A CAVE DWELLER

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1921, Page 4

A CAVE DWELLER

DESPERATE l-'SC AI E FROM Tilt POLICE.

SYDNEY. September lb A series of daring thefts in and al .. .t Sydney’s most popular ii! e resorL Maillv wlii"ll • -11 i 111 il■: 1 1 • d last week ill a desperate eiicimlit(t between dairyman' who awoke liming the night t" find a man standing over him with a liiehlv-sliarpeio'd carving knife and a si. .nig.- ill-, i.. ei,, yl' , li.

Wild (lower gatherers who sought the beautiful blooms wl l u*li at this time oi thf wur are to Im* found eii tin* rugg *d and Kcruh-< overed heights which skirt Manly had obsei v<yl a miens and shaggv man who mystei imisly effaced h imscl f on meeting fellow humans. 'I his cairn* to tin* oars of tin* polite. and tin description tallied with that of a man who had “done'* three years after lining discovered in a wonderful cave not far from tin* sann* locality, equipped with a plant ft.r tin* production of lvink notes. Two children wen* found who several times had s« eii the man in a eei tain almost inaccessible paid of the hills, and with them as guides two policemen set olf in search of the man. A torlnoiis journey brought them to ; wild spot, hut a careful search seemed unavailing when turn of the policemen was startled to see through the tree* tin* figure of a man sitting motionless his feet in a kerosene tin of water, and eyeing the newcomers intently. Finding himself discovered he angrily domanded the business of the intruders. Then followed some strange disooveries Despite a shaggy growth of hair on the fa<-«*. talon and other marks proved the identity of the yinn a (lerman. A minute examination of the rocks and scrub near to when* he had been seate<l washing Ids feet there was found the cunningly-concealed entrance to the eavc. \ chasm between the twe rocks had been bridged with saplings tiirled over, Then* was a perfectlyfitting tloor about 2ft. din wide l>y 111 high. The rough edges of the rock had had been cemented, and natural pieces I of stone placed against it. So cleverly contrived was the outside appearance that fine would have to be right alongside it, and then Ik* looking for it, to set* it. Inside, it was a text-hook of (compactness, The walls wen* lined with waterproof material, then* was a comfortable eouoh, and a fireplace with a elcverly-ronst .meted under-ground eh inilit »y that let out its smoke about 2 ’ feet away. Stacked neatly in tin* corners were a full set of house-breaking implements and a hag of chaff which the man intended b) use as the packing for a pillow and mattress. His taste in literature could be judged from the fact that on the table ’ was a copy of Dickens's ‘‘Pickwick j Papers.” also a few papers describing j ceriain uses of photography that would I be useful in the forging of hank notes, i The contents of the cave also included . a battle of chloroform and various goods ;:oiTespo tiding with some which had