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 group wandered around the desert unsuccessfully, and Pegleg ended up deserting the group and turn up later in Los Angeles. Arizona Association of Gold Prospectors (AAGP), Phoenix. Instead he punched out without ever harvesting the hidden gold. Doc is just one of an endless stream of treasure hunters in search of the. Lost Mines & Buried Treasure of the Southwest by Thomas Penfield, Adventures Unlimited Press, 2004. They are massacred by the Apache in 1850. Packing their booty onto a number of mules, they fled, heading northwest toward a remote pass through the Arizona/Mexico border. But the mine remains shrouded in mystery, so much so that it might not exist at all. Finally, in disgust, the different parties separated at Wheatfields and returned to their homes. But when his son, who worked in Mexico, found a map that might lead to an Arizona gold mine, Ruth couldn't resist. The best times to visit this trail are September through May. All rights reserved. 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. The Ashleys were never able to retrace Palmers path to the ledge. The Superstition Mountains (their name inspired by Pima Indian legends) have been a source of mystery and legend since early times. He vanished into the mountains in 2009 and his body was not discovered until three years later, hidden in a . This might be the way the Peralta story became incorporated into the Lost Dutchman legend. There is another lost mine, equally as famous as the Pegleg mine, which has crazed the minds of prospectors and treasure seekers for years. 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. Who doesnt love a good mystery? The Weaver - Rich Hill district is located near the intersection of four townships, each one being one of Arizona's top gold areas. The expedition never returned, and the members of the party were later found dead at the foot of the San Ysidro Mountains. They build files which contain details, bits and pieces of a legend so old and peculiar, they cannot rest until the mystery is solved. 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 . 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. He and his son had searched California's Borrego Desert for gold, but they found none. But modern-day treasure hunters do exist. However, the name "Apache" came to be closely associated with the Superstitions, and the mountains became an Apache stronghold in the 1800s. Yavapai County - Rich Hill. This is gold mining at its most extreme. 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. This evidence, along with the stories and records of gold transport issued by Waltz, confirms the legend of the Lost Dutchman. This wall has vertical eroded ridges resembling a pipe organ. A passing prospector had told him to hike a half-mile up the wash to a 20-foot-high wall on the right bank. It was against the tribal law and beliefs of the Apaches to tell others where the gold was located. 480.982.0276 Why 2023s Venus-Jupiter conjunction wont be bettered until 2039. Peck, discoverer of the famous Peck Mine at Alexandria. While on the butte, she saw a railroad construction camp where she was given water, food and time to rest. Almost every prospector, whether professional or tenderfoot, had his own pet lost mine that he looked for. Gold Mining Clubs & Dig Sites By the time the miners had excavated all of the gold at La Paz, they had retrieved eight million dollars worth. He claimed that he was the only survivor of a party that had found wonderful placer diggings somewhere near a hat-shaped hill over beyond the Tonto. The famous legend began during a trapping expedition down the Colorado River in the late 1820s or early 1830s. Rich Hill was the single richest discovery of gold in one place. The Lost Gold of the Tumacacori Judge Barnes and the Mysterious Spanish Priest By Gregory McNamee From the time Europeans first arrived in what is now Arizona, the region's lore has been full of tales of lost gold mines and forgotten treasures, of "Apache gold and Yaqui silver," in folklorist J. Frank Dobie's words. (Jameson, 2009). We must ask ourselves the toughest question of all -- "Do I believe there is still gold to be found in the desert?" Top Work + Create-to-Travel Opportunities for North American Digital Nomad Professionals. There are two trails available. (Conrotto, 1991). The tests revealed the gold to be rich, but the man was never able to find the original dig site again. This article first appeared on Curiosity.com. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. Quite literally so, according to Southwestern Folklore author and researcher Byrd Granger. The third Indian legend is about a Yaqui Indian who lived and worked near Warner's Ranch. 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. Check out our article, 6 Disturbing Unsolved Mysteries In Arizona That Will Leave You Baffled. (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. List of Arizona Mineral & Mining Museums. 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. 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. 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. 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. Gold mines subsequently popped up all over the state in riverbeds, hills, caves and mountains. 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. Ben was taken to some water holes, about 65 miles northwest of Antelope, toward McCracken, in southern Mohave County. No one was ever able to follow the Indian into the desert to discover his secret gold mine. Since its early Gold Rush days, Arizona has produced in excess of 498 tons or 16 million troy ounces (ozt.) The desire for gold can be so great that it motivates men to endure unbelievable hardships including starvation, dehydration and death. Have found the lost Dutchman. 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. When Waltz died, the 29-year-old Thomas sold her bakery, got a group together, and went searching for the mine. 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. Pegleg, also known as Thomas Smith, lost his leg to an arrow during a trapping expedition in the fall of 1827. Ruth was an amateur prospector in the that he had never found gold but had been seeking it for it for years. 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. The quartz veins of the mine produced 366,000 ounces of gold over the next century. Possibly connected with the Miner tale that led Safford and his party very far afield was the lost Thorne Mine. He reportedly said it came from a secret mine in the Superstition Mountains. 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. 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. 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 is called the Lost Dutchman Mine and is said to be located in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona. There have been 428,000 ounces of gold mined here, the vast majority of which comes from the Vulture Mine near Wickenburg. 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. 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. Southwest Treasure Hunters Gem & Mineral Guide: Where & How to Dig, Pan and Mine Your Own Gems & Minerals, GemStone Press, 2008. None of these maps featured any real location of the mine. Some of the stories have many versions, each containing a few facts that differ from each other. 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. 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. Since there is more than one version of the story, there are many contradicting facts. Let me know at [emailprotected]. #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 miner confided his discovery to Dr. DeCourcy, and they made plans to search for the buttes as soon as he was well enough to travel. One of the most popular Arizona legends also happens to be one of the most deadly: the Lost Dutchmans gold mine. According to legend, this was when he spotted the large quartz outcropping, which later became the Vulture Mine. 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. Watch on. Goldfield Ghost Town, Goldfield: Stop in at the Prospectors Palace to learn the art of panning from a gold historian. The story continues that after working for a while, eleven of the party started for the Pima villages for supplies. 914.589.3985. You'll also get to witness an old west gun fight performed by the famous Goldfield . Ruth injured his leg so severely in the process that he developed a lifelong limp. December 09, 2019 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. 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. In 1932, campers found a note from him bobbing in Arizona's Salt River. For More Information Lost Mines & Buried Treasures of Arizona by W.C. Jameson, University of New Mexico Press, 2009. The Scenic Drive To Roosevelt Dam In Arizona Is Almost As Beautiful As The Destination Itself, This Enchanting And Historic Town In Arizona Is The Perfect Day Trip Destination, Once Abandoned And Left To Decay, The The Professional Building In Arizona Has Been Restored To Its Former Glory, The Afternoon Tea At This Arizona Resort Will Transport Your Taste Buds Across The Pond, The Mystery of The Lost Dutchmans Mine In Arizona Still Baffles People Today, 6 Disturbing Unsolved Mysteries In Arizona That Will Leave You Baffled, This Ride Through An Old Mine In Arizona Will Take You Back In Time, This Abandoned Copper Mine In Arizona Is Hiding A Fascinating Secret. Granger distinguished three main elements to the story, with the most complete version of the story incorporating all three legends. He packed his saddlebags with approximately $7,000 worth of gold and continued on to Los Angeles. The gold trail led through New Mexico, Tucson, and Yuma to California. Up to8,000 people each year go hunting for a legendary gold mine, guided by cryptic maps like these. However, the Lost Dutchman remains much discussed in Arizona. 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. Take a private tour of NYCs American Museum of Natural History from home! Thorne was afterward denounced as an impostor. But the mine remains shrouded in mystery, so much so that it might not exist at all. 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. 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. He died before he was ever able to return to the desert in search of his gold-covered buttes. 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. He claimed to have been abducted by Navajo in 1854, discovering a rich gold vein during his captivity. It's near a cabin in a cave! Where can you learn of other dig sites or techniques and trade secrets of gold prospecting? (Jameson, 2009). The location is generally believed to be in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east of Phoenix, Arizona. 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. The gold trail led through New Mexico, Tucson, and Yuma to California. $15,000 of gold was found under his bed after he died. Arizona Gold Mining Adventure, Phoenix. Men struck out on his trail and soon found Flannigan, who would have lasted only a few hours longer. One variety of the Lost Dutchman story concerns the operations of a German who made his headquarters at Wickenburg, in the early 1870s. 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.. Related Books & Gifts - Trading Post Recommended Reading Maricopa County. What really matters, though, is that Waltz the namesake Dutchman, or "Deutsch" (German) man wouldn't reveal the mine's location. McClintock began his career working at the Salt River Herald (later known as the Arizona Republic). Efforts at tracking him failed. He died in California on May 10, 1934, at the age of 70. Wickenburg established a farm near this settlement, now known as the town named in his honor. During his travels through the desert, he discovered the three buttes described in Pegleg's legend and finds gold nuggets. 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. Word traveled fast and, after Weaver found gold, every miner who had not yet struck it rich in California headed for Arizona. Arizona Mineral Rights & Mining Claims Prospectors often recite stories that support the fabled legend of Pegleg's lost mine. Follow the lives of ambitious miners as they head north in pursuit of gold. 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. In 1853, Pegleg organized a second search party which had no greater success in finding the butte where he found his treasured black-coated gold nuggets. 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. The Lost Dutchman State Park, which opened in 1977 and has the Peralta Trail, is also a nod at the legend. Flannigan made several unsuccessful attempts to return to the find, but he dreaded the desert and never went very far from the river. 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. 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. Finder of this note please give to Howard Peterson. Dig Here! Not only has the value of gold, silver and other precious metals surged over the last decade, but financial experts claim that their worth will only increase exponentially in years to come. With Arizona's wild and violent past, you can bet there are quite a few that exist in our Southwestern state. But did you know the state is also home to a 30-square-mile sand dune field? 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 (It's Free. He argued that each of these three legends contains some truth, but have become badly distorted through time. 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.. According to Storm, the chunk of quartz was half the size of a man's head, with . Misinformation and rumors about the mine grew so ubiquitous that in 1895, they made it into the San Francisco Chronicle. Click here to read the original article. In fact, many cities in Arizona were named by the miners that flocked to their respective areas. 2. Arizonas Gold Rush Tiffany Owens is a freelance travel writer and the Phoenix/Scottsdale City Expert for HomeandAbroad.com. These tales have been told by prospectors, doctors, law enforcers, rangers and by every common person who believes enough to retell the tale. Redwoods provide habitats for many forest creatures and pull more carbon out of the air than any other tree species. 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. Lost Dutchman Mine Found ? 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. American mining history in Arizona begins after the American-Mexican war in the 1840's. In the 1850's prospectors from the played-out gold fields of California began exploring more of the American West in search of gold and silver. 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 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. Gold fever has stricken thousands of men and women over the years. Most stories place the gold in the vicinity of Weaver's Needle, a well known landmark. This is a popular trail for hiking and mountain biking, but you can still enjoy some solitude during quieter times of day. 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. 928.443.8000 Free, no day use fee. Wild beaches, snow-capped mountains, dense woods, and lush rainforests can be found across America. Want to read more travel articles from MDN? 602.274.2521 With Arizonas wild and violent past, you can bet there are quite a few that exist in our Southwestern state. Get counterintuitive, surprising, and impactful stories delivered to your inbox every Thursday. In the early 1850s, the Colorado River crossing at Yuma became a major route for gold seekers from the East. Not only is it 600 miles of mountains, lakes and rivers, but leaving late in the season means the winter may derail their plans. Until its closure in 1998, the Gold Road mine in Oatman was Arizonas last operating gold 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. A few mines are still being actively worked today, but most mining companies that have tried to revive the old mines have been unsuccessful. Roadrunner Prospectors Club, Phoenix. From Tucson and Sonora, they were joined by two large companies of Mexicans. (Jameson, 2009). The largest exploring and prospecting expedition Arizona ever has known since the days of Coronado originated on the tale of a prospector named Miner. 8356 Lost Mine Rd. True or not, the legend of the Lost Dutchmans Gold Mine continues to fascinate the public. In 2006, all of Arizonas gold production came as a fortuitous byproduct of copper mining. The story goes something like this: Waltz and/or Weiser locate a rich gold mine in the. from the Netherlands) because he was Deutsch (i.e. Six Planets are Retrograde, What Does that Mean for You? 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. If the story ended there, the legend of the Lost Dutchmans gold mine would make an interesting story. I've got to have help quick. 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). Maricopa County is also popular for prospecting because much of the gold here is found in sizable pieces that can be found with metal detectors . 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. Additionally, there never was an army doctor named Thorne in the 1860s in Arizona. Scientists in China Discover Rare Moon Crystal that Could Power Earth, When Well Know if NASAs Asteroid Impact Test was a Success, What Screaming Black Holes are Telling Us, The First Native American Woman Travels into Space with NASA's Crew-5 Mission. 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. The Indian said he had seen much larger pieces of the same substance and started off to show him the treasure. Lonely humans will become infatuated with AI-fabricated personas. 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. One of the most popular Arizona legends also happens to be one of the most deadly: the Lost Dutchman's gold mine. One version of the air than any other tree species by Thomas,! Goldfield: Stop in at the Salt River Herald ( later known as the Town in... Only a few hours longer tons or 16 million troy ounces (.! 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