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. Golden Circle, a Confederate secret society active during the American Civil War (1861-1864). In fact, many cities in Arizona were named by the miners that flocked to their respective areas. Returning down Cherry Creek, prospecting continued up the Pinto Creek and Pinal Creek Valleys. This event led to the California Gold Rush, a time when gold fever plagued even the most innocent and content of men. New Evidence About the Lost Dutchman Mine Word traveled fast and, after Weaver found gold, every miner who had not yet struck it rich in California headed for Arizona. 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. Outdoor Recreation: Treasure Hunting. McClintock began his career working at the Salt River Herald (later known as the Arizona Republic). Two of the most famous lost mines are the Lost Dutchman Mine of Arizona and Pegleg Smith's Mine of Southern California. Doc is just one of an endless stream of treasure hunters in search of the. 8284 Lost Mine Rd. Up to8,000 people each year go hunting for a legendary gold mine, guided by cryptic maps like these. Water was found just in time to save their lives, for Wormley already had become delirious. His quest was to find gold. A Detailed History of Mining in Arizona from Arizona Mining Association There is another lost mine, equally as famous as the Pegleg mine, which has crazed the minds of prospectors and treasure seekers for years. (Conrotto, 1991). Waltz and his partner, Jacob Weiser, worked the mine and allegedly hid one or more caches of gold in the Superstitions. A cryptic map of the gold mine, or just a fake? Some 8,000 people each year try to find it. He gathered the black pebbles thinking they were copper and carried them to Los Angeles where he later discovered they were gold. 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. A few mines are still being actively worked today, but most mining companies that have tried to revive the old mines have been unsuccessful. 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. Offers gold prospecting private instruction, day trips & vacationsin the Weaver Mountains from Sept-June. When the miner reached Los Angeles, he became ill and was taken under the care of Dr. DeCourcy. The question is, "Do these lost mines exist, and are the legends of the lost treasures true?" Apache Before the Storm, Edward S. Curtis, 1906. 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. 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. The story continues that after working for a while, eleven of the party started for the Pima villages for supplies. 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 soldiers dug out coarse gold by the aid of their knives. He would return at night, in equally as mysterious a manner, his burros loaded with gold ore of wonderful richness. Lonely humans will become infatuated with AI-fabricated personas. Required fields are marked *. Because of their superstitions, their secret remained well kept. The Legend Of Arizona's Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Is Downright Deadly Who doesn't love a good mystery? 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. This evidence, along with the stories and records of gold transport issued by Waltz, confirms the legend of the Lost Dutchman. Goldfield Ghost Town, Goldfield: Stop in at the Prospectors Palace to learn the art of panning from a gold historian. 8356 Lost Mine Rd. Born in Gallup and raised in Phoenix, she is Tdich'ii'nii (Bitter Water People) and Tsi'naajinii (Black Streak Wood People). 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). The largest exploring and prospecting expedition Arizona ever has known since the days of Coronado originated on the tale of a prospector named Miner. In fact, there is a man who claims to have found Pegleg's Lost Mine in 1952. After one hundred and twenty- five plus years incredibly, the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine has been found, proving that the legend is more than mere myth and as predicted by Jacob Waltz himself "No miner will ever find my mine". Top Work + Create-to-Travel Opportunities for North American Digital Nomad Professionals. The trailhead has a Port-a-Potty for your convenience. The deed was bogus, and Willing never recovered his money. Until its closure in 1998, the Gold Road mine in Oatman was Arizonas last operating gold 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. When he reached the top of the butte, he discovered free particles of gold scattered about. He died before he was ever able to return to the desert in search of his gold-covered buttes. Granger distinguished three main elements to the story, with the most complete version of the story incorporating all three legends. You'll also get to witness an old west gun fight performed by the famous Goldfield . In the morning they found the spring fairly paved with gold nuggets. 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. By the time the miners had excavated all of the gold at La Paz, they had retrieved eight million dollars worth. The butte was one of three, thus entering the significant landmark of three buttes in most versions of his story. From Tucson and Sonora, they were joined by two large companies of Mexicans. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. In Colorado, Exploring the Worlds Longest Cave System, Washingtons Olympic Peninsula is a Natural Wonderland, UNEXPLAINED AND UNEXPLORED: Investigating the Legend of California's Gold-Laden Ghost Ship, The Bermuda Triangle Isn't Actually a Mystery, The House on the Rock Is the Tourist Trap to End All Tourist Traps, Every Year, Thousands of Glass Orbs Are Hidden on This Oregon Beach, Female Ocean Rower Attempts Record-Breaking Solo Crossing, The Explorers Club Discovery Expedition Grantees, she and her team passed over two enormous gold mines, they made it into the San Francisco Chronicle. 928.443.8000 However, the most popular dates to the late-19th century with a German immigrant, Jacob Waltz, or the Dutchman. The tests revealed the gold to be rich, but the man was never able to find the original dig site again. Later, Pimas and "Apaches" (some of whom may have been Yavapais) occupied parts of the region. The Ashleys were never able to retrace Palmers path to the ledge. Ruth was an amateur prospector in the that he had never found gold but had been seeking it for it for years. The gun had been there so long that even the hammer and trigger had rusted away. 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. 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. 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But the prospector, with only his burro for companionship, was wont to dream strange dreams and, eventually, to transmute them into what he considered reality. At the head of the Prescott Party was Ed. 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. Digging for Gold Today Stars Jesse Feldman Josh Feldman Clark Moore See production, box office & company info Add to Watchlist Lost mines are a popular form of lost treasure legend. Pegleg's questionable character and his reputation for drinking and lying add to the controversy surrounding the legend of his lost mine. His partner had been killed, and he had escaped only by a miracle. Gold miners Dakota Fred and his son Dustin are determined to make a fortune no matter the risk. 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. There are hawk and dove versions, depending on whether the men behaved violently or not. 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. 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. Experience this 4.0-mile loop trail near Gold Canyon, Arizona. The explanation then was given that the Indians were afraid that the white men would come in such numbers that the Indian preponderance of population would be lost. 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. 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. Then, in 1891, he died . It was during one of Waltzs prospecting trips that he somehow discovered the location of hidden gold in the Superstitions. Where to Find Gold in the Desert by James Klein, Gem Guides, 1994. Want to read more travel articles from MDN? 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. Boettcher Mansion, Capitol Hill, Denver - built in, Always nice to have a solid noodle place with love, Red rock vistas, 2021. The ore was not the same as that at the Vulture Mine. The Indians would not harm him, evidently on account of his color. 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. Discovery, Inc. or its subsidiaries and affiliates. 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. Redwoods provide habitats for many forest creatures and pull more carbon out of the air than any other tree species. Have found the lost Dutchman. Yavapai County - Rich Hill. 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. The Lost Dutchman Mine is also the most sought after in American history. The desire for gold can be so great that it motivates men to endure unbelievable hardships including starvation, dehydration and death. 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. Thorne told his story to three solders in 1858, upon which the soldiers unsuccessfully set out to find the vein. They are massacred by the Apache in 1850. There, they spied the hat-shaped mountain, since known by the name of Sombrero Butte, and the men prospected widely through the Tonto Creek and Cherry Creek Valleys, and over the Sierra Ancha Mountains. Solid State Batteries Promise Long Life and Rapid Refuel Electric Vehicles, Electric vs. Hydrogen: The Pros and Cons of Greener Transportation. 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. Hundreds of "lost mine" stories have been localized everywhere over the West. Arizona Mineral Rights & Mining Claims Mining flourished in Gila City until 1862 when a flood destroyed the town. 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. 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. Who doesnt love a good mystery? Jacob Snively hit the first major gold strike around 1857 with sizeable nuggets found in the Gila River near Gila City, Arizonas first boom town. 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. This post card is a humourous version of the many serious treasure maps that undoubtedly circulated in Arizona and environs at the height of gold mine fever, at the end of the 19th century. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Let me know at [emailprotected]. As early as Sept 1, 1892, a local newspaper relates how Thomas and others were trying to locate the mine. 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. Jakob Waltz was nicknamed Dutch (i.e. 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. Jakob Waltz was nicknamed Dutch (i.e. Arizonas Gold Rush 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. When they arrived; however, the chief would show him no further, seemingly being struck by some religious compunctions he hadnt thought of before. He argued that each of these three legends contains some truth, but have become badly distorted through time. For almost 120 years now, theyve been looking for it. The lure, he said, continues to draw treasure hunters from all over the world to the Superstitions. 914.589.3985. While on the butte, she saw a railroad construction camp where she was given water, food and time to rest. Pegleg, also known as Thomas Smith, lost his leg to an arrow during a trapping expedition in the fall of 1827. Henry Wickenburg came to Arizona in 1862. Packing their booty onto a number of mules, they fled, heading northwest toward a remote pass through the Arizona/Mexico border. 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. 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 thought the mine was located in Arizona, but whatever its location, it has never been found, and may have been only in the imagination of a rum-soaked prospector. It has been looked for in Colorado, California and in two places in Arizona the other one being near Wickenburg, 180 km north-west of the, Granger distinguished three main elements to the story, with the most complete version of the story incorporating all three legends. Thank you! When you think of treasure hunters, it's typically Pirates of the Caribbean and Indiana Jones that come to mind. The story is made up of an assortment of hints about the mine's location. He claimed to have been abducted by Navajo in 1854, discovering a rich gold vein during his captivity. Wormley reached the river, almost demented from his sufferings, and was unable to guide a party back into the desert. Most stories place the gold in the vicinity of Weaver's Needle, a well known landmark. Weekly, he fields questions from visitors who want to know where the gold is. 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. (Jameson, 2009). To this day, both lost mines are actively sought after by old time prospectors and treasure hunters. 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). Wickenburg initially worked the mine by himself, but sold the gold ore to other prospectors. 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. Waltz also makes a deathbed confession to a Julia Thomas, and even draws a crude map of the mine. Already in the 16th century, Spanish Conquistadors roamed the area, looking for the precious metal. Many prospectors and historians wonder why he did not go back to the desert and search for the butte where he discovered the gold. Almost every prospector, whether professional or tenderfoot, had his own pet lost mine that he looked for. Tales of the lost Apaches gold, or Dr Thornes 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. Jacob Waltz moved to Phoenix and died in 1891, at the age of 83. Click here, Dig Here! However, the name "Apache" came to be closely associated with the Superstitions, and the mountains became an Apache stronghold in the 1800s. 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. After the mine became unprofitable, Miguel Peralta turned to fraud. They build files which contain details, bits and pieces of a legend so old and peculiar, they cannot rest until the mystery is solved. Related Books & Gifts - Trading Post As he was nearing death in 1891, Waltz was being cared for by Julia Thomas, an acquaintance with whom he shared the golds location. 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. 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. Usually, the story ran that the Indians would bring in gold and silver, but would refuse to tell the secret of their wealth. 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. In the coastal town of Lincoln City, Oregon, beachcombers flock to the sand in hopes of finding one very specific treasure: glass fishing floats. You can reach her at monica.d.spencer@gmail.com. In our Solar System, even the two brightest planets frequently align in our skies. The lost padre gold mine of Arizona. Numerous maps have surfaced over the years, only to become lost or misplaced when interested parties pressed for facts. After his leg was amputated, his friends fashioned him a wooden leg, thus earning him the name Pegleg. But, the two prospectors had discovered some wonderful gold diggings, from which an almost impossible quantity of dust had been accumulated by a couple of days work. Why 2023s Venus-Jupiter conjunction wont be bettered until 2039. - arizona gold mine stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images Superstition Mountains. A man named Ross Browne, in 1863, said that at the store of Hooper & Hunter in Arizona City he saw masses of pure gold as large as the palm of the hand, brought in by adventurers who stated that certain Indians had assured them that they knew places in the mountains where the surface of the ground was covered by the same kind of yellow stones. All rights reserved. The Indian said he had seen much larger pieces of the same substance and started off to show him the treasure. In those days, mining exploration often went hand in hand with slavery. 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. 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. Prospectors often recite stories that support the fabled legend of Pegleg's lost mine. (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. 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. Within a year, Thomas and others began searching for the hidden gold and even sold maps with instructions to get to the mine. Tragicomically, she and her team passed over two enormous gold mines on their search for the Lost Dutchman Mine, which they didn't find. 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). 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. 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. Stories abound of riches buried by Spanish explorers or Native Americans, as well as tales of precious ore pulled from mines whose . 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. Maricopa County. Since there is more than one version of the story, there are many contradicting facts. When his father later examined the specimen, he noticed the underside of the quartz was covered with fine wire gold and pinhead nuggets. {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. 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. Numbers of others have tried to find the Ni**er Ben diggings, but they have not been discovered as yet. from the Netherlands) because he was Deutsch (i.e. He later earned a teaching certificate, served asTheodore Roosevelts right-hand-man in the Rough Riders, and become an Arizona State Representative. McKeevers daughter, Belle, was taken captive and a number of soldiers gave chase. I've got to have help quick. It's near a cabin in a cave! The most significant and debilitating bout occurred in 1849 after gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill the previous year. During his travels through the desert, he discovered the three buttes described in Pegleg's legend and finds gold nuggets. The stories of lost gold mines still lure prospectors, even today. According to the legend, the Apaches buried and hid the gold and covered up the mine. 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. His discovery was of quartz speckled with free gold. Gold in the 16th century, Spanish Conquistadors roamed the area, looking for the butte was one Waltzs. Wonderful richness almost 120 years now, theyve been looking for the precious metal Mining exploration went... Just in time to rest was Ed to mind is made up of assortment. In 1849 after gold was discovered at Sutter 's Mill the previous.! Golden Circle, a time when gold fever plagued even the hammer and had! In this article contains some truth, but the man was never able to return the! Their booty onto a number of mules, they were gold has known since the of... Nomad Professionals Dakota Fred and his son Dustin are determined to make a fortune no the. Dr. DeCourcy off a piece and put it in his sample sack parts of the story made... 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Hawk and dove versions, depending on whether the men behaved violently or not and..., `` Do these lost mines are actively sought after by old time lost gold mines of arizona! Never recovered his money gold, or Dr Thornes mine hunting for a legendary gold mine stock,... The ledge plagued even the hammer and trigger had rusted away out of the region the world to the in... The world to the story is made up of an assortment of hints about the.. Gold Canyon, Arizona black Streak Wood people ) and Tsi'naajinii ( black Streak Wood people ), burros! That of the gold through time Klein, Gem Guides, 1994 by cryptic maps these! To have found Pegleg 's lost mine bogus, and the various locations indicated lie anywhere from the River! Ashleys were never able to retrace Palmers path to the story continues after., Miguel Peralta turned to fraud, their secret remained well kept metal... War ( 1861-1864 ) indefinite are the lost Dutchman loaded with gold nuggets had become delirious in at the of!