Dick Holmes

Early Life

Richard J. “Dick” Holmes was born on July 18, 1865, near Fort Whipple in the Arizona Territory. Raised in a rugged frontier environment, Holmes grew up amidst the economic activities of cattle ranching and mining, which were central to the Holmes family’s prominence in the Phoenix area. Little is known about his formal education or early personal life, but his familiarity with the Arizona landscape and its challenges shaped his later pursuits. By his mid-twenties, Holmes was a known figure in the territory, respected for his tenacity and resourcefulness.

Connection to Jacob Waltz and the Lost Dutchman Mine

Holmes became a pivotal figure in the legend of the Lost Dutchman Mine, a tale centered on Jacob Waltz, a German immigrant prospector who allegedly discovered a rich gold mine in the Superstition Mountains. According to accounts, Holmes had some acquaintance with Waltz, possibly through mutual activities in the region. One story claims Holmes once attempted to trail Waltz into the Superstition Mountains to uncover the location of his mine but was discovered and warned at gunpoint to abandon the pursuit. This incident, if true, underscores the secretive and dangerous nature of Waltz’s endeavors.

On October 25, 1891, Holmes and his friend Gideon Roberts were present at the deathbed of Jacob Waltz in the home of Julia Thomas, a Phoenix woman who had cared for Waltz during his final illness. According to Holmes, Waltz, in his dying moments, bequeathed him approximately 48 pounds of high-grade gold ore stored in a candle box under his bed and shared clues about the mine’s location. Holmes’ narrative, supported by Roberts, asserts that Waltz entrusted him with this wealth and knowledge, though some accounts suggest Holmes may have taken the ore without Waltz’s explicit permission, leading to a feud with Thomas and her associates, Rhinehart and Hermann Petrasch. The gold ore was reportedly taken to Goldman’s Store in Phoenix, where it was assayed at an astonishing $110,000 per ton, with gold valued at $20.64 per ounce in 1891. Some of the ore was sent to a San Francisco jeweler in 1892 to craft a matchbox, ring, tie pin, and cuff links, as documented by shipping papers.

The Holmes Narrative and the Lost Dutchman Legend

Holmes’ account of Waltz’s mine paints a darker picture than other versions, particularly that of Julia Thomas. He claimed the mine was located on the west side of the Superstition Mountains and that Waltz had acquired it by killing its previous owners, possibly Mexican descendants of the Peralta family. Holmes also alleged Waltz was ruthlessly protective, even killing his own nephew to safeguard the mine’s secrecy. These claims, passed down primarily through Holmes’ son, George “Brownie” Holmes, and a document known as the Holmes Manuscript, have been met with skepticism due to their second-hand nature and the lack of corroborating evidence. The Holmes Manuscript, whose authorship is disputed (with some attributing it to Brownie or Charles Frederick Higham), is a key text in Dutchman lore, though Brownie denied writing it until his death in 1981. Despite these controversies, the manuscript and Holmes’ story have fueled generations of treasure hunters.

Search for the Mine

Following Waltz’s death, Holmes dedicated years to searching for the Lost Dutchman Mine, driven by the gold ore and the clues he claimed to have received. His efforts were marked by intense paranoia and mistrust, a trait shared with his son Brownie, who continued the search after Holmes’ health declined. Holmes never publicly revealed precise details about the mine’s location, and if he found it, he kept it secret. His searches were fruitless in terms of locating the mine, and he remained a figure of intrigue and suspicion among other Dutchman hunters. The lack of success, combined with the high value of the ore he possessed, has led some to speculate that the ore might have come from another source or that Holmes exaggerated Waltz’s story.

Later Life and Legacy

Holmes continued to live in the Phoenix area, involved in local economic activities, until his death on October 31, 1930. His son Brownie, born in 1892, inherited his father’s obsession with the Lost Dutchman Mine and spent much of his life searching, often misleading others to protect potential clues. The Holmes family’s narrative, particularly through the Holmes Manuscript, remains a cornerstone of the Lost Dutchman legend, despite its inconsistencies and lack of verifiable details. Historians like Tom Kollenborn have noted the difficulty in separating fact from fiction in Holmes’ story, citing the misinformation and conflicting accounts that surround it.

Dick Holmes’ role in the Lost Dutchman Mine saga is both central and enigmatic. His possession of the gold ore, his deathbed encounter with Waltz, and his relentless search for the mine have cemented his place in Arizona’s folklore. Yet, the truth of his claims—whether he was a recipient of Waltz’s trust or an opportunist who capitalized on a dying man’s wealth—remains shrouded in the mystery of the Superstition Mountains. His legacy endures through the enduring allure of the Lost Dutchman Mine, a testament to the power of gold and the human drive to uncover hidden treasures.