MOUNTAIN MYSTERY

Hokitika Guardian, 24 June 1933, Page 7

MOUNTAIN MYSTERY

IN CAVE FOR MANY YEARS. SYDNEY, June 19. The skeleton of a man was recovered by constable and a, party of citizens from a lonely ledge on the summit of Sugar loaf Mountain, near Mount Victoria, in the Blue Mountains. It was thought, thit the skeleton bad been on the ledge for many years. Paul Banner, the son of an orch-ard-jst, found the skeleton while fox hunting on the mountain with a party of -friends. He notified the police, and ia, constable investigated the mystery. The party had an arduous climb up and clown rocky gorges for -a,bout three miles before it reached the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain. The bones were in a- very 'small ©ave on |a -ledge on top of the mountain. They had been there so long that every vestige of clothing w-as gone. A portion of one boot was the only thing found. Tlie mountain had been swept by bush fires many times -since the man had died, and this had given the bones a-n old appearance. It was thought likely the- man had climbed fo the top of the mountain to get his bearings and to try t© -signa-l for help, but had 'been overcome by weakness. Mount Victoria is only about a ihile away in a straight line,- ; but three miiles of difficult country would have to be covered to reach the,.township ;from the spot. A five-chamber Bulldog pattern iheavy-type revolver was found near the bone B -of one of the arms

The remains were placed in a bo-x a,nd taken to Kato-omba, where a- doctor examined them. He found a small hole in the front -of the forehead. The revolver contained four live cartridges and one cl ©charged shell. The doctor expressed the opinion that the skeleton was that of a m:;n about sft lOin in height, and. that he had been dead for about eight or ten years.

On the return' journey the party had an anxious time. During the journey up the mountain ridge they -had one or two narrow escape-s on account of the slippery ground from being precipitated into the valley 200 ifeet below.