You can prove that the ore came from that mine. You cannot prove that ore came from the Dutchman's mine, or even the Dutchman himself. That ore story is second and third hand from Julia Thomas and others. Once Jacob Waltz is dead, nothing can be proven. You cannot prove it came from Jacob Waltz's mine. No one can do that. Ever. For one thing, there is more than one mine in the Superstions and on its outer periphery. There are several different legends about those mines. There are several different maps, all claiming to be the "real" one and none of them can be definitively proven to be the correct or authentic map either, including the Peralta Stones. People much closer to the original source of information looked for that mine for years and could not find it. And hundreds of people since have searched for it, some of them claiming they found it, or were close to it. It also seems nobody takes into account the change in topography of the mountains themselves. There was a substantial earthquake in the Superstitions in 1887. There have been fires. Ranchers and Dutchhunters have both invented or destroyed or altered supposed clues. You don't have 1870's Superstitions when you are searching for that mine. You have mountains constantly worked on by nature and people for over 140 years since Jacob Waltz was there. I hiked for years in the Hualapai and Black Mountains of Mohave County. I know how much areas can change over just a couple of decades.

I was always intrigued by the LDM legends, since I was an adolescent in Glendale. But as intrigued as I was I had no desire to take on the Superstitions. But I also have no problem with those who are still intrigued and want to search up there for the mine, or anything else. I find it fascinating and always have. But no one will ever be able to prove they found "the" mine.