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. Then, in 1891, he died . P.S. The Legend Of Arizona's Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Is Downright Deadly Who doesn't love a good mystery? In the desert somewhere west of Vurna, many expeditions have searched for the lost Peg-Leg Mine, said to have been discovered by a one-legged individual named Smith, about forty years ago. It is not certain who these people were; some believe they were Salado or Hohokam Indians who populated this part of Arizona several centuries ago. from Germany; a common error, see also Pennsylvania Dutch). $15,000 of gold was found under his bed after he died. They failed to return and nine more, driven by impending hunger, took the same trail, leaving in camp only Adams and two others. #scotland #sanquhar #magi, Townspeople probably think Im a witch. True or not, the legend of the Lost Dutchmans Gold Mine continues to fascinate the public. The Cerro Colorado Mine, which sits a little less than 20 miles from the Arizona-Mexico border, produced mostly silver but also small amounts of gold, lead, and copper. Numbers of others have tried to find the Ni**er Ben diggings, but they have not been discovered as yet. To this day, both lost mines are actively sought after by old time prospectors and treasure hunters. However, the article that appears here is far from verbatim. The ore was all that Flannigan claimed and $1,800 was realized from its sale. They build files which contain details, bits and pieces of a legend so old and peculiar, they cannot rest until the mystery is solved. Where to Find Gold in the Desert by James Klein, Gem Guides, 1994. However, the most popular dates to the late-19th century with a German immigrant, Jacob Waltz, or the Dutchman. The trio succeeded in returning safely to San Bernardino and in 1875, gathered twelve men to return to the lost bonanza. Many believe it is easier to find a mine that has been lost, than to discover a new location. Tiffany Owens is a freelance travel writer and the. the old gold mining town of bisbee, az. Depending on the purity of the silver, various estimates place the value of the silver cache at close to one million dollars. 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. Taking some of the horseflesh with them, they struck northerly, seeking water in what is supposed to have been the Granite Wash range of mountains in Northern Yuma County. Long before Who Wants to Be a Millionaire and grifter-socialite Anna Delvey, we had the Gold Rush and even today, plenty of Americans are still fixated on an either long-lost or fictional gold mine in Arizona's Superstition Mountains. On the slip was the word take. The editor feared to even remain silent, for most of the letters told of the organization in eastern villages of parties of heavily-armed men to get the gold dust or die in the attempt, and there might have been dire consequences on the head of the imaginative journalist had Phoenix been reached by even one of the desperate rural eastern expeditions. Wormley reached the river, almost demented from his sufferings, and was unable to guide a party back into the desert. Got a strange map? Waltz also makes a deathbed confession to a Julia Thomas, and even draws a crude map of the mine. What will happen to society when AI lovers fool millions of people? 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. A medical examiner ruled that Ruth died of natural causes (i.e., that broken leg, plus starvation), but some maintain that he was murdered because he knew too much about the legendary mine. Apache Trail Tours, Apache Junction: Two-hour jeep tour to the foothills of the Superstition Mountains with guided instruction on gold panning and how to tell the difference between real and fools gold. Panning equipment provided. A Detailed History of Mining in Arizona from Arizona Mining Association #sedona #redrocks #outhiki, Oddball vending machines, #3 in the series. 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. While at the camp, she told the workers about the gold nuggets she found and left them with one of the nuggets before she continued on her way. Not only is it 600 miles of mountains, lakes and rivers, but leaving late in the season means the winter may derail their plans. Some 8,000 people each year try to find it. Word traveled fast and, after Weaver found gold, every miner who had not yet struck it rich in California headed for Arizona. The differences are evident in the variance of descriptive landmarks, dates, and historical information. Only empty buildings, cemeteries, and broken-down stamp mills remain to tell their story, along with brief notes in the history books documenting their existence. 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. As early as Sept 1, 1892, a local newspaper relates how Thomas and others were trying to locate the mine. In addition to the bank, the bandits looted the citys cathedral. The largest exploring and prospecting expedition Arizona ever has known since the days of Coronado originated on the tale of a prospector named Miner. Let me know at [emailprotected]. He gathered the black pebbles thinking they were copper and carried them to Los Angeles where he later discovered they were gold. Below, in the sand of the wash, was almost a pavement of gold nuggets. Supposedly tucked away in the rugged trails of the Superstition Mountains, the legend of unfathomable riches has numerous versions and characters and each insists on being the correct story, with some dating to the first trek Spanish conquistadors made into the northern reaches of the Sonoran desert. McKeevers daughter, Belle, was taken captive and a number of soldiers gave chase. The gun had been there so long that even the hammer and trigger had rusted away. A huge variety of Copper and Silver minerals covering all imaginable shades of blue and green abound throughout the state, and there is of course the famous rainbow petrified wood from the Petrified Forest National Park region, which . When he reached the top of the butte, he discovered free particles of gold scattered about. All rights reserved. It's near a 1,000-foot-tall rock tower! It is possible that the mountain was the Harqua Hala. Written by James Harvey McClintock in 1913, compiled and edited by, 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. 8338 Lost Mine Rd. Superstition Mountains. Yavapai County - Rich Hill. If the story ended there, the legend of the Lost Dutchmans gold mine would make an interesting story. On the deserts lie the bones of scores of men who believed these tales and who staked their lives in the search for things that did not exist. He kept the location hidden, perhaps in hopes of one day being able to take advantage of its riches when the timing was right. Common reasons for the mines being lost include: When we arrived, the parking area held a variety of license plates, from California to Florida. Wickenburg initially worked the mine by himself, but sold the gold ore to other prospectors. 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. 8266 Lost Mine Rd. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. Over the years, additional grants from Arizona State Parks and private developers helped build three trailheads, two parking lots . Pan for gold then take a ride on Arizona's only narrow gauge train. Digging for Gold Today This article first appeared on Curiosity.com. Wild beaches, snow-capped mountains, dense woods, and lush rainforests can be found across America. During the 1840s, the Peralta family of northern Mexico supposedly developed rich gold mine(s) in the Superstition Mountains. Just one day into his journey, he disappeared. The dry desert lands of the U.S. have been the location of many famous mines and gold discoveries. Entrance is free. #scot, Lynx Lake Mineral Withdrawal Area & Gold Panning Trail, Arizona Association of Gold Prospectors (AAGP), Phoenix/Scottsdale City Expert for HomeandAbroad.com, Want to read more travel articles from MDN? The story was widely copied, and from eastern points, so many inquiries came that the Herald editor had to have a little slip printed to be sent back in reply. Skeleton Canyon Treasure: During the late 1800s, a gang of bandits conducted a raid on the city of Monterrey in the Mexican state of Nuevo Leon. It is said that more men have sought Pegleg's black nuggets than any other lost mine. 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. Township 14 0090N 0050W ranks third in the state with 179 placer claims. After about a decade, the story sank into obscurity, regaining notoriety when it had acquired more spectacular aspects, in a fashion not dissimilar to a game of Chinese whispers. This wall has vertical eroded ridges resembling a pipe organ. What i, Magic hour castle walks. Doc Thorne's Lost Gold Mine: Next to the Lost Dutchman's Gold, the most talked about and searched for treasure in Arizona over the last century remains Doc Thorne's gold. the historic main street. It is said that Pegleg got drunk while in Los Angeles, started a brawl in the local saloon and was quickly kicked out of town by the authorities. The Arizona Daily Star reported that the mine also experienced a fair amount of banditry, which includes approximately $70,000 in bullion (precious metal bars) stolen and hidden. How? Dr. DeCourcy searched for years, and was never able to find the three buttes the miner described on his death bed. Lost Goldmine and Cougar Loop. Take a private tour of NYCs American Museum of Natural History from home! Generally considered a moderately challenging route. Maricopa County. The find might have been the later famous Bonanza, in a western extension of the mountain, from which several millions of dollars in free gold were extracted. (Conrotto, 1991). The butte was one of three, thus entering the significant landmark of three buttes in most versions of his story. The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Has Been Found! "The Arizona Expeditions: Third Arizona Expedition" +/-Manuscripts "Chlorutahlite Mining in Utah"; "Gold and Silver Tales" "The Daughter of Julius Caesar" "A Lost Gold Mine of the Mojave Desert" "The Miracle Nugget of Mariposa" "Chapultepec Canyon and the Gold Cache in Cedar Valley" "The Very Peculiar Record of Mary L. Black" Eleanor Mell, Creative, Top 10 Sites to Find a Property Caretaking Job, Hidden Melbourne: An Insiders Guide to the Citys Best-Loved Local Spots, How Finding a Dream Job in Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean Turned Us Into Digital Nomads, ModernDayNomads.com featured in Forbes Magazines Top 100 Websites for Your Career, Wine, Cheese and Cherries: Top 10 Foodie Stops in Door County, Wisconsin. Flannigan made several unsuccessful attempts to return to the find, but he dreaded the desert and never went very far from the river. She climbed upon one of three buttes to try and figure out where she was and on the ground she found black-coated gold nuggets. Most of the stories of lost mines had to them an Indian annex. Some favorites include: Doc Thornes Lost Gold Mine: Next to the Lost Dutchmans Gold, the most talked about and searched for treasure in Arizona over the last century remains Doc Thornes gold. Peck, discoverer of the famous Peck Mine at Alexandria. During his travels through the desert, he discovered the three buttes described in Pegleg's legend and finds gold nuggets. In 1848, during a routine expedition to carry gold back to Mexico, the large party was ambushed by Apaches, and all were killed except for a few Peralta family members who escaped. Parker Schnabel and his friends pay tribute to the legends before them and attempt the Klondike Trail of 1897. The Lost Dutchman Mine is the most famous in American history. The ore was not the same as that at the Vulture Mine. Stories abound of riches buried by Spanish explorers or Native Americans, as well as tales of precious ore pulled from mines whose . Check out our article, 6 Disturbing Unsolved Mysteries In Arizona That Will Leave You Baffled. 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). But with the dollars decline in recent years, gold mining has experienced a sudden resurgence: From the Discovery Channels show. The lost padre gold mine of Arizona. After the mine became unprofitable, Miguel Peralta turned to fraud. McClintock began his career working at the Salt River Herald (later known as the Arizona Republic). Most Arizonians are familiar with the Lost Dutchman, but there is a whole host of other tales of lost gold and loot (some with crude maps) still buried in the desert. His quest was to find gold. After his leg was amputated, his friends fashioned him a wooden leg, thus earning him the name Pegleg. Possibly connected with the Miner tale that led Safford and his party very far afield was the lost Thorne Mine. The location is generally believed to be in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east of Phoenix, Arizona. In the early 1850s, the Colorado River crossing at Yuma became a major route for gold seekers from the East. When the mines closed, the towns died, and their remains have become ghost towns and tourist attractions. Offers five-day prospecting lessons and mining excursions for small groups throughout the year. In the winter of 1879, some trouble was stirred up among confiding tenderfeet by the publication of a story in the Phoenix Herald, printed as a fake that was plainly transparent. Love Arizona? Today, we might expect more detail; back in those days, the story was enough to fatally pique the curiosity of an amateur prospector, Adolph Ruth. One of the first deaths attributed to the lost mine was Adolph Ruth in the 1930s, whose remains were found with bullet holes a few months after he disappeared into the wilderness. Here's the thing about the House on the Rock it's certainly a sight to behold, but it's no museum. The Lost Dutchman State Park, which opened in 1977 and has the Peralta Trail, is also a nod at the legend. Copyright 2007-2023 & BIG THINK, BIG THINK PLUS, SMARTER FASTER trademarks owned by Freethink Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The three, finally driven out by famine, started out and found on their trail, the bodies of all their comrades, who had been murdered by Apache Indians. 2. He packed his saddlebags with approximately $7,000 worth of gold and continued on to Los Angeles. Neither she nor dozens of other seekers in the years that followed were able to find the "Lost Dutchman's Mine." 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All human development, from large cities to small towns, shines light into the night sky. There have been 428,000 ounces of gold mined here, the vast majority of which comes from the Vulture Mine near Wickenburg. Numerous maps have surfaced over the years, only to become lost or misplaced when interested parties pressed for facts. This evidence, along with the stories and records of gold transport issued by Waltz, confirms the legend of the Lost Dutchman. Colorado; a place we usually associate with snow-capped mountains and green grassy meadows, winter skiing, and kayaking in its clear, mirror-like lakes. Gold fever has stricken thousands of men and women over the years. It was during one of Waltzs prospecting trips that he somehow discovered the location of hidden gold in the Superstitions. To this day, both lost mines are actively sought after by old time prospectors and treasure hunters. The North American Deserts He made frequent trips into the desert whenever he needed money, always returning with black gold nuggets. Thorne is later unable or unwilling to reveal the location of the mine. When you think of treasure hunters, it's typically Pirates of the Caribbean and Indiana Jones that come to mind. Gold miners Dakota Fred and his son Dustin are determined to make a fortune no matter the risk. 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. Desert Rocks & Minerals: GOLD! These sites exist in some of the most rugged, dangerous wilderness areas of the U.S. Forest Service, said George E. Johnston, president emeritus of the Superstition Mountain Museum. Though the Indians pressed handfuls of the nuggets upon him, Thorne still persisted that the stuff was worthless and refused to take any, convinced that he could again find the treasure. There are multiple versions of the Pegleg legend as well as other stories of black nuggets that seem to correlate with some of the facts stated in Pegleg lore. Jakob Waltz was nicknamed Dutch (i.e. In the late 1800s, just after the Gold Rush, a German prospector named Jacob Waltz reportedly started showing up in Phoenix with a lot of gold ore. Like, a noteworthy amount. The question is, "Do these lost mines exist, and are the legends of the lost treasures true?" At the head of the Prescott Party was Ed. Each step into the desert may bring you a little closer to a fortune. The most significant and debilitating bout occurred in 1849 after gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill the previous year. Whatever his reasoning, Waltz was never able to cash out. lost dutchman state park - arizona gold mine stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images Tourists walk along the buildings on Main Street in the old mining ghost town of Goldfield, Arizona.. An authentic reconstruction of the original Main Street in the old mining ghost town of Goldfield, Arizona.. Other members were, Bob Groom, the noted pioneer; Al Sieber, the foremost Indian campaign scout of the Southwest, Willard Rice and Dan OLeary. As recent as January 2011, the Arizona Republic reported more remains found in the Superstition Mountains, suspected to be three Utah friends who disappeared the previous July while searching for the riches of the fabled Lost Dutchman Mine. One searcher claimed to have found veins of gold in a narrow canyon just south of the Mazatal Mountains (near Four Peaks on Maricopa/Gila County borders). Recommended Reading The ingots were buried in 1891 in a hastily made, shallow excavation and, likely, only a few inches below the surface. The Lost Dutchman Mine is also the most sought after in American history. The Superstition Mountains to the east of Phoenix, AZ reportedly holda legendary motherlode of gold known as the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine. Coastal redwoods are a type of evergreen tree that can live to be more than 2,000 years old. In fact, there is a man who claims to have found Pegleg's Lost Mine in 1952. There's even a museum exhibit about the mine in the area, which tasks itself with "the separation of fact from fiction" fitting for a mine that's right on the border between mythical and real. The treasure buried in Skeleton Canyon has never been found, the value of which could amount to $20 million or more today. But neither threats, nor presents of whiskey, knives, tobacco, blankets, or other items the Indians craved, could induce them to guide the white man to the fabulous regions of wealth. 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. 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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. Ruth was an amateur prospector in the that he had never found gold but had been seeking it for it for years. Ruth". Follow the lives of ambitious miners as they head north in pursuit of gold. A number of other people, in addition to the Peralta family, had knowledge of the mine's location. This event led to the California Gold Rush, a time when gold fever plagued even the most innocent and content of men. 8302 Lost Mine Rd. Jesse Capen was obsessed with the legend of the lost gold, despite the lack of hard historical evidence. For More Information Mining flourished in Gila City until 1862 when a flood destroyed the town. (Jameson, 2009). In those days, mining exploration often went hand in hand with slavery. Pegleg's questionable character and his reputation for drinking and lying add to the controversy surrounding the legend of his lost mine. It's one of the mine's few concrete objects, and it read: "I'm sitting under a tree in a creek with leg broke. 928.443.8000 Just a few feet down the trail, we found several people swishing gold pans in the water, while others had more intensive operations with motors set up behind the screen of brush along the riverbed. Have found the lost Dutchman. Prospectors often recite stories that support the fabled legend of Pegleg's lost mine. There are two trails available. From Tucson and Sonora, they were joined by two large companies of Mexicans. But only rarely is it spectacularly visible from Earth. 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. 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