LOST DUTCHMAN GOLD ROUTE — Squibob Chapter's Perpetual Floating Plaque;
Dedicated October 1961, to the Memory of JACOB von WALZER. One of five cast,
this 20"x 28" un-mounted 33-1/2 pound bronze plaque has been taken to many
Clampouts and dedicated many times since 1963, in absence of a permanent plaqing
dedication. Note: this is appropriate since most trails in the Southwest can
lead to the Lost Dutchman's gold mine, where ever it may be located, because it
is still "lost". (This is not to be confused with the CRHL Peg-Leg Pete Monument
east of Borrego Springs, where the Liars Contest is held.) This beautiful plaque
with the Miner leading his Burro in bas relief is one of five created by the
national Lost Dutchman Gold Route Association. It is kept in the custody of Gene
Calman, X-Humbug & X-Clampatriarch. Exact locations of where this plaque was
dedicated has been lost in the fog of booze and time, and went unrecorded by our
NOBLE GRAND RECORDER. This beautiful plaque will be called upon for dedication
for future generations of CLAMPERS.
This plaque is our floating plaque and is occasionally erected, dedicated,
photographed and then returned to the home of custodian Gene Calman XNGH, X-Clampatriarch,
and the only surviving active charter member of this Chapter.
The plaque was cast in Los Angeles for the Lost Dutchman Gold Route Association
which was an Arizona business association. Five were cast and they were
supposedly to be erected at locations along old US Highway 60-70, starting on a
pier at Atlantic or Morehead City, North Carolina, Mesa, Arizona, and the Santa
Monica pier, the western terminus. The other two locations are unknown. The
plaque at Mesa is supposedly in place after having been stolen once and then
going around the world bolted on a ship.
I was in North Carolina in 2002 and checked but could find no one who knew
anything about it, although I was told that piers in that area come and go with
the hurricanes.
This plaque was sent to the District XI Division of Highways office in 1962 by
the District VII office in Los Angeles. They didn't want to erect it in their
area because Highway 60-70 was superseded by Interstate 10. District XI didn't
want it either for the same reason. So the plaque languished in the Stores
Department here in San Diego for a while.
Leo Cline, XNGH, and X-Clampatriarch, first tried to liberate the plaque but was
unable to find a suitable site. Then Max Johnson, XNGH and XSNGH, was also
unsuccessful. Eventually I took a try and after examining the wrapping paper
traced it to the foundry and eventually to the trophy company in Phoenix where
the plaques had been ordered. The widow of the company owner gave me what little
information in known about the location, and she eventually told me to erect it
in the place I thought most suitable. Since most historians think that Jacob von
Walzer had no mine and was busy selling samples that he acquired from miners who
had high-graded (stole) ore from the various mines where they worked.
It seems appropriate to keep it in my entry hall and bring it out to Clamper
doin's when it is needed. Since there is hardly a place in the world that some
nut didn't go through attempting to find this fictitious mine it seems
appropriate to honor and enjoy it in this manner.
Gene Calman - 2004
Links:
Books on this subject (Part one)
Books on this subject (part two)