. Dozens of prospectors in the Superstitions attempted to follow him to his secret mine. The early Spanish the Peraltas the Jesuits and many others all came to the Superstition Mountains looking for legendary gold. But what they actually found has been a hidden secret that people have been trying to piece together for last 125 years. Three Aitons, father and two sons, are reported to have found what was known the past fifty years as the "Lost Dutchman" mine in the Bradshaw mountains. Said to be the most famous lost mine of all time, it continues to draw prospectors to the Superstition Mountains of Arizona in search of its rich gold. For instance, about six of the maps are relevant, others may be relevant, but for now do not appear to be. The park is said to be haunted by the spirits of people who died over the years searching for the mine. [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. Jack Humphrey Cameron, Texas The Dutchman, like most lost, Writers sometimes discover their muse on their own, but sometimes their muse finds them. 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? They found what they were looking for and then some, according to Lost Dutchman State Park. Magill's adventures were chronicled in the book The Killer Mountains, by Curt Gentry. Researchers point to an old beliefby local farmersthat the nearby Pima Native American tribe were superstitious about the mountains. Waltz was buried in Phoenix at what is now called the Pioneer and Military Memorial Park. We miss it. This seems to have been made up solely for the various legends, according to Tom Kollenborn Chronicles. He is blindfolded and taken there by a circuitous route, and is allowed to take as much gold ore as he can carry before again being escorted blindfolded from the site by the Apaches. There are lots of similar tales of gold-hunting soldiers, too, from all over the southwest. 14 - 18 years. Eventually, the conquistador ordered his men to flee and he never returned to the mountains, which they called Monte Supersticin, thus giving the mountains the name of Superstition. Some searchers for the mine have disappeared in likely wilderness accidents. It's also worth noting the mountains aren't known to have gotten their ironic name from any of the above legends. The legend of the Lost Dutchman's gold mine is a quintessential version of just such a story. They found gold in the 1840s but were ambushed by a local tribe of Apaches. have experience in the Superstition Mountains, actually looked for the mine themselves, found evidence to support the mines existence . Background Jesse Capen was born on June 2, 1974 in Colorado to parents David Capen and Cynthia Burnett. [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". The Superstition Mountains are a mountain range east of Phoenix and are known for their picturesque volcanic peaks and and jagged canyons. Watch on The reported mine was dubbed Lost Dutchman around 1892 after Waltz died. This late 1800s ore chute is proof of mining activity in the Superstition Wilderness. 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. Feb 21, 2021. However, they eventually disappeared after a trip into the Superstitions. Over the next few weeks I will share some images that are safe for us to show. It was supposedly discovered and kept secret by a German immigrant named Jacob Waltz in the 19th century, hence the . Waltz died in 1891 of pneumonia, but before he passed, he gave a few final clues to the location of his mine and even provided a crude map to it. Over the years, the Lost Dutchman Mine legend grew to become the Wests most famous lost mine, reaching a fever pitch in the early 1950s when hundreds of Dutch hunters flocked into the western end of the Superstitions. The Lost Dutchman Mine - Kindle edition by Ely, Sims. 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. Great discoveries have been made in the name of hunting for hidden wealth, but much blood has been shed in those same pursuits, too. Allegedly, Dr. Thorne tried to find the cave again but was unsuccessful, or found it and was killed. 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. It wasnt until the late 1870s that the man who would give the mine its legendary name was able to lock down the location with the help of one of the Peraltas descendants. I've, Was the Lost Dutchman Mine real? It's very possible the clues are also unverifiable legends people have clung on to in hopes of finding riches. The Lost Dutchman's Mine Legend in the Superstition Mountains Documented by Timothy Draper Categories & Site Details: Famous Treasure Stories, Field Research, Gold, Gold & Doubloons, Metal Detectors, Mining Legends, Mysteries, Spanish History, Spanish Treasure, Treasure Sites in America Table of Contents In fact, Julia Thomas was the very first so-called "dutch hunter," combing through the mountains and seeking the lost gold. Arizona's most notorious lost treasure story for both believers and otherwise takes place in the mysterious Superstition Mountains. The exact location of the Lost Dutchmen's Mine remains a mystery. Under present regulations, the federal government will claim the find and hold it for one year. from. That, in and of itself, is a separate legend. [12] The three soldiers set out to find the gold, but without success. OH, I almost forgot there is no cell phone service absolutely none. In fact, after five years including thousands of hours of research and then four . Where: 46109 N. Apache Trail, Apache Junction. Web. The Lost Dutchman Grade level. But the mine remains shrouded in mystery, so much so that it might not exist at all. Mules and horses carried raw ore to the chute; the dumped ore tumbled out the front into wagons that carried it away. 35-year-old Jesse Capen was last seen in Apache Junction, Arizona on December 4, 2009. He was a student of mining and was knowledgeable in geology. The location is generally believed to be in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east of Phoenix, 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. 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. Supposedly one of their 18 mines was very rich and they considered it their alfa mine. While Francisco Coronado did exist and did explore what is now the southwestern United States, there's nothing indicating he ever visited the Superstitions. It was supposedly discovered and kept secret by a German immigrant named Jacob Waltz in the 19th century, in Season 3, Episode 2, \"Guardians of Superstition Mountain.\" #AmericaUnearthedSubscribe for more from America Unearthed and other great HISTORY shows:http://histv.co/SubscribeHistoryYTFind out more about the show and watch full episodes on our site:http://www.history.com/shows/Check out exclusive HISTORY content:History Newsletter - https://histv.co/newsletterWebsite - https://histv.co/HistoryFacebook - https://histv.co/FacebookTwitter - https://histv.co/TwitterIn \"America Unearthed,\" host Scott Wolter uses hard science and intuitive theories to explain the most mysterious artifacts and sites in America. Peralta's Family. Wikimedia CommonsThe Weavers Needle rock column of Arizonas Superstition Mountains is often said to mark the location of the Lost Dutchman Mine. National ArchivesA 19th century map detailing mines in Arizona. Finally The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Is Found! 1:00. Among those hunters was Ted Cox, who had lived with several ranchers in the region who personally knew Waltz. Supposedly, the Peraltas actually found a very rich gold vein and set up a mining operation. 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. Ron Feldman has it and has had it all of his adult life. Blair suggested that this Waltz could be the same Waltz who later came to be regarded as the legendary Dutchman, and that he Americanized the spelling of his family name. Not only that, but some legends claim there were a number of shrines in the mountains filled with gold meant to be an offering to the Thunder God. Only one (sometimes two) could not be accounted for. Later I will give more details and then begin providing information on how things fit together. He gradually gained the respect of the old-timers who, in their later years, shared much of the knowledge they had gathered themselves. However, despite several men claiming to have found the mine, no one ever came forward with the gold. "Dutchman's Gold" was a chart hit in 1960 for, "When the Man Comes, Follow Him" episode of the, "The Peralta Map" episode of the CBS Radio series, The Lost Dutchman Mine ride was a popular attraction at, The Lost Dutchman's Mine features prominently in the, The Lost Dutchmans Mine is the subject of Season 6, Episode 10 of podcast Unexplained. After this look at the Lost Dutchman Mine, read up on historys most fascinating sunken ships, some of which went down with legendary treasures. Waltz found it in the mountains and came to grab gold out of it as needed. Jesse Capen, a 35-year-old bellhop from. He joined an expedition looking for a rich. 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. The first official recording of the Dutchman Mine is found in this story. The Dutchman found this mine, and his 'story' advises he 'obtained' it from Mexicans miners who were working it. It is here were you will reach areas that are barely penetrable, this is where most trails stop abruptly for safety reasons. What really happened to Ruth? Skeptoid Podcast. The Supers are east northeast of Phoenix. So far, they've filmed at locations that include the Treasure Hunter of the Year Awards, held at Apache Junction's Mammoth Saloon in March, and at Goldfield Ghost Town, an attraction that features a zip line and live staged gunfights. As of mid-2017, he and his crew had spent about 30 production days in and around Apache Junction. Feldman absorbed every bit of information he could find on the history of mining in the region. 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