During my research on the Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine, I have come across many references to other treasures and lost gold mines in or near the Superstition Mountains. A couple of references are of the Lost Gold Veins of Four Peaks. Four Peaks Mountain is located north of the Superstition Mountains across the Salt River. The references to the Four Peaks gold may also tie in to other tales of the Lost Helmet Mine, Marvin’s Beryllium Rocks, Dr. Thorne’s Lost Mine. All of these references could be located in the west side of the Four Peaks area.
The first tale of the lost gold concerns Iretaba who was the son of one of the Apache war party members. The war party massacred the Peralta mining party on the West bluffs of the Superstition Mountains in 1847. This area is known as the Massacre Grounds on most topographic maps.
Iretaba described the mine as being a blow hole in the foothills west of the Four Peaks. All tribe members were forbidden to visit the mine, but on several occasions, Iretabe covertly entered the mine and would break off several chunks of the pretty yellow rock. Eventually, Iretabe grew old, his sight failled him. However, he made friends with Colby Thomas. Iretabe told his new friend about the gold. Unfortunately, Colby was never able to relocate the mine. When Colby returned, Iretabe had vanished never to be seen again.
The second story is of Dr. W. W. Jones’ wife. Doctor Jones was an investor of the Vulture Mine near Wickenburg, Arizona. His investment allowed him to acquire a large cattle ranch taking up much of the land north of the Salt River and between Four Peaks and the Verde River. He married a woman of Mexican birth, and her name is never mentioned. In 1896, she received a gift of gold nuggets for feeding an Apache Indian who had acquired the gold from a surface vein in the Four Peaks area. The value of the gold nuggets was $8,000.
Book References:
- Tales of the Superstitions, The origins of the Lost Dutchman Legend by Robert Blair, American Historical Foundation, Tempe, Arizona, 1975, page 65
- Quest for the Dutchman’s Gold, the 100-Year Mystery, Facts, Myths and Legends of the Lost Dutchman Mine and the Superstition Mountains, by Robert Sikorsky, Golden West Publishers, Phoenix, 1983 pg 96.
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