Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine facts for kids
The Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine is a famous hidden gold mine in the southwestern United States. People believe it is located in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east of Phoenix, Arizona. Many stories exist about how to find the mine. Each year, people search for it, and some have even died trying.
The mine is named after Jakob Waltz (born around 1810–died 1891). He was a German immigrant who supposedly found the mine in the 1800s. He kept its location a secret. People called him "the Dutchman" because "Dutchman" was a common American term for Germans back then.
The Lost Dutchman's mine is perhaps the most famous lost mine in American history. Experts say its story has been told much more often than other well-known tales, like Captain Kidd's lost treasure. People have been looking for this mine since at least 1892. Some estimates suggest that 9,000 people try to find it every year.
Contents
Stories About the Mine
Many stories exist about the Lost Dutchman's mine. Some parts are facts, and some are fiction. There are three main parts to the overall legend:
- Tales of lost Apache gold or Dr. Thorne's mine.
- Stories about the Lost Dutchman himself.
- Stories of soldiers' lost gold.
The most complete version of the Lost Dutchman's story combines all three of these legends. There are over 60 different versions of the story, some with small changes and others with big differences.
Lost Apache Gold or Dr. Thorne's Story
This story talks about the Apache tribe having a very rich gold mine in the Superstition Mountains. Sometimes, the famous Apache leader Geronimo is mentioned in this tale.
In most versions, a family named Peralta found the mine and started digging for gold. But around 1850, Apaches supposedly attacked or killed them in what is called the Peralta massacre.
Years later, a man named Dr. Thorne treated an injured Apache, often said to be a chief. As a reward, he was taken to a rich gold mine. He was blindfolded and led there by a winding path. He could take as much gold as he could carry. Then, he was blindfolded again and led away. Thorne was never able to find the mine again.
The Truth About the Peralta Mine
The Peralta family name was used in many legends in the American Southwest. This is likely because Pedro de Peralta was a Spanish Governor of New Mexico in the 1600s. Some carved stones in the area, called "Peralta Stones," have Spanish writing and maps. Some people think these are clues to a Peralta gold mine. However, others believe these stones are modern fakes. It's not clear if a Peralta family ever owned land or mines near the Superstition Mountains.
Historians say that the Peralta part of the story is not reliable. A man named Miguel Peralta and his family did operate a successful mine in the 1860s. But this mine was near Valencia, California, not in Arizona. This mine made a lot of money, about $35,000 in less than a year. The ruins of this mine were still standing in 1975.
Later, this California mine stopped making money. Miguel Peralta then tried to trick people. A doctor named George M. Willing Jr. paid Peralta $20,000 for mining rights to a huge area of land in Arizona and New Mexico. This was based on a document supposedly from the Spanish Empire. But Dr. Willing later found out the document was completely fake. He never got his money back. This fake land claim was also part of a big land scam by James Reavis.
This Peralta story, which was well-known in Arizona, was later added to the Lost Dutchman's story. This happened after people became interested in the Lost Dutchman's mine again in the 1930s.
The Truth About Dr. Thorne
Another detail that makes the story doubtful is that there was no Dr. Thorne working for the U.S. Army or government in the 1860s. The story likely came from a doctor named Thorne who worked in New Mexico in the 1860s. This Dr. Thorne claimed that Navajos captured him in 1854. During his captivity, he said he found a rich gold vein. He told this to three U.S. soldiers around 1858. The soldiers tried to find the gold but failed. Over many years, this tale slowly became part of the Lost Dutchman's story.
The Lost Dutchman's Story
This tale involves two German men, Jacob Waltz and Jacob Weiser. However, some believe there was only one man, Waltz, and that the story changed him into two people over time.
In most versions, Jacob Waltz finds a rich gold mine in the Superstition Mountains. Sometimes, he helps a Peralta family member and is told the mine's location as a reward. Waltz is attacked and injured by Apaches. But he lives long enough to tell a man named Dr. Walker about the mine. Waltz is also said to have told Julia Thomas about the mine before he died. He drew or described a simple map to the gold.
Some experts believe that the Bulldog Gold Mine near Goldfield, Arizona, matches Waltz's description of his "lost mine." Also, the geology of the Superstition Mountains suggests there isn't much gold there, as they are made of volcanic rock. However, some versions of the story say the "mine" is actually a hidden stash of gold left by the Peraltas.
Stories of the Soldiers' Lost Gold Vein
In another version of the tale, two or more U.S. Army soldiers supposedly found a vein of almost pure gold in or near the Superstition Mountains. The soldiers are said to have shown some of the gold. But they were killed or disappeared soon after.
This story is usually set around 1870. It might come from the efforts of three U.S. soldiers who tried to find gold in New Mexico. This was based on a story told to them by Dr. Thorne of New Mexico.
The Real Jacob Waltz
There was indeed a real Jacob Waltz who came to the U.S. from Germany. Records show him in the U.S. in 1848, when he said he was about 38 years old. A Jacob Walz was born in September 1810 in Württemberg, Germany. It is believed this is the same Waltz who became the legendary Dutchman. He likely changed the spelling of his last name. His tombstone shows his birth year as 1808.
Waltz moved to Arizona in the 1860s and lived there for most of his life. He worked in mining and prospecting. Some say he didn't have much luck. But another view is that he often appeared with large amounts of gold. One report says a Jacob Walzer sold $250,000 in gold to the U.S. Mint in the 1880s. He also had $1500 when he died in 1891. In 1870, Waltz had a farm near Phoenix.
In 1891, a huge flood hit Phoenix, and Waltz's farm was destroyed. After this, Waltz became sick. He was thought to have gotten pneumonia from the flood. He died on October 25, 1891. An acquaintance named Julia Thomas took care of him before he passed away. Waltz was buried in Phoenix at what is now called the Pioneer and Military Memorial Park.
It is very likely that Waltz told Julia Thomas the location of a gold mine. As early as September 1, 1892, newspapers reported that Thomas and others were trying to find the lost mine Waltz told her about. When they couldn't find it, Thomas and her partners reportedly started selling maps to the mine for $7 each.
The Death of Adolph Ruth
The story of the Lost Dutchman's mine became much more famous because of the death of Adolph Ruth. He was an amateur explorer and treasure hunter. Ruth disappeared while looking for the mine in the summer of 1931. About six months later, his skull was found with injuries. This story made national news and greatly increased interest in the Lost Dutchman's mine.
Ruth's son, Erwin C. Ruth, supposedly learned about the Peralta mine from a man named Pedro Gonzales. In this story, Erwin C. Ruth helped Gonzales with some legal issues around 1912. In thanks, Gonzales told Erwin about the Peralta mine in the Superstition Mountains. He also gave him some old maps of the area. Gonzales claimed to be a descendant of the Peralta family. Erwin then shared this information with his father, Adolph. Adolph Ruth loved searching for lost mines. He had metal pins in his leg from a past injury and used a cane to walk.
In June 1931, Ruth set out to find the lost Peralta mine. He stayed at Tex Barkely's ranch to get ready. Barkely warned Ruth not to go. He said the Superstition Mountains were dangerous, even for experienced people, especially for a 66-year-old in the hot Arizona summer.
But Ruth did not listen. He went into the mountains for what was supposed to be a two-week trip. Ruth did not return as planned, and no trace of him was found after a short search. In December 1931, a newspaper reported that a human skull had been found in the Superstition Mountains. A respected anthropologist, Dr. Aleš Hrdlička, identified the skull as Adolph Ruth's. He also noted that the skull had two holes, suggesting it was caused by a powerful gun fired very close.
In January 1932, Ruth's other remains were found about three-quarters of a mile from where the skull was. Many of Ruth's personal items were found, including a pistol and the metal pins from his leg. But the map to the Peralta mine was missing.
Ruth's checkbook was also found. It contained a note from Ruth saying he had found the mine and giving detailed directions. He ended his note with the Latin phrase "Veni, vidi, vici" (meaning "I came, I saw, I conquered").
Authorities in Arizona did not investigate Ruth's death as a crime. They thought he might have died from thirst or heart problems. However, many people, including Ruth's family, believed he was killed for the map. This mysterious story was widely reported in the news, perhaps because it was a welcome change from the sad news of the Great Depression.
Other Searches for the Mine
Throughout the 1900s, many people continued to search the Superstition Mountains for the Lost Dutchman Mine. One serious effort was led by Glen Magill, a private detective. He organized several trips in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He claimed to have found the mine's location a couple of times. But he later admitted he was wrong, or that the locations had no gold left.
One reason some doubt the mine's existence is that Jacob Waltz was a "placer miner," meaning he found gold in streams. While his gold pieces were in quartz, the Superstition Mountains are volcanic, which usually doesn't have much gold. Also, the mine directions Ruth had were from an old newspaper account from 1895.
Other Deaths and Disappearances
Since Adolph Ruth's death, several other people have died or gone missing in the Superstition Mountains. Some searchers for the mine have disappeared in what were likely wilderness accidents.
- In January 1933, a mining electrician named J.A. "Tex" Bradford went missing for nine months while looking for the mine.
- In 1945, author Barry Storm claimed he barely escaped from a mysterious sniper he called "Mr. X." Storm thought Adolph Ruth might have been a victim of the same sniper.
- In July 1947, James A. Cravey, a retired photographer, disappeared after being dropped off in the mountains to look for the mine. His headless remains were reportedly found later.
- In late 2009, Jesse Capen (35) went missing in the Tonto National Forest. He was obsessed with finding the mine. His body was found in November 2012, stuck in a crevice.
- On July 11, 2010, three hikers from Utah, Curtis Merworth (49), Ardean Charles (66), and Malcolm Meeks (41), went missing in the Superstition Mountains while looking for the mine. Merworth had gotten lost there before. The search was called off, and they were believed to have died from the summer heat. Their remains were found in January 2011.
Lost Dutchman State Park
In 1977, about 292 acres next to the Tonto National Forest were made into the Lost Dutchman State Park. The park grew to 320 acres in 1983. It is easy to reach, about 40 miles east of Phoenix.
Hiking and camping are popular activities there. There are several paths through the desert plants. The short "Discovery Trail" is a clear path with signs explaining the natural history of the area.
In Popular Culture
The Lost Dutchman's Mine story has appeared in many forms of entertainment:
- Lost Dutchman's Mine was a text adventure game in 1980 and 1981.
- Al Emmo and the Lost Dutchman's Mine is a 2006 adventure game where the main character looks for the mine.
- Lust for Gold is a 1949 Western movie about the mine.
- "Dutchman's Gold" was a popular song in 1960 by Walter Brennan.
- The CBS Radio series Escape had an episode called "When the Man Comes, Follow Him" on April 9, 1949.
- The CBS Radio series Suspense aired "The Peralta Map" on March 10, 1957.
- Lost Dutchman Mine was a video game released in 1989.
- The Lost Dutchman Mine ride was a popular attraction at Legend City amusement park (1963–1983).
- The mine is important in the Lara Croft, Tomb Raider comic series "The Black Legion" (2003-2004).
- The podcast "Unexplained" covered the mine in Season 6, Episode 10.
- The television series “Unsolved Mysteries” featured the mine in Season 1, Episode 21, which first aired on April 12, 1989.
Images for kids
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Entrance to Lost Dutchman State Park
