MOUNTAIN MYSTERY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21521, 19 June 1933, Page 11

MOUNTAIN MYSTERY

DISCOVERY OF SKELETON

IN CAVE FOR MANY YEARS

The skeleton of a man was recovered by a constable and a party of citizens from a lonely ledge on the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain, near Mount Victoria, in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, lately. It was thought that the'skeleton had been on the ledge for many years. Paul Baaner, the son of an orchardist, found the skeleton while fox hunting on the mountain with a party of friends. He notified the police, and a constable investigated the mystery. The party had Qii arduous climb up and down rocky gorges for about three miles before it reached the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain.

The <»bones were in a' very small cave on a ledge on top of the mountain. They had been there so long that every vestige of clo'thing was gone. A portion of one boot was the only thing found. The mountain had been swept oy bush fires many times since the man had died, and this had given the bones an old appearance. It was thought likely that the man had climbed to the top of the mountain to get his bearings and to try to signal for help, but had been overcome by weakness. Mount Victoria is only about a mile away in a straight line, but three miles.of difficult country would have to be covered to Teach the township from the spot. A five-chamber Bulldog pattern heavy-type revolver was found near the bones of one of the arms.

The remains Avere placed in a box and taken to Kafoomba, where a doctor examined them. He found a small hole in the front of the forehead. The revolver contained four live cartridges and one discharged shell. The doctor expressed the opinion that the skeleton was that of a well-built man about sft lOin in height, and that he had been dead for about eight or ten years. On tho return journey the party had an anxious time. During the journey up the mountain ridge they had one or two narrow escapes on account of the slippery ground from being precipitated into tho valley 200 feet below.