Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 84

AUTEDiTrONS G2 the Ari7wa Rgpwbtfc Thursday, November 24, 1988 NBC digs into Lost Dutchman mystery Arizonans owe thanks for living now, and not then JAMES E. COOK Republic Columnist TV crew stirs up mixed feelings in probe of death The Arizona Republic The main Unsolved Mystery may be: Just exactly what is the mystery? The popular NBC series, which dramatizes so-called unsolved mysteries ranging from crimes to curiosities, was in Arizona last weekend to kfilm a segment about the death of Walt Gassier, a Superstition Mountains buff. Arizona Attorney General Bob Corbin mounted a horse to play a role in the segment, which probably vill air in February. His hobby is searching for the legendary Lost Dutchman Mine in the Superstitions. He joined another part-time prospector, Tom Kollenborn of Apache Junction, in a search for mine, which Corbin said Gassier might have found in his SO years of searching.

But there is no mystery about Gassler's death in March 1984, according to his family, which refused to participate in the show. "(Gassier) died a natural death," said Pam Gassier, wife of the late Gassler's son, Roland. "He was 82 Tim Rogan, segment producer, said the circumstances of Gassler's death don't make up the show's mystery. He said the death is one aspect of the mystery: Whether there is gold in the Superstitions. Legend has it that immigrant Dutchman Jacob Waltz found gold in the mountains.

Waltz died Oct. 25, 1891, supposedly without telling anyone where he had found the gold he had been using for his expenses. Since then, several people have claimed to have known the site of the Lost Dutchman Mine, according to Mary Powell of the staff of the Mesa Southwest Museum, which has exhibits about the legend. The museum has in its collection stone "maps" that some say pinpoint the mine's location and a collection of books about the legend. The fact that gold never has been found in the mountains and that geologists say it is unlikely it ever will be has done little to diminish interest in the Lost Dutchman.

The interest continues, Rogan said, because of curious circumstances, such as those involving a stranger who showed up after Walt Gassler's death claiming to be his son, Roland. He went to Kollenborn and said he had found gold in Walt Gassler's backpack. "Kollenborn and Corbin told us that," Pam Gassier said, "and when they met my husband, they realized it was a different man." Corbin said Kollenborn told him the stranger wanted a copy of a topographic map on which Gassier had plotted his explorations. Gassier earlier had met with Corbin and Kollenborn, Corbin said, and gave them the map, hoping they could use his experience in their searches. Kollenborn said the stranger's gold, purportedly from Gassier, resembled the ore in Waltz's possession when he died, Corbin said.

Unsolved Mysteries' producers have tried to get Roland Gassier to appear on the show, but he has refused, mainly because it might upset his mother, his wife said. Rogan said the show's producers aren't trying to upset the family or bring back bad memories. "When the real Roland showed up, the question arose, 'Who was this guy and where did he get the Rogan said. Corbin said he and Kollenborn never learned the stranger's identity. Rogan said the story points out the lure of the Lost Dutchman.

"There are hundreds of maps and hundreds of people still searching for the Lost Dutchman Mine. That's the real mystery." Material from The Associated Press is included in this report. carry water from the well. My grandchildren are not threat-r ened by diphtheria, polio or the mysterious, random infections that killed children when I was their age. Thanks for light switches, color TV, automatic transmissions and computers.

Let's not forget food and shoes and music. Thanks for the fine and varied people, linked by blood or marriage, who will gather at our house today to gorge on food and shared memories. Marion reported on one Thanksgiving feast in the 1860s: "The spread was as excellent in variety and style of getting up as any we have assisted at in Prescott. The sight of the little roasted porkers, chickens and other fixings caused our bosom to swell and our heart to beat with emotion. "Toasts and short, pithy speeches were numerous; sanguine railroad projects and death to the Apaches were the themes of the hour.

If all the Bob Corbin He win appear in an episode of Unsolved Mysteries about the legendary Lost Dutchman Mine. years old and had walked IS miles into the canyon. They found him on the side of the road. "The coroner said he died of a heart attack. There's no big mystery, and that's why we won't get involved." Pam Gassier said her father-in-law was a "real Superstitions buff and had made a yearly trek into the mountains for 50 years.

hopes and predictions there expressed could be realized, we should not care to live elsewhere than here." I also would not care to live elsewhere than here and suspect most Apaches agree. Our eldest son and his wife recently moved to Georgia. His closest cousin Gov. A.P.K. Saflbrd didn't seem very thankful.

He noted that President Ulysses S. Grant had named a national day of thanksgiving. So Safford proclaimed Nov. 18, 1869, Thanksgiving in Arizona Territory, "although our people have been sorely scourged and afflicted during the past year, and many of our bravest and best citizens have fallen beneath the scalping knife and tomahawk of our savage foe, and death and desolution (sic) has been brought to many homes." Safford never missed a chance to address the largest problem of his time, the conflict between white man and red. There are other problems we could take up with God this morning in 1988.

But there is too much to be thankful for. Unconditionally, I am thankful to be alive today. I am thankful to be who I am, where I am. Through no fault of my own, I was born one of the luckiest people on Earth. I don't have to spend my life on a road gang in Siberia or toiling in a South African diamond mine or starving in an American ghetto.

Thanks for freedom, Lord. Thanks for the troubles we have had and those that are sure to come. They teach us to make this day count and to be grateful for it. John Marion, editor of The Weekly Arizona Miner, noted in 1866: "This is the first time a day of Thanksgiving has been set apart in this Territory, but we trust it will be duly respected. "While as people we have much to contend with, we certainly have much to be thankful for, and we should be glad to introduce here a custom so pleasing and proper as that of annually acknowledging the blessings we have received and imploring continuation of Divine favor." I am told that as we grow older, we need to ask less for justice and more for mercy.

Thanks for a wife who is fun to be with, and tolerant. Thanks for letting us be friends with our grown children. There are no words to express my gratitude for three bright, healthy granddaughters. Thanks for giving us work we enjoy. Thanks for progress.

I didn't have WCLuild a fire in a wood stove this nibWflng or crank my car to start it or and his young family moved to Florida. We will miss them today. But I am grateful that they have promising careers and did not have to move to Newfoundland. fa I am thankful that it is not still 1869. Even John Marion seemed less grateful then.

Each issue of The Weekly Arizona Miner carried a dozen accounts of assess-- death and destruction by Apaches and usually futile pursuit by soldiers. On Nov. 20, 1869, Marion wrote "Thursday last was Thanksgiving Day. Our people did not seem to be 1 aware of the fact "Their hearts were saddened by recent Indian news, and their minds were upon other things than feasting l2 SEWING MACHINE CABINETS When you buy a sewing machine with a purchase price of $379.00 or more. Layaways and discontinued models excluded and prayine.

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