This is a "fun" video to watch. I'm not sure of its accuracy, but still a fun video to watch.
This video was made by Bob Lee (some sort of southern Ca. TV personality) and Dick Martin, and covers their 4 horse packng adventures into the Superstition Mts. during the years 1960, '62, '70 and '74, looking for the LDM and the folks and prospectors that they meet along the way.
Original filming was 16mm and no sound, but there's a good narration done by Bob Lee, along with a sound track and "corny" sound effects.
Lots of video footage from horseback and helicopter of the area around Weaver's Needle and Black Top Mt.
Folks and prospectors that are met in the video are:
Ed Piper, and Bill and Gene Wilkins, who worked for Piper
Evert Robbins and Olto Severd - prospectors
Robert "Crazy Jake" Jacobs
Tom Daley and Amos Hawkins - retired deputies
and quite a number of other characters.
There's some "corny" dramatization about Waltz, the Peralta massacre, and the Superstition Mts., but I thought there was some "interesting" background on the Ruth murder, tha Apaches and the Black Legion, the shooting of Robert St. Marie, and the film crew discovered the body of August J. Clap in Fremont Canyon, who had been shot in the back of the head.
The story "mainly" centered on the 3 maps of the LDM area that Bob Lee had received from Lee Kessler. These maps were examined and "authenticated" by Ed Piper. Map #3 showed the LDM on Black Top Mt. ...... and the story goes on from there.
As I said, I thought this was a "fun" video (even with all of the "corny" dramatization). I cannot vouch for its accuracy, but it was kind of fun to look back at Apache Jct. in the early 60's.
Some were asking about the other side...well you can see it here (sorta)