The Vancouver Sun, Thursday, January 15, 1953

Two Mystery Skeletons Found By Workman in Stanley Park

Two Children or Woman and Child


Two human skeletons were found by workman in Stanley Park about 10:30 a.m. today.

The workman told The Vancouver Sun they believed the skeletons to be those of two children or a child and a woman.

Near the skeletons was a small rusty hatchet, which looked like a hunter's axe.

The gruesome remains were covered with what appeared to be a woman's raincape and a good deal of earth and leaves.

On the skull of the smaller skeleton was an aviator-type helmet such as a small boy would wear. Nearby was a lunch bucket such as children take with them to school.

Also near the bones was a man's boot.

Found Lying Feet-to-Feet

The skeletons were lying in an almost straight line , with their feet close together.

Actual discovery of the remains was made by Albert Tong, 2510 Eton, a park Board employee for the past 15 years, who was working with a gang clearing brush about 100 yards off the main park driveway and about 500 yards from the causeway.

There were two pairs of shoes near the remains, one pair larger than the other. Both pairs were of the oxford type and had been soled with white rubber.

Tong said the skeletons were covered with leaves and some brush, but he was unable to determine if they had been buried.

Death Cause Probed

Police were on the scene immediately and started a thorough search of the area in an effort to determine the cause of the deaths.

The remains were taken to the city morgue where they will be examined by Dr. T. R. Harmon, coroner's pathologist, detectives and Dr. John Whitbread, coroner.

Police were unable to say how long the bodies had been in the park bush, but they believed
it to have been some time.

Missing persons bureau officers at police headquarters are checking their files in an effort to locate the names of two children or a woman and a child who have been reported missing and never discovered.