The Washington weekly post., 1900-11-27
An AUSTRALIAN COAL MOUNTAIN.
A Rich Find Made by settlers Of the
Anfipodes.

8Htff'af>s
Th.rty-five miles from Sydney Is a pic
turssqusly-situated township whose his
tory Is closely identified with that Of the
coal-mining industry OF New South Wales
So far back as I7s6 Flinders and Bass,
during their adventurous work OF coast
al exploration. had seen under the high
land and cliffs on which the township OF
Clifton is situated. a number OF black
Jumps. which they took TO be pieces Of
slate, lying on the ground. Not suspect
ing the real character OF the Jumps. they
gave but little attention TO them About
the sane time Mr.. Clarke, who. with
number OF others. had been wrecked on
Cape Howe and thrown ashore by q vfo-
lent storm. finding himself in an unknown
region and threatened with attack by hos
tile natives. undertook. with a portion OF
the party. to proceed on foot along the
coast TO Sydney. a distance of three
hundred miles. and obtain assist
ance for those left behind. II was
most difficult and dangerous jour-
ney. Several perished from exhaustion.
others were killed by the blacks, and only
few Of the party reached Sydney. They
were terribly emaciated. and seemed mere
skeletons. their food supplies having
given out al an early stage Of the dis
astrous journey. Mr.. Clarke reported
that two days before he reached watta
Mowlee (now called wattamolla). and
forming portion of the coast line of the
New South Wales National Park. he dis
covered some pieces of coal, which he
and his companions collected and were
thus enabled to enjoy a good fire.
In consequence of what Mr.. Clarke had
stated; Mr.: Bass was dispatched In a
whaleboat from Port Jackson to ascertain
where the mineral was to be found. After
he had proceeded a considerable distance
beyond Cape Soander he arrived at a
steep cltff. in the face OF which, washed by
the sea. he found. as related In Collins
Account OF the English Colony of New
south wales a stratum of coal, IN
breadth about six feet and extending eight
or nine miles toward the south Both
upon the summit of the high land and
lying on the surface at the base he OBJ
served many patches of coal. from some
Of which Mr. Clarke had been so conve-
niently supplied; and. Judging by the
specimens of coal which were brought in
by Mr. Bass. the quality appeared to De
good. But IL was thought. from fits al
most inaccessible situation. that no great
advantage could ever be derived from II.
The place thus described was Coal cuff
or as it is now designated. Clifton In
later years BULL and Wollongong became
available for the shipment of coal OBJ
tained from Clifton. but in the mean
time Newcastle, the site of which had
been discovered in 1898. had secured what
was practically monopoly Of the coal
exDort trade.
From the sea. the coal seams in the
Cliff have the appearance OF black bands
Curiously enough, the natives do not ap-
pear TO have become acquainted with
the use OF COAL their fires being made
with leaves and sticks. The summit of
the cliff is reached by n somewhat rough
Zig-Zag route. but the journey is amply
repaid by the beauty of the surround
ings. ''The varied foliage" We are told
''is most enhancing. and the transforma-
a perfect paradise. There are sparkling
cascades, bowers of ease bedecked with
blossoms. and now and then a glimpse is
caught of distant landscapes through the
riffs in the foliage. When the top IS
reached after an hours climbing the scene
is one of enchantment." The village Is
seer is coZily nesting below, while Il
magnificent panorama of ocean and sky
bursts upon the view. II is like entering
into a new world-a region of mingled
beauty and sublimity. Clifton is situated
on the top of veritable mountain of
coal. and were its carboniferous treasure
more readily accessible IL would share
with auriferous Mount Morgan and ar
gentifercus Broken Hill the credit of be-
ing among the richest mineral mountains
known. The coal is ar present obtained
from 2 seam the broad black band fa-
nniIiar 10 all Voya ging along the southern
coast about six feet thick. running along
the cliff about twenty feet from its base.
The seam is worked from two adits. the
coal being conveyed from the mine to the
ship bv means Of a timber 1etty 5H feet
in length said to be one of the boldest
and most remarkable undertakings for
working a mine known In any part OF the
world.