Arizona Republic – June 26, 1931

The disappearance of Adolph Ruth in the Superstition Mountains as reported by the Arizona Republic on June 26, 1931.

Adolph Ruth was a 66-year-old veterinarian and amateur treasure hunter from Washington, D.C., who became a central figure in the legend of the Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine due to his mysterious disappearance and death in Arizona’s Superstition Mountains in 1931. Born in 1866, Ruth developed a passion for treasure hunting, inspired by tales of lost mines in the American West. His interest intensified after his son, Erwin Ruth, a veterinarian working in Mexico during the Mexican Revolution, acquired maps in 1912 from Pedro Gonzalez, who claimed descent from the Peralta family, allegedly linked to the fabled mine. These maps purportedly led to abandoned Spanish mines, one of which Ruth believed was the Lost Dutchman’s Mine.

Superstition Range Is Believed To Have Claimed New Victim

Lost Dutchman Mine searcher Adolph Ruth
Lost Dutchman Mine searcher Adolph Ruth

FROM 3,000 miles across the nation, the famous legend of the Lost Dutchman mine lured a 70 year old prospector into the Superstition mountains, 35 miles east of Phoenix 13 day ago – and yesterday it was feared, he had perished.

Ranchers and homesteaders in the vicinity of the mountains appealed to officers at Florence for aid yesterday after several days of intensive but unsuccessful search for A. Ruth, 70 years old, former government employee from Washington D. C.

A posse of deputies, cowboys and prospectors searched the deep canyons of the east range of Superstition mountains yesterday without success. Little hope was held last night that Ruth will be found alive.

Forty years of planning and saving were bound up in Ruth’s trip westward to seek the Lost Dutchman mine. He brought with him a variety of maps of the mountains and supposed locations of mines and declared while outfitting for his trip into the mountains that he had studied every document pertaining to the elusive mine.

Twelve days ago Ruth hired a man to drive him back into the mountains, where he pitched camp, according to C. R. Morse, Apache Junction service station proprietor, who came to Phoenix yesterday to notify sheriff’s officers of Ruth’s disappearance.

The driver, whose name Morse did not know, returned to Ruth’s camp several days ago to replenish the prospector’s supplies. Ruth was not there, nor did he return by nightfall. Search began for him the next day.

Scarcity of water in the precipitous mountains would be Ruth’s greatest handicap, searchers declared.

Ruth’s wife wired to Morse yesterday an offer of $100 reward to anyone rescuing Ruth or bringing his body out of the mountains. Ruth had been receiving his mail through Morse. Ruth is not the first prospector to disappear in the mountains in search of the famous legendary Lost Dutchman. Many have trekked into the desert and mountainous region of the purported rich mine, never to re-appear.

A soldier, it is said, first discovered the fabulously rich mine a half century ago. He appeared in valley towns at intervals laden with gold ore, but efforts to follow him back into the mountains and discover his mine always were unsuccessful. Later the soldier disappeared and with him went the secret of the locations of the mine, which prospectors later christened Lost Dutchman.

References

Tombstone Daily Nugget Newspaper

Tombstone Daily Nugget Newspaper
Tombstone Daily Nugget Newspaper

The Tombstone Daily Nugget was a significant newspaper published in Tombstone, Arizona, during the early 1880s, a period marked by the town’s rapid growth as a silver mining boomtown. Operating from 1880 to 1882, the newspaper served as a primary source of news and opinion, reflecting the political, social, and economic dynamics of a frontier community. This report explores the origins, operations, editorial stance, and historical impact of the Tombstone Daily Nugget, drawing on available historical records.

Origins and Establishment

The Tombstone Daily Nugget began publication in 1880 in Tombstone, Cochise County, Arizona Territory, during the height of the town’s silver mining boom, sparked by Ed Schieffelin’s 1877 discovery. Published by A.E. Fay & Co., and later by H.M. Woods & Co., the newspaper was a daily (except Mondays) and positioned itself as the “leading and representative mining paper of Arizona.” Its first known issue is documented as Volume 1, Number 228, dated June 8, 1881, though it began in 1880. The Daily Nugget emerged alongside its weekly counterpart, The Weekly Nugget (1879–188?), and was closely related to The Daily Nugget (1880–18??), published in Pima County.

Tombstone’s rapid growth, fueled by mining wealth, created a demand for local news. The Daily Nugget filled this need, covering mining developments, local politics, and social events. Its establishment coincided with the founding of its rival, The Tombstone Epitaph, by John P. Clum in May 1880, setting the stage for a fierce editorial rivalry that mirrored the town’s political divisions.

Operations and Content

The Tombstone Daily Nugget was a four-page broadsheet, typically measuring 17 x 22.5 inches, as evidenced by a surviving issue from April 7, 1882. It was printed daily, except Mondays, and focused heavily on mining news, given Tombstone’s economic reliance on silver. The newspaper also covered local and national events, legal proceedings, and social happenings, such as births, deaths, and community gatherings. Its content included advertisements, editorials, and occasional humorous or satirical pieces, reflecting the vibrant and often contentious atmosphere of the town.

A notable issue from April 7, 1882, featured articles on the assassination of outlaw Jesse James by the Ford brothers and a humorous report on Wyatt Earp’s arrest of a Texas desperado, highlighting the paper’s blend of serious and lighthearted content. The Daily Nugget also published accounts of local conflicts, such as the coroner’s inquest following the 1881 Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, providing detailed witness testimonies.

The newspaper’s operations were likely modest, typical of frontier journalism, with limited staff and reliance on hand-set type and flatbed presses. While specific details about its circulation are unavailable, its role as a daily suggests it was widely read among Tombstone’s residents, including miners, merchants, and civic leaders.

Editorial Stance and Rivalry

The Tombstone Daily Nugget was a Democratic-leaning publication, in stark contrast to the Republican-leaning Tombstone Epitaph. This political alignment shaped its editorial perspective, particularly in its coverage of local law enforcement and the tensions between the Earp brothers and the Cochise County Cowboys. The Epitaph, under John Clum, supported the Earps and local Republicans, while the Nugget often aligned with ranchers, Democrats, and the Cowboys, who were frequently at odds with the town’s mining interests and law enforcement.

This rivalry was not merely ideological but deeply personal, with the two newspapers engaging in “editorial fencing” that amplified Tombstone’s political divisions. The Nugget’s coverage of the Gunfight at the O.K. Corral on October 26, 1881, for instance, differed from the Epitaph’s, reflecting its sympathy for the Cowboys and skepticism of the Earps’ actions. The Nugget published detailed accounts of the coroner’s inquest, including witness statements that questioned the Earps’ conduct, such as B.H. Fellehy’s testimony about the rapid sequence of shots.

Key Historical Context

The Tombstone Daily Nugget operated during a pivotal moment in Tombstone’s history, when the town was a flashpoint for frontier tensions. The silver boom attracted a diverse population, including miners, gamblers, and outlaws, leading to conflicts over law, order, and economic control. The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, involving Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, and the Clanton and McLaury brothers, was a defining event, and the Nugget’s coverage provided a counterpoint to the Epitaph’s pro-Earp narrative.

The newspaper also documented other incidents, such as John Ringo’s 1881 shooting of Louis Hancock over a dispute about drinks, illustrating the town’s volatile social environment. Beyond local events, the Nugget connected Tombstone to broader national stories, as seen in its reporting on Jesse James’ death in 1882.

Decline and Legacy

The Tombstone Daily Nugget ceased publication in 1882, likely due to a combination of factors. A devastating fire in May 1882 destroyed much of Tombstone’s business district, including the Nugget’s offices, a blow from which it did not recover. Additionally, the decline of the silver boom and the town’s population reduced the demand for a daily newspaper. The Tombstone Epitaph, which survived the fire, outlasted its rival and continues as Arizona’s oldest continuously published newspaper.

No complete digital archive of the Tombstone Daily Nugget exists online, and surviving issues are rare, often available only on microfilm through institutions like the Arizona Newspaper Project. However, its articles, such as those preserved in auction records and historical accounts, offer valuable insights into Tombstone’s frontier life. The Nugget’s Democratic perspective provides a critical counterbalance to the Epitaph’s Republican narrative, enriching the historical record of events like the O.K. Corral gunfight.

Conclusion

The Tombstone Daily Nugget was a vital voice in Tombstone, Arizona, during its brief but impactful run from 1880 to 1882. As a Democratic-leaning newspaper, it chronicled the town’s mining boom, political rivalries, and violent conflicts, often in opposition to its rival, The Tombstone Epitaph. Despite its destruction in the 1882 fire and subsequent closure, the Nugget left a lasting legacy through its documentation of a transformative period in the American West. Its surviving issues, though scarce, remain a treasure for historians and genealogists seeking to understand the complexities of frontier life in Tombstone.

Sources

  • Chronicling America, Library of Congress.
  • Newspaper Abstracts.
  • Legends of America.
  • Bidsquare Auction Records.
  • Tombstone Chamber of Commerce.

Esmeralda Star Newspaper

Esmeralda Star Newspaper
Esmeralda Star Newspaper

The Esmeralda Star was a pivotal publication in the early history of Aurora, a bustling mining town in Esmeralda County, Nevada, during the 1860s. Launched during the height of the region’s gold and silver boom, the newspaper served as a vital source of information, reflecting the social, political, and economic dynamics of a frontier community. This report explores the origins, operations, content, and eventual decline of the Esmeralda Star, drawing on historical records to provide a comprehensive overview of its role in Aurora’s history.

Origins and Establishment

The Esmeralda Star was founded on May 10, 1862, as a weekly newspaper in Aurora, a town established in 1860 following the discovery of rich gold and silver deposits. The paper was initiated by Edwin A. Sherman & Co., with Sherman serving as the primary publisher. The newspaper’s establishment coincided with Aurora’s rapid growth, as the town’s population swelled to approximately 6,000 by 1864, peaking at an estimated 10,000. The Star was a Republican-leaning publication, priced at six dollars per year, and initially published as a twenty-column weekly, measuring 21×28 inches.

Aurora’s unique geopolitical situation shaped the newspaper’s early years. Until a boundary survey in 1863 clarified that Aurora lay entirely in Nevada, the town was claimed by both California and Nevada, even serving as the county seat for Mono County, California, and Esmeralda County, Nevada, simultaneously. This dual governance added complexity to the Star’s operations, as it navigated competing political interests.

The press used for the Star had a storied history. Originally part of the El Dorado Times in Georgetown, California, it was relocated to Aurora in May 1862 via the Owen’s River route, narrowly escaping destruction by hostile Native American groups. The press was escorted by Colonel Evans and Lieutenant Noble of the Second Cavalry California Volunteers, highlighting the challenges of establishing a newspaper in a remote frontier region.

Content and Role in the Community

The Esmeralda Star newspaper covered a wide range of topics relevant to Aurora’s residents, including mining developments, local politics, business activities, and social events. As a Republican publication, it maintained a strong Unionist stance during the Civil War, a position that was not without risk in a region where secessionist sentiments and outlaws were prevalent. The newspaper’s editorials were noted for their independent tone and loyalty to the Union, earning it both support from loyalists and enmity from “copperheads” and secessionists.

The Star also played a significant role in promoting Aurora’s interests. It advocated for infrastructure improvements, such as the Esmeralda Toll Road, which connected Aurora to San Francisco and facilitated the import of supplies. The newspaper’s editorials often highlighted the town’s economic potential, aiming to attract investment and settlers to the mining district. Despite challenges such as scarce printers, the Star upgraded to a semi-weekly publication on June 24, 1863, reflecting its growing influence and the community’s demand for timely news.

The newspaper’s content was not limited to local matters. It included national news, particularly updates on the Civil War, as well as advertisements for local businesses, such as saloons, general stores, and mining equipment suppliers. The Star also published legal notices, marriage announcements, and obituaries, serving as a historical record of Aurora’s transient population. Its role as a community voice was critical in a town marked by rapid growth and social instability, including issues like horse theft and lawlessness.

Challenges and Operations

Operating a newspaper in Aurora presented significant logistical and social challenges. The town’s isolation, surrounded by rugged terrain, made the delivery of supplies like paper, ink, and type difficult, especially during harsh winters. The Star’s press and materials had to be shipped over treacherous routes, and the newspaper frequently faced shortages of skilled printers, which delayed its plans for more frequent publication.

Politically, the Star operated in a volatile environment. Its pro-Union stance made it a target for secessionist groups, and Sherman noted the risks of publishing a Union paper in a region with “armed bodies of secessionists.” Despite these threats, the newspaper maintained its editorial independence and avoided debt, even investing in new type to improve its print quality. This financial stability was attributed to the support of Aurora’s loyalist community, which valued the Star’s contributions to the town’s development.

The clarification of Aurora’s location in Nevada in 1863 prompted a change in the newspaper’s masthead to reflect its new status as part of Esmeralda County, Nevada. This adjustment underscored the Star’s adaptability to the region’s evolving political landscape.

Decline and Cessation

The Esmeralda Star ceased publication in March 1864, a victim of Aurora’s declining fortunes. The town’s shallow mines, most less than 100 feet deep, were exhausted by the late 1860s, leading to a mass exodus of residents. By 1870, Aurora’s population had plummeted, and the town’s infrastructure, including the Star’s printing facilities, was dismantled or repurposed. Many of Aurora’s buildings were stripped for materials, and the newspaper’s press likely met a similar fate.

The Star’s suspension paved the way for the Esmeralda Daily Union, which began publication on March 21, 1864, under the editorship of Rev. J.B. Saxton. However, the Union focused on different editorial priorities and did not directly continue the Star’s legacy. The Star’s brief but impactful run captured the vibrancy and challenges of Aurora’s boom years, leaving behind a valuable historical record of a fleeting frontier community.

Legacy and Historical Significance

The Esmeralda Star newspaper is remembered as the pioneer newspaper of Esmeralda County, encapsulating the spirit of Nevada’s early mining frontier. Its archives, though limited, provide historians with insights into the daily life, politics, and economy of Aurora during its peak. The newspaper’s commitment to Unionist principles and its role in fostering community identity highlight its importance as a cultural institution in a transient mining town.

Today, surviving copies of the Esmeralda Star are preserved in microfilm and archival collections, such as those accessible through the Library of Congress and the Chronicling America project. These records are invaluable for researchers studying Nevada’s mining history, journalism in the American West, and the socio-political dynamics of the Civil War era. The Star’s story also resonates in popular culture, with references to Aurora’s history appearing in works like Mark Twain’s Roughing It, as Twain briefly lived in Aurora in 1862.

Conclusion

The Esmeralda Star was more than a newspaper; it was a lifeline for Aurora’s residents, documenting the rise and fall of a quintessential mining boomtown. From its founding in 1862 to its closure in 1864, the Star navigated the challenges of frontier journalism with resilience and purpose. Its legacy endures in the historical record, offering a window into the fleeting but vibrant world of Aurora, Nevada, during the 1860s.

References

Doc Holliday – Death Announcement by the Denver Republican

Photograph of John Henry Holliday taken by photographer D.F. Mitchell in Prescott, Arizona, 1879-80.
Photograph of John Henry Holliday taken by photographer D.F. Mitchell in Prescott, Arizona, 1879-80.

Doc Holliday, born John Henry Holliday, died on November 8, 1887, at the age of 36 in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. A dentist turned gambler and gunslinger, he suffered from tuberculosis for much of his life, which progressively worsened. By 1887, his health had deteriorated significantly, and he sought relief in the mineral springs of Glenwood Springs, hoping the warm waters might ease his condition. However, the disease, combined with his heavy drinking and frail state, led to his death in a sanatorium. Legend has it that his final words, upon looking at his bare feet and realizing he wasn’t dying in a gunfight, were, “This is funny.” He was buried in Linwood Cemetery overlooking Glenwood Springs.

News of Doc Holliday death was reported on November 10, 1887, by the Denver Republican.

Now a Sleeper

Doc Holliday is dead. Few men have known better known to a certain class of sporting people and few men of his character had more friends or stronger champions. He represented a class of men who are fast disappearing the New West. He had the reputation of being a bunco-man, desperado and bad man generally. yet he was a very mild mannered man; was genial and companionable, and had many excellent qualities. In Arizona he was associated with the Wyatt Earp gang. These men were officers of the law, and were opposed to the ’‘rustlers” or cattle thieves. Holliday killed several men during his life in Arizona his body was full of wounds received in bloody encounters. His history was an interesting one. He was sometimes in the right, but quite often in the wrong, probably, in his various escapades.

The Doctor only had one deadly encounter in Colorado, and this was in Leadviile. He was well known in Denver and had lived here a good deal in the past few years. He had strong friends in some old-time detective officers and in certain representatives of the sporting element. He was a rather good looking man and his coolness and courage, his affable ways fund of interesting experiences, won him many admirers. He was a strong friend, a cool and determined enemy and a man of quite strong character. He has been well known to all the States and Territories west of Kentucky, which was his old home. His death took place at Glenwood Springs Tuesday morning.

Denver Republican.

The Coolidge Examiner – Lookout Station on Superstition Mountain

Lost Dutchman Mine searcher Adolph Ruth
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 disappearance in the Superstition Mountains in 1931. Ruth, a 66-year-old man from Washington, D.C., was drawn to the mine after receiving a set of maps allegedly showing its location. Despite warnings about the dangers of the rugged terrain and the mine’s deadly reputation, Ruth ventured into the Superstitions alone in June 1931. When he failed to return, a massive search ensued, involving local authorities, volunteers, and even aircraft. Ruth’s remains were discovered six months later, deep within the Superstitions, with his skull showing signs of a gunshot wound, sparking rumors of foul play.

The search for Adolph Ruth and the circumstances of his death only added to the mystique of the Lost Dutchman Mine, fueling speculation that the mine was cursed or guarded by violent forces. His disappearance and the discovery of his skull intensified public interest in the mine, drawing even more treasure hunters to the perilous mountains. Despite exhaustive investigations, the exact details of Ruth’s fate remain shrouded in mystery, and the Lost Dutchman Mine continues to elude those who seek it, keeping its secrets hidden within the treacherous landscape of the Superstition Mountains.

Coolidge Examiner Article published November 11,1932 reports that Adolph Ruth is the nineth person lost looking for the Logs Dutchman Mine.
Coolidge Examiner Article published November 11,1932 reports that Adolph Ruth is the nineth person lost looking for the Logs Dutchman Mine.

LOOKOUT STATION ON SUPERSTITION MOUNTAIN


One of the last strongholds of the real West, rugged, defiant Superstition mountain, has at last been opened to curious Arizonians and visitors from other states. Through provisions made by a company which has established a lodge at the foot of the mystic peak 45 miles east of Phoenix, the mountain may now be climed to its summit. R. A. Bird, Mesa, and H. C. Johnson, Gilbert, have opened a temporary lodge near the base of the mountain, arranged to make trips from there to the peak.

From the latter point a great area of South-Central Arizona may be seen in panorama, as from an airplane. The Salt River and Gila valleys and the intervening mountains, the cities of the one valley, the ancient Indian landmarks of the other, are clearly visible.

The company lias announced plans to erect a lookout station on the highest peak of the Superstition mountian, and plans by next summer to have a lodge and camping accommodations.

The temporary lodge now is reached by turning off Apache Trail one and one fourth miles north of Goldfield. It is one and a half miles from the high way. The mountain trip will be made over the old Peralta trail, on which Adolph Ruth lost his life in June, 1931. Ruth was the ninth man known to have died in search of the fabled Lost Dutchman mine.

Guides on the trail trips are thoroughly familiar with the legends which have been woven about Superstition mountain, and on the trips will be able to point out the prominent features connected with them, such as the “Indian turned to stone” on the south ridge, the archeological evidence of inhabitation of the mountains, and the famed cactus orchards which appear at several points in the mountains.

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…

References