|
 The
Superstition Wilderness Area is a confusing maze of
deep canyons and lofty mountain spires to the
novice. A new explorer can easily be disoriented in
this rugged terrain. Did Adolph Ruth become
disoriented in June of 1931? Researchers continue to
disagree and speculate about this bizarre case.
 Adolph
Ruth was first reported missing on June 18, 1931, by
William A. “Tex” Barkley. A search of the region
around Willow Springs was started on June 19, 1931,
but to no avail. Ruth remained missing for almost
six months before the first real clue to his
disappearance surfaced.
Richie Lewis and George “Brownie” Holmes were
guiding an archaeological expedition into the
Superstition Mountains on Dec. 10, 1931. Near the
“Spanish Racetrack,” at the north end of Bluff
Springs Mountain, one of Lewis’ dogs began to bark
and bay. At first, Holmes and Lewis thought the
hound had picked up the scent of a lion. The night
before it had rained heavy and usually scent was
best at this time. As Holmes rode over closer to the
baying hound, he immediately saw what the hound was
barking at. Under a small Palo Verde tree, on the
moist ground, laid a human skull. Brownie dismounted
so he could examine the skull and the site.
Immediately, Odds Halseth, an archaeologist, called
out not to touch or disturb the skull.
Brownie noticed the previous rain had erased all
sign, so he reached down and picked up the skull at
the ire of two of the expedition members. He
immediately noticed two large circular holes in the
temporal regions of the skull and commented to the
others in the group that it looked like this poor
fellow must have been shot in the head. Halseth
studied the skull momentarily. He declared the skull
appeared very old and was probably Native American.
Brownie could not understand how Halseth could make
such a determination when pieces of skin tissue
still clung to the skull. It was Brownie who
announced to the group that he believed they had
found the skull of Adolph Ruth, the missing
prospector.
Brownie later claimed he made the statement because
he recognized a ridge on the top of the skull that
was similar to the ridge on the forehead of Adolph
Ruth whom he had met at Barkley’s Ranch almost six
months earlier.
Halseth denied the skull could be that of the aging
treasurer hunter, who had been missing since June
15, 1931. E.D. Newcomer, a freelance photographer
for the Arizona Republic, asked Holmes to cradle the
skull in his hands so he could take a photograph of
it.
Controversy soon developed between the members of
the expedition over what they should do since the
discovery of the skull. Some wanted to continue the
expedition while others wanted to return to Phoenix.
Harvey Mott, staff writer for the Arizona Republic
wanted to return immediately to First Water. Richie
Lewis explained to the members of the expedition
what two or three more days would do if they
continued into the mountains. Lewis believed whom
ever belonged to the skull would never know the
difference. Finally, it was decided to continue on
to Charlebois Spring for the night.
 Holmes
and Lewis set up the expedition’s camp at Charlebois
Spring. All the while camp was being set up Halseth
fretted about the security of the skull. He was
afraid coyotes might steal into camp and carry off
the skull. Finally Lewis solved the problem by tying
a piece of baling wire through the skull’s gaping
holes and hung it in one of the Sycamore trees high
above the ground. Ruth’s skull dangled from the tree
casting an eerie spell over the camp.
The night of Dec. 10 was extremely damp and cold. A
ground fog completely hid the skull high in the tree
at dawn. As the ground fog slowly lifted the skull
was revealed suspended in the air dangling by a
piece of baling wire.
Most of the expedition’s participants wanted to
return to Phoenix that morning. Mott and Newcomer
had a story, Halseth thought he had found an Indian
skull, and Richie Lewis along with Holmes was sure
they had found part of “old man Ruth.”
The archaeological expedition was well on its way by
10 a.m. They arrived at First Water Ranch about 3
p.m. The trip from First Water to Phoenix was about
seventy miles. The members of the expedition finally
made their way into the city editor’s room of the
Arizona Republic around 10 p.m, Dec. 11, 1931. It
was too late in the evening to have a pathologist
examine the skull to determine if in fact it did
belong to Adolph Ruth.
On Dec. 12, 1931, Dr. Orville H. Brown examined the
skull and pointed out many characteristics that
agreed with the photos they had of Ruth.
Dr. James J. Lasalle corroborated Dr. Brown’s
opinion. Dr. Claude M. Moore, a dental surgeon, felt
sure the skull was that of an aged white man.
Halseth continued to disagree with the three
doctors, and therefore claimed the skull. He
immediately planned to ship it to the National
Museum of Anthropology in Washington D.C. and have
it examined by an expert. Halseth sent a telegram to
the Science Service, Washington, D.C., at 6:43 a.m.
on the morning of Dec. 13, 1931, claiming the skull
could be a Native American or an old Caucasian.
Halseth also claimed the skull had tissue, odor and
attracted flies. Halseth further said he was out of
funds and offered the story to the Science Service.
They replied by turning his story down and refusing
to become involved. Halseth at first was very
disappointed with the news media.
When Halseth received his answer from the Science
Service Bureau, the Arizona Republic Sunday’s front
page read, “SKULL BELIEVED THAT OF MISSING
PROSPECTOR FOUND IN THE MOUNTAINS.” Halseth received
a telegram from Dr. Ales Hrdlicka, anthropologist
and pathologist for the National Museum stating, “
skull unquestionably that of aged white man,
recently shot possibly.”
The Arizona Republic had gambled on the skull and
won. They didn’t need Halseth or his story for they
had their own. The National Wire Service picked up
the story and it began to appear in newspapers all
over the United States. Ruth had put the
Superstition Mountains on the map, but he had died
tragically during the summer of 1931 to do so.
Upon the discovery of Ruth’s skull the search for
his other remains was undertaken. Jeff Adams and
William A. “Tex’ Barkley found Ruth’s other remains
on Jan. 8, 1932, in a small tributary canyon on the
eastern slope of Black Top Mesa.
This finally ended the mysterious disappearance of
Adolph Ruth in the Superstition Wilderness |
