Your email address will not be published. Wickenburg initially worked the mine by himself, but sold the gold ore to other prospectors. Arizonas Gold Rush At the time, he was living in Phoenix, reportedly on land owned by Julia Thomas, a local bakery owner. Hundreds of "lost mine" stories have been localized everywhere over the West. Later, after the Indian died in a fight, $4,000 worth of gold was found in his bunk. Experience this 4.0-mile loop trail near Gold Canyon, Arizona. 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. The story is made up of an assortment of hints about the mine's location. When his father later examined the specimen, he noticed the underside of the quartz was covered with fine wire gold and pinhead nuggets. At the head of the Prescott Party was Ed. Hunting lost Spanish gold mines for me started back in 1992 when I moved back to Sedona Arizona. Born in Gallup and raised in Phoenix, she is Tdich'ii'nii (Bitter Water People) and Tsi'naajinii (Black Streak Wood People). There are men who have claimed to have found Pegleg's lost Mine. The gold trail led through New Mexico, Tucson, and Yuma to California. 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. from the Netherlands) because he was, The Lost Dutchman Mine is also the most sought after in American history. The location is generally believed to be in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east of Phoenix, Arizona. 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. Goldfield Ghost Town, Goldfield: Stop in at the Prospectors Palace to learn the art of panning from a gold historian. When he reached the top of the butte, he discovered free particles of gold scattered about. Finder of this note please give to Howard Peterson. 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. Want to read up on some other Arizona mysteries? These sites exist in some of the most rugged, dangerous wilderness areas of the U.S. Forest Service, said George E. Johnston, president emeritus of the Superstition Mountain Museum. 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. But modern-day treasure hunters do exist. 8284 Lost Mine Rd. 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. They build files which contain details, bits and pieces of a legend so old and peculiar, they cannot rest until the mystery is solved. Safford commanded the recruits from Tucson and was elected commander-in-chief of the party at the camp near Grant. The trio succeeded in returning safely to San Bernardino and in 1875, gathered twelve men to return to the lost bonanza. 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 story continues that after working for a while, eleven of the party started for the Pima villages for supplies. 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. But did you know that they can all be found within Washingtons Olympic National Park? Numerous maps have surfaced over the years, only to become lost or misplaced when interested parties pressed for facts. 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. Above it were two quartz veins, one narrow and the other sixteen feet wide. Today, the consensus among geologists is that the Superstitions are unlikely to contain a secret gold mine. Numbers of others have tried to find the Ni**er Ben diggings, but they have not been discovered as yet. The differences are evident in the variance of descriptive landmarks, dates, and historical information. 8338 Lost Mine Rd. 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. According to the legend, the Apaches buried and hid the gold and covered up the mine. In fact, there is a man who claims to have found Pegleg's Lost Mine in 1952. Not only is it 600 miles of mountains, lakes and rivers, but leaving late in the season means the winter may derail their plans. A cryptic map of the gold mine, or just a fake? 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. Many prospectors and historians wonder why he did not go back to the desert and search for the butte where he discovered the gold. 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. I had been prospecting out of Prescott AZ. 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). Lost mines are a popular form of lost treasure legend. Jacob Waltz moved to Phoenix and died in 1891, at the age of 83. A passing prospector had told him to hike a half-mile up the wash to a 20-foot-high wall on the right bank. For the last 150 years, people have risked their lives to go in search of Arizonas lost gold, silver and other buried treasures. They keep hoping that one day soon, they will be the lucky one who discovers the long lost mine, the one which has been sought after for years by others with similar faith. 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. Boettcher Mansion, Capitol Hill, Denver - built in, Always nice to have a solid noodle place with love, Red rock vistas, 2021. By 1869, water was once again flowing from the ancient Hohokam canals for the first time in 400 years into the fertile land of what would later become known as Phoenix. 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 individuals who truly believe in a particular legend, spend the greater portion of their lives collecting data and facts about the lost mine they so eagerly seek. There are quite a few lost Spanish mines in Arizona the Lost Dutchman is the most famous of them but there are the Lost Padre, Geronimo's . Robsons Mining World, Wickenburg: Pan for gold with guided instruction and view the worlds largest collection of antique mining equipment.. Then, to recoup the cost of the failed expedition, Thomas started selling maps that she claimed would lead people to the mine. Six Planets are Retrograde, What Does that Mean for You? From Tucson and Sonora, they were joined by two large companies of Mexicans. Offers gold prospecting private instruction, day trips & vacationsin the Weaver Mountains from Sept-June. Why 2023s Venus-Jupiter conjunction wont be bettered until 2039. All rights reserved. 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. But only rarely is it spectacularly visible from Earth. However, the name "Apache" came to be closely associated with the Superstitions, and the mountains became an Apache stronghold in the 1800s. 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. Other members were, Bob Groom, the noted pioneer; Al Sieber, the foremost Indian campaign scout of the Southwest, Willard Rice and Dan OLeary. 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. Many believe it is easier to find a mine that has been lost, than to discover a new location. The left fork is the Hieroglyphics Trail and the right fork is the Lost Goldmine Trail. He made frequent trips into the desert whenever he needed money, always returning with black gold nuggets. When the miner reached Los Angeles, he became ill and was taken under the care of Dr. DeCourcy. 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. Are Electric Highways the Way of the Future? of gold. True or not, the legend of the Lost Dutchmans Gold Mine continues to fascinate the public. The Ashleys were never able to retrace Palmers path to the ledge. But with the dollars decline in recent years, gold mining has experienced a sudden resurgence: From the Discovery Channels show. He vanished into the mountains in 2009 and his body was not discovered until three years later, hidden in a . Discovery.com unpacks the mysteries and myths long surrounding the Bermuda Triangle. Around 1870, two U.S. Army soldiers discover a vein of almost pure gold in or near the. He and his son had searched California's Borrego Desert for gold, but they found none. His quest was to find gold. Ben was taken to some water holes, about 65 miles northwest of Antelope, toward McCracken, in southern Mohave County. The famous legend began during a trapping expedition down the Colorado River in the late 1820s or early 1830s. Misinformation and rumors about the mine grew so ubiquitous that in 1895, they made it into the San Francisco Chronicle. International mysteries, vintage maps, hidden treasure Explorers Justin and Emiliano are on the case. Jesse Capen was obsessed with the legend of the lost gold, despite the lack of hard historical evidence. Your email address will not be published. Packing their booty onto a number of mules, they fled, heading northwest toward a remote pass through the Arizona/Mexico border. The dry desert lands of the U.S. have been the location of many famous mines and gold discoveries. One of the first deaths attributed to the lost mine was Adolph Ruth in the 1930s, whose remains were found with bullet holes a few months after he disappeared into the wilderness. Solid State Batteries Promise Long Life and Rapid Refuel Electric Vehicles, Electric vs. Hydrogen: The Pros and Cons of Greener Transportation. Unfortunately, Ruth was dead by the time his note was found. 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. A medical examiner ruled that Ruth died of natural causes (i.e., that broken leg, plus starvation), but some maintain that he was murdered because he knew too much about the legendary mine. 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. Peck, discoverer of the famous Peck Mine at Alexandria. Each step into the desert may bring you a little closer to a fortune. 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. But theres enough to it to encourage people to go after that 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). The most significant and debilitating bout occurred in 1849 after gold was discovered at Sutter's Mill the previous year. 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. Pegleg's Lost Mine - video Riding on Gold - Pegleg Smith 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. Thorne is later unable or unwilling to reveal the location of the mine. When they arrived; however, the chief would show him no further, seemingly being struck by some religious compunctions he hadnt thought of before. Depending on the purity of the silver, various estimates place the value of the silver cache at close to one million dollars. 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. Some 8,000 people each year try to find it. The stories of lost gold mines still lure prospectors, even today. When the mines closed, the towns died, and their remains have become ghost towns and tourist attractions. This article first appeared on Curiosity.com. During his travels through the desert, he discovered the three buttes described in Pegleg's legend and finds gold nuggets. Below, in the sand of the wash, was almost a pavement of gold nuggets. 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. 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. 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. 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. 8356 Lost Mine Rd. Finally, in disgust, the different parties separated at Wheatfields and returned to their homes. Redwoods provide habitats for many forest creatures and pull more carbon out of the air than any other tree species. 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. Thorne told his story to three solders in 1858, upon which the soldiers unsuccessfully set out to find the vein. This area is known today as the Massacre Grounds. 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. 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. However, the Lost Dutchman remains much discussed in Arizona. 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. Thorne was afterward denounced as an impostor. 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. 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. 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. With new miners, new claims, new machines and new ways to pull gold out of the ground, the stakes are higher than ever. Waltz and his partner, Jacob Weiser, worked the mine and allegedly hid one or more caches of gold in the Superstitions. Generally considered a moderately challenging route. Where can you learn of other dig sites or techniques and trade secrets of gold prospecting? {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. The expedition never returned, and the members of the party were later found dead at the foot of the San Ysidro Mountains. 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. Weiser is attacked (either by Apache or by Waltz) but survives long enough to tell a Dr Walker about the mine. He claimed to have been abducted by Navajo in 1854, discovering a rich gold vein during his captivity. He died before he was ever able to return to the desert in search of his gold-covered buttes. 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