|
 On
August 31, 1961, the Phoenix Gazette reported a
Superstition Mountain prospector missing. According
to the article, Jabez “Jay” Clapp was last seen on
July 1, 1961, as he made his way back toward his
camp from First Water.
Clapp’s camp was an old mine tunnel about three
miles north of the Pinal County line in Maricopa
County. Maricopa County deputies searched the area
around Hackberry Springs and Garden Valley for three
days without finding a trace of Clapp.
Jabez Clapp was a 52 year-old recluse who lived some
250 feet back from the mouth of the deserted mine
tunnel for more than seven years. According to his
mother, Mrs. Audrey Clapp, a school teacher in
Norton, Kansas, her son had come to the Superstition
Mountains late in 1951 to find another way of life.
 Jay’s
mother sent him a monthly survival allowance and he
made monthly trips to Apache Junction to collect the
allowance and buy supplies. He usually stayed at the
old Grandview Motel in Apache Junction while in
town. Jay was well known by Marie Porter, Apache
Junction’s post-master. She was the one who first
alerted authorities that Clapp might be missing in
the vast Superstition Wilderness Area.
After several days of searching, the deputies
located Jay Clapp’s mine tunnel. All evidence at the
site indicated he had not lived there in several
weeks. The deputies found a rusty old coffeepot,
countless pencils, manuscripts and magazines. They
also found an Army rifle, a .45 caliber pistol, a
camera, Geiger counter, forty two dollars and some
clothing.
The deputies were certain Clapp had not abandoned
his camp. They believed he had left the camp,
planning on returning soon. Marie Porter notified
Clapp’s mother of his disappearance. Mrs. Clapp’s
concern for her son resulted in a massive search of
the Superstition Mountains in 1961.
Finally, officials concluded that Clapp must be
considered dead, and on September 11, 1961, the
search was called to an end. He was still missing
without a trace.
A California man prospecting the Superstition
Mountains found the remains of Jabez Clapp on March
25, 1964, three years after he disappeared. David E.
Hermosillo, 32, of Indio, California, told deputies
he found what appeared to be human bones in a bleak
desert area in the rugged West Boulder Canyon.
Hermosillo brought back postcards and two cameras
found near the remains. The initials “J.C.” were
inscribed on the cameras.
Deputies who later visited the site were quite
convinced Jabez Clapp died a natural death, even
though his skull was never found. A coroner’s jury,
after testimony by Dr. Thomas B. Jarvis, ruled
Clapp’s cause of death as unknown.
Clapp was very religious and enjoyed living in
almost total isolation. He was very interested in
writing and photography and his manuscript revealed
an excellent talent for writing.
Jay attended Southeastern State College at Durant,
Oklahoma, for three years. He was a member of the
Baptist Church at Checotha, Oklahoma.
The following is a brief quote from his manuscript.
“If man was meant to be absolute on this planet then
God would not be necessary. God is absolute, man is
not.”
Clapp carefully weaves the meaning of religion, man,
and nature into a very interesting manuscript about
life which he wrote.
The Hermit Jabez Clapp is gone. He was a gentle and
unusual soul who roamed the Superstition Mountain
for more than a decade searching for his niche in
the realm of things.
Those who knew him considered him a man “marching to
the beat of a different drummer.” |
