Please reorganize this content to explain the subject's impact on popular culture. Two months later, Gassler called Bob’s partner, Tom Kollenborn, a local historian. He further stated, after examining the two holes [in the skull], that it appeared that a shotgun or high-powered rifle had been fired through the head at almost point-blank range, making the small hole when the bullet entered and the large hole when it exited".[23]. Some believed that the fake Roland Gassler may have been in the mountains when Walt died and stole the backpack with its precious ore. Willing died in 1874 before there had been a thorough investigation of the documents or opportunity to cross examine him on the stand as was later done with Reavis. Several men or teams of men went to Superstition Mountain and either came back with … Afterwards, Waltz fell ill (he was rumored to have contracted pneumonia during the flooding). Waltz was buried in Phoenix at what is now called the Pioneer and Military Memorial Park. [38] The park was expanded to 320 acres (130 ha) in 1983. Learn how your comment data is processed. In a story that echoes some of the earlier tales, Ruth's son Erwin C. Ruth was said to have learned of the Peralta mine from a man called Pedro Gonzales (or Gonzalez). Superstition Mtns, home of the Lost Dutchman mine. In 1848, Apaches massacred between 100 and 400 men because they wanted them off their sacred land. S1 E1 48m. My grandmother Ruth swears by it she dropped him off at the base of the mountain. Episode 1. Such as. My grandfather revealed to me the location. When Jacob Waltz died, he left a trunk of ore, a list of clues, and a legend of lost treasure which has captured the dreams of three generations. The location is generally believed to be in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east of Phoenix, Arizona. It was supposedly discovered by a German prospector named Jacob Waltz in 1876. Explore The Mysteries. Privacy | Terms | DCMA | FAQ. My grandfather Walter claimed to have also found the treasure. He is blindfolded and taken there by a circuitous route, and is allowed to take as much gold ore as he can carry before again being escorted blindfolded from the site by the Apaches. Erwin passed the information to his father Adolph, who had a long-standing interest in lost mines and amateur exploration. Perhaps the most popular story of lost treasure in North America is that of the Dutchman Mine. This episode includes: Victorio's Gold Pts 1 & 2, Where's Kari? Robert Stack=42. After traveling to the region, Ruth stayed several days at the ranch of Tex Barkely to outfit his expedition. Granger wrote that "fact and fiction blend in the tales",[3] but that there are three main elements to the story: In 1977, Granger identified 62 variants of the Lost Dutchman's story – some of the variations are minor, but others are substantial, casting the story in a very different light from the other versions. 10 May, 2017; by Unsolved Mysteries; 7 Comments ; Is gold hidden in the rugged Superstition Mountains of Arizona? The series was then acquired by CBS in 1997, where it continued for a short run of 2 seasons. Episode: 2. "Dutchman" was a common American term for a German ("Dutch" being the English cognate to the German demonym "Deutsch", and not a reference to the Dutch people). But where did he get the gold ore sample? [4], Robert Blair wrote "[t]here have been at least four legendary Lost Dutchman's gold mines in the American West, including the famed Superstition mine of Jacob Waltz". Some carved stones in the area are referred to as "Peralta Stones" and Spanish text and crude maps on them are considered by some to be clues to the location of a Peralta family gold mine in the Superstition Mountains, although others believe the stones to be modern fakes. Rhinehart Petrasch continued to search for the mine for the next 50 years. Thorne claimed that he was taken captive by Navajos in 1854, and that during his captivity he had discovered a rich gold vein. Richman, Irwin. The Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine is, according to legend, a rich gold mine hidden in the southwestern United States. Arcadia Publishing. James Reavis tried to assert that the Peralta family had a Spanish land grant and a barony granted by the King of Spain, which included a huge swath of Arizona and New Mexico, including the Superstition Mountains. unsolved mysteries movies. Help solve a mystery! Unsolved Mysteries is an American mystery documentary television show that began with a series of television specials, airing on NBC from 1987 to 1988. Famed Apache Geronimo is sometimes mentioned in relation to this story. However, Blair argued that there is a strong likelihood that there never was a second man named Weiser, but rather that a single person named Waltz was, over the years, turned into two men as the legend of the Dutchman's mine evolved. Watch this case now on Amazon Prime in season one with Robert Stack and season three with Dennis Farina. Since Ruth's death, there have been several other deaths or disappearances in the Superstition Mountains. He pursued mining and prospecting, but seems to have had little luck with either. Arizona place-name expert Byrd Granger notes that, as of 1977, the Lost Dutchman story had been printed or cited at least six times more often than two other fairly well-known tales, the story of Captain Kidd's lost treasure, and the story of the Lost Pegleg mine in California. This account is usually dated to about 1870. He prospected the superstition mountains in Apache junction. Some searchers for the mine have disappeared in likely wilderness accidents. S1 E2 50m. 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.The location is generally believed to be in the Superstition Mountains, near Apache Junction, east of Phoenix, Arizona.There have been many stories about how to find the mine, and each year people search for the mine. According to legend, somewhere hidden in these mountains lie the richest deposits of gold in America—the Lost Dutchmen’s Gold Mine. Case categories include: Murder, Missing Persons, Wanted Fugitives, UFOs, Ghosts, Amnesia, Fraud, and more. But the real Roland Gassler never received it. The Lost Dutchman is perhaps the most famous lost mine in American history. This land grant was the basis of the James Reavis Arizona land swindle (Reavis became Willing's partner and continued to try to prove the authenticity of the land grant for years after Willing's death). The exact location of the Lost Dutchmen’s Mine remains a … Thorne is said to be either unwilling or unable to relocate the mine. Host of Unsolved Mysteries was Robert Stack. But Waltz did prospect in those rugged mountains and apparently he was rewarded. Oct 31, 2016 - Arizona’s Lost Dutchman Mine | Unsolved more Mysteries S1 E4 45m. This tale involves two German men, Jacob Waltz and Jacob Weiser. Generator dokumentów do stypendium socjalnego. When back up arrived the officer found Langford's MP armband, portable radio and military id card arranged in the middle of the road. [19][20] After this was unsuccessful, Thomas and her partners were reported to be selling maps to the mine for $7 each. But the map to the Peralta mine was said to be missing. Walt hiked alone into the Superstitions, never to be seen alive again. Unsolved Mysteries contacted the Pentagon. Blair suggested that this Waltz could be the same Waltz who later came to be regarded as the legendary Dutchman, and that he Americanized the spelling of his family name. Gordon Hobbs from the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army responded to Swanner's allegations. I would love to go prospect the Superstition Mountains. [25] Blair noted that the conclusion of the Arizona authorities was rejected by many, including Ruth's family, and "those who held onto the more romantic murdered-for-the-map story". Join ... Unsolved Mysteries Season 1 View all. "[24], Authorities in Arizona did not convene a criminal inquest regarding Ruth's death. But when his health began to fail, Walt contacted two other prospectors. Hiking and camping are popular activities. Three days later, his body was found by a ranch-hand, Don Shade. 3 lutego 2021 Waltz, who was nicknamed “The Dutchman”, bragged that you could drive a pack train over the entrance to the mine and never know it was there. Roland wanted to use the map and notes in Tom’s possession to retrace his father’s steps. Colorado woman disappears; the 1956 murder of Thomas Hotard; the haunted Lost Dutchman Mine. Arizona’s Lost Dutchman Mine. In yet another version of the tale, two (or more) U.S. Army soldiers are said to have discovered a vein of almost pure gold in or near the Superstition Mountains. Anyone know if this is public property or public trails in the area? According to the story, in about 1912 Erwin C. Ruth gave some legal aid to Gonzales, saving him from almost certain imprisonment. Also available on YouTube with Dennis Farina. When Walt died, the Sheriff’s report listed a backpack among his belongings. When I asked him why he didn’t expose his find? Initial Lost Dutchman’s Mine’s Deaths The Weaver’s Needle is a landmark for the Lost Dutchman’s Mine where many have mysteriously died or vanished while searching for its golden treasure trove. Tantalizingly, Ruth's checkbook was also recovered, and proved to contain a note written by Ruth wherein he claimed to have discovered the mine and gave detailed directions. But when he realized he would never find it, he took his own life. I want to say late 70’s. Don Miguel Peralta discovered the mine in 1845. The arraigned items had finger prints on them not belonging to Lanford. Another detail which casts doubt on the story is the fact that, according to Blair, there was never any Dr. Thorne in the employ of the Army or indeed of the Federal Government in the 1860s. But they're all tied to one man, a German prospector named Jacob Waltz, who was said to have discovered the mine in 1876. I said I ought to ask you for a driver’s license or something. Unsolved mystery.- The Superstition Mountains in Arizona cover 160,000 acres of desolate, rugged terrain. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. S1 E3 46m. Today, the lost gold would be worth over 200 million dollars. Blair insisted that the Peralta portion of the story is unreliable, writing: "The operation of a gold mine in the Superstitions by a Peralta family is a contrivance of 20th century writers". In the mid-1940s, the headless remains of prospector James A. Cravey were reportedly discovered in the Superstition Mountains. Tales of these other Lost Dutchman's mines can be traced to at least the 1870s. Then one night while giving a lecture, Tom was approached by a different stranger who claimed he was Roland Gassler: “And my jaw dropped 10 foot to the ground, because it wasn’t the same guy. In June 1931, Ruth set out to locate the lost Peralta mine. In January 1932, human remains were discovered about three-quarters of a mile (1.21 km) from where the skull had been found. [13] In most versions of the tale, Jacob Waltz located a rich gold mine in the Superstition Mountains (in many versions of the story, they rescue or help a member of the Peralta family and are rewarded by being told the location of the mine). According to Clay Worst, the only directions Julia and Petrasch had when they ventured into the mountains were the verbal clues Waltz had given them on his death bed: “He said the setting sun shines into the entrance to my mind and glitters on the gold, so it must have faced to the west. 6 Disturbing Unsolved Mysteries In Arizona That Will Leave You Baffled. About a qu… Blair suggested that "fragments of this legend have perhaps become attached to the mythical mine of Jacob Waltz".[6]. His name was Walt Gassler. Superstition Mountain outside of Phoenix, Arizona is the supposed location for this lost treasure. According to Blair, the story may have its roots in the efforts of three U.S. soldiers to locate gold in an area of New Mexico, based on an allegedly true story related to them by Dr. Thorne of New Mexico; see above. (St. Johns, Apache County, Arizona Territory [Ariz.]) 1885–1903, September 8, 1892, Image 2", "Arizona desert searched for missing Denver man seeking gold mine", "Mother of missing treasure hunter holds onto hope", "Body of man who hunted legendary 'Lost Dutchman's' gold mine believed found in Arizona mountains", "3 Utah men still missing on Arizona treasure hunt", "3 Search for men looking for Lost Dutchman's gold suspended", "More remains found in Superstitions; may be hiker's", "The Lost Dutchman's Mine – History and Bibliography", Arizona Mining Scams and Unassayable Ore Projects of the Late 20th Century, "Skeptoid #347: The Lost Dutchman Gold Mine", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lost_Dutchman%27s_Gold_Mine&oldid=1009082696, Articles lacking reliable references from June 2017, Articles with trivia sections from June 2018, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. The elder Ruth had fallen and badly broken several bones while seeking the lost Pegleg mine in California. Is gold hidden in the rugged Superstition Mountains of Arizona? There was a catastrophic flood in Phoenix in 1891, and Waltz's farm was one of many that was devastated. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. John tells how the Dutchman found it and what happened to it. This the story of the lost Dutchman as told for Decades at ApacheLand by storytellers, Hank Sheffer, Bob Flowers and Ben Cole to the vistors to the park. Dr. George M. Willing Jr. paid Peralta $20,000 for the mining rights for an enormous swath of land – about 3,000,000 acres (12,000 km2) in southern Arizona and New Mexico – based on a deed originally granted by the Spanish Empire in the 18th century. Tom obliged Roland and gave him the manuscripts. However, the Peralta Mine eventually became unprofitable and after the money was gone Miguel Peralta turned to fraud. Explore The Mysteries. There are several paths that go through the brush and cacti. In gratitude, Gonzales told Erwin about the Peralta mine in the Superstition Mountains, and gave him some antique maps of the site (Gonzales claimed to be descended from the Peralta family on his mother's side). Some have died on the search. One of the most professional and serious-minded efforts was led by Oklahoma City private detective Glen Magill, who organized multiple expeditions in the late 1960s and early '70s, and claimed on at least two occasions to have identified the location of the mine, later to concede he was either mistaken or the locations were "played out," or bereft of gold. It became clear that the first Roland Gassler was an imposter who only wanted Walt’s map. That claimed his group had found the mine and it was played out? [17] Note that tombstone pictured shows birth year as 1808. The soldiers are alleged to have presented some of the gold, but to have been killed or to have vanished soon after. Two months passed and Tom never heard whether Roland’s search was successful. The story of the Lost Dutchman and his mine is considered by many to be nothing more than a fairy tale, yet others have believed so much in it that they have risked and even lost their lives in search of the infamous treasure. As early as September 1, 1892, The Arizona Enterprise was reporting on the efforts of Thomas and several others to locate the lost mine whose location was told to her by Waltz. [27], Throughout the 20th century, various expeditions and individuals continued to search the Superstitions for the Lost Dutchman Mine. Using clues handed down from Jacob’s death-bed description, Gassler had spent most of his free time looking for the legendary mine. Every week see new adventures that unfold another Mystery of the Superstition Mountains on our YouTube Channel. But Waltz died before he could give them a map that showed exactly where the mine lay. 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. The Peralta Massacre is a legend that Apaches supposedly ambushed a mining expedition the Peralta family sent into the mountains. The historic site has long been a source of intrigue since Europeans explored Illinois in the 17th century. They took out the box, they opened it and their comment was my god that’s rich. [12] Thorne related his claims to three U.S. soldiers in about 1858. The Dutchman Crazy Jake Adolph Ruth Train Robberies Indian Wars Ted DeGrazia. The mine is named after German immigrant Jacob Waltz (c. 1810–1891), who purportedly discovered it in the 19th century and kept its location a secret. Reenactments and interviews retell the circumstances of unsolved crimes, tales of lost love, unexplained history and paranormal events. The Lost Dutchman Mine is in the Tonto National Forest, You need a Treasure Trove permit to search for it. Julia invested everything she owned into the expedition, but she returned penniless and never attempted to return to the Superstition Mountains. Officials initially cited the cause of death as natural—from thirst or a heart condition—but this did not explain the bullet holes and Ruth’s undischarged pistol found with the remains. The earliest Lost Dutchman's mine in Arizona was said to have been near Wickenburg, about 180 km (110 mi) north-west of the Superstition Mountains: a "Dutchman" was allegedly discovered dead in the desert near Wickenburg in the 1870s alongside saddlebags filled with gold. The Lost Dutchman Mine is a legend about a gold prospector who found a fortune but could never fully tell where he got it. He had metal pins in his leg, and used a cane to help him walk. An alternate view which better fits the lost mine legend is that he periodically appeared with large amounts of gold, The Sterling Legend by Estee Conatser reports that a Jacob Walzer sold $250,000 in gold to the U.S. Mint during the 1880s and had $1500 when he died in 1891. Not sure what year. And he says, well you know my dad found the Lost Dutchman in the Superstitions and he got out this gold and showed it too me. According to legend, somewhere hidden in these mountains lie the richest deposits of gold in America—the Lost Dutchmen’s Gold Mine. The Pennsylvania Dutch Country. But Blair suggested that this core story was distorted in subsequent retellings, comparing the many variants of the Lost Dutchman's story to the game of Chinese whispers, where the original account is distorted in multiple retellings of the tale.[15]. In this story (actually two interconnected stories), members of the Apache tribe are said to have a very rich gold mine located in the Superstition Mountains. The Lost Dutchman Mine is said to be a rich goldmine located somewhere in the southwestern American state of Arizona. "The St. Johns herald. Unsolved Mysteries is an American mystery documentary television show, created by John Cosgrove and Terry Dunn Meurer.Documenting cold cases and paranormal phenomena, it began as a series of seven specials, presented by Raymond Burr, Karl Malden, and Robert Stack, beginning on NBC on January 20, 1987, becoming a full-fledged series on October 5, 1988, hosted by Stack.