The story of Adolph Ruth is one of the classics of the Lost Dutchman Gold Mine Legends and Lore. Adolph was a treasure hunter, and had previously claimed he located the Lost Peg-leg mine in California. However, no documentation has been found touting the discovery. While searching for the lost mine in California, Adolph got lost and was found 4 days later in a wash. When he saw his son, he exclaimed he had found the mine. Adolph spent some time in the hospital from injuries from that expedition. He had suffered from a broken leg, in which he had to have a metal plate installed to stabilize the bone. He walked with a limp the rest of his life.
While Adolph was recuperating, he began to study other treasure maps. His Son, Erwin Ruth, had acquired a map from the Peralta Family many years earlier. This map indicated where a fortune in gold and silver had been stashed prior to the Mexican Massacre which took place in the early 1800’s in the Superstition Mountains.
In 1931, Adolph arrived in Phoenix, Arizona; looking for an outfitter which would take him into the Superstition Mountains. Eventually he ended up at Tex Barkley’s Ranch, the Quarter Circle U. Tex was unavailable to take him into the mountains, but Adolph Ruth decided to have two cowboys at the ranch take him in to the mountains instead of waiting. The two cowboys did so, but when Tex returned, he was very distraught with the cowboys for taking a greenhorn into the mountains during the middle of summer. Tex decided to go into the mountains to search for Ruth. Ruth’s camp was located, but there was no sign of Ruth.
On December 13, 1931; Ruth’s skull was located by the Archeological Commission of Phoenix expedition. The skull was intact, with a hole in the side which many believe was caused by a bullet. The rest of the body was located by Tex Barkley and the Maricopa County Deputy Sheriff Jeff Adams. It was found about three quarters of a mile from the head in Needle Canyon. Among the belongings was a note which has intrigued Treasure Hunters from then on.
To Be continued
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