"John Riley, old mountain identity, said to be the original of Paterson's The Man from Snowy River, died on the way [down to Corryong] from Groggin on July 15. He was carried on a stretcher most of the distance, and died on the road from heart failure. Groggin is 50 miles up the Murray from Corryong.

"Although the pace was lacking, Riley' s last journey over the rough mountain tracks must have recalled to his mates the lines he inspired "Through the stringy-bark and saplings ... Down the hillside at a racing pace he went; /And he never drew his bridle till he landed safe and sound /At the bottom of that perilous descent."

Anyone with experience of the Kosciusko country will realise the difficulties that faced the five bushmen when they set out from Groggin to bring their half unconscious mate to the Corryong Hospital. Word reached Corryong on July 11 that his condition was serious, and some of his friends decided to bring him to Corryong to the hospital."

"[Eventually, during the arduous descent] to make matters worse snow began to fall, and the cold became intense ... a deserted, mining hut provided a shelter for the night. The others made a fire and installed the patient as comfortable as possible in front of it. He seemed to rally a little, and spoke to his friends, but the weakness reasserted itself, and shortly afterwards he suddenly swayed, and died.

"Out among the great trees, with the rain falling gently on the roof of the hut the old man breathed his last. "