Thursday, July 22, 2010
14:00 hrs
Three hikers are still missing in the Superstition Mountains, outside of Apache Junction, Arizona. The hikers were last seen Sunday, July 11, when they headed into the Superstition Mountains in search of the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine. Temperatures in Arizona were hovering around 114 degrees at the time they went into the mountains. A few days ago the sheriff departments of Pima and Maricopa County called off the search. At this point there is still no news on the missing men.
The Lost Dutchman has been luring people to the rugged Superstition Mountains since it was first reportedly mined in the 1870’s. Jacob Waltz, (the Dutchman) and Jacob Weiser were the only two men ever to really find the mine and take gold from it.
Waltz’s’ connection to the mine came about in the classic manner of old west tales. Waltz and his partner Weiser were in old Mexico, the town of Arizpe on a festival day. In the corner of a cantina a spirited gambling game was in progress. Waltz realized after watching a few minutes that it was far out of his league, so he and Weiser were ready to head out. Before they could leave, an argument broke out between the gamblers, and out came the knives. Intervening by cracking the dealer over the head with his gun, Waltz and Weiser dragged the other man out to safety.
Don Miguel Peralta was the man they saved that day, the man who at that time owned and mined the Lost Dutchman. Over the years the Peralta family had worked the mine adding greatly to the family’s wealth. Sadly, Apache’s had killed both his father and brother while working the mine in the aptly named Massacre Canyon.
While working the mine that last time, the mining party became aware that they were being surrounded by Apache’s, who considered the Superstition Mountains sacred, home of the Thunder Gods. Trying to make a safe exit they were pursued by the Indians, with nearly the entire party being massacred. Even into the late 1950’s people hiking in Massacre Canyon would from time to time find small bits of bridles, horseshoes, and other reminders of that fateful day. Peralta was one of the survivors, but he no longer had the nerve or desire to work the mine, but, in gratitude to Waltz and his partner he would supply them with a map, and finance them, and in that quick transaction, a legend was born.
Over the years the legend of the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine has lured many into the mountains, with more than a handful never to return. Today the Superstitions can be clearly seen from million dollar homes, private country clubs and air-conditioned malls. A short drive of ten miles will take you to some of the most rugged, difficult and frightening terrain in the world, and the mountains still have the power to draw people in.
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