DESERT CAMP

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 78, 29 September 1938, Page 22

DESERT CAMP

SEARCH FOR BONES

PRELIMINARY REPORT

(From "The Post's" Representative.) SYDNEY, September 9. uln a preliminary report, to the South Australian Chief Secretary, Sir George Ritchie, on the work of the Leichhardt search expedition in the Simpson desert, the leader of the expedition, Dr. A. Grenfell Price, refuted recent suggestions that the discoveries constituted a hoax, and stated that the relics found appeared to mark the site of a very old white camp yet to be identified. Dr. Price promised that a second and more intensive report would be prepared when the material collected in the desert had been carefully examined by expert research workers. His preliminary report states: "The party was very disappointed to find that the reported remains-were very scattered and fragmentary. Messrs. Edwin and Rex Lowe stated that they had evidently been dispersed by cattle playing about the acacias previously noted, and fresh cattle, dung was evidently around these trees. The Lowes said that on the two occasions when they visited the place more remains of larger size and motre human teeth had been visible. It should be noted in justice to the Messrs. Lowe that until Dr. Campbell announced his decision no member of the party suspected that the supposed bones were in most cases calcified wood. , It has been publicly suggested that the discovery of possible Leilchhardt remains may have been a hoax. - The party has considered this carefully and agrees that this is unlikely owing to the character of the relics. "Mounted Constable Francis, an experienced bushman,. who saw the excavation of nearly all the relics, considers that their character and disposition indicate the discovery of an old white camp at wjhich a person or persons perished. "Dr. Campbell will now make a thorough examination of the bone and teeth in an attempt to decide how much is human, and' whether any of the remains, if human, are white. Mr. Mountford will submit to experts the; coins, pack-saddle • ring, and fragments of metal and leather. I will work on the historical side to try to find whether any expedition such as those of Lindsay (X 885) and Barclay j (1904) camped at« Ritchie Ridge. I These further investigations may produce sufficient information for the Government to decide whether- it is j ) worth while sending up a small party | ito make a more .-thorough excavation i lot the &W ._. y