Once Upon A Time In Arizona ...

[Joe Ribaudo]

Redison,

I don't deny the truth of your statement. Since I have done a great deal of work trying to answer the original question, I guess it is well deserved.

I will reserve any judgement of your worth, or lack thereof, untill you give this forum the results of your own research into the matter. It's good that you feel qualified to make this assessment of me after such a short time on the site. Shows that you are very sharp indeed. That is especially true when you get someone with Peter's stature to agree that you have made a really fine point. His opinion is always informed, balanced and fair.

Considering my last post to you, I guess I just asked for the barb you tossed my way. Perhaps I slamed you earlier.

Respectfully,

Joe

[Joe Ribaudo]

Peter,

After reading Aurum, Dr. Glover and Steve's posts, it is good to see that you are still focused on the sole of your shoe. Redison's comment was just more of the same debris, yet it was the only thing you found worthy to comment on.

Talk about meaningless comments.

Respectfully,

Joe

[TGH]

When is "DED" going to show up? I am waiting with baited breath......

[novice]

Everyone,

Enjoyed the inputs. I guess I'm still trying to look at trees.

Aurum

I asked for a time frame of when the document first turned up in the LDM community. You gave me a whole load. (A special thanks!)

The 1928 date and background were great! Now you are in for it!

Am I correct in assuming that you have seen several pictures taken that day with Henshaws, Ganz and Barnstetter appearing along with a photo of our document? (It wasn't just a group picture with someone holding up a document or group of documents, but a photo dedicated to our document?)

Why would Sylvan Ganz of the First National Bank be included? (Friend of the Henshaws or in some official capacity related to the bank?)

You also mentioned " this document and several others concerning Waltz".

Were some of those documents photographed also? Do you have any feel for what type of documents they were? (Receipts, letters, manuscript, etc.?)

Do these photos still reside in the Henshaw family?

Can you shed any additional light on the 300+ page manuscript? Was it among the documents in the 1928 photos?

I will completely understand if you are unable to share information on some of the above.

Thanks,

Novice

[Aurum]

XX

[novice]

Aurum

Most of this stuff is all new to me!

Thanks so much for your patience!

Novice

[Joe Ribaudo]

Steve,

I don't claim to be an expert on this document. Nor an expert on how the process of "Accountable Warrants" worked in the field. Taking the question that novice asked, I just did a little research. Prior to that time, I believed the document was authentic. Someone I trust, told me the document had been vetted "seven ways from sunday".

The fact that the document is signed by by the Treasurer requires that it be returned to the Treasury Dept. At the point of his signature it is in the official loop. Untill it is returned to the Treasury Dept., Mr. Hadley is on the hook for the funds. He is the one who must verify that the funds have been delivered to the proper recipient, and are no longer in his account. He is required by law to, send the document back to Washington.

While I can see where the document may have been complete, as we see it, the fact that it has been "with the family" since 1881 is suspect.

You are so correct about how "our conclusions about it may be wrong".
Helen Corbin concludes the date on the document is 1887. She is wrong.
Wiz concludes that the "Jacob Waltz" on the document is actually his signature. I don't believe it is Waltz's signature. I concluded that the document did not have enough countersignatures on it. I believe I could be wrong. I concluded that it should have been marked as paid. Perhaps Mr. Hadley's signature does that.

At this point in time, it is likely that the source is the determining factor as to whether the document is authentic or not.

I have no idea what Peter meant saying that I was setting a trap to get information about this draft. If I knew for certain that it was authentic, or a fraud, what could I gain from the information?

The history of the thing was all I cared about.

I am so out of this "drafty" conversation.

Respectfully,

Joe

[redison]

Upon closer inspection of the Draft/Warrant, I come to a totally different conclusion than Helen Corbin did about the purpose of the Draft. It appears to me that Jacob Waltz was being paid $7,000.00 ( Drawn on the Nat'l Bank of Lawrence ) for 50 lbs of gold ore. There is nothing said about transfering those funds to anyone else. (Like a sister)

Simple and straight foreward: "Payable to the order of Jacob Waltz, for 50 pounds of gold ore"

redison

[redison]

Maybe someone can find out where the U.S. Treasury kept their funds for purchasing gold in 1887?

redison

[Knun]

Much of this discussion has revolved around Warrants and in particular Accountable Warrants (AWs). I spent a little time today researching and came across much of the information which Joe has posted already. One thing that did catch my eye was the fact that AWs are used kind of like a colateral loan from the treasury which the officer can use to write checks and drafts against until such time that the colateral is actually deposited in the treasury. But this document is not a warrant at all.

As the title states this is a transmitting draft. This draft is against a interior warrant. I don't know what an interior warrant is but the title of this document assures us it is some type of AW.

In essence this document is authorizing the disbursment of $7,000 to the order of Jacob Waltz. These funds being available at the National Bank of Lawrence. The colateral is 50 pounds of gold ore. I would think that, as Aurum pointed out, Jacob could authorize the money to be given to whomever he wanted. Such as a Sister.

Somehow 50 lbs. of assayed ore will eventually end up as gold in the mint and the warrant will be reconsiled.

That's my story and I'm sticking to it until one of you folks prove me wrong..........which should take Aurum or Joe about five minutes.

[S.C.]

I have a little bit of information I'd like to share.What Aurum wrote about the “draft” first appearing in Phoenix in 1928 is consistent with what I have researched myself. However, I was not directly aware of that fact. I will elaborate.

The story – to me – began in the late 1940s when the Dons Club of Phoenix staged a publicity stunt by making a trip to see President Truman – and along the way to promote Phoenix and Arizona. One of the stops they made was Joplin, MO. There was a woman who lived there named Laura Branstetter Midddaugh. Laura read of the upcoming visit of the Dons before their arrival and was able to make herself part of the welcoming committee that met the Dons. This committee also included the mayor of Joplin.

Laura Middaugh’s claim was that she was the great niece of Jacob Waltz, the Dutchman. When she told the Dons her story they hardly believed her - as her claim contradicted what was then known of Waltz. However, they humored her and invited her to come out to Phoenix and attend the next Dons Trek. Laura presented to the Dons some things supposedly supporting her claim. One item of which was a map supposedly given to her family ancestors that showed the location of the mine. This was one item of many that she had which she received from an uncle on her mother’s side who passed away in 1922. Laura was not married to William Middaugh – her then current husband – when her uncle died. She was married to a different man. However, Laura had kept the documents and did nothing with them (or so was the story she told) until the Dons showed up on their way to DC. Subsequently the Dons went on their way and Laura resolved to go with her husband to Phoenix to take up the Dons on their invitation. (This story is related in Greg Davis’ manuscript, “A Don in Washington.”)

The following March, Laura and her husband made it to Phoenix. Unfortunately along the way she let some things slip and her trip in itself turned out to be a media event. Papers carried stories with titles like “Gun Toting Grandmother Vows to Find Lost Dutchman or Die Trying.” Unfairly, they made her out as a character and no one took her story seriously.

In Phoenix, Laura asked about descendants of other pioneer families who might have known about Waltz. She met with many individuals including members of the Roberts family. They thought Laura was honest and her intent was simply to find out about a relative. She did not give the appearance of being the hard-boiled seeker of the LDM the papers made her out to be. It was my understanding that she showed many individuals various documents she had received from her deceased uncle. This included letters and maps and other documents – including the draft. The documents, to those that saw them, appeared to be genuine.

Laura then went on her way and received more negative publicity and eventually succumbed to a business deal that fell apart on troubled grounds. Having no recourse, she disappeared and, in humiliation, she crawled under a rock to hide. To this day, because of the way she was treated, many in the family are still leery of the whole LDM affair.

Later, in the 1960s, a daughter of William Middaugh by the name Dorothy Middaugh (a daughter by a marriage prior his marriage to Laura Branstetter) showed up in Phoenix more or less retracing her step-mother’s foot steps from years before. Dorothy ended up meeting with some of the Roberts family and other individuals. This is recorded in Ms. Corbin’s book. Dorothy then had a copy of the draft that she showed to some people.

Since then, the items that Laura had possessed related to Waltz went to the Middaugh family – the family of her last husband. However, some of the things she had were shared with some of Laura’s family – the Branstetter line and descendants thereof. One of these individuals had a Xerox copy of the draft that looks essentially the same as the one in Ms. Corbin’s book. Because it was passed around among many people in the family, I am not sure of whom it originated with. It could have been from Laura herself or from a researcher who came into contact with the family in the past.

I was not aware of the photos taken of the draft by the Henshaw family, but as I indicated it is consistent with what I know. Because tradition holds in the Branstetter family that there was another Branstetter – prior to Laura – who had done some researching into the LDM. Since Laura came up with these documents when her uncle passed away in 1922, that would have been the earliest date anyone in the family could have done anything. Laura was not married to William Middaugh then, but was married to another person who very well could have convinced her to share the information with himself and/or some other family members. At this time I have on-going research in the works that relates directly to her husband at that time in the 1920s. However, since it is still a sensitive matter and until some things are resolved, I cannot elaborate too much about the matter. However, I do feel that in regards to the photos the Henshaws took of the draft that her husband was not part of the group that appeared in Phoenix in 1928. He perhaps did later himself investigate the LDM. But the particular meeting probably involved another member of the Branstetter family who was closely related to Laura. This could be the individual the family mentioned that was involved with the LDM prior to Laura’s efforts in the late 1940s. So, the report of the Henshaws involvement and seeing the draft is consistent with indirect information I have received.

I do not want to appear to be withholding information – but until I resolve some things, I do not want to engage in speculation. My plan is to write an article for the “Superstition Mountain Journal” soon that will be about Laura Branstetter. However, out of respect to the Journal itself, the article will only deal with facts – speculation and assumptions will not be present. Though there are some things I cannot discuss openly now, I assure the members of this forum nothing I know, or am aware of, relates to the location of the LDM itself. It is all simply family history and who did what when. Regardless of whether or not it can ultimately be shown Laura was indeed related to Waltz, the fact is SHE herself is now part of the history of the Superstition Mountains. There is a tale to be told about her and the things she did.

Steve Creager

[TGH]

well done Steve-o.

P

[Aurum]

XX

[Joe Ribaudo]

Steve,

Great posts from Aurum, Knun and yourself. I believe the three of you have given the forum just about everything that could be considered relevant concerning this draft. The conclusions are all spot on.

Thanks to all three.

Respectfully,

Joe Ribaudo

[redison]

I have an article from the March 26, 1947 Vol 34 Number 7 issue of Pathfinder News Magazine that fits very well with everything Steve wrote above.

[TC ASKEY]

S.C.

Do you know if the Dons Club or anyone else you mentioned recieved a copy of the map that was left to Laura Middaugh by her uncle ?

[S.C.]

The Dons did not. Greg Davis specifically followed that tangent.

I do not believe any of the descendents of pioneer-era Phoenix - that Laura met - were previlegde to obtain copies.

Some individuals saw the "maps" (there were supposed be three altogether) - but no one had copies made. My understanding was that the maps each showed part of the way to the mine. And without understandable instructions, the maps meant nothing. In other words, no highly visible markers like Weavers or Miners Needle and a big "X" draw on it. So, the maps were pretty much like all other maps. Nothing specific enough to put a spade to the ground.

I believe the Dons only saw one map.

[S.C.]

The article redison posted was typical of the type of press the Middaugh's received. Most photos of Laura and William were posed and contrived. Photographers often brought along their own props and stuff to make the pictures more interesting and suited the type of articles papers seemed to want to write about Laura. Thanks, redison, for posting that.

Note the article refers to Jacob Walz. That is an error on the papers part. No doubt due to other incorrect printed literature involving the Lost Dutchman Mine. The Branstetter family always referred to their Jacob as Jacob WALTZ.

[redison]

S.C.

You are welcome Steve, I have a lot of that sort of stuff that I will be posting on this site as the subjects come up. Yard Sales and Flea Markets have been good to me in that way.

redison

[TC ASKEY]

I would be curious to know if the 3 maps you speak of look anything like the 3 maps Glenn Magill recieved from Erwin Ruth.

[Aurum]

XX

[TC ASKEY]

It would seem that the news media has not changed much in the last 58 years. And that is even more disgusting.

[santos]

regarding the obvious truth of what aurum just posted concerning the activities of the press, was it true that sims ely was a newspaper reporter also at some time in his life?im not sure if i read that on one of the earlier posts on here or not. maybe im wrong.

[S.C.]

Terry,

One of the maps that Glenn Magill received was the "Peril Mapa." The Dons supposedly saw one of Laura Middaugh's maps. They later saw a copy of the "Perfil Mapa" in Washington when they finally arrived there as the end of their publicity trip. While in DC they met with Erwin Ruth. And he gave them a copy of the "Perfil Mapa." They did not seem to think it was the same as what Laura had. So, at least one of the maps was not one of the ones Glenn Magill used.

Steve

[TC ASKEY]

Steve,

Thanks for the information. I was just curious. Now we know for sure.


Terry