PORTLAND TOWNSPEOPLE
DISPUTE VERDICT ON BOYS' DEATH
SYDNEY: Although C.I.B. detectives are satis -
fied that the missing seven-year-old Portland boys
who were found dead in a limestone quarry cave on
Saturday died accidentally, residents of the district
are still far from satisfied with the verdict.
Intimately acquainted with
the quarry, with the boys, Al-
bert Spiers and John Ward, the
prevailing weather conditions
and the circumstances in which
they were found, the majority
of Portland folk refuse to ac-
cept the official explanation
that death was due to expo-
sure and exhaustion.
The boys, who disappeared
shortly before dark last Mon-
day and for whom more than
3000 men had searched for six
days, were found at the mouth
of a cave about half-way down
the almost sheer 250ft. face of
the quarry.
Two quarry workers making
a final check of the quarry
went through a 400ft. tunnel
to the bottom of the quarry
and then clambered more than
100ft. with the aid of ropes
up the cliff face to the cave.
Attacked By Rats
The boys were lying each side
of a waterhole, only a few feet
apart, one lying face down
clutching a bird's egg and the
other on his back.
Both had been savagely at-
tacked by rats - the arm of one
boy having been eaten away -
and their faces and other parts
of the bodies mutilated.
This prompted the initial
theory that the boys had been
murdered.
However, after Detective-ser-
geant Emerson and Detectives
Lendrum, Watson, Herron and
Schaeffer and the Government
Medical Officer (Dr. Percy) had
examined the bodies where they
were found and later conduct-
ed a post mortem, the 'death
by exhaustion and exposure'
verdict was given.
This opinion was based on
the fact that no bones in either
body were broken, there were
no marks of violence, no in-
juries consistent with a fall of
any great distance, and no
signs of struggle having taken
place in the cave.
Unusual Features
Though this has been ex-
plained to Portland residents
the big majority, including men
who have worked in the quarry
for many years, are still puzzled
by several unusual features.
Quarrymen say it would have
been impossible for the boys to
have reached the cave unaided
or without having fallen at least
35 feet.
They also are loath to be-
lieve that the boys, in excel-
lent health, although lightly
clad, would succumb so quick-
ly to exposure and exhaustion.
(Dr. Percy estimated that the
boys had been dead at least
four days when found).
In view of the fact that Dr.
Percy was unable to find any
other possible cause of death,
particularly by injury, experi-
enced bushmen point out that
even if the boys had been ex-
posed to torrential rain and bit-
terly cold weather in the open,
rather than in a cave, they
would have lived for several
days at least.
However, the detectives have
completed their inquiries, the
coroner has signed burial cer-
tificates and the double funeral
service will be conducted to-
day at the Church of England
by the Rev. Taylor.
All Portland shops, the quarry
and other industry in the dis-
trict will be closed down and
mourners are expected from as
far afield as Lithgow and Ka-
toomba.
The date of the inquest has
not been fixed.