There were many instances where people thought they had found the Dutchman’s lost mine. In this case, the miners discovered a pyrite mine and not the “true” mine of the Dutchman.
Some Reminiscences of the Lost Dutchman
The Story of a Mining Excitement of Earlier Days
D. M. LeBaron has just returned from a group of claims which he has had located for a number of years at a point about eight miles west of McDowell. Mr. LeBaron is of the opinion that the country in which he is located is heavily mineralized and an exceptionally good country for prospectors. However, the country west of McDowell brings up, naturally, a little history of the Lost Dutchman mine which has probably caused more sleepless nights and more tramping over hills and through canyons than any pot of gold that was ever buried at the foot of any rainbow.
The story of the Lost Dutchman mine is legendary or at least it has come to be so, but it was of such recent origin eight years ago that it was believed to be true. At any rate it is supposed to be a rich treasure buried in the mountains some place to the east and north of Mesa.
Eight years ago, next September, two prospectors were looking over the ground in the vicinity of the present location of the LeBaron claims, when they ran upon an abandoned tunnel. These prospectors, by the way, were at that time citizens of this part of the country, one of them is a resident of Lehi and the other is living in Pine. When they first discovered the tunnel they were of the opinion that it was the Lost Dutchman mine and as they pushed their way through the dense underbrush at the opening and began an investigation of the rock they could hardly believe their eyes for they were literally surrounded with what they believed to be gold. They worked throughout the night and all next day, staking out claims and packing up ore. They staked out several hundred acres and then went back to their diggings. It was about this time that D.M. LeBaron and Frank Pomeroy, who were also suspicious that the Lost Dutchman might be in the vicinity while they were in the search, ran upon the two men who had the sure thing. The men in possession of the rich mine were nearly crazed with excitement. Their clothes were torn to shreds and their arms and legs bleeding, their eyes were sunken from the loss of sleep and the lack of nourishment. However, they believed themselves so rich that they offered to give a share to the new comers. It was but a short time until the newcomers, Mr. LeBaron and Mr. Pomeroy were greatly excited and they believed that they also were part owners in the famous Lost Dutchman. The excitement spread, and in a few days the country was alive with prospectors. At evening the lights from campfires could be seen on every hillside. It is estimated that at the end of the week no less than five hundred prospectors were on the ground. The news spread to Tempe, Phoenix and Mesa, and the crowds increased. Then the bubble bursted and the discovery was made that the gold was nothing more than pyrites of iron or more commonly known as Fools Gold. It is a queer fact that old time prospectors could be deceived and whirled into the excitement, but nevertheless the contagion spread and they became a part of it. For it is recent history, the finding of the Lost Dutchman Mine, and still the Lost Dutchman mine has never been found.
Source: Arizona republican. (Phoenix, Ariz.), 06 April 1909.
