A CAVE DWELLER

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17259, 24 September 1921, Page 9

A CAVE DWELLER

DESPERATE ESCAPE FROM THE POLICE.

(FROM OVa OWN CORBESrOKDENT.) SYDNEY, September 14. A series of daring thefts in and about Sydney's most popular seaside resort— Manly—which culminated lost week In a desperate encounter between a dairyman who awoke during the night to find a man standing over him with a highly-sharpened carving knife and a pad sodden with cholorofonn, led to a strange discovery by the police. Wild flower gatherers who sought tho beautiful blooms which at this time of the vear are to be found on the ruSg©* and "scrub-covered heights which skirt Manly had observed a curious and shaggy man who mysteriously effaced himself on meeting fellow humans. This came to the ears of tho police, and tho description tallied with that of a man who had "done" three years after being discovered in a wonderful cave, not far from the same locality, equipped with a plant for the production of bank notes. .Two children wero found wtoo several tunes had seen the man m a certain almost inaccessible part or the hills, and with ithem as cuides two policemen set off m inarch of the man. A tortuous journey brought them to a wiia spot, but a careful search seemed unavailing, when one />f tho policemen was startled, to see through the trees the figure of a man sitting motionless, his feet in a kerosene tin of water, and eyeing the newcomers intently. Finding himself discovered he angrily demanded the business of the intruders. Then followed some strange discoveries. Despite a shaggy growth of hair on the face, tattoo and other marks proved the identity of the man—a German. A minute examination of the rocks and scrub near to where he had been seated washing his feet there was 1 found the cunningly-concealed entrance to the cave. A chasm between the two | rocks had been bridged with saplings turfed over. There was a perfectlyfitting door about 2ft 6in wide by <lft high. The rough edges of the rock had been cemented, and natural pieces of stone placed against it. So cleverly contrived was the outside appearance that one would have to be right alongside it, and then bo looking for it, to see it. Inside, it was a text-book of compactness. The walls were lined with waterproof material, there was a comfortable couch, and a fireplace with a cleverly-constructed underground chimney that let out its smoke about 20 feet away. Stacked neatly in the corners were a full set of house-breaking implements and a bag of chaff which the man intended to use as the packing for a pillow and mattress. , His taste in literature could be judged irom the fact that on the tabk> was a copy of Dickens's "Pickwick Papers," also a few papers describing certain uses of photography that would be useful in the forging of bank notes. The contents of the cave also included a bottle of chloroform and various goods corresponding with some which had been reported missing. This little mountain room had every convenience, except gas and sewerage. Running past it was a delightful little brook that took its source from the cool rocks nbove It was dusk by the time the police completed their examination and set out for 'Manly with their man. -The latter-trudged along sullenly until tho party reached the crest of a jagged cjiff. The man suddenly jumped forward, and in the twinkling of an eye landed on a far-out ledge and jumped. It was fully 40 feet to the rocks below, and the astounded constables, expected to see him dashed to pieces. They followed down after him, leaping from rock to rock, only to see their man pick himself up and dash across an open space into thick scrub and rock 9. Firing as they went the constables attempted to follow, but the man apparently knew every tree and rock, and darkness found him at liberty. 'Many policemen have since been combing those .wild parts, but their quawy re-mains-at bay.