Lithgow Mercury April 7th 1899
The Discovery of Jenolan Caves
To the Editor
Sir.- In your issue of the 31st March 99 I see a scrap from Mr A.S. Whalan
re the discovery of Jenolan caves. James Whalan is the real discoverer of
Jenolan caves. It was after he captured the bushranger McEwen, who robbed
his team of the bullock bows and chains at a place known as Coogie Flat near
Gingkin. Mr James Whalan, with the assistance of a police officer and Jerh
Beale tracked McEwen to the top of the range above his camp when they saw
the smoke of his fire. They camped for the night; the descent was made in
the morning when they captured McEwen whom they secured and handed over to
the authorities. James Whalan returned to his camp to try and find some of
his property which included bullock bows and chains, horses and a steel mill
which were used at that time to grind wheat for the Government men told off
to James Whalan to serve their time. When he got to the hut where they had
taken him he followed the valley down to within about 3/4 of a mile of the
caves. He left his horse and walked down, it being impossible to get his horse
with him. He then went through the archways; finding he could not get down
the river further he went about the daylight caves and returned to his horse,
and could not get any of his property. When it was reported McEwen was taken
a stockman at Lowther got a blackfellow to take him to McEwen's camp and he
took the steel mill away between the time Whalan had taken McEwen and when
he returned to look for his stolen property. Whalan heard of the mill being
taken and went and identified it by a No.8 on one of the bolts. When McEwen
robbed Whalan he always packed what he took on Whalan's horses. When he got
near his camp he killed the horses so that they would not track the horses
back and find him. I was told this by Whalan's stockman, James Campbell afterwards
in 1855; so that James Whalan was the real discoverer of Jenolan Caves in
1841 and the first man to enter them. When he returned he told people that
he had been at the end of the world in the Devils Coach-house so that is how
it got its name. Jerh Beale who tracked McEwen told me all they had done from
starting to track. They did not see the caves until after the capture of McEwen.
Mr J Whalan searched several times for his bullock harness and his horses.
When I heard that McEwen took the bullock bows and chains I did not believe
he carried them so far but when exploring about fourteen years ago I found
the bullock bows six bows, two pairs of iron hinges and two harrow pins planted
in a cave. There are scores of people who have seen them in the cave since
I discovered it. This is the true account of the discovery of Jenolan caves
and as I have been exploring them since 1855 I have collected the particulars
from eye witnesses as to James Whalan's work and the robbery at his house
by McEwen. I have taken a great delight in the exploring of the caves and
everything in connection with their discovery, etc, before my time here. Kindly
publish the above in the interest of the readers of your valuable paper of
which I am a constant reader - Yours, etc.
J. Wilson
Jenolan Caves, April 4
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JENOLAN CAVES
(From our own correspondent)
On Sunday morning rain began to fall which greatly marred the return trip of the holiday-makers, especially the body of cyclists which numbered about forty.
The provisional school has been converted to half time with Grady's. Miss Squires remains in charge.