However, when asked if theyd been lucky as of late in their gold-seeking endeavors, one man was only willing to say that he finds enough to keep him interested.. One of the most popular Arizona legends also happens to be one of the most deadly: the Lost Dutchman's gold mine. All of the legends and stories mentioned in this article have been told many times by miners and prospectors who believe that the Pegleg and Lost Dutchman Mine exists. During their journey through the desert, Pegleg had gathered some pebbles which he found on top of a butte in the Colorado Desert. 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. Pegleg's Lost Mine - video Riding on Gold - Pegleg Smith In fact, many cities in Arizona were named by the miners that flocked to their respective areas. The ore was not the same as that at the Vulture Mine. Desert Rocks & Minerals: GOLD! Dr. DeCourcy searched for years, and was never able to find the three buttes the miner described on his death bed. Pegleg and his party had acquired a large number of pelts during their trip and selected Pegleg and another member of the trapping party to take the supply of pelts across the desert to Los Angeles for sale. Less than a days journey from the river, the three men separated, after the horse had dropped dead. Men who claimed to have found the Peralta mine were unable to return to it, or some disaster occurred just before they could file a claim, all adding to the lore of a "lost mine.". 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. Spaniard Don Joaquin conducted mining exploration in the Sierra Estrella Mountain Range south of Phoenix, Arizona in the mid-1800s. The gold trail led through New Mexico, Tucson, and Yuma to California. And not just crackpots: former attorney general of Arizona Bob Corbin was one of the many mine-seekers. 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.. the old gold mining town of bisbee, az. Many legends of lost treasure from Arizonas early Gold Rush days still remain to this day. Briefly narrated, it is this: In the summer of 1869, Abner McKeever and family were ambushed by Apache Indians on a ranch near the Big Bend of the Gila River. When he arrives in Los Angeles, he shows his friends the nuggets and organized an expedition to return to the desert to bring back more gold. Ruth". 623.934.6882 The expedition never returned, and the members of the party were later found dead at the foot of the San Ysidro Mountains. Ruth was an amateur prospector in the that he had never found gold but had been seeking it for it for years. Take a private tour of NYCs American Museum of Natural History from home! Coastal redwoods are a type of evergreen tree that can live to be more than 2,000 years old. How? All human development, from large cities to small towns, shines light into the night sky. 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. Weiser is attacked (either by Apache or by Waltz) but survives long enough to tell a Dr Walker about the mine. Of course, most of these tales were merely inventions or distorted dreams. It's near a 1,000-foot-tall rock tower! The worlds longest cave system is a gargantuan labyrinth of 420 miles of twists and turns and nooks and crannies, with limestone travertine stalactites dripping from the ceilings. 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. The records do not account for any gold that was sold locally or given to family or friends. The country for miles around was searched carefully to find the source of his wealth, which could not have been very far distant. 8356 Lost Mine Rd. To this day, both lost mines are actively sought after by old time prospectors and treasure hunters. Peck, discoverer of the famous Peck Mine at Alexandria. 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. Required fields are marked *. In many versions of the story, Weaver's Needle is a prominent landmark for locating the lost mine. Click here, Dig Here! At the time, he was living in Phoenix, reportedly on land owned by Julia Thomas, a local bakery owner. Offers gold prospecting private instruction, day trips & vacationsin the Weaver Mountains from Sept-June. Desert Geological Terms, Home | About | Contact Us | Feedback | Privacy | Site Outline | Advertising on DesertUSA | Hotels, New Evidence About the Lost Dutchman Mine, 7 Smartphone Apps to Improve Your Camping Experience. However, the most popular dates to the late-19th century with a German immigrant, Jacob Waltz, or the Dutchman. The Apache Indians spoke of a place in the desert where the ground was littered with gold nuggets. The Apache (some even mention their famous chief Geronimo in this respect) are the only ones who know of a very rich gold mine in the. By the time the miners had excavated all of the gold at La Paz, they had retrieved eight million dollars worth. When they failed, it is reported they sold copies of a map for $7 each. Apache Before the Storm, Edward S. Curtis, 1906. He was blindfolded and taken to the village, not knowing his direction. february 2004 arizona highways magazine eternal search for lost gold mines discover our newest desert preserve first peek at kartchner caverns big room the lure of wild orchids gold , gold ev. They are massacred by the Apache in 1850. Then, in 1891, he died . 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. Thorne told his story to three solders in 1858, upon which the soldiers unsuccessfully set out to find the vein. Vekols Buried Silver Ingots: Just a few miles north of the old ghost town of Vekol, near Casa Grande in Pinal County, lies a legendary cache of 300 silver ingots, each weighing 25 pounds. 2. Henry Wickenburg came to Arizona in 1862. 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.. 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. But did you know the state is also home to a 30-square-mile sand dune field? the historic main street. Some stories claim the butte where Pegleg found the black-coated gold nuggets was located in the Chocolate Mountains and not in the Colorado Desert area. Are Electric Highways the Way of the Future? 8248 Lost Mine Rd. Prominent among the lost mines stories of Northern Arizona was that of the Adams Diggings. Most indefinite are the details, and the various locations indicated lie anywhere from the Colorado River through to Globe. There are two trails available. Its location is not exactly known but it is rumored to be somewhere within either the Superstition Mountains which is near the Apache Junction on the eastern side of Phoenix, Arizona. 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. One of the best authenticated of these stories was of the Lost Soldier Mine. The story has had little embellishment and, in part, may be true. 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. 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. About fifty pounds of this golden quartz they loaded on the remaining horse and then set out for the Gila River. If only it were that easy. Township 14 0090N 0050W ranks third in the state with 179 placer claims. Ben was taken to some water holes, about 65 miles northwest of Antelope, toward McCracken, in southern Mohave County. Monica is a staff writer for Only In Your State, photo editor for The Mesa Legend, and previously a staff writer for The Navajo Post. In addition to the bank, the bandits looted the citys cathedral. Learn how your comment data is processed. This is a popular trail for hiking and mountain biking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. He was believed to be part of Pauline Weavers original exploration party that traveled along the Hassayampa River. On June 17th, ocean rower Lia Ditton set off on a 20 ft. long rowboat, alone and unsupported, in an attempt to set the fastest ever time for a solo crossing from San Francisco to Hawaii. Find a club in your city: Goldminers HQ, Desert Gold Diggersclubs with gold claims in Arizona, Legends of America Treasure Clubs, Gold Mining Tours & Instruction The lost padre gold mine of Arizona. In the coastal town of Lincoln City, Oregon, beachcombers flock to the sand in hopes of finding one very specific treasure: glass fishing floats. Pegleg's questionable character and his reputation for drinking and lying add to the controversy surrounding the legend of his lost mine. Follow the lives of ambitious miners as they head north in pursuit of gold. Better evidence was secured a few days later in the discovery of the dead horse, with the gold ore strapped to his back. The assumption that he was murdered by Apache Indians appears to have been sustained by a prospectors discovery near the Vulture Mine in the summer of 1895 of the barrel of an old muzzle-loading shotgun, and by it, a home-made mesquite gun stock. 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. The story continues that after working for a while, eleven of the party started for the Pima villages for supplies. 928.443.8000 Lost Dutchman Mine Found ? 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. Tiffany Owens is a freelance travel writer and the Phoenix/Scottsdale City Expert for HomeandAbroad.com. To this day, both lost mines are actively sought after by old time prospectors and treasure hunters. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. He packed his saddlebags with approximately $7,000 worth of gold and continued on to Los Angeles. 623.934.6882 The soldiers dug out coarse gold by the aid of their knives. 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. 914.589.3985. By the 1860's large discoveries of gold were occurring in the Bradshaw Mountains, especially along the Hassayampa . In our Solar System, even the two brightest planets frequently align in our skies. 480.982.0276 Weiser was killed by Apaches or, according to some, by Waltz himself. The stories of lost gold mines still lure prospectors, even today. Entrance is free. When they arrived; however, the chief would show him no further, seemingly being struck by some religious compunctions he hadnt thought of before. Click here. 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. He argued that each of these three legends contains some truth, but have become badly distorted through time. By Jim Bremner, More Digging for Gold Today 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. (Jameson, 2009). 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. Some 8,000 people each year try to find it. Updated June 25, 2020 Later, Pimas and "Apaches" (some of whom may have been Yavapais) occupied parts of the region. Most stories place the gold in the vicinity of Weaver's Needle, a well known landmark. Wormley reached the river, almost demented from his sufferings, and was unable to guide a party back into the desert. Today, the consensus among geologists is that the Superstitions are unlikely to contain a secret gold mine. But did you know that they can all be found within Washingtons Olympic National Park? 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. For the last 150 years, people have risked their lives to go in search of Arizonas lost gold, silver and other buried treasures. He gathered the black pebbles thinking they were copper and carried them to Los Angeles where he later discovered they were gold. Nearby, was a human skeleton, bleached from long exposure. Discovery.com unpacks the mysteries and myths long surrounding the Bermuda Triangle. The Lost Dutchman Mine is the most famous in American history. It is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. except on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year. Let me know at [emailprotected]. Because of their superstitions, their secret remained well kept. 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. However, the name "Apache" came to be closely associated with the Superstitions, and the mountains became an Apache stronghold in the 1800s. Attempts have been made to locate it atleast since 1892. The men searched as far as the Gila River, near San Carlos and then up to the headwaters of the Gila and back again to Fort Apache, but they had no success and still undiscovered are the ashes of an old cabin where Adams told Bell, was buried gold dust worth at least $5,000. The root of this story is the effort of three US soldiers to locate gold in New Mexico based on what Dr Thorne allegedly told them. Recommended Reading Below, in the sand of the wash, was almost a pavement of gold nuggets. 8266 Lost Mine Rd. When we arrived, the parking area held a variety of license plates, from California to Florida. Pegleg Smith was a rugged mountain man who traded furs and supplies, rustled horses and trapped beaver. Until its closure in 1998, the Gold Road mine in Oatman was Arizonas last operating gold mine. It's near a cabin in a cave! The district into which the party penetrated has been thoroughly prospected during the past twenty years and contains many mines of demonstrated richness. Gold in Morgan City Wash: In 1934, Palmer Ashley was helping his father work a difficult, low-grade prospect near Morgan City Wash, 23 miles outside of Wickenburg. 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. During the 1830s and 1840s, Pegleg settled down and started a trading post along the Oregon Trail in Idaho, specializing in the sale of horses. Free, no day use fee. 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. ), The Desert Environment Numerous maps have surfaced over the years, only to become lost or misplaced when interested parties pressed for facts. While on the butte, she saw a railroad construction camp where she was given water, food and time to rest. 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. But when his son, who worked in Mexico, found a map that might lead to an Arizona gold mine, Ruth couldn't resist. When Ashleys dad took a break to go into Phoenix on business, the young man decided to investigate a rumored lead deposit nearby. Later, after the Indian died in a fight, $4,000 worth of gold was found in his bunk. So far. During his travels through the desert, he discovered the three buttes described in Pegleg's legend and finds gold nuggets. The Indian legends of sacred gold caches, and the correlating stories of many others who have, in some way, encountered black-coated gold nuggets and other supporting data of these two lost mines, provide strong evidence that they do indeed exist. (Jameson, 2009). The mines involved usually contain a high-value commodity such as gold, silver or diamonds. Waltz and his partner, Jacob Weiser, worked the mine and allegedly hid one or more caches of gold in the Superstitions. The location of the mine never became known to anyone, save its discoverer. All he could be induced to do was to toss his arms and say, Plenty gold here; go hunt. Ben did hunt for years and was outfitted several times by A.H. Peeples, who believed that he finally died of thirst on the desert. They were friendly, and he gave her hints about the mine's location. Stars Jesse Feldman Josh Feldman Clark Moore See production, box office & company info Add to Watchlist Was Peg Leg's Gold Found? From Grant, they marched to the Gila River, up the San Carlos and then to the Salt River. Written by James Harvey McClintock in 1913, compiled and edited by Kathy Weiser/Legends of America, updated July 2020. Get counterintuitive, surprising, and impactful stories delivered to your inbox every Thursday. Possibly connected with the Miner tale that led Safford and his party very far afield was the lost Thorne Mine. 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. Hundreds of lost mine stories have been localized everywhere over the West. In 1977, Granger noted that the Lost Dutchman story was printed at least 6 times more often than the story of Captain Kidds lost treasure or the story of the Lost Pegleg Mine in California. The location is generally believed to be in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east of Phoenix, Arizona. When Waltz died, the 29-year-old Thomas sold her bakery, got a group together, and went searching for the mine. 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. Waltz also makes a deathbed confession to a Julia Thomas, and even draws a crude map of the mine. 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. Solid State Batteries Promise Long Life and Rapid Refuel Electric Vehicles, Electric vs. Hydrogen: The Pros and Cons of Greener Transportation. Subsequent searchers have sometimes met with foul play or even death, contributing to the superstition and legend that surround these mountains. Yavapai County - Rich Hill. 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. With Arizonas wild and violent past, you can bet there are quite a few that exist in our Southwestern state. Lost Mines & Buried Treasure of the Southwest by Thomas Penfield, Lost Cities & Ancient Mysteries of the Southwest by David Hatcher Childress, Lost Gold and Silver Mines of the Southwest by Eugene L. Conrotto, Lost Mines & Buried Treasures of Arizona by W.C. Jameson, Southwest Treasure Hunters Gem & Mineral Guide: Where & How to Dig, Where to Find Gold in the Desert by James Klein, 3 Thrillseekers wanted to travel to Sweden, Ecuador or Canada in July with World Nomads, Worldwide: Getty Images Awarding $10,000 Grants to 3 Instagram Photographers, New Creative Opps for Travelers in Switzerland, Montana, Michigan, California & Marfa, Texas, Hey Dutchman Hunters! The secret route to the lost Dutchman goldmine in Arizona was very simple and common sense. But the mine remains shrouded in mystery, so much so that it might not exist at all. As early as Sept 1, 1892, a local newspaper relates how Thomas and others were trying to locate the mine. Up to8,000 people each year go hunting for a legendary gold mine, guided by cryptic maps like these. from the Netherlands) because he was, The Lost Dutchman Mine is also the most sought after in American history. 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. the old gold mining town of bisbee, az. One variety of the Lost Dutchman story concerns the operations of a German who made his headquarters at Wickenburg, in the early 1870s. Hundreds of "lost mine" stories have been localized everywhere over the West. The deed was bogus, and Willing never recovered his money. Treasure hunters guard their techniques and secret mining spots like truffle hunters. Then, to recoup the cost of the failed expedition, Thomas started selling maps that she claimed would lead people to the mine. Here's the thing about the House on the Rock it's certainly a sight to behold, but it's no museum. Keep your ears and eyes open, for you may be the lucky one who discovers the three buttes where Pegleg Smith found his black-coated gold nuggets, or a gold filled saddle bag from the Peralta Family's last mining expedition. His partner had been killed, and he had escaped only by a miracle. He and his son had searched California's Borrego Desert for gold, but they found none. Night skies are getting 9.6% brighter every year, How skills-based training can build the workforce of the future, Parents, boys also have body image issues thanks to social media. Come and visit Goldfield Ghost Town today! That is, until Miguel Peraltas family stumbles upon the site and start mining the gold. Thorne is later unable or unwilling to reveal the location of the mine. Arizona Gold Adventures, Congress. Most popular of lost mine stories in pioneer days was that of the Ni**er Ben. In 1891, a miner named A.H. Peeples, who had been prospecting with the Weaver Party, told an editor what he knew of the legend. There is a Superstition Mountain Museum at 4087 N. Apache Trail, Highway 88 in Apache Junction. Gold mines subsequently popped up all over the state in riverbeds, hills, caves and mountains. Neither she nor dozens of other seekers in the years that followed were able to find the "Lost Dutchman's Mine." Safford commanded the recruits from Tucson and was elected commander-in-chief of the party at the camp near Grant. 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. Your email address will not be published. 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. $15,000 of gold was found under his bed after he died. The country has been thoroughly prospected since that time and mines of importance have been worked in that vicinity, but the nearest approach to the discovery of the old-time bonanza has been in the finding of placer gold in several of the gulches. Around 1870, two U.S. Army soldiers discover a vein of almost pure gold in or near the. James C. Bell, later of Globe, with two companions joined this party near Prescott and were made members, while four more joined at Fort Verde. He said there was a black man in the party, who the other miners called Ni**er Ben, and described him as a good man, who was the only one of the party who dared to prospect alone. 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