Brownie Holmes Remembered.

[Matthew Roberts]

Forty one years ago this weekend George Brownie Holmes passed away at his home in Phoenix of heart failure.

Born in Phoenix on April 11, 1892 he was 88 years old. He died on his birthday. Brownie was a ranch hand most of his life, worked for the Arizona Fish and Game Department for a decade as a packer and trapper. He was a veteran of WWI, the great war, the war to end all war.

Brownie was married to Thelma Neff - Harwick. He had one daughter who died young.

Brownie Holmes had many friends at his passing and his memorial was attended by hundreds. His wish was to be cremated and his ashes taken into the Superstition Mountains. That wish was fulfilled by a close friend. He now remains a part of those mountains he so loved.

 

[Matthew Roberts]

In the 1920's Cal Tech university proposed building an observatory atop Palomar mountain near San Diego, California. There were no roads on the mountain back then only trails and footpaths. The first major step was to get thousands of feet of cable weighing 3 tons, 6000 pounds to the top of Mt. Palomar. The cable could not be cut into pieces and there was no road or truck at that time that could carry 3 ton of cable to the mountain top.

Brownie Holmes was hired to find a way to pack the 6000 pounds of cable up the mountain. Brownie put together a plan where he used mules to pack the cable.

Brownie used 25 mules each to carry no more than 300 pounds apiece. Brownie packed about 250 pounds of coiled cable on the first mule then strung out 30 feet and packed the next mule with 250 pounds and so forth until all 25 mules were packed and tethered together. Three friends from Arizona helped Brownie muletend on the steep and treacherous climb to the top. They set out at first light and just after dark reached the summit of Palomar with not a single accident along the way.

It was an amazing feat of ingenuity and packing skill and shows that Brownie was more than just a dusty cowboy and storyteller.

 

[azdave35]

In the 1920's Cal Tech university proposed building an observatory atop Palomar mountain near San Diego, California. There were no roads on the mountain back then only trails and footpaths. The first major step was to get thousands of feet of cable weighing 3 tons, 6000 pounds to the top of Mt. Palomar. The cable could not be cut into pieces and there was no road or truck at that time that could carry 3 ton of cable to the mountain top.

Brownie Holmes was hired to find a way to pack the 6000 pounds of cable up the mountain. Brownie put together a plan where he used mules to pack the cable.

Brownie used 25 mules each to carry no more than 300 pounds apiece. Brownie packed about 250 pounds of coiled cable on the first mule then strung out 30 feet and packed the next mule with 250 pounds and so forth until all 25 mules were packed and tethered together. Three friends from Arizona helped Brownie muletend on the steep and treacherous climb to the top. They set out at first light and just after dark reached the summit of Palomar with not a single accident along the way.

It was an amazing feat of ingenuity and packing skill and shows that Brownie was more than just a dusty cowboy and storyteller.

good old american know-how

 

[Matthew Roberts]

How Brownie got the nickname, " Brownie."

In a recently published Dutchman book the author tells that Brownie got his nickname by as a boy having freckles and dark skin and everyone started calling him, brownie.

However that was not the case.

Brownie's grandmother, the mother of Brownie's father, was Nancy Brown. Her maiden name was Brown before she married Richard Holmes Sr., Brownies grandfather.

Brownie's full name was George Brown Holmes. His father, Dick Holmes, wanted him to carry the names of both of his families, the Holmes and the Brown's.

He said once he was called Brownie for as long as he could remember.

 

[azdave35]

In the 1920's Cal Tech university proposed building an observatory atop Palomar mountain near San Diego, California. There were no roads on the mountain back then only trails and footpaths. The first major step was to get thousands of feet of cable weighing 3 tons, 6000 pounds to the top of Mt. Palomar. The cable could not be cut into pieces and there was no road or truck at that time that could carry 3 ton of cable to the mountain top.

Brownie Holmes was hired to find a way to pack the 6000 pounds of cable up the mountain. Brownie put together a plan where he used mules to pack the cable.

Brownie used 25 mules each to carry no more than 300 pounds apiece. Brownie packed about 250 pounds of coiled cable on the first mule then strung out 30 feet and packed the next mule with 250 pounds and so forth until all 25 mules were packed and tethered together. Three friends from Arizona helped Brownie muletend on the steep and treacherous climb to the top. They set out at first light and just after dark reached the summit of Palomar with not a single accident along the way.

It was an amazing feat of ingenuity and packing skill and shows that Brownie was more than just a dusty cowboy and storyteller.

great story matthew...got anymore stories about brownie?

 

[Matthew Roberts]

great story matthew...got anymore stories about brownie?

azdave,

Brownie told of the time his father, Dick Holmes, showed him where Waltz was sitting when his father followed him and was turned back by Waltz waiting for him.

The place is easy to find, it was almost right where the road crosses Tortilla creek at Tortilla Flat just about 100 yards downstream from Tortilla spring.

Of course everything was different back then. Canyon lake was not there neither was the Tortilla Flat store. Tortilla creek was there where Canyon Lake is today all the way to where it flowed into the Salt River near today's Mormon Flat dam. The creekbank was lined with large trees and brush back then.

Waltz was sitting on a rock watching his back trail holding a shotgun. Brownies father was making his way on foot through the trees and brush when he came to an opening and there was Waltz staring right at him from about 50 yards away. All his father could do was slowly back away and try to melt back into the trees and hope Waltz didn't shoot or try to follow him.

Brownie said his dad showed him the very rock Waltz was sitting on. Many years later Brownie showed Clay that rock and took a photo of Brownie sitting on it. The rock today is in the open but back then there were trees all around it.

Dick Holmes told Brownie that Waltz picked the perfect spot to sit and wait for him. Perfect because Waltz had not yet tipped his hand as to which way he was going into the Superstitions. From that rock, Waltz could have gone up Tortilla creek and entered the mountains anywhere around Tortilla mountain. Or he could have gone up Peters canyon and entered the mountains through Malapai, Pistol canyon or Peters mesa. Or he could have gone up the north face of Geronimo Head and on across Malapai to Black mountain, squaw Canyon or dropped down into LaBarge at a number of places. Or he could have followed the old Indian trail which today is the Apache Trail around to where the Tortilla ranch is today and maybe further into the eastern Superstitions.

Of course none of those places were named back then which made it hard for Waltz to try to direct someone to his mine.

Brownie said his father would often sit and mutter to himself or out loud,... "if I only knew which way Waltz went that day."

 

[Matthew Roberts]

Brownie Holmes sitting on the rock Waltz sat on waiting for Dick Holmes who was following him. The rock is near where Tortilla creek crosses the road at Tortilla Flat. Photo by Clay Worst.

 

[Matthew Roberts]

The strange murder of Brownie's brother.

Brownie rarely talked about his brother other than to family or close friends. It was Brownie's half brother, Jesse Roberts - Holmes, the son of Brownie's mother and her first husband, William Roberts. Jesse was 5 years older than Brownie and growing up the brothers were quite close. Then when Jesse was 17 he moved to Los Angeles where he worked for many years as a salesman.

When Brownie's father died in 1931, Jesse's mother asked him to move back to Phoenix and live with her at the Holmes house on 11th Street just north of McDowell road in Phoenix. Jesse eventually came back to Phoenix to live and take care of his mother. He took a job with the Goldwater store in downtown Phoenix.

After the death of Brownies father, people would occasionally come to Brownie's mother and question her about the Lost Dutchman mine. Sometimes they would give her money for what she could tell them. Jesse knew the stories well as he had heard them all from his step father, Dick Holmes, while growing up.

In 1943, Brownie and Jesse's mother died and Jesse continued to look after the Holmes house. As with his mother, people would occasionally come to the house and question Jesse about what he knew of the LDM.

Brownie was at this time living on VanBuren Street not far from the Holmes house. He would often stop by and talk with Jesse. One day Jesse told Brownie he was going to meet a man named Louis (or Lewis) that evening at a Cafe a few blocks away on McDowell road. The man wanted to talk about the LDM and had indicated he would pay Jesse for what he would tell him. Brownie warned Jesse not to talk with anyone about the mine and when Brownies mother was alive he warned her of the same thing. But that night Jesse went to meet this Louis.

The next morning, Tempe police came to Brownie's house and informed him his brother was dead. Jesse had been shot in the head and his body was found in the Salt River bottom under the Tempe bridge.

The medical examine marked the death certificate as a suicide but the Tempe police report painted a much different picture. Jesse had one gunshot wound to the back right of his head just behind his ear. There was no weapon found at the scene and Jesse's face and body showed bruises as if he had been in a fight.

No one knew the identity of, Louis, other than Jesse and he was never found. Brownie had his brothers body cremated and took the remains to a special place near the QCU ranch where he scattered them.

Brownie said he always felt his brother was murdered by persons who thought he knew where the mine was. There was no reason for Jesse to have committed suicide. Brownie felt his brother was a victim of the LDM.

 

[Mc4500]

Brownie Holmes sitting on the rock Waltz sat on waiting for Dick Holmes who was following him. The rock is near where Tortilla creek crosses the road at Tortilla Flat. Photo by Clay Worst.

View attachment 1918505

Great information Mathew! As always, thanks for sharing!

 

[azdave35]

The strange murder of Brownie's brother.

Brownie rarely talked about his brother other than to family or close friends. It was Brownie's half brother, Jesse Roberts - Holmes, the son of Brownie's mother and her first husband, William Roberts. Jesse was 5 years older than Brownie and growing up the brothers were quite close. Then when Jesse was 17 he moved to Los Angeles where he worked for many years as a salesman.

When Brownie's father died in 1931, Jesse's mother asked him to move back to Phoenix and live with her at the Holmes house on 11th Street just north of McDowell road in Phoenix. Jesse eventually came back to Phoenix to live and take care of his mother. He took a job with the Goldwater store in downtown Phoenix.

After the death of Brownies father, people would occasionally come to Brownie's mother and question her about the Lost Dutchman mine. Sometimes they would give her money for what she could tell them. Jesse knew the stories well as he had heard them all from his step father, Dick Holmes, while growing up.

In 1943, Brownie and Jesse's mother died and Jesse continued to look after the Holmes house. As with his mother, people would occasionally come to the house and question Jesse about what he knew of the LDM.

Brownie was at this time living on VanBuren Street not far from the Holmes house. He would often stop by and talk with Jesse. One day Jesse told Brownie he was going to meet a man named Louis (or Lewis) that evening at a Cafe a few blocks away on McDowell road. The man wanted to talk about the LDM and had indicated he would pay Jesse for what he would tell him. Brownie warned Jesse not to talk with anyone about the mine and when Brownies mother was alive he warned her of the same thing. But that night Jesse went to meet this Louis.

The next morning, Tempe police came to Brownie's house and informed him his brother was dead. Jesse had been shot in the head and his body was found in the Salt River bottom under the Tempe bridge.

The medical examine marked the death certificate as a suicide but the Tempe police report painted a much different picture. Jesse had one gunshot wound to the back right of his head just behind his ear. There was no weapon found at the scene and Jesse's face and body showed bruises as if he had been in a fight.

No one knew the identity of, Louis, other than Jesse and he was never found. Brownie had his brothers body cremated and took the remains to a special place near the QCU ranch where he scattered them.

Brownie said he always felt his brother was murdered by persons who thought he knew where the mine was. There was no reason for Jesse to have committed suicide. Brownie felt his brother was a victim of the LDM.

good stuff matthew...nice to hear stories never told before

 

[Steamboat]

Thanks, Matthew, great stories, great information. I wish you would write a book.

 

[Matthew Roberts]

Brownie talks about Gideon Roberts.

Brownie was recorded on tape by at least three individuals. Greg Davis has Brownie on tape, Dave Russell has a recording and Monty Edwards (with Tom Kollenborn) taped Brownie. On all three tapes Brownie talks about Gideon Roberts and is consistent with his recollection on each recording.

In recent years, some individuals have tried to fit Gideon Roberds of Trinidad, Colorado as the Gideon Roberts who was with Dick Holmes at Waltz's deathbed.

Aside from the different spelling of the last names a number of facts eliminate this Trinidad Colorado man as the Gideon who was with Dick Holmes. Brownie is very clear who Gideon Roberts was.

In all the tape recordings, Brownie identifies Gideon Roberts as the relative of his half brother Jesse Roberts. Brownie is not clear if Gideon was an uncle or cousin removed but is definate of the relationship. Gideon Roberds of Trinidad was not related in any way to Brownie's brother.

Brownie states that Gideon Roberts was a much older man than my father. Gideon Roberds of Trinidad was not that much older than Dick Holmes. Gideon Roberts was almost 50 years older.

Brownie stated Gideon Roberts was never married. Gideon Roberds of Trinidad was married with 7 children.

Brownie stated his father would sometimes finance Gideon Roberts to get by.
Gideon Roberds of Trinity was a very wealthy man who needed no financing from anyone.

Brownie stated Gideon Roberts would sometimes work with his father at prospecting mining claims. Gideon Roberds of Trinidad never worked with Dick Holmes.

Brownie stated Gideon Roberts had been a miner and suffered from miners disease (lung damage) and died not long after Waltz died. Gideon Roberts died 7 months after Waltz died and was buried in Phoenix.

Gideon Roberds of Trinidad was a farmer, cattlemen and speculated in mining claims but never himself worked as a miner. He died in Trinidad, Colorado 12 years after Waltz died.

It's clear from Brownies taped interviews that Gideon Roberds of Trinidad, Colorado was not the man at Waltz deathbed. All these facts are also found in the Holmes Manuscript as Brownie talks about Gideon Roberts.

Sarah Edwina Roberds - Clark is the granddaughter of Gideon Roberds of Trinidad and is the historian of the Roberds family. Her great uncle Garrett Roberds lived in the Phoenix - Buckeye area for many years. In conversations with Algona Winslow and Bill Soderman at the Phoenix Pioneer Cemetery, Mrs. Clark stated no one from her Roberds family were involved with Dick Holmes or Gideon Roberts and she was unaware of the story about Waltz and his deathbed confession to Holmes and Roberts.

 

[KANACKI]

Brownie talks about Gideon Roberts.

Brownie was recorded on tape by at least three individuals. Greg Davis has Brownie on tape, Dave Russell has a recording and Monty Edwards (with Tom Kollenborn) taped Brownie. On all three tapes Brownie talks about Gideon Roberts and is consistent with his recollection on each recording.

In recent years, some individuals have tried to fit Gideon Roberds of Trinidad, Colorado as the Gideon Roberts who was with Dick Holmes at Waltz's deathbed.

Aside from the different spelling of the last names a number of facts eliminate this Trinidad Colorado man as the Gideon who was with Dick Holmes. Brownie is very clear who Gideon Roberts was.

In all the tape recordings, Brownie identifies Gideon Roberts as the relative of his half brother Jesse Roberts. Brownie is not clear if Gideon was an uncle or cousin removed but is definate of the relationship. Gideon Roberds of Trinidad was not related in any way to Brownie's brother.

Brownie states that Gideon Roberts was a much older man than my father. Gideon Roberds of Trinidad was not that much older than Dick Holmes. Gideon Roberts was almost 50 years older.

Brownie stated Gideon Roberts was never married. Gideon Roberds of Trinidad was married with 7 children.

Brownie stated his father would sometimes finance Gideon Roberts to get by.
Gideon Roberds of Trinity was a very wealthy man who needed no financing from anyone.

Brownie stated Gideon Roberts would sometimes work with his father at prospecting mining claims. Gideon Roberds of Trinidad never worked with Dick Holmes.

Brownie stated Gideon Roberts had been a miner and suffered from miners disease (lung damage) and died not long after Waltz died. Gideon Roberts died 7 months after Waltz died and was buried in Phoenix.

Gideon Roberds of Trinidad was a farmer, cattlemen and speculated in mining claims but never himself worked as a miner. He died in Trinidad, Colorado 12 years after Waltz died.

It's clear from Brownies taped interviews that Gideon Roberds of Trinidad, Colorado was not the man at Waltz deathbed. All these facts are also found in the Holmes Manuscript as Brownie talks about Gideon Roberts.

Sarah Edwina Roberds - Clark is the granddaughter of Gideon Roberds of Trinidad and is the historian of the Roberds family. Her great uncle Garrett Roberds lived in the Phoenix - Buckeye area for many years. In conversations with Algona Winslow and Bill Soderman at the Phoenix Pioneer Cemetery, Mrs. Clark stated no one from her Roberds family were involved with Dick Holmes or Gideon Roberts and she was unaware of the story about Waltz and his deathbed confession to Holmes and Roberts.

Hola Amigo thanks for always interesting comments. I always appreciate your efforts with your posts and take pleasure reading your historical research.

Kanacki

 

[Matthew Roberts]

Sunday April 20, 1980 Arizona Republic

A Pioneer's search for the Lost Dutchman Mine ends at 88.

Nyle Laetham was a long time professional photographer and was friends with George “Brownie” Holmes, a famous seeker of the Lost Dutchman Mine. When Holmes died in 1980 Laetham wrote a tribute to his old friend and it was printed in the Arizona Republic newspaper. Here is that tribute as it appeared some 41 years ago.


George "Brownie" Holmes died April 11, 1980 in his Phoenix home on the morning of his 88th birthday. Brownie Holmes may well have been the last of his kind, one of the pioneer seekers of the Lost Dutchman Mine at the turn of the century after the death of old Jacob Waltz himself.

Brownie wrote no books, published no maps, and avoided interviews and arguments. He relished the thought that most Lost Dutchman hunters never heard of him. That way, they did not hinder his own search. Brownie believed his father (Dick Holmes) account of what Jacob Waltz said on his deathbed and spent most of his lifetime in happy pursuit of the golden dream.

This is his story, more complete than he ever allowed it to be told in his lifetime.

Born in Phoenix in 1892, Brownie Holmes was, by his own understatement, "almost a pioneer." His grandfather, R.J. Holmes Sr., arrived at the site of Fort Yuma in 1847, having traveled from Holmes County, Miss. Brownie's father, R.J. "Dick" Holmes, was born at old Fort Whipple in 1865. He ranched in Bloody Basin, where Holmes Creek and Holmes Canyon are named for him. He also worked as a packer for the Army out of Fort McDowell for the famous Al Sieber.

A chance event on the streets of Phoenix in October 1891 altered the lives of the Holmes family for the next two generations. A German-immigrant prospector named Jacob Waltz, known locally as "the Dutchman," lay dying in the home of Julia Thomas on Jackson Street.

As Mrs. Thomas went for a doctor, she met Dick Holmes and Gideon Roberts, whom she asked to watch over the Dutchman during her absence. It was to Holmes and Roberts that the Dutchman made his deathbed revelation that he secretly was working an incredibly rich, hidden gold mine in the Superstition Mountains. His story appeared substantiated by nearly 50 pounds of high-grade gold ore in a miner's candle box under his bed.

Grubstaked with gold from the dying Dutchman, the two men began to search for the mine. Roberts died shortly thereafter, and Holmes hunted on alone. In 1908, unable to search any longer, Holmes took his young son, Brownie, to the Superstitions to familiarize him with the landmarks he had discovered.

George “Brownie” Holmes, aged 16, packed into the mountain wilderness, intending to devote four months to searching for the mine. His search lasted 40 more years. To finance his efforts, yet still be close to the Superstitions, he took a job driving a passenger stage for Wes Hill Stage Lines over the Roosevelt Road, later known as the Apache Trail. His record with the stage line was marred only by his using a company vehicle to participate in the lynching of murderer Star Daley, an indiscretion for which he received a tongue-in-cheek suspension of 24 hours.

In 1910, he met William Augustus "Tex" Barkley, whose cattle-ranching operations encompassed the Superstition Mountains area. A relationship that was to extend over both their lifetimes was established. Brownie’s search for the Lost Dutchman Mine also continued under this arrangement during the years the Quarter Circle was operated by Tex Barkley's son, Bill Barkley. Brownie Holmes rode 35 roundups for the Barkley Cattle Company. During those years, he became well-known among early residents of the Apache Junction area.

His search was interrupted by World War I. Brownie enlisted in the Army, serving with the artillery in France. A lifelong humorist and an incurable prankster, he put his cowboy skills to practice while stationed in France and kept his unit well-fed by cruising the French countryside, roping domestic geese from the sidecar of a motorcycle. "My military distinction, I'm afraid, consisted of becoming the world's champion goose roper," he later recounted.

After the war, he entered into an agreement with Tex Barkley. Ostensibly employed as a cowboy on Berkley's Quarter Circle U Ranch, Holmes did in fact spend much of his time attending to the affairs of the ranch. But always, with Barkley's encouragement, he was given free rein to work those areas in which he felt the mine was hidden.

Injured when a horse fell on him in 1948, Brownie was obligated to leave the Superstitions. While convalescing in Phoenix in 1950, he met and married Thelma Neff. They had a daughter, Georgie, since deceased. Brownie later worked until retirement as a packer for the Arizona Game and Fish Department.

Brownie Holmes placed no small value on the knowledge he possessed and evaded any discussion beyond mere generalities. Brownie's reluctance to talk about the Lost Dutchman Mine generated some bitterness. Both Brownie and his father were sometimes publicly maligned; it was even claimed that the Holmes family was not in Arizona during the Dutchman's lifetime, an accusation easily countered by records of the 1865 First Territorial Church.

Only mildly discouraged by his inability to locate the mine, Brownie Holmes to his death remained convinced of its existence. His last years were spent quietly at home in Phoenix, his hopes sustained by the efforts of a younger friend who continued the search on his behalf. Brownie Holmes' quest ended on April 11, when he died quietly in his sleep. He requested no services be held and that after cremation his ashes be scattered in the Superstition Mountains.

Early one morning last week, a lone rider saddled up at the trailhead at First Water, loaded a pack horse, and rode eastward, headed for a secluded grassy knoll in a canyon hidden deep in the Superstitions. Brownie Holmes was being taken home.

The legend of the Lost Dutchman Mine never ceased to dominate the life of George Brownie Holmes. Because of the universal appeal of the Lost Dutchman story, Brownie was eagerly sought by many who wanted to search for the gold or write about it. To him, however, his knowledge of the mine and the clues represented two generations of effort and in the end he parted with that knowledge only to his closest friend.