The Peralta massacre was the alleged killing of a Mexican family by Apaches in about 1848. It is generally featured as an element of the legend of the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine.
There are many variations to the story, but it generally includes these details: During the 1840s, the Peralta family of northern Mexico supposedly developed rich gold mine(s) in the Superstition Mountains. In 1848, during a routine expedition to carry gold back to Mexico, the large party was ambushed by Apaches, and all were killed except for a few Peralta family members who escaped. According to the legend, the Apaches buried and hid the gold and covered up the mine.
However, according to historian Robert Blair, the Peralta Massacre never occurred; see the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine for a more detailed explanation.
The author T.E. Glover in his book, "The Lost Dutchman Mine of Jacob Waltz", speaks of a U.S. Cavalry trooper named William Edwards who was present for the discovery of the deceased remains. The Cavalry leaders assumed that these were bodies from an Indian battle between fighting tribes. But trooper Edwards noticed that at least one of the skulls had a gold filing, common to Mexican (Spanish) aristrocracy. He returned at a later date, and found even more human remains further up the canyon. It is reported that he, and then later his son, spent much of their lives searching for the lost mine(s).
The are also newspaper articles which refer to mule remains being found , one by one, with saddle bags filled with gold. The last one was published in 1903. It is presumed that the mules scattered during what had to be a very loud battle.
The Peralta Massacre is depicted in a flashback in the 1949 film Lust for Gold, starring Glenn Ford and Ida Lupino.
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