Tales of the Incredible Hoke Robertson

Lost Dutchman Mine

While Arminta and sit here in our tree-top cabana near Kotebaru on the island of Borneo planning our trip to the Antarctic, I am reminded of the time I likely found the "Lost Dutchman Mine." The year was 1962, and I was on leave from certain government involvements. To keep fit, I and a couple of others started the first Super-Marathon club, whose members run distances over 100 miles at a time. The first three "charter members" of the club were me, Bill Stanchion, one of the first UDT/SEAL's, and "Chewy" Espinosa, a full blooded Apache. We started our first run in the little town of Xaustion, Arizona where Chewy grew up, and were headed to Fallon Nevada, following an old trail through the Superstition Mountains.

It soon became apparent that Bill could not keep up with Chewy and me. I have to tell you, the Native Americans from the Southwest have the most stamina and endurance of any people on this earth. Chewy could run forever, and seemed to never break a sweat. Anyway, as we pulled ahead, Chewy took the lead and we hopped, jumped and leapt our way though the treacherous mountains. At one point Chewy turned to caution me about an unstable rock which saved me from a nasty spill, but caused him to lose his step. As he started to fall over the cliff, I took a mighty leap and while in the air, unlaced my shoe string which I snapped out at the very last second. Chewy's iron grip fixed on the thin shoelace and I was able to stop his fall and haul him to safety. Chewy was impressed and grateful, and rewarded me with a side trip to a spot, where at high noon, the shadow from one jagged rock pointed directly to a small cleft in the rocks. Yes, it had to be the famous Lost Dutchman Mine of Jacob Waltz!

Although Chewy offered me a large nugget of gold as a token of his thanks, I of course refused it knowing the deeply religious and historical significance of the "Apache Gold." Chewy and I still keep in touch, and I have a suspicion that some of that sacred gold still helps fund some of the less wealthy Native American Schools. A reminder to all of the importance of education. I won't tell you who won the race, but let's just say it wasn't that poor Navy SEAL. However, after his recuperation he and I had one heck of a time as snake wranglers in Zimbabwe, but that is another story. HOKE ROBERTSON

Home
Shorts