They supposedly did and brought a good amount of gold back to town according to Tom Kollenborn Chronicles. At todays gold price, $1,270/ounce, his gold would be worth over $360,000. The Lost Dutchman Mine is also the most sought after in American history. Ron Feldman has it and has had it all of his adult life. The Apache let him pick up as much as possible before blindfolding the doctor again for the return trip. Legend of the Superstition Mountains: With Keenan Johnston, Mark Dodson, Frank Augustine, Wayne Tuttle. This would have been perfect, only Julia and Rinehart had been celebrating a little too much, and their heads were hazy. Still, more soldiers went missing, only to be discovered dead later. 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. The conquistador ordered the men to stay close together so they weren't picked off, but this didn't help. All rights reserved. Supposedly, the Peraltas actually found a very rich gold vein and set up a mining operation. The site is said to have been mined by a German immigrant, Jacob Waltz, who died before he could reveal its location. 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? He was taken to the home of a friend named Julia Thomas who tried in vain to nurse him back to health. Was the Lost Dutchman's mine ever found? - hikinghow.com Several more people were said to have known the location of the lost Dutchmans gold mine or perhaps worked in it. Each will have to reach their own conclusions concerning the likelihood of Jacob Waltz having ever found gold in the Superstitions, or anywhere else. 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. Instead, it captures mens minds and passions, and lingers with them forever. Since Jacob Waltz's death, thousands of people have searched all throughout the Superstition Mountains for the location of the Lost Dutchman's gold mine, to no avail, according to USA Today. A group of modern day treasure hunters search for the Lost Dutchman mine in the Superstition mountain range of Arizona. If it even exists Lets uncover the legend of Superstition Mountain and well find out who exactly was the lost Dutchman. Now, Feldman and his team are on the prowl for the Lost Dutchman Mine. The Superstitions offer a great many surprises, including petroglyphs, old farm equipment, and various remnants of the gold mining era. Attempts have been made to locate it at least since 1892 . In reality, there was no substantiated evidence of a massacre grounds and there was no massacre of a Peralta family. In the 1870s, Jacob Waltz, known as "the Dutchman" (a German native), was reported to have discovered the mine with the help of a Peralta descendant. At todays gold price, $1,270/ounce, his gold would be worth over $360,000. Ghost Towns Around Las Vegas and Ghost Town Tours from Las Vegas, The Lost Dutchmans Gold Mine and Jacob Waltz. Was it ever there? All these guys think they found it or know the answer.. After additional examination of the two holes [in the skull], he claimed that it appeared like a shotgun or high-powered rifle had been fired through the head at approximately point-blank range, creating the little hole when the bullet entered and the massive hole when it departed . Because of poor health, Cox never returned to the mine, and it almost became forgotten. In an addition to this legend, it's claimed two soldiers came to the Superstitions after hearing of Dr. Thorne's story to see if they could locate the cache. So what do we really know about these legends, Waltz, and the Superstition Mountains? 1873. The story goes that in the mid-1700s, the Superstition Mountains were visited by a group of priests of the Jesuit Order, and they came with over 240 mules loaded down with gold, according to the Denver Post. While he allegedly worked as a miner at numerous mines earlier in his life, eventually Waltz decided he wanted to prospect on his own. And now we get to the real problem with these legends there's basically zero evidence any of them ever happened. Ruth had in his possession what he claimed was a map giving the location of the Peralta's Las Minas Sombreras. 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. Even today, despite the fact mineral prospecting was outlawed in 1983, people head to the Superstition Mountains on the off-chance they might stumble upon the Dutchmans treasure. The first was the Gross Lode filed in the Walker Mining District. The terrain of the Superstition Mountains was dangerous even for experienced outdoorsmen, let alone the 66-year-old Ruth, as Barkley repeatedly persuaded Ruth to stop his search for the mine. The man said Dr. Thorne could take as much as he could carry, at which point he was blindfolded again and led out. They found what they were looking for and then some, according to Lost Dutchman State Park. He was born around 1810 and in the 1860s, one version of the story suggests he relocated to Arizona to try his luck as a miner and prospector. There have been at least three discoveries of the mine since the 1960s, and in all three cases, good gold was found. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! It's impossible to know for certain, but there is one big clue. 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. Ironically, it is also one of the most found lost mines in America. There's another story that supposedly took place three centuries earlier also involving a treasure stashed away in the area. He allegedly mentioned the site of the gold mine to Julia Thomas, a neighbor who cared for him before his death. Jacob Waltz migrated to Phoenix due to ill health and died there twenty years later, in 1891. Capens father declined to comment, and his mother, Cynthia Burnett, could not be reached. It's likely this legend just got re-adapted to the Superstitions to boost the legend of the Lost Dutchman's mine. Waltz and his partner, Jacob Weiser worked the mine and allegedly hid one or more caches of gold in the Superstitions. The Lost Adams Diggings is a Southwestern treasure story that refers to the existence of a canyon rich in gold deposits somewhere in western New Mexico in the early 1860s. Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine - Wikipedia . The same year, a Tempe man and his wife (unnamed) found it a days travel from Tempe. You bet! Peralta Trail is one of the most popular hikes in the Superstition Mountains. Special to Todays News-Herald, 2225 W. Acoma Blvd.,Lake Havasu City,AZ, Stay Informed. They quickly returned to Sonora, rich with gold and plotting their next adventure. The Mystery of the Lost Dutchman Goldmine - Discovery UK 'Lost Gold' Brothers Josh & Jesse Feldman on How They Hunt for Long 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. An untold number of prospectors have searched the Superstition Mountains for the mine. At the time, "Dutchman" was a catch-all for anyone from the general area of Germany/The Netherlands/wherever, so the mine became the "Lost Dutchman Mine." People have searched for it ever . Keep it Clean. For one, the desert area bears remnants of the cliff dwellings of an ancient people whose identity is still unknown. Even though scavengers had spread the remains, they were unmistakably Ruths. Various expeditions and individuals continued to seek the Superstitions for The Lost Dutchmans Gold Mine into the twentieth century. Gina Dimuro is a New York-based writer and translator. All rights reserved. Another found it in the Western Superstitions. Some 30 years later, Jacob Waltz nicknamed "the Dutchman," even though he was German rediscovered the mine with the help of a Peralta descendant, according to legend. You take the first gorge on the south side from the west end of the range. CLUES TO THE LOST DUTCMAN MINE - TreasureNet Cari Gerchick, communications director for Arizonas Maricopa County, told FoxNews.com that the body is currently classified as unidentified. 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. He found that even a neophyte like himself could pick up nuggets of information from other Dutch hunters who virtually inhabited the Superstitions. While this doesn't mean it's impossible there's gold to mine up there, it makes it far less likely. This image was made from a tintype found in the Superstition Mountains by Bud Dunn, circa 1960. It's also worth noting the mountains aren't known to have gotten their ironic name from any of the above legends. After a five-year wait, HEAT obtained a Treasure Trove Permit for the purpose of re-excavating a mine in the Superstition Wilderness. It appears no one ever bothered to just ask the Native Americans in the area if the mountains were sacred. The Lost Dutchman's Goldmine is a legend that has been passed down for generations. There's no evidence they ever came to Arizona at all. According to Thomas, it was on his deathbed that Jacob Waltz shared the story of his secret mine, and even provided a map to it filled with clues. This late 1800s ore chute is proof of mining activity in the Superstition Wilderness. The legendary goldmine is said to have a curse upon it, and dozens of people have been injured or killed looking for it. The Lost Dutchman mine is far from the beginning of the legends of gold hidden in the Superstition Mountains. While searching for the lost Pegleg mine in California, the elder Ruth had fallen and badly fractured several bones. As the army conquered the Indians, a reservation near Fort McDowell was established, and Thorne began to give his services. He took a month off to go search for the treasure.. There have been at least three discoveries of the mine since the 1960s, and. Waltz was a mysterious figure, and he never revealed the exact location of the mine. The mine is said to have been mined by a German immigrant, Jacob Waltz, who died before he could reveal its location. "He is greatly missed by his fellow associates at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel," he said. Only one (sometimes two) could not be accounted for. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. What Happened to the Lost Ship Le Griffon and Was it Ever Found? Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. All Rights Reserved. For more details, call the Museum at 445-3122 or visit the sponsors websites at www.sharlot.org and www.prescottcorral.org. After growing up on the East Coast and California, Feldman moved in 1968 to Arizona where he established a successful stable offering trail rides and pack trips into the rugged mountains that were once home to the Apaches. Don Miguel Peralta of Sonora, a Mexican cattle baron, received the Superstitions, as well as 3,750 square miles of what is now Arizona, in a land grant in 1748. Thomas admitted she drew the map herself but claimed she based it on descriptions given by the Dutchman, according to Skeptoid. 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. While Francisco Coronado did exist and did explore what is now the southwestern United States, there's nothing indicating he ever visited the Superstitions. Wikimedia CommonsThe Weavers Needle rock column of Arizonas Superstition Mountains is often said to mark the location of the Lost Dutchman Mine. Don't knowingly lie about anyone Ruths checkbook was also retrieved, and it had a note written by Ruth in which he claimed to have discovered the mine and provided exact directions. Neither Thomas nor anyone since has been able to find the now legendary gold of the Lost Dutchman Mine, although that has not discouraged people from trying (one widely-circulated estimate from the 1970s claimed that 8,000 people a year search for it). Many believe it's hidden in the Superstition Mountains, and it's rumored a curse falls upon all those who try to find it. The conquistador and his men arrived and made their way deep into the mountains, despite the warnings of danger from the local Apache. Days Past is a collaborative project of the Sharlot Hall Museum and the Prescott Corral of Westerners International (www.prescottcorral.org). [The lost mine] is the reason why he went there. A copy of Estee Conasters The Sterling Legend: The Facts Behind the Lost Dutchman Mine billed as the definitive work on the lost mine was found in his tent. The process began in early September 2004. But, Ongoing discoveries of the Lost Dutchman Mine have continued for well over a hundred years. He really did emigrate from Germany, though this seems to have occurred decades before the legends claim, because there are verified documents showing he filed to become an American citizen in 1848, long before he supposedly arrived in 1860, according to the Superstition Mountain Museum. The public is encouraged to submit proposed articles and inquiries to dayspast@sharlothallmuseum.org. When the townspeople went to look for them, they found nearly all of the family slaughtered. Hermann Petrasch could be considered the father of all modern Dutch hunters. In the summer of 1892, Hermann and his brother Rhinehart began their hunt with Julia Thomas. Named after the fabled lost gold mine, Lost Dutchman State Park is located, In June 2009, they were to go on extended display at the Superstition Mountain Museum, 4087 N. Apache Trail, in Apache Junction, Arizona. An autopsy took place on Tuesday, she said, and the results are expected to take weeks. What Happened to the Masamune Sword and Was it Ever Found? The start of the most famous legend to come from the mountains, that of the Lost Dutchman Mine, begins with these fortune-seekers. But desecrate it they did. Men unexpectedly vanished almost instantly, to the point where warnings were issued never to wander more than a few steps away from the rest of the group. He really did die in 1891 of pneumonia. The permit allows Feldmans group to re-excavate the main shaft and drifts under strict controls and government supervision. Theyre infatuated with all the lore and the history of the lost Dutchman mine and he was part of that.. National ArchivesA 19th century map detailing mines in Arizona. That's not even counting those hunting the treasure in the ensuing years. Thorne was allowed to remove his blindfold and found himself in a canyon with a massive, odd rock pinnacle to the south. He died soon after, but before his final demise, he claimed there was over $20 million of gold in the mine and left this clue to the mines location which has been told and retold so many times over the years theres no chance it has remained verbatim. (Courtesy: Robert Cooper). He died in 1891, and his secret died with him. This first bucket of debris was five years in coming when the Forest Service finally released the first Treasure Trove Permit issued in the Superstition Wilderness. Skull found could be that of Wyoming hiker who disappeared in 2007, Treasure hunter who found Ship of Gold now sought by US Marshals, Snow hinders search for Wisconsin hiker missing in northwest Alaska. The Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine is one of the most famous legends in Phoenix history. The Apache came after them.