Peg Legs Lost Gold

“Back in the 1960s. Desert Magazine published a letter by a person who claimed to have found Peg Legs Lost Gold or treasure in the Colorado Desert. Interesting, was the fact that the writer included some sample gold nuggets with his letters. The nuggets were coated with a black coating that seemed to match the original legend, Numerous letters were exchanged between the “finder”, the “doubters”, and “interested others”. Some even though is was a second mine owned by the Peralta Family with the Lost Dutchman in Arizona.”

A folder of Desert Magazine Articles about Peg Legs Lost Treasure given to me by my dad.
A folder of Desert Magazine Articles about Peg Legs Lost Treasure given to me by my dad.

This message was scribbled by my dad, on the outside of a manilla folder, which contained numerous articles from Desert Magazine on the Lost Treasure of Peg Leg Smith. At the time of Publication in 1965, my dad loved exploring the desert southwest in his International Scout, and like many others, collect magazine articles on places to explore. This is how I learned about the Lost Peg Leg Treasure.

Peg Leg Smith
(1801–1866)

Thomas L. Smith, widely known as “Peg Leg” Smith, was an American mountain man, trapper, explorer, and storyteller who became a legendary figure of the American West. Born in Crab Orchard, Kentucky, in 1801, Smith’s life was characterized by adventure, resilience, and a penchant for tall tales, which helped cement his place in frontier folklore.

Early Life and Career

Little is known about Smith’s early years, but by his late teens, he had ventured westward, drawn by the opportunities of the burgeoning fur trade. He joined trapping expeditions in the Rocky Mountains and quickly developed a reputation as a skilled trapper and resourceful frontiersman. However, his life took a dramatic turn when, during an expedition, he lost part of his leg in a skirmish with Native Americans or possibly from an infection after an accident (accounts vary). Undeterred, Smith fashioned a wooden prosthetic leg, earning him the nickname “Peg Leg.”

Gold and Storytelling

A Map of Henry E. W. Wilsons search area published in Desert Magazine
A Map of Henry E. W. Wilsons search area published in Desert Magazine

In the 1830s and 1840s, Smith shifted his focus from trapping to guiding and trading with Native American tribes. By the 1850s, he had gained notoriety for his tales of adventure and his claims of discovering a rich gold deposit in Southern California’s Colorado Desert. According to his story, Smith stumbled upon a series of gold-laden black rocks while traveling through the region. Unable to carry much, he filled his bandana with the gold nuggets which were laying on the ground. He marked the location mentally, intending to return later. Despite numerous attempts by others to find this so-called “Peg Leg Mine,” its exact location remains one of the enduring mysteries of the West.

Smith capitalized on his fame by entertaining travelers and settlers with his colorful storytelling, often exaggerating or inventing details to captivate his audience. He operated trading posts and was known for his charisma and humor, though some viewed him as a conman who exploited the gullibility of gold-seekers.

Later Years and Death

As the West grew more settled, Smith’s lifestyle became increasingly precarious. He spent his later years wandering between towns and trading posts, regaling listeners with his tales and living off their generosity. He died in 1866 near San Bernardino, California, reportedly from complications related to his leg or alcoholism.

Peg Leg Smith is remembered as a symbol of the adventurous and often eccentric spirit of the Old West. His name remains associated with the fabled Lost Peg Leg Mine, which continues to intrigue treasure hunters and historians. Annual events and gatherings, such as the Peg Leg Smith Liars’ Contest held in Borrego Springs, California, celebrate his legacy as one of the West’s most colorful characters.

Smith’s life, blending fact and fiction, captures the essence of a time when the American frontier was a land of boundless opportunity, danger, and mystery.

Desert Magazine March 1965

Peg Legs Lost Gold, Desert Magazine, March 1965
Peg Legs Lost Gold, Desert Magazine, March 1965

In March, 1965, Desert Magazine published a letter from one of their subscribers, who claimed to have found Peg Legs Lost Gold. To add some gravitas to the claim, the author included several gold nuggets tarnished with a dark desert varnish, which matches the claims for Peg Leg Smith from over one hundred and thirty years prior.

Dear Desert Editor:

Although the enclosed story has no byline, I believe it and the photographs will be of interest to you. After you have read the story, you will understand why the reasons for my remaining anonymous are too obvious to enumerate.

You have my full permission to publish the story and this letter if you wish. They may be of minor interest to the readers of Desert Magazine.

More important, I am also enclosing two of the Peg Leg’s nuggets. One is still black, exactly as found, and the other has had the black copper oxides removed by the process mentioned in the story and is now native “gold” in color. You will have these nuggets to show one and all who have doubted the story of Peg Leg’s black nuggets. You may keep them with my compliments for Desert Magazine’s collection of desert artifacts, in this case you can start a new collection of items from lost mines that have been found.

Very sincerely yours,

The Man Who Found
Peg Leg’s Black Gold

The author of the article mentions that he spent six days out at the site of the Lost Gold and removed about 720 ounces of nuggets. He claimed that all of the easy gold was removed by him and that he was sure other gold existed below the reach of his metal detectors.

For the next ten years articles and letters are published in Desert Magazine debating the claim along with reassertions of his claims.

No matter what your thoughts are on the story of Peg Legs Lost Treasure, it is without a doubt, that the lure of blacked gold nuggets just laying about on the desert floor near the Salton Sea is without doubt.

References

Adolph Ruth

Early Life and Background

Adolph Ruth was born in the mid-19th century and worked as a government employee in Washington, D.C. His passion for adventure and treasure hunting led him to explore various parts of the American Southwest in search of lost mines and legendary treasures. Ruth was particularly captivated by the tale of the Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine, a legendary gold mine purportedly hidden in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona.

Adolph Ruth’s started his side career in treasure hunting in California’s Anza-Borrego Desert. While searching for another lost mine, the famed Peg Leg Smith Treasure, near Warner’s Hot Springs and Borrego Mountain, Ruth fell into a ravine and broke his hip on December 22, 1919. The injury almost cost his his life, and Ruth spent several hours lying in a desert arroyo before being discovered by a search party organized by his son.

The Legend of the Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine

The Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine is one of the most famous treasure legends in American folklore. According to the story, Jacob Waltz, a German immigrant known as the “Dutchman,” discovered a rich gold vein in the Superstition Mountains during the 19th century. Waltz supposedly kept the location of the mine a secret until his deathbed, where he provided vague clues to its whereabouts. Over the years, countless adventurers and treasure hunters have sought the mine, drawn by the promise of immense wealth.

Adolph Ruth’s Search

The Ruth Peralta Map
The Ruth Peralta Map

Adolph Ruth’s interest in the Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine intensified in the 1920s after he acquired a set of maps that he believed could lead him to the elusive treasure. The maps were said to have originated from Mexico by his son and were purportedly linked to the Peralta family, who were believed to have operated gold mines in the region during the 19th century.

In June 1931, at the age of 66, Ruth embarked on an expedition into the Superstition Mountains, armed with his maps and an unwavering determination to find the legendary mine. Despite warnings about the harsh and treacherous conditions of the terrain, Ruth ventured into the wilderness.

Disappearance and Death

The skull of Adolph Ruth being held by searcher Brownie Holmes.
The skull of Adolph Ruth being held by searcher Brownie Holmes.

Adolph Ruth’s journey into the Superstition Mountains was fraught with difficulties from the start. After several days without contact, concern for his safety grew among those who had assisted him in his expedition. Following a newspaper report by the Arizona Republic on June 26th,, 1931, a search party was organized. Initially, there was no trace of Ruth. The search was quite intensive and even included the use of planes and sponsered by the newspaper to try and located the lost treasure hunter.

In December 1931, six months after Ruth’s disappearance, his skeletal remains were discovered in a remote area of the Superstition Mountains. The circumstances surrounding his death remain mysterious and have fueled speculation and intrigue. Some of Ruth’s personal belongings, including his journal and part of his skull with a bullet hole, were found near his remains, suggesting foul play. The official cause of death was listed as exposure, but the bullet hole led to various theories about possible murder.

Legacy and Impact

Adolph Ruth’s tragic end added a new layer of mystique to the legend of the Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine. His death reinforced the perilous nature of the quest and underscored the dangers of venturing into the unforgiving terrain of the Superstition Mountains in search of treasure. Ruth’s story has become a central part of the lore surrounding the Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine, captivating treasure hunters and enthusiasts for generations.

Ruth’s son, Erwin Ruth, continued to believe in the legitimacy of his father’s maps and the existence of the mine. He, along with many others, perpetuated the search for the fabled gold, contributing to the enduring fascination with the Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine.

Adolph Ruth’s quest for the Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine and his mysterious death in the Superstition Mountains have left an indelible mark on the legend. His story embodies the spirit of adventure and the relentless pursuit of dreams, even in the face of danger and uncertainty. To this day, the tale of Adolph Ruth serves as a cautionary yet inspiring narrative, reminding us of the enduring allure of hidden treasures and the lengths to which people will go to uncover them.

The Coolidge Examiner Articles About Disappearance of Adolph Ruth

The desperate search for Adolph Rush as reported by the Coolidge Examiner, July 17, 1931

The Coolidge Examiner – The Search for Ruth Still Futile

Lost Dutchman Mine searcher Adolph Ruth The Coolidge Examiner of July 17, 1931 headlines the "Search for Ruth Still Futile" as he is lost looking…
Buried on page 2, The Coolige Examiner states on August 7th, 1931 that the Search for Ruth is suspended.

The Coolidge Examiner – Search for Ruth Suspended

Lost Dutchman Mine searcher Adolph Ruth The Coolidge Examiner of August 7, 1931 announces the Search for Rush Suspended due to heat in the Superstition…
The Coolidge Examine annoucing the presumed death of Adolph Ruth in December 1931

The Coolidge Examiner – Search for Adolph Ruth in the Superstition Mountains

The Search for Adolph Ruth in the Superstition Mountains ends it tragedy as reported by the Coolidge Examiner on December 18, 1931. After months of…
Coolidge Examiner Article published November 11,1932 reports that Adolph Ruth is the nineth person lost looking for the Logs Dutchman Mine.

The Coolidge Examiner – Lookout Station on Superstition Mountain

Lost Dutchman Mine searcher Adolph Ruth Adolph Ruth was a nove treasure hunter whose pursuit of the legendary Lost Dutchman Mine led to his mysterious…

Further Reading

The Curse of the Dutchman's Gold by Helen Corbin

The Curse of the Dutchman’s Gold by Helen Corbin

The Curse of the Dutchman's Gold by Helen Corbin Helen Corbin's The Curse of the Dutchman's Gold is the first book I have read on…

References