Friday, April 12, 2019

The Lost Dutchman Mine: A Treasure Map


Treasure Map


Legend tells of a fabulous mine in Arizona’s Superstition Mountains. So alluring is the prospect of unlimited wealth that it said that hundreds have died searching for the lost mine. 
The entire story began in 1748 when the Peralta family began mining silver and gold. According to family records this wealthy family operated eighteen silver and gold mines in the Superstition Mountains. With the Mexican War of 1848, law and order disintegrated in the area and the Apache Indians grew increasingly hostile, attacking the miners almost continuously. Disaster finally overtook the Peraltas in September 1848 with a general massacre by the Apaches. Following this massacre the Apaches controlled the Superstition Mountains until 1865.

Jacob Walz (or Waltz), the “Dutchman” enters the picture in 1871 with his partner Jacob Weiser.  The two immigrants purchased a map drawn by the original Peralta family and located the mine “within an imaginary circle whose diameter is not more than five miles and whose center is marked by the Weaver’s Needle.”

Weiser soon vanished...the victim of either, Indians, desperados, or Walz. The Dutchman continued working the mine, carrying the secret of its location to the grave.  It was 1891. Jacob Waltz, the “Dutchman”, was dead. But the clues he left as to the location of his mine remained alive in the dreams of Julia Thomas. Julia had looked after Walz before he died, and was the first of a long line of hunters for the Lost Dutchman’s Mine.  Julia sold all of her worldly possessions to finance a search for the mine. Armed with clues left by Walz on his deathbed, Julia and two friends spent about four weeks searching the canyons and ravines adjacent to Weavers Needle, and the west side of Bluff  Spring Mountain. The weather was so hot they spent the afternoon in the shade, and did their searching in the mornings. After suffering in the heat, and lacking sufficient water for their animals, the disappointed treasure hunters abandoned the search.  Julia then came up with a brilliant idea and began to produce maps illustrating the exact location of the lost Dutchman mine.  Although the maps were complete fabrications, the treasure maps produced a nice income for Julia.  There are more ways than one to find gold.


       Video: Is There Gold in the Superstition Mountains?















Arizona’s Superstition Mountains are mysterious, forbidding, and dangerous.  The Superstitions are said to have claimed over five hundred lives.  What were these people looking for?  Is it possible that these mountains hide a vast treasure?  Is it possible that UFOs land here?  Is it possible that in these mountains there is a door leading to the great underground city of the Lizard Men?  Join us as we recount a fictional story of the Superstitions and then look at the real history of the legends that haunt these mountains in our new book:  Gold, Murder and Monsters in the Superstition Mountains.











3 comments:

Unknown said...

Gold, Murder, and Monsters in the Superstition Mountains.
My name is Stephen E. Fairchild, In about 1968, I, with others searched out information about the "Lost Dutchman Mine". We followed the information and actually found the Mine. It was not what most thought it would be, but met all of the clues and information. I did collect several gold-ore samples, which I still possess, and cherish. Although I am now 82 years plus, I could still lead directly to that mine location.

Anonymous said...


If you really want to find the LDM, I’ll give you some clues? Believe anyone who says that the Lost Dutchman’s goldmine is not in the superstitious mountains. Believe that the gold mine is towards the east and the left sidewall of weaver’s needle point towards the mine? Believe Jacob Waltz and the saddle he drew on his map towards the east? Believe that the goldmine lies behind the saddle which sits above thunder mountain. Believe in the Arizona Report who posted a photo of the saddle a few years ago. This photo has the proof of the saddle above the right side in the blue? If you find it then you know why you have not found the goldmine.

Anonymous said...

Google - The Arizona Report of the lost Dutchman’s mine to locate the site and do not go into the site, instead click on images so you can find the photo which gives you a clear view of the saddle on the right upper section. Jacob Waltz drew a map containing weaver’s needle, miners needle, the saddle mountain ridge, and the four peaks. Weaver’s needle is located to the left of miners needle and in between towards the east high above thunder mountain is the saddle. He drew the four peaks in a line above the saddle as a cipher message which explains one of his clues referring to the saddle as the place where one can see the four peaks lining up as one. Everyone familiar with the story can identify weaver’s needle, miners needle, the four peaks, except the saddle? Why? Because many are sold on the superstitious legends and are blinded to the saddle which lies towards the east 40 more miles pass the Salt River? The others reason is that most don’t climb high enough or look far enough towards the east to catch the view of the saddle! It looks just like the drawing of Jacob Waltz.