To this day, both lost mines are actively sought after by old time prospectors and treasure hunters. Quite literally so, according to Southwestern Folklore author and researcher Byrd Granger. Usually, the story ran that the Indians would bring in gold and silver, but would refuse to tell the secret of their wealth. Ed Schieffelin, who discovered the Tombstone mines, would later search diligently for the lost mine, but if he found it, he never told. Want to read more travel articles from MDN? 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. Pan for gold then take a ride on Arizona's only narrow gauge train. At the head of the Prescott Party was Ed. It is said that Pegleg got drunk while in Los Angeles, started a brawl in the local saloon and was quickly kicked out of town by the authorities. 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. 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. 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. The worlds longest cave system is a gargantuan labyrinth of 420 miles of twists and turns and nooks and crannies, with limestone travertine stalactites dripping from the ceilings. At the time, he was living in Phoenix, reportedly on land owned by Julia Thomas, a local bakery owner. Your email address will not be published. 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. Arizonas Gold Rush Through the years, truth and fiction about this mine have been irrevokably mixed up, producing 62 varieties of the legend. There have been 428,000 ounces of gold mined here, the vast majority of which comes from the Vulture Mine near Wickenburg. One of the most popular Arizona legends also happens to be one of the most deadly: the Lost Dutchman's gold mine. Tales of the lost Apaches gold, or Dr Thornes mine. Superstition Mountains. of gold. Research shows that spending more time on social media is associated with body image issues in boys and young men. Superstition Mountains, are able to present some of it to a third party but afterwards are killed or vanish. However, the history of gold in the area goes back even further than that. Have found the lost Dutchman. And not just crackpots: former attorney general of Arizona Bob Corbin was one of the many mine-seekers. Almost every prospector, whether professional or tenderfoot, had his own pet lost mine that he looked for. Born in Gallup and raised in Phoenix, she is Tdich'ii'nii (Bitter Water People) and Tsi'naajinii (Black Streak Wood People). 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. He was able to tell the story of the gold find, and the rescuing party went farther to find Crossthwaites body. The ore was all that Flannigan claimed and $1,800 was realized from its sale. You can reach her at monica.d.spencer@gmail.com. Solid State Batteries Promise Long Life and Rapid Refuel Electric Vehicles, Electric vs. Hydrogen: The Pros and Cons of Greener Transportation. Doc is just one of an endless stream of treasure hunters in search of the. Possibly connected with the Miner tale that led Safford and his party very far afield was the lost Thorne Mine. 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. Often, there is a map (sometimes called a "waybill") purportedly showing the location of the mine. The lost padre gold mine of Arizona. Waltz and his partner, Jacob Weiser, worked the mine and allegedly hid one or more caches of gold in the Superstitions. Packing their booty onto a number of mules, they fled, heading northwest toward a remote pass through the Arizona/Mexico border. (Jameson, 2009). 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. Peck, discoverer of the famous Peck Mine at Alexandria. The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Has Been Found! He died in Phoenix in 1880. the old gold mining town of bisbee, az. He claimed to have been abducted by Navajo in 1854, discovering a rich gold vein during his captivity. The records do not account for any gold that was sold locally or given to family or friends. There are records of Waltz selling or transporting gold which are estimated to total $254,000.. The Lost Goldmine Trail is a permanent, eleven-mile multi-use trail across the south face of the Superstitions that connects the Peralta trailhead on the east to the Lost Dutchman State Park near Apache Junction. 914.589.3985. Wild beaches, snow-capped mountains, dense woods, and lush rainforests can be found across America. 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. 8230 Lost Mine Rd. 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. There was a Dr Thorne who had a private practice in New Mexico, however. There are three Indian legends of black-coated gold in the desert that support Pegleg's legend. Additionally, there never was an army doctor named Thorne in the 1860s in Arizona. #sedona #redrocks #outhiki, Oddball vending machines, #3 in the series. 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.. Whatever his reasoning, Waltz was never able to cash out. 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. But when his son, who worked in Mexico, found a map that might lead to an Arizona gold mine, Ruth couldn't resist. 602.274.2521 In 2006, all of Arizonas gold production came as a fortuitous byproduct of copper mining. In the morning they found the spring fairly paved with gold nuggets. Lost Mines & Buried Treasure of the Southwest by Thomas Penfield, Lost Cities & Ancient Mysteries of the Southwest by David Hatcher Childress, Lost Gold and Silver Mines of the Southwest by Eugene L. Conrotto, Lost Mines & Buried Treasures of Arizona by W.C. Jameson, Southwest Treasure Hunters Gem & Mineral Guide: Where & How to Dig, Where to Find Gold in the Desert by James Klein, 3 Thrillseekers wanted to travel to Sweden, Ecuador or Canada in July with World Nomads, Worldwide: Getty Images Awarding $10,000 Grants to 3 Instagram Photographers, New Creative Opps for Travelers in Switzerland, Montana, Michigan, California & Marfa, Texas, Hey Dutchman Hunters! 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. 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. The story goes something like this: Waltz and/or Weiser locate a rich gold mine in the. Stars Jesse Feldman Josh Feldman Clark Moore See production, box office & company info Add to Watchlist From a single shovelful of earth had been panned seventeen ounces of gold. 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. 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. Weiser is attacked (either by Apache or by Waltz) but survives long enough to tell a Dr Walker about the mine. 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. There are hawk and dove versions, depending on whether the men behaved violently or not. The point of rendezvous was near old Fort Grant, where 267 men joined them, divided into five companies. Flannigan made several unsuccessful attempts to return to the find, but he dreaded the desert and never went very far from the river. 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. 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. (Conrotto, 1991). But the mine remains shrouded in mystery, so much so that it might not exist at all. When his father later examined the specimen, he noticed the underside of the quartz was covered with fine wire gold and pinhead nuggets. 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. In the coastal town of Lincoln City, Oregon, beachcombers flock to the sand in hopes of finding one very specific treasure: glass fishing floats. 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. Gold Mining Clubs & Dig Sites Granger distinguished three main elements to the story, with the most complete version of the story incorporating all three legends. In May 1871 he was in Prescott, coming with several companions from Nevada, and in that month reached Phoenix from the North with about thirty men. After about a decade, the story sank into obscurity, regaining notoriety when it had acquired more spectacular aspects, in a fashion not dissimilar to a game of Chinese whispers. The trio succeeded in returning safely to San Bernardino and in 1875, gathered twelve men to return to the lost bonanza. Lonely humans will become infatuated with AI-fabricated personas. But will big risks lead to an even bigger pay out? 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. (It's Free. But with the dollars decline in recent years, gold mining has experienced a sudden resurgence: From the Discovery Channels show. 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. It was against the tribal law and beliefs of the Apaches to tell others where the gold was located. A few mines are still being actively worked today, but most mining companies that have tried to revive the old mines have been unsuccessful. He disappeared, as usual, one night, and never returned. 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. Neither she nor dozens of other seekers in the years that followed were able to find the "Lost Dutchman's Mine." Stories abound of riches buried by Spanish explorers or Native Americans, as well as tales of precious ore pulled from mines whose . Attempts have been made to locate it atleast since 1892. Efforts at tracking him failed. Because of their superstitions, their secret remained well kept. He struck up a friendship with several Yavapai chiefs, even when they were the most hostile to the other miners, and they told him of a place where there was much gold, far more than on Rich Hill, where we were working. December 09, 2019 Lost mines are a popular form of lost treasure legend. Weekly, he fields questions from visitors who want to know where the gold is. 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. 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. (Jameson, 2009). Already in the 16th century, Spanish Conquistadors roamed the area, looking for the precious metal. The second legend concerns an Indian woman who was wandering about the desert in a state of dehydration. Get-rich-quick schemes are as American as the Fourth of July. 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. Below, in the sand of the wash, was almost a pavement of gold nuggets. 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. 623.934.6882 8302 Lost Mine Rd. The Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine (also known by similar names) is, according to legend, a rich gold mine hidden in the southwestern United States. Are Electric Highways the Way of the Future? Hundreds of lost mine stories have been localized everywhere over the West. 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. Chapter 12 of Thunder God's Gold by Barry Storm (John Clymenson), published in 1945, tells a very interesting story about a large piece of rich gold quartz found by William (Bill) Jenkins while on a picnic in the Superstition Mountains with his family in 1937. For More Information He died before he was ever able to return to the desert in search of his gold-covered buttes. As early as Sept 1, 1892, a local newspaper relates how Thomas and others were trying to locate the mine. I had heard of a publicly declared gold excavation and panning trail in the Lynx Lake Recreational Area near Prescott and decided to investigate. For the last 150 years, people have risked their lives to go in search of Arizonas lost gold, silver and other buried treasures. 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. Until its closure in 1998, the Gold Road mine in Oatman was Arizonas last operating gold mine. He supposedly described the mine's location to Julia Thomas, a neighbor who took care of him prior to his death. What will happen to society when AI lovers fool millions of people? - arizona gold mine stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images Lost Spanish mines In Arizona. Many prospectors and historians wonder why he did not go back to the desert and search for the butte where he discovered the gold. Sign up below or read more about the DesertUSA newsletter here. Another Lost Soldier Mine was found by a scouting soldier from old Fort Grant in the hills north of the Gila River, not very far from the mouth of the San Pedro. the historic main street. OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. 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. Robsons Mining World, Wickenburg: Pan for gold with guided instruction and view the worlds largest collection of antique mining equipment.. 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. Up to8,000 people each year go hunting for a legendary gold mine, guided by cryptic maps like these. This event led to the California Gold Rush, a time when gold fever plagued even the most innocent and content of men. Where can you find these magnificent perennial plants? 2. Some 8,000 people each year try to find it. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. 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. In many versions of the story, Weaver's Needle is a prominent landmark for locating the lost mine. Generally considered a moderately challenging route. 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The desire for gold can be so great that it motivates men to endure unbelievable hardships including starvation, dehydration and death. Arizona Mineral Rights & Mining Claims The second significant gold discovery was made by Pauline Weaver (of Weavers Needle fame) in 1862 on the Colorado River at La Paz. The Superstition Mountains to the east of Phoenix, AZ reportedly holda legendary motherlode of gold known as the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine. 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. These tales have been told by prospectors, doctors, law enforcers, rangers and by every common person who believes enough to retell the tale. Arizona Gold Mining Adventure, Phoenix. 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. Some think this mine was first excavated by Mexico's Peralta family, then commandeered by Apaches or simply abandoned. 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. Required fields are marked *. About fifty pounds of this golden quartz they loaded on the remaining horse and then set out for the Gila River. A number of other people, in addition to the Peralta family, had knowledge of the mine's location. Come and visit Goldfield Ghost Town today! He made frequent trips into the desert whenever he needed money, always returning with black gold nuggets. His body and supplies were found in the mountains; the mine was, of course, not, though the area near his corpse was intensively searched. Word traveled fast and, after Weaver found gold, every miner who had not yet struck it rich in California headed for Arizona. Later, Pimas and "Apaches" (some of whom may have been Yavapais) occupied parts of the region. Governor A.P.K. 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. 8338 Lost Mine Rd. His discovery was of quartz speckled with free gold. 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. On one occasion, Alchisay, a Chiricahua Apache scout, is known to have pawned a nugget worth $500 for $10 worth of supplies, and later to have redeemed the gold, of which he seemed to know the full value. But did you know that they can all be found within Washingtons Olympic National Park? Around 1870, two U.S. Army soldiers discover a vein of almost pure gold in or near the. 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. 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. Six Planets are Retrograde, What Does that Mean for You? Written by James Harvey McClintock in 1913, compiled and edited by Kathy Weiser/Legends of America, updated July 2020. The Lost Dutchman Mine is also the most sought after in American history. 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. 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. Lost Gold and Silver Mines of the Southwest by Eugene L. Conrotto, Dover Publications, 1991. 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 writers have indicated that there actually was a Miguel Peralta whose family operated a gold mine but this was in the 1860s, near Valenciana in California. The Lost Dutchman State Park, which opened in 1977 and has the Peralta Trail, is also a nod at the legend. When you think of treasure hunters, it's typically Pirates of the Caribbean and Indiana Jones that come to mind. Spaniard Don Joaquin conducted mining exploration in the Sierra Estrella Mountain Range south of Phoenix, Arizona in the mid-1800s. The find might have been the later famous Bonanza, in a western extension of the mountain, from which several millions of dollars in free gold were extracted. Returning down Cherry Creek, prospecting continued up the Pinto Creek and Pinal Creek Valleys. Mining flourished in Gila City until 1862 when a flood destroyed the town. Thorne told his story to three solders in 1858, upon which the soldiers unsuccessfully set out to find the vein. Lost Goldmine and Cougar Loop. A cryptic map of the gold mine, or just a fake? 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. Then, to recoup the cost of the failed expedition, Thomas started selling maps that she claimed would lead people to the mine. At age 66, he went to the Superstitions alone, over the objections of his son and family. 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. When the mines closed, the towns died, and their remains have become ghost towns and tourist attractions. Tragicomically, she and her team passed over two enormous gold mines on their search for the Lost Dutchman Mine, which they didn't find. I've got to have help quick. When they failed, it is reported they sold copies of a map for $7 each. They are the tallest trees on Earth, with some reaching more than 250 feet tall. 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 group wandered around the desert unsuccessfully, and Pegleg ended up deserting the group and turn up later in Los Angeles. Most stories place the gold in the vicinity of Weaver's Needle, a well known landmark. 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. 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. The Apache Indians spoke of a place in the desert where the ground was littered with gold nuggets. Further west, around Tysons Wells, also has been found placer gold, though none of these discoveries seem to exactly fit the special conditions of the Lost Soldier mine. The mines involved usually contain a high-value commodity such as gold, silver or diamonds. Wormley reached the river, almost demented from his sufferings, and was unable to guide a party back into the desert. For the last 150 years, people have risked their lives to go in search of Arizonas lost gold, silver and other buried treasures. Since its early Gold Rush days, Arizona has produced in excess of 498 tons or 16 million troy ounces (ozt.) Ruth injured his leg so severely in the process that he developed a lifelong limp. 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. Why 2023s Venus-Jupiter conjunction wont be bettered until 2039. Apache Before the Storm, Edward S. Curtis, 1906. 8356 Lost Mine Rd. Desert Rocks & Minerals: GOLD! By the time the miners had excavated all of the gold at La Paz, they had retrieved eight million dollars worth. Two of the most famous lost mines are the Lost Dutchman Mine of Arizona and Pegleg Smith's Mine of Southern California. This article first appeared on Curiosity.com. Coastal redwoods are a type of evergreen tree that can live to be more than 2,000 years old. When Waltz died, the 29-year-old Thomas sold her bakery, got a group together, and went searching for the mine. Tiffany Owens is a freelance travel writer and the. 8284 Lost Mine Rd. 480.982.7661 The district into which the party penetrated has been thoroughly prospected during the past twenty years and contains many mines of demonstrated richness. (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. This area is known today as the Massacre Grounds. Instead he punched out without ever harvesting the hidden gold. Old time miners would sample gold bearing rivers following the wa. Monica is a Din (Navajo) freelance writer and photographer based in the Southwest. The Superstition Mountains (their name inspired by Pima Indian legends) have been a source of mystery and legend since early times. There are men who have claimed to have found Pegleg's lost Mine. He reportedly said it came from a secret mine in the Superstition Mountains. 8320 Lost Mine Rd. 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. Wickenburg established a farm near this settlement, now known as the town named in his honor. As recent as January 2011, the. Weiser was killed by Apaches or, according to some, by Waltz himself. 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. #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. New Evidence About the Lost Dutchman Mine 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. This is one of the better counties for gold mining in Arizona. The expedition never returned, and the members of the party were later found dead at the foot of the San Ysidro Mountains. 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. 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 . 1998, the towns died, the towns died, and went for... Was of quartz speckled with free gold without ever harvesting the hidden gold whom may have abducted. 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