STRANGE STORY OF A CAVEDWELLER.

Otago Witness, Issue 3524, 27 September 1921, Page 22

STRANGE STORY OF A CAVEDWELLER.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, September 14. A series of daring thefts in and about Sydney’s most popular seaside resort — Manly—which culminated last week in a desperate encounter between a dairyman who awoke during the night to line! a man standing over him with a highly sharpened carving knife, and pad sodden with chloroform. led to a strange discovery by the police. Wild-flower gatherers who sought tlie beautiful blooms which at this time ot the year are to bs found on the rugged and scrub-covered heights which skirt Manly, had observed a curious and shaggy man, who mysteriously effaced himself on mooting fellow humans. This came to the ears of the police, and the 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 were found, who several times had seen the man in a certain almost inaccessible part of the hills, and with them as guides two policemen set off in search of the man. A tortu-, ous journey brought them to a wild spot, but « careful search seemed unavailing, when one of the policemen was startled to sec through the trees the figure of a man sitting motionless, his feet in a kerosene tin of water, and eying the newcomers intently. Finding himself discovered he angrily demanded ihe business of the intruders. Then followed some strange discoveries. Despite a shaggy growth of hair on tlie face, tattoo and other marks, proved ti:e identity of ihe man—a German. A minute examination of the rocks and scrub near ro where he had been seated washing his feet there was found the cunningly concealed entrance to the cave. A chasm between the two rocks had been bridged with saplings turfed over. 'j here was a perfectly fitting door about 2ft 6in wide by 4ft 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 be looking- for it, to see it. Inside it was a text-book on compactness. The walls were lined with waterproof material, lhere was a comfortable couch, and a lireplace with a ch vi r!yconsl mated underground chimney, that let cut ils smoke about 20ft away. •Stacked needy 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 mat--1 IV.-3. llis taste, in literature could be judged from the fact that on the table 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 sumo which bad been reported missing. This liitle mountain room had every conveuir.vsi it was a delightful little brook that took its source from the cool rocks above, j it was Dusk by tne time tlie police completed their examination and set out for Manly with their man. The latter trudged iilotip sullenly uniil the part v reached the crest of a jagged cliff. The man suddenly jumped fo ward, and in the twinkling of an eve landed on a far-out ledge and i n.nrped. Ti was full v 40ft to the rocks below . and the astounded constable, r\pecied Io see him da-bed In pious. Thov In r - k. i tily to see their man pick him,.-If up and dash across an open space into thick shrub and rocks. Firing a, tliec went. the constables attempted to fellow, but tlie man apparently know even \ tree and rock, and darkness :'ound him at liberty. Many policemen have since been combing those wild pails, but their quarry remains at bay.