Category: People

The disappearance and death of Adolph Ruth in the Superstition Mountains of Arizona in 1931 is one of the most enduring mysteries associated with the legend of the Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine. Ruth, a 66-year-old veterinarian and amateur treasure hunter from Washington, D.C., vanished while searching for the fabled mine, and the subsequent discovery of his remains—marked by evidence suggesting foul play—sparked national attention and fueled speculation that persists to this day. This report chronicles Ruth’s expedition, the search efforts, the discovery of his remains, and the theories surrounding his death, drawing on historical accounts while acknowledging the ambiguities that shroud the case.

Background and Expedition

Adolph Ruth was born in 1866 and worked as a veterinarian in Washington, D.C. His passion for treasure hunting developed in the early 20th century, inspired by tales of lost mines in the American West. In 1919, while searching for the Pegleg Mine in California’s Anza-Borrego Desert, Ruth fell into a ravine, breaking his hip and requiring metal pins and a cane for mobility thereafter. His interest in the Lost Dutchman’s Gold Mine, a legendary gold vein purportedly discovered by German immigrant Jacob Waltz in Arizona’s Superstition Mountains, intensified in the 1920s after his son, Erwin Ruth, acquired maps allegedly linked to the Peralta family, who were said to have mined in the region during the 19th century.

In May 1931, Ruth arrived in Arizona, determined to locate the mine. He stayed at the Quarter Circle U Ranch, owned by William A. “Tex” Barkley, a seasoned rancher familiar with the Superstitions. Barkley, aware of the mountains’ treacherous terrain and the summer’s extreme heat, urged Ruth to abandon his plan, citing his age and physical limitations. Ruth, undeterred, insisted on proceeding. Barkley agreed to arrange for Ruth to be packed into the mountains but asked him to wait a few days while he attended to business in Phoenix. Impatient, Ruth convinced two of Barkley’s ranch hands, Leroy Purnell and Jack Keenan, to escort him to a camp at Willow Spring in West Boulder Canyon on June 13, 1931.

Ruth’s camp was established, and he wrote a letter to his family on June 14, noting he was “just north and west of Weaver’s Needle,” a prominent landmark in the Superstitions. This was his last known communication. His plan was to spend two weeks in the mountains, but he did not return as scheduled.

Initial Search Efforts

Ruth was reported missing on June 18, 1931, by Tex Barkley after Jack Keenan and Cal Morse, a local gas station owner, noted his absence from the Willow Spring camp. On June 19, a search commenced, focusing on the area around Willow Spring, but no trace of Ruth was found. The rugged terrain, extreme heat, and limited resources hampered early efforts. At the time, search operations were rudimentary compared to modern standards, often involving only a handful of locals, such as sheriffs and ranchers, with jurisdictional disputes between Maricopa and Pinal Counties further complicating coordination.

On June 25, Cal Morse contacted Maricopa County Sheriff James MacFadden to report Ruth’s disappearance, despite the Willow Spring camp being in Pinal County. This decision, possibly influenced by Morse’s connections in Maricopa County, meant that Maricopa authorities led the investigation, a point later criticized as unusual. The initial search was brief and yielded no results, and by late summer, hope of finding Ruth alive had faded.

A peculiar development occurred when a bottle containing a note, allegedly written by Ruth, was found floating in the Salt River. The note read, “I’m sitting under a tree in a creek with leg broke. I’ve got to have help quick. Finder of this note please give to Howard Peterson. Ruth. P.S. Have found the lost Dutchman.” The note, retrieved by Delbert Daley but initially returned to the river, prompted renewed interest when it was later recovered. However, its authenticity was questioned, as it suggested Ruth had survived longer than evidence later indicated, and some speculated it was a fabrication to support theories of natural death over murder.

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Discovery of Remains

On December 10, 1931, an archaeological expedition led by Richie Lewis and George “Brownie” Holmes stumbled upon a human skull near the “Spanish Racetrack” at the north end of Bluff Springs Mountain, approximately six miles from Ruth’s camp. The skull, found under a palo verde tree, was identified by anthropologist Dr. Ales Hrdlicka, who compared it to Ruth’s dental records and confirmed it as his. Hrdlicka’s examination revealed two holes in the skull, which he concluded were bullet holes, likely from a high-powered rifle or shotgun fired at close range, with a small entry wound and a larger exit wound.

The discovery, reported by The Arizona Republic on December 13, 1931, reignited public interest and prompted a new search. In January 1932, Ruth’s skeletal remains were found about three-quarters of a mile from the skull, scattered by scavengers but accompanied by personal effects, including his pistol (fully loaded), metal pins from his leg, a journal, and a checkbook. The checkbook contained a note with the Latin phrase “Veni, Vidi, Vici” (“I came, I saw, I conquered”) and directions to a cave, suggesting Ruth believed he had located the mine. Notably, the map he carried was missing, fueling speculation of foul play.

The search party, led by Maricopa County’s Jeff Adams and Tex Barkley, followed the directions in Ruth’s note to a cave on Peters Mesa but found no mine. Some accounts suggest Barkley admitted to moving Ruth’s remains to prevent treasure hunters from disrupting his cattle grazing on Peters Mesa, a claim that raised suspicions of his involvement.

Investigation and Theories

Maricopa County authorities, led by Sheriff MacFadden, did not convene a criminal inquest, concluding that Ruth likely died of thirst, heart disease, or even suicide. They argued the bullet holes could have resulted from postmortem damage or that Ruth shot himself, though this was widely criticized as implausible, given the lack of a missing bullet in his pistol and the difficulty of explaining how he could have reloaded after such a wound. Erwin Ruth, Adolph’s son, vehemently rejected these explanations, insisting his father was murdered for his map, a view shared by many treasure hunters and locals.

Several theories emerged about Ruth’s death:

1. Murder for the Map: The prevailing theory, supported by the bullet holes and missing map, posits that Ruth was killed by someone seeking his directions to the mine. Suspects included Purnell and Keenan, who escorted him, or others in the area, such as Tex Barkley or unknown prospectors. Some speculated the mine was already being worked secretly, and Ruth’s accurate map threatened to expose it.
2. Natural Causes or Accident: Authorities suggested Ruth succumbed to the harsh environment, possibly exacerbated by his physical condition. The bullet holes were attributed to scavengers or later tampering, though this explanation failed to account for the forensic evidence. The note in the bottle, if authentic, suggested a broken leg, but no such injury was confirmed in his remains.
3. Conspiracy and Cover-Up: Some researchers, citing inconsistencies in the search and investigation, proposed a cover-up involving local figures like Barkley or Adams. The decision to have Maricopa County handle the case, despite the crime scene being in Pinal County, and the destruction of pre-1935 sheriff’s records in 2008, fueled suspicions of suppressed evidence. Barkley’s alleged movement of the body and the reluctance of key figures like Gertrude Barkley to discuss the case added to the intrigue.
4. Alternative Motives: Another theory suggests Ruth was searching for something other than the Lost Dutchman’s Mine, possibly a different cache or Spanish artifacts, as hinted by discoveries in the area by Ray Howland in 1930. His remains’ location near Peters Mesa, far from his camp, and the shift in search focus to the Salt River area raised questions about his true objective.

Aftermath and Legacy

Ruth’s death made national news, transforming the Lost Dutchman’s Mine from a local legend into a cultural phenomenon. The Arizona Republic and other outlets sensationalized the story, drawing treasure hunters to the Superstitions and cementing the region’s mystique. The mystery deepened with subsequent disappearances in the mountains, including that of J.A. “Tex” Bradford in 1933 and James A. Cravey in 1947, further fueling tales of a “curse” associated with the mine.

Erwin Ruth continued to advocate for a murder investigation, but no one was ever charged. The last person involved in the investigation died in 1980, and the destruction of Maricopa County’s pre-1935 records in 2008 eliminated potential evidence. The maps Ruth carried, whether singular or multiple, remain a subject of debate, with some accounts suggesting Erwin was vague or contradictory about their details.

The Adolph Ruth case remains unresolved, a testament to the Superstition Mountains’ allure and danger. His death, marked by bullet holes and a missing map, suggests foul play, but the lack of definitive evidence leaves room for speculation. Whether Ruth was a victim of greed, misadventure, or a larger conspiracy, his story endures as a pivotal chapter in the legend of the Lost Dutchman’s Mine, inspiring adventurers and historians alike to unravel its secrets.

The Coolidge Examiner Articles About Disappearance of Adolph Ruth

Further Reading

References

• ADOLPH RUTH’S DIRECTIONS TO THE LOST DUTCHMAN MINE
• rootsweb.com
• The Curse of the Dutchman’s Gold – Helen Corbin pg 203
• Apache Junction Public Library