The Lost Dutchman Mine

By Crusader1307

Part early American Western Urban Legend (it seems), The aptly called ‘’Lost Dutchman Mine’’ – is said to exist somewhere in The ‘’Superstition Mountains’’,  located near Phoenix, Arizona (US). Since the 1870s, The Gold Mine has (and continues) to not only conjure up images of untold wealth, but of foreboding and disaster for those foolish enough to seek it. The Region is well known as a ‘’Killer’’ Desert of sand, scrub and very little water. There are so many facets to The Legend (or Curse if you will), that there just as many origins to it, as elements of truth. The Mine was purportedly claimed by a Dutch Immigrant called Jakob Waltz, who claimed to have come to The region (as so many did then) – to make His fortune by finding a Gold or Silver vein (Mine). Waltz claimed to have found a Gold vein – perhaps richer than Sutter’s Creek in California (1849). He even produced some pure Gold as a result, but His determination to keep secret the location was such, that when He died of pneumonia in 1851, no One was qui8te sure just where The Mine was. This began the many popular legends.

One popular with The Dutchman Mine, is that in the 1860s – a Human skeleton was found near The Superstition Mountains, with barely tatters of cloths left and (2) bags of Gold. The ‘’European Style’’ clothing and the fact of the large Dutch Settlements then, perhaps created ‘’The Dutchman’’ Curse. So pure in composition, that it caused many hundreds to begin scouring the Region for the ‘’Lost Mine’’. In another version, The Gold Mine was not a vein at all – but a ‘’hidden hoard’’ of Native American (Apache) Gold (with even stranger origins it seems). The Apache claim that it was the Gold of their Ancestors, who were Colonists of The Ancient Incans (based on tales of miniature golden Incan statues found or claimed to come from – The Mine). The Apache hid the Gold and aptly cursed it (so that no one would survive to claim it).

Many famous and infamous Persons have tried (in vein) to find The Mine. It is estimated that nearly 8,000 people have mounted expeditions (with more than the fair share of ‘’authentic’’ maps and whispered clues). To this date, People still try to located the Mine. It’s ‘’death toll’’ (mostly accidents from exposure and of course, ‘’missing persons’’ never recovered – is in the hundreds). In fact, in the 1880s, an entire Company of US Cavalrymen deserted The Army and sought out The Mine. None of them were ever heard (or recovered) again.