Research uncovers real reason for ‘Bermuda Triangle’ mystery

Stories of mysterious disappearances at an eerie landmark south of Cooktown have given passers by the creeps for years but new research has uncovered the real reason for so many vanishing. FIND OUT THE REASON

FOR more than a century, stories of mysterious disappearance and death at an eerie granite mountain south of Cooktown have given passers by the creeps. But new research has delved deep into the archives to uncover the real reason for so many vanishing.

The collection of black granite stones known as Kalkajaka to traditional owners has captured the imagination of supernatural fanatics from all over the world.

For more than a century Black Mountain has reportedly been the cause of unexplained disappearances.

Dubbed the Bermuda Triangle of the Far North, crazy theories claim Black Mountain was created by aliens stone by stone to hide a space ship, others attempt to convince YouTube users the mountain is a portal to another dimension.

More plausible mysteries relate to historical disappearances, that through time, Chinese whispers and a human need to embrace the unexplained, have become enshrined in myth.

But last year Cooktown-based historian Bev Shay put her Detective skills to work digging through historical documents to uncover what really happened.

Made up of huge granite boulders Back Mountain stands 212m high.

“We started debunking the myths and researching to find out what the actual truth was about these stores (around Cooktown) and we reached the point we had to do Black Mountain as well,” she said.

She said the vast distances of Cape York, people’s lack of swimming skills, too much booze, wild crocs, foul play and poor communications made disappearances much more likely than today.

“And when people living in remote areas disappeared it’s only when people start looking for them that they cannot be found,” she said.

And by then the trail had gone cold.

Fact was often substituted for rumour and speculation fuelled embellishment in the press and active imaginations made for wild stories.

“And it got to a point where all these people and cows and horses have disappeared but when you start to look at it none of it is true,” she said.

Bulgun Warra tradition owner Harold Ludwick. Picture: George Serras

Bulgun Warra tradition owner Harold Ludwick said Black Mountain or Kalkajaka holds sacred significance for his people and the mysteriousness of the area was enshrined in ancient folklore.

When Mr Ludwick was a child passing through the Black Mountain area, his grandfather would make them all hide on the floor of the car not to prevent children from seeing the mountain, but to stop the mountain from “seeing” them.

“(Grandfather) said the mountain calls children away to be lost forever,” Mr Ludwick said.

The James Cook Museum’s Indigenous guide acknowledged historical disappearances had been explained, but believed spirits have become unsettled because of road development which dissects Black Mountain.

The majestic and mysterious Black Mountain near Cooktown.

As recent six years ago Mr Ludwick was working on indigenous tourism project alongside his good mate Willie Gordon when the company manager had a brush with death.

“(The manager) placed his hand on a massive boulder, instantly the boulder rolled forward towards him … Willie’s quick action to pull him aside saved his life,” he said.

“A week later the manager started seeing what he described demons and devils, he was tormented to the extent he almost took his own life.

“Be assured many disappearances may have been unrecorded, answering the call of the mountain, could be your last.”

Cooktown-based historian Bev Shay has tabled a report on unexplained disappearances from Black Mountain.

In 2021 Ms Shay and Jean Stephan published findings through the Cooktown Historical Society in a 16 page booklet.

PHILIP GRAYNOR

The disappearance of Philip Graynor in the Black Mountain area in 1872 was reported in newspapers for a 30 year period between 1933 and 1953. A carrier by trade, he was said to have gone missing en route to the Palmer River goldfields but Ms Shay points out there was no settlement at Cooktown until 1873 and the route to the Palmer River didn’t pass by Black Mountain.

WILLIAM OWENS

William Owens was said to have disappeared at Black Mountain, but had a section near Hope Vale is now. “He just disappeared and they presumed that he had drowned and he was not seen again and whether he drowned or if a croc got him people, we don’t know,” Ms Shay said.

GEORGE HAWKINS

Following the grisly discovery of a deformed and mummified human foot at Black Mountain, a man called George Hawkins had a lease at Middle Oakey, near Cooktown and was known to have a club foot. However a death certificate records the man’s death in Sydney after he was hit by a train.

JACK PAGE

Jack Page, known was Galloping Jack was reported as missing before a search by indigenous trackers noticed flies buzzing around some rocks at the base of Black Mountain. A rifle was found beside the body and there was a single wound to the head. Despite suicide being the official verdict, Ms Shay said newspaper articles still inferred there was a mystery surrounding the death.

JAMES WREN

Veteran miner James Wren was last seen at the Trevathan Hotel just before Black mountain in 1892. He was never seen again and nothing was ever found. Conflicting newspaper and police reports tell different stories. Ms Shay said this is the only unexplained disappearance she had researched.

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Originally published as Research uncovers real reason for ‘Bermuda Triangle’ mystery