The story continues that after working for a while, eleven of the party started for the Pima villages for supplies. He later earned a teaching certificate, served asTheodore Roosevelts right-hand-man in the Rough Riders, and become an Arizona State Representative. He and his son had searched California's Borrego Desert for gold, but they found none. Wickenburg initially worked the mine by himself, but sold the gold ore to other prospectors. 928.443.8000 Above it were two quartz veins, one narrow and the other sixteen feet wide. In 1932, campers found a note from him bobbing in Arizona's Salt River. As was common in the West, the first discoveries of gold were placer deposits, followed by lode deposits found near Apache Junction, Big Bug, Bullhead City, Chloride, Globe, Oatman, Pearce, Quartzsite, Salome and Tombstone, which yielded the lions share of the states early gold supply. Lonely humans will become infatuated with AI-fabricated personas. One of the most popular Arizona legends also happens to be one of the most deadly: the Lost Dutchman's gold mine. At the head of the Prescott Party was Ed. Why 2023s Venus-Jupiter conjunction wont be bettered until 2039. The most significant and debilitating bout occurred in 1849 after gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill the previous year. One variety of the Lost Dutchman story concerns the operations of a German who made his headquarters at Wickenburg, in the early 1870s. He found some. He disappeared, as usual, one night, and never returned. Goldfield Ghost Town, Goldfield: Stop in at the Prospectors Palace to learn the art of panning from a gold historian. 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. McKeevers daughter, Belle, was taken captive and a number of soldiers gave chase. He was believed to be part of Pauline Weavers original exploration party that traveled along the Hassayampa River. "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" Then, to recoup the cost of the failed expedition, Thomas started selling maps that she claimed would lead people to the mine. Legends of lost gold have long been part of Arizona history. Waltz and his partner, Jacob Weiser, worked the mine and allegedly hid one or more caches of gold in the Superstitions. After he had conquered the epidemic, he was placed upon a horse and taken to a deep rock-walled canyon laced with a high ledge of quartz that glittered with flecks of gold. Many were willing to tell me where I could buy my own panning tools and I also learned that gold is easiest to find after a hard rain. Gold mines subsequently popped up all over the state in riverbeds, hills, caves and mountains. Superstition Mountains (in some versions they are told the location by a grateful member of the Peralta family, whose life they saved). New Evidence About the Lost Dutchman Mine Boettcher Mansion, Capitol Hill, Denver - built in, Always nice to have a solid noodle place with love, Red rock vistas, 2021. Wickenburg established a farm near this settlement, now known as the town named in his honor. Follow the lives of ambitious miners as they head north in pursuit of gold. There are two trails available. In one story, a miner is crossing the desert between Yuma and Warner's Ranch, when he climbs up one of three buttes to get a better sense of his location. 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. from the Netherlands) because he was Deutsch (i.e. The Lost Dutchman Mine is the most famous in American history. Two of their horses dropped of fatigue and thirst and their provisions ran out. Related Books & Gifts - Trading Post According to legend, this was when he spotted the large quartz outcropping, which later became the Vulture Mine. 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.. the old gold mining town of bisbee, az. 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. Numbers of others have tried to find the Ni**er Ben diggings, but they have not been discovered as yet. Weiser was killed by Apaches or, according to some, by Waltz himself. Generally considered a moderately challenging route. 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. of gold. Updated June 25, 2020 Common reasons for the mines being lost include: Men struck out on his trail and soon found Flannigan, who would have lasted only a few hours longer. 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. Some 8,000 people each year try to find it. In 2006, all of Arizonas gold production came as a fortuitous byproduct of copper mining. 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. 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. The Legend Of Arizona's Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Is Downright Deadly Who doesn't love a good mystery? Parker Schnabel and his friends pay tribute to the legends before them and attempt the Klondike Trail of 1897. Recommended Reading P.S. Already in the 16th century, Spanish Conquistadors roamed the area, looking for the precious metal. Asteroid Ryugu Has Dust Grains Older Than the Sun. - arizona gold mine photos et images de collection Where he digs for gold and searches for the legendary lost Dutchman mine. The records do not account for any gold that was sold locally or given to family or friends. Pan for gold then take a ride on Arizona's only narrow gauge train. ), The Desert Environment The Apache Indians spoke of a place in the desert where the ground was littered with gold nuggets. Many believe it is easier to find a mine that has been lost, than to discover a new location. 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. Offers five-day prospecting lessons and mining excursions for small groups throughout the year. Experience this 4.0-mile loop trail near Gold Canyon, Arizona. But the mine remains shrouded in mystery, so much so that it might not exist at all. Unfortunately, Ruth was dead by the time his note was found. International mysteries, vintage maps, hidden treasure Explorers Justin and Emiliano are on the case. Southwest Treasure Hunters Gem & Mineral Guide: Where & How to Dig, Pan and Mine Your Own Gems & Minerals, GemStone Press, 2008. Some of the stories have many versions, each containing a few facts that differ from each other. Mining towns such as Tumco, Bodie, Oatman and Randsberg were once booming with growth due to the mining operations which provided jobs and drew gold seekers from all over the country. Golden Circle, a Confederate secret society active during the American Civil War (1861-1864). What really matters, though, is that Waltz the namesake Dutchman, or "Deutsch" (German) man wouldn't reveal the mine's location. 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. 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. 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. Free, no day use fee. According to the legend, the Apaches buried and hid the gold and covered up the mine. Discovery, Inc. or its subsidiaries and affiliates. Thorne is later unable or unwilling to reveal the location of the mine. Almost every prospector, whether professional or tenderfoot, had his own pet lost mine that he looked for. Tragicomically, she and her team passed over two enormous gold mines on their search for the Lost Dutchman Mine, which they didn't find. Prospectors often recite stories that support the fabled legend of Pegleg's lost mine. In those days, mining exploration often went hand in hand with slavery. But theres enough to it to encourage people to go after that gold. Want to read up on some other Arizona mysteries? 16 Lost Treasures of Arizona Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine Herman Wolf's Treasure Trove Legend of the Lost Opata Mine The Smiling Bandits Lost Loot Red Jack Almer Gangs Lost Loot $72,000 in Gold Coins: Stolen Army Payroll Buried Cans of Gold Coins at Ashurst Ranch Lost Gold at Granite Dells Blacksmith's Lost Booty Hidden Indian Gold Near Lynx Creek Heres a roundup of the best mining clubs, tours, dig sites, claim staking, books and historical information to help you start your own quest for Arizona gold. 8230 Lost Mine Rd. 8320 Lost Mine Rd. Hundreds of "lost mine" stories have been localized everywhere over the West. Rich Hill is the center of a vast 40 square mile placer mining area. Where to Find Gold in the Desert by James Klein, Gem Guides, 1994. 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. Colorado; a place we usually associate with snow-capped mountains and green grassy meadows, winter skiing, and kayaking in its clear, mirror-like lakes. There is a Superstition Mountain Museum at 4087 N. Apache Trail, Highway 88 in Apache Junction. Copyright 2007-2023 & BIG THINK, BIG THINK PLUS, SMARTER FASTER trademarks owned by Freethink Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The Superstition Mountains (their name inspired by Pima Indian legends) have been a source of mystery and legend since early times. There was a Dr Thorne who had a private practice in New Mexico, however. Possibly connected with the Miner tale that led Safford and his party very far afield was the lost Thorne Mine. Packing their booty onto a number of mules, they fled, heading northwest toward a remote pass through the Arizona/Mexico border. 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. This story involves Jakob Waltz (some sources say Weitz, Weitzer, Walls, Welz,) and another German named Jakob Weiser although this second German probably is a spin-off of the first Jakob, which occurred in the re-telling of the story. With new miners, new claims, new machines and new ways to pull gold out of the ground, the stakes are higher than ever. One story describes the journey of a discharged soldier who followed Pegleg's trail from Yuma to Los Angeles. In the morning they found the spring fairly paved with gold nuggets. #s. Statue of Scotlands beloved poet, Robert Burns, Loch Ness, Nessie map and Urquhart Castle Ruins, S, Christmas lights on the historic Sanquhar Tolbooth, Flock and ruins, Sanquhar Castle, Scotland. He led two expeditions into the country but found no less than four such formations such as he remembered and the bonanza never was discovered. The trio succeeded in returning safely to San Bernardino and in 1875, gathered twelve men to return to the lost bonanza. A third party was organized to search for another lost mine near the Virgin River, were Dutch George Yount, a trapper, claimed he discovered a ledge full of gold, which of course he was never able to relocate. Sources: Eugene L. Conrotto, Lost Gold and Silver Mines of the Southwest, 1996; Jay Fraser, Lost Dutchman Mine Discoveries, 1988; John D. Mitchell, Lost Mines of the Great Southwest, The Rio . In 1912, when Arizona became the 48th state in the Union, President Taft signed the statehood proclamation with a golden pen, made from gold mined in local gold mines. During the robbery, they were confronted by a small contingent of Mexican soldiers and police and a battle ensued. But the mine remains shrouded in mystery, so much so that it might not exist at all. 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. $15,000 of gold was found under his bed after he died. It told of the arrival of a prospector from the depths of the Superstition Mountains, from which he had been driven out by pigmy Indians, who had swarmed out of the cliff dwellings. A few mines are still being actively worked today, but most mining companies that have tried to revive the old mines have been unsuccessful. If I do believe, how can I find gold in the desert and where do I begin searching? They were friendly, and he gave her hints about the mine's location. But modern-day treasure hunters do exist. He died before he was ever able to return to the desert in search of his gold-covered buttes. The treasure buried in Skeleton Canyon has never been found, the value of which could amount to $20 million or more today. 8284 Lost Mine Rd. The largest exploring and prospecting expedition Arizona ever has known since the days of Coronado originated on the tale of a prospector named Miner. The Lost Dutchman State Park, which opened in 1977 and has the Peralta Trail, is also a nod at the legend. 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. {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. 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. 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. Outdoor Recreation: Treasure Hunting. 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. Granger distinguished three main elements to the story, with the most complete version of the story incorporating all three legends. Tales of the lost Apaches gold, or Dr Thornes mine. How? Jakob Waltz was nicknamed Dutch (i.e. You can reach her at monica.d.spencer@gmail.com. Treasure hunters guard their techniques and secret mining spots like truffle hunters. Efforts at tracking him failed. The famous legend began during a trapping expedition down the Colorado River in the late 1820s or early 1830s. The Vulture Mining Company was born. 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