A CAVE DWELLER

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14765, 3 October 1921, Page 3

A CAVE DWELLER

1 STRANGE STORY. 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 ttie night- to find a man standing over him with a highly sharpened carving and pad sodden with chloroform, led In a strange discovery by the police. Wild flower gatherers who sought (he beautiful blooms whir.h at Ibis time of the year are to be found or. the rugged 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 cars 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 an almost inaccessible part of the hills, and with them as guides two policemen set off in search of the man. A tortuous journey brought them to a wild spot, but a careful search seemed unavailing, when one of the 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 trie identity of the man —a German. A minute examination of the rocks and scrub near to where he had been seated washing his feet, was found the cunningly concealed entrance to the cave. A chasm between the two rocks had been bridged with saplings turfed over. There was a perfectly-fitting door about 2ft. (Jin. 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 to to looking for it, to see it. Inside it was a text book on compactness. The walls were lined with water-proof material, there was a oomfortable 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 tog of chaff, which the man intended using for the packing of a pillow and mattress. His taste in literature could be judged from the fact that on the table was a copy of Dickens' Pickwick Papers; also a few papers describing certain uses of photography that would be useful in the forging of banknotes. 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 course from the cool rocks above. It was dusk by the lime the police iiad completed their examination and set out for Manly with their man. The latter trudged along sullenly until the party reached the crest of a jagged cliff. The man suddenly jumped forward and in the twinkling of an eye landed on a far-out ledge and jumped. It was fully -iO feel to the rocks below, and the astounded constables expected to see him dashed to pieces. They followed down after him, leaping from roek to rock, only lo see their man pick himself Up and dash across an open space into thick scrub and rocks. Firing as they went, the constables attempted to follow, but the mon apparently knew every tree and rock, and darkness found him at liberty. Many policemen hive since been combing those wild parts, but their quarry remains at bfy.