|
 The
death of Adolph Ruth, a Washington D.C. veterinarian
and treasure hunter, in 1931 opened one of the most
intriguing chapters in the history of the
Superstition Wilderness Area. The discovery of
Ruth’s skull near the three Red Hills on Dec. 10,
1931, by an archaeological expedition sponsored by
the Arizona Republic created a national news story.
The press found the reporting of circumstances of
Ruth’s death far more appealing to the public than
stories of the “Great American Depression” of the
early 1930s. The Ruth story probably would have been
insignificant if it had occurred during any other
decade. The sensationalism attached to Ruth’s death,
the reward offered by the family and the sudden
dreams of finding a rich gold mine provided the
atmosphere to generate legends.
Adolph Ruth, like many treasure hunters of the era,
was following his dream. He had acquired a treasure
map that dated back to the period of the Mexican
Revolution 1909-1923. It was Ruth’s son Erwin Cleve
Ruth who provided this map to his father. The map
had been acquired as a generous donation, given to
Erwin for saving the life of a Mexican officer.
Ruth’s search for lost gold did not begin with the
Lost Dutchman mine or even the Superstition
Mountains of Arizona. His search began in California
in the Anza- Borrego Desert near Warner’s Hot
Springs and Borrego Mountain. It was there that Ruth
broke his hip and almost lost his life on Dec. 22,
1919. Ruth spent several hours lying in a desert
arroyo before being discovered by a search party
organized by his son.
 Ironic as it may sound, Ruth’s son organized another
search party some 12 years later to search for his
father in the Superstition Mountains. The results of
this search ended in tragedy.
While spending time recuperating in a San Diego
hospital, Ruth began to study the other maps he had
received from his son. There, within the assortment
of old papers and maps from Mexico, he found what
later became known as the Peralta-Ruth map. This map
guided Ruth to Arizona in the spring of 1931.
Prior to Ruth’s trip to Arizona in 1931, it is
rumored he traveled to Arizona in 1928 and met Cal
Morse who eventually introduced him to William A.
Barkley, a local rancher in the Superstition
Mountains. There was a comment in one of the Ruth
letters that indicated he visited the Superstition
Mountains for the first time in 1928 with Cal Morse
and William A. Barkley.
Twelve years later he found himself in the
Superstition Mountains. He now planned to search for
the Peralta Mines or the Lost Dutchman. Ruth arrived
in Arizona in mid May of 1931. He first stopped at
Cal Morse’s place east of Mesa then drove out to the
Barkley’s Ranch near Superstition Mountain. He
finally persuaded a couple of cowboy-prospectors at
the Barkley Ranch (Quarter Circle U Ranch) to pack
him into the mountains. Leroy Purnell and Jack
Keenan packed Ruth
into a place called Willow Springs in West Boulder
Canyon around June 14, 1931. Shortly afterward, Ruth
disappeared.
Tex Barkley rode into Ruth’s camp on June 20, 1931,
and after examining the site he concluded Ruth had
not been in camp for at least 24 hours. Barkley
immediately alerted the authorities to Ruth’s
disappearance and the search continued for
forty-five days. Jeff Adams and Barkley tracked Ruth
from Willow Springs to a point on the east slope of
Black Top Mesa.
Ruth’s skull was found on December 10, 1931, and was
soon verified as his remains. Deputy Sheriff Jeff
Adams and William A. Barkley found Ruth’s skeletal
remains in January of 1932 in a small tributary on
the east slope of Black Top Mesa. The socalled
Ruth-Peralta map was found in Ruth’s Camp and later
published in the Arizona Republic in 1934.
The claims that Ruth was murdered for his map by
parties unknown is absolutely untrue. Both the
Maricopa and Pinal County Sheriff’s Offices
concluded Ruth died of natural causes, probably due
to dehydration and starvation. The theory that he
was decapitated has since been accredited to
predatory animals such as coyotes. The fact that
there is an unsigned and unverified copy of Dr. Alex
Hrlicka report about Ruth’s skull is also very
interesting. This report indicates Ruth died of a
gunshot wound to the head, however, the report has
never been accepted by Arizona authorities. Dr. Alex
Hrlicka never signed his final report.
The controversy of Ruth’s death in Arizona has
continued to this day. Researchers have pursued
every possible lead trying to prove or disprove the
theory of exactly how Ruth died. Three doctors
examined Ruth’s skull prior to its shipment to the
National Museum in Washington D.C. and they
concurred there was no evidence of foul play. As
recent as 2008 a researcher found and interviewed
Eleanor Clark, Adolph Ruth’s grand daughter. She
produced a few family letters, but none of the
letters add any significant evidence or information
to what already exist. Hopefully, someday this story
will be laid to rest and spirit of old Adolph Ruth
can rest in peace.
Ruth left a legacy in Arizona by tragically dying in
the Superstition Mountains while searching for a
lost mine. This story remains a part of the history
of the Superstition Wilderness Area. |
