SUPERSTITION MOUNTAIN DUTCHMAN’S LOST MINE, B. Barnard, 1st Ed., SC, 1954 Good+

Description: The following is from the website azstateparks.com: The Superstition Mountains (their name inspired by Pima Indian legends) have been a source of mystery and legend since early times. The area is dotted with ancient cliff dwellings and caves, many showing signs of former habitation. It is not certain who these people were; some believe they were Salado or Hohokam Indians who populated this part of Arizona several centuries ago. Later, Pimas and "Apaches" (some of whom may have been Yavapais) occupied parts of the region. However, the name "Apache" came to be closely associated with the Superstitions, and the mountains became an Apache stronghold in the 1800s. During the 1840s the Peralta family of northern Mexico supposedly developed rich gold mine(s) in the Superstitions. Their last expedition to carry gold back to Mexico occurred in 1848. According to legend, the large party was ambushed by Apaches, and all were killed except for one or two Peralta family members who escaped into Mexico. This area is known today as the Massacre Grounds. A number of other people were supposed to have known the mine's location or even to have worked it. Numerous maps have surfaced over the years, only to become lost or misplaced when interested parties pressed for facts. Men who claimed to have found the Peralta mine were unable to return to it or some disaster occurred before they could file a claim, all adding to the lore of a "lost mine." In the 1870s Jacob Waltz, "the Dutchman" (actually a native of Germany), was said to have located the mine through the aid of a Peralta descendant. Waltz and his partner, Jacob Weiser worked the mine and allegedly hid one or more caches of gold in the Superstitions. Most stories place the gold in the vicinity of Weaver's Needle, a well known landmark. Weiser was killed by Apaches, or according to some, by Waltz himself. In failing health, Jacob Waltz moved to Phoenix and died some twenty years later in 1891. He supposedly described the mine's location to Julia Thomas, a neighbor who took care of him prior to his death. Neither she nor dozens of other seekers in the years that followed were able to find the "Lost Dutchman's Mine." Subsequent searchers have sometimes met with foul play or even death, contributing to the superstition and legend that surround these mountains. Many versions of the "Lost Dutchman Mine" story exist, and several books and films have been done on the subject. ~~~~~~ The following information is AI-generated: Jacob Walzer, often referred to as Jacob Waltz, was born around 1810 in Württemberg, Germany, and emigrated to the United States in the mid-19th century. He eventually settled in Arizona, where he worked as a prospector and miner. Waltz became famously associated with the legend of the Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine, one of the most famous treasure legends in American history. The legend holds that Waltz discovered a rich gold mine in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona. He purportedly found this mine in the late 19th century and kept its location a closely guarded secret. There are various versions of the story, but common elements include Waltz’s secretive nature and the clues he allegedly provided to a few individuals about the mine’s location. Waltz lived a relatively modest life despite his supposed discovery of immense wealth. He died in 1891, and according to the legend, he revealed some details about the mine’s location on his deathbed. These clues have fueled numerous searches and speculations over the years, but the mine’s location remains undiscovered, adding to its mystique. The story of Jacob Waltz and the Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine has been the subject of numerous books, articles, and even films. The tale continues to attract treasure hunters and adventurers to the Superstition Mountains, hoping to find the fabled mine. Barney Barnard, the author of “The Story of Jacob Walzer, Superstition Mountain and its Famed Dutchman’s Lost Mine,” passed away in the mid-1960s. Specific sources suggest he was still active around 1964 when a revised edition of his book was published, but exact details on the date of his death are not readily available. Charles Frederick Higham, also known as John Lindley Higham, was the illustrator for Barney Barnard’s “The Story of Jacob Walzer, Superstition Mountain and its Famed Dutchman’s Lost Mine.” Higham, who adopted the pen name Charles Frederick Higham, was not just an illustrator but also a co-author of the initial 1946 publication. His artistic contributions included detailed paintings, maps, and graphics that significantly enhanced the pamphlet’s visual appeal. Higham’s collaboration with Barnard began around 1946, and they worked together on subsequent editions until Higham eventually transferred ownership of the publication to Barnard in 1954. This transfer was partly to settle a personal dispute involving Barnard’s chickens, which Higham had consumed during Barnard’s absence. :) This copy is in very good condition for its’ age. On the back cover, however, there is some smudging evident and a few numbers written on the upper left-hand edge. There is also a slight water stain at the top, which appears on most of the pages. The front cover has been creased, which also appears IFC. Please see photos. This book will be carefully packed then shipped via USPS Media Mail. I offer combined shipping for items purchased at the same time. Please note: I would be somewhat skeptical of copies purporting to be “signed”; multiple examples appear to be too identical to be done by hand; I believe they were mechanically reproduced during revisions of the original edition.

Price: 25 USD

Location: Evergreen, Colorado

End Time: 2024-08-17T21:41:21.000Z

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