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. But to find the big gold payout, theyll put their lives on the line by diving deep beneath the raging waters of one of Alaskas wildest creeks. The Apache Indians spoke of a place in the desert where the ground was littered with gold nuggets. Not only is it 600 miles of mountains, lakes and rivers, but leaving late in the season means the winter may derail their plans. What will happen to society when AI lovers fool millions of people? They are massacred by the Apache in 1850. Take a private tour of NYCs American Museum of Natural History from home! Rich Hill is the center of a vast 40 square mile placer mining area. Desert Rocks & Minerals: GOLD! The location is generally believed to be in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east of Phoenix, Arizona. The Vulture Mining Company was born. When he reached the top of the butte, he discovered free particles of gold scattered about. How? Wanting to retire in 1866, he sold 80% of the mine to Benjamin Phelps and other East Coast investors. This is a popular trail for hiking and mountain biking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. The third Indian legend is about a Yaqui Indian who lived and worked near Warner's Ranch. 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. The differences are evident in the variance of descriptive landmarks, dates, and historical information. The group wandered around the desert unsuccessfully, and Pegleg ended up deserting the group and turn up later in Los Angeles. It was against the tribal law and beliefs of the Apaches to tell others where the gold was located. Thorne was afterward denounced as an impostor. Since its early Gold Rush days, Arizona has produced in excess of 498 tons or 16 million troy ounces (ozt.) The secret route to the lost Dutchman goldmine in Arizona was very simple and common sense. I had heard of a publicly declared gold excavation and panning trail in the Lynx Lake Recreational Area near Prescott and decided to investigate. The most significant and debilitating bout occurred in 1849 after gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill the previous year. Sign up below or read more about the DesertUSA newsletter here. 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 desire for gold can be so great that it motivates men to endure unbelievable hardships including starvation, dehydration and death. 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. Today, the consensus among geologists is that the Superstitions are unlikely to contain a secret gold mine. Years later, an army doctor by the name of Thorne treats an ailing Apache (possibly a chief) who as a reward takes him to the mine blindfolded, of course where he can take as much gold as he can carry. 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. But with the dollars decline in recent years, gold mining has experienced a sudden resurgence: From the Discovery Channels show, Gold Rush Alaska, where six men risked it all to strike it rich mining the Alaskan wilderness to a distinct rise in gold claims filed in Arizona. 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. As you probably guessed, they were fakes. The Indian said he had seen much larger pieces of the same substance and started off to show him the treasure. There have been 428,000 ounces of gold mined here, the vast majority of which comes from the Vulture Mine near Wickenburg. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Southwest Treasure Hunters Gem & Mineral Guide: Where & How to Dig, Pan and Mine Your Own Gems & Minerals, GemStone Press, 2008. While the story remains essentially the same as originally published, heavy editing has occurred for spelling and grammar corrections, revisions for the modern reader, and updates to this historic tale. 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. Mining flourished in Gila City until 1862 when a flood destroyed the town. 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. Efforts at tracking him failed. Coastal redwoods are a type of evergreen tree that can live to be more than 2,000 years old. The Lost Dutchman State Park, which opened in 1977 and has the Peralta Trail, is also a nod at the legend. The lost padre gold mine of Arizona. The mines involved usually contain a high-value commodity such as gold, silver or diamonds. The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Has Been Found! Yavapai County - Rich Hill. Governor A.P.K. (Jameson, 2009). There are men who have claimed to have found Pegleg's lost Mine. The legend continues to evolve: recent additions are versions in which the gold is really a secret treasure trove of the Knights of the. Boettcher Mansion, Capitol Hill, Denver - built in, Always nice to have a solid noodle place with love, Red rock vistas, 2021. Doc is just one of an endless stream of treasure hunters in search of the. He reportedly said it came from a secret mine in the Superstition Mountains. Solid State Batteries Promise Long Life and Rapid Refuel Electric Vehicles, Electric vs. Hydrogen: The Pros and Cons of Greener Transportation. Water was found just in time to save their lives, for Wormley already had become delirious. Get counterintuitive, surprising, and impactful stories delivered to your inbox every Thursday. Offers five-day prospecting lessons and mining excursions for small groups throughout the year. The Indians would not harm him, evidently on account of his color. One of the most popular Arizona legends also happens to be one of the most deadly: the Lost Dutchmans gold mine. #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? 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. There was a Dr Thorne who had a private practice in New Mexico, however. The gun had been there so long that even the hammer and trigger had rusted away. 8302 Lost Mine Rd. (Jameson, 2009). 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. According to the legend, the Apaches buried and hid the gold and covered up the mine. 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.. The country for miles around was searched carefully to find the source of his wealth, which could not have been very far distant. Then, to recoup the cost of the failed expedition, Thomas started selling maps that she claimed would lead people to the mine. 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. Click here to read the original article. The largest exploring and prospecting expedition Arizona ever has known since the days of Coronado originated on the tale of a prospector named Miner. Legends and stories of gold mines filled the hearts, souls and minds of prospectors, driving them into some of the most dangerous and desolate lands in search of gold. 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). 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. But the mine remains shrouded in mystery, so much so that it might not exist at all. The Superstition Mountains to the east of Phoenix, AZ reportedly holda legendary motherlode of gold known as the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine. Lonely humans will become infatuated with AI-fabricated personas. The second significant gold discovery was made by Pauline Weaver (of Weavers Needle fame) in 1862 on the Colorado River at La Paz. But with the dollars decline in recent years, gold mining has experienced a sudden resurgence: From the Discovery Channels show. Ruth was an amateur prospector in the that he had never found gold but had been seeking it for it for years. Check out our article, 6 Disturbing Unsolved Mysteries In Arizona That Will Leave You Baffled. You'll also get to witness an old west gun fight performed by the famous Goldfield . He later earned a teaching certificate, served asTheodore Roosevelts right-hand-man in the Rough Riders, and become an Arizona State Representative. He died in California on May 10, 1934, at the age of 70. Discovery.com unpacks the mysteries and myths long surrounding the Bermuda Triangle. Then, in 1891, he died . For the last 150 years, people have risked their lives to go in search of Arizonas lost gold, silver and other buried treasures. 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. {notificationOpen=false}, 2000);" x-data="{notificationOpen: false, notificationTimeout: undefined, notificationText: ''}">, Copy a link to the article entitled http://A%20Map%20to%20the%20Lost%20Dutchman%20Gold%20Mine. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! Gold fever has stricken thousands of men and women over the years. McClintock began his career working at the Salt River Herald (later known as the Arizona Republic). 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. 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. Treasure hunters guard their techniques and secret mining spots like truffle hunters. 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. Waltz also makes a deathbed confession to a Julia Thomas, and even draws a crude map of the mine. Since its early Gold Rush days, Arizona has produced in excess of 498 tons or 16 million troy ounces (ozt.) Adams understood to have been a San Bernardino colony Mormon, in 1886 heard from a Mexican, a story of a rich gold deposit, and forming a party of 22 men, struck eastward to a point supposed to have been near Fort Apache, where the Diggings were found. Ruth". It is a fact; however, that the Cibicu Indians of the Cherry Creek Valley knew of the existence of a rich placer field. Flannigan made several unsuccessful attempts to return to the find, but he dreaded the desert and never went very far from the river. Whatever his reasoning, Waltz was never able to cash out. Thorne told his story to three solders in 1858, upon which the soldiers unsuccessfully set out to find the vein. But will big risks lead to an even bigger pay out? 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. Pegleg, also known as Thomas Smith, lost his leg to an arrow during a trapping expedition in the fall of 1827. Stories abound of riches buried by Spanish explorers or Native Americans, as well as tales of precious ore pulled from mines whose . When his father later examined the specimen, he noticed the underside of the quartz was covered with fine wire gold and pinhead nuggets. That is, until Miguel Peraltas family stumbles upon the site and start mining the gold. Almost overnight, Arizona was inundated with would-be millionaires. Many prospectors and historians wonder why he did not go back to the desert and search for the butte where he discovered the gold. He died before he was ever able to return to the desert in search of his gold-covered buttes. He sold the mining rights to a large area in southern Arizona and New Mexico to Dr George M. Willing, Jr., based on a deed originally granted by the Spanish Empire. 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. The Lost Dutchman Mine is also the most sought after in American history. 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. 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. 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. This might be the way the Peralta story became incorporated into the Lost Dutchman legend. Quite literally so, according to Southwestern Folklore author and researcher Byrd Granger. Click here to view the video Riding on Gold - Pegleg Smith. 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. Wild beaches, snow-capped mountains, dense woods, and lush rainforests can be found across America. The story goes something like this: Waltz and/or Weiser locate a rich gold mine in the. He disappeared, as usual, one night, and never returned. the old gold mining town of bisbee, az. Dr. DeCourcy searched for years, and was never able to find the three buttes the miner described on his death bed. It is said that more men have sought Pegleg's black nuggets than any other lost mine. 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 Lost Goldmine Trails winds for miles at the base of the Superstition Mountains. Word traveled fast and, after Weaver found gold, every miner who had not yet struck it rich in California headed for Arizona. 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. We must ask ourselves the toughest question of all -- "Do I believe there is still gold to be found in the desert?" P.S. Want to read up on some other Arizona mysteries? Subsequent searchers have sometimes met with foul play or even death, contributing to the superstition and legend that surround these mountains. The gold trail led through New Mexico, Tucson, and Yuma to California. Free, no day use fee. A passing prospector had told him to hike a half-mile up the wash to a 20-foot-high wall on the right bank. 480.982.0276 Possibly connected with the Miner tale that led Safford and his party very far afield was the lost Thorne Mine. Wickenburg established a farm near this settlement, now known as the town named in his honor. 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. The ore was all that Flannigan claimed and $1,800 was realized from its sale. 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. Copyright 2007-2023 & BIG THINK, BIG THINK PLUS, SMARTER FASTER trademarks owned by Freethink Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Lost mines are a popular form of lost treasure legend. Most of the stories of lost mines had to them an Indian annex. McKeevers daughter, Belle, was taken captive and a number of soldiers gave chase. Back in 1540 Francisco Vasquez de Coronado led a large expedition across Arizona in search of the mythical Seven Cities of Gold. Some 8,000 people each year try to find it. With Arizona's wild and violent past, you can bet there are quite a few that exist in our Southwestern state. 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. Arizona Lost Mines By James Harvey McClintock in 1913 Arizona Prospector Almost every prospector, whether professional or tenderfoot, had his own pet "lost mine" that he looked for. So far. of gold. Two of their horses dropped of fatigue and thirst and their provisions ran out. 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). But the mine remains shrouded in mystery, so much so that it might not exist at all. But the mine remains shrouded in mystery, so much so that it might not exist at all. Up to8,000 people each year go hunting for a legendary gold mine, guided by cryptic maps like these. 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. Over this wall and back of the next rise is a prospect hold with large chunks of galena (lead sulfide) on the surface. While searching for the fluted wall, Ashley tumbled down a steep wash bank and, while nursing his bruises, noticed a ledge of pure white quartz streaked with red and green. He broke off a piece and put it in his sample sack. For the last 150 years, people have risked their lives to go in search of Arizonas lost gold, silver and other buried treasures. 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. The man brought pouches of gold nuggets he dug from the quartz vein to an assayer in Phoenix. The ore was not the same as that at the Vulture Mine. Here's the thing about the House on the Rock it's certainly a sight to behold, but it's no museum. 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. Over the years, additional grants from Arizona State Parks and private developers helped build three trailheads, two parking lots . 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. Jacob Waltz moved to Phoenix and died in 1891, at the age of 83. Lost Pick Mine of Old Arizona: Hidden Gold Remains Hidden By Andrea Aker December 29, 2009 8325 7 Excerpt from In Old Arizona by Marshall Trimble, the state's official historian. They build files which contain details, bits and pieces of a legend so old and peculiar, they cannot rest until the mystery is solved. The area is dotted with ancient cliff dwellings and caves, many showing signs of former habitation. 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. This is gold mining at its most extreme. Generally considered a moderately challenging route. When the mines closed, the towns died, and their remains have become ghost towns and tourist attractions. Almost every prospector, whether professional or tenderfoot, had his own pet lost mine that he looked for. 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. Some of the stories have many versions, each containing a few facts that differ from each other. Already in the 16th century, Spanish Conquistadors roamed the area, looking for the precious metal. Robsons Mining World, Wickenburg: Pan for gold with guided instruction and view the worlds largest collection of antique mining equipment.. 8248 Lost Mine Rd. The trailhead has a Port-a-Potty for your convenience. (Jameson, 2009). 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. 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. Want to read more travel articles from MDN? Lost Mines & Buried Treasures of Arizona by W.C. Jameson, University of New Mexico Press, 2009. It wasn't until after the 1849 Gold Rush that Pegleg returned to California to organize a prospecting party to search for the butte where he found the black gold nuggets. He argued that each of these three legends contains some truth, but have become badly distorted through time. In 2006, all of Arizonas gold production came as a fortuitous byproduct of copper mining. Two of the most famous lost mines are the Lost Dutchman Mine of Arizona and Pegleg Smith's Mine of Southern California. Since there is more than one version of the story, there are many contradicting facts. The story is made up of an assortment of hints about the mine's location. 8230 Lost Mine Rd. Dig Here! 2. There are three Indian legends of black-coated gold in the desert that support Pegleg's legend. But did you know the state is also home to a 30-square-mile sand dune field? By the time the miners had excavated all of the gold at La Paz, they had retrieved eight million dollars worth. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); DesertUSA Newsletter -- We send articles on hiking, camping and places to explore, as well as animals, wildflower reports, plant information and much more. Its hard to separate the legend and the lore from the lies, he said. The ingots were buried in 1891 in a hastily made, shallow excavation and, likely, only a few inches below the surface. 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