The following letter appeared on pages 174-175 of the October, 1947 issue of AMAZING STORIES:
“Sirs: Perhaps I have delayed over-long to send you my slight contribution to the master code. Why? I was still afraid there might be some slip that would put me in a bad spot. I am a druggist in this town and any trace of nut’s talk would ruin my job. I have been waiting for the issue which just hit the newsstand and agree with you completely.
“There is in this area an artifact which seems to prove all you have printed about the cavern dwellers. First I want to ask a question. How are the caverns ventilated? There is no vegetation to purify the air in the caves. Therefore there must be some connection with the surface, I know where one of the air shafts reach the surface.
“My grandfather was raised with the Indians in this section of the country and has told me of the stories he heard when he was a child. The Indians describe the wind cave as it is called around here, as the home of the devils who came forth in the dead of the night to steal their women and food. No Indian will venture within the area inside of five miles of the cave.
“Perhaps a description of the inside will make my
meaning more clear. The entrance is just a hole in the rocks, but after getting inside you come into a foursquare tunnel about three and one half feet square with a six-inch gutter along the west side, about 10 inches deep. This tunnel is intact for about 100 yards and then opens into what looks like it might have been at one time a completely round or half-round passageway which now looks like the solid lava which it goes through has been chipped and crumbled by extreme heat. It is possible to travel for about a half mile inside before the tunnel becomes obstructed too much for a man to get through.
I have been trying to get someone who would help me clear this obstruction enough to get through and several have agreed but when we get there and start to work they soon give up and want to get out. Another funny thing is that every time I go back the work done before does not show, yet there is no evidence of fresh falls of rock from the ceiling. At this point the feeling that your in mortal danger becomes almost overpowering, after battling this feeling for an hour I feel as weak as if I had been sick for weeks and I have made this attempt many times.
The opening has been dynamited at least four times that I know of. Supposedly to kill rattlesnakes, yet I have never seen one either in the mouth of the cave or inside. In fact my experience with snakes leads me to believe they would never brave the cold blast that comes out.
Still the feelings of distrust and fear clings and none of the natives will consider exploring this artifact which could be made the biggest tourist attraction in this part of the state — if people were just not afraid to go down there… I am willing to discuss what I know with anyone who won’t believe I am crazy, and would like to find someone who has the
intestinal fortitude to help me clear the obstruction to the major cavern with which it connects which I know extends to a depth of 30,000 feet because it has been drilled into and that much cable let out without hitting anything to drill in and I will show anyone who is interested the entire set-up.
My grandfather is now dead unfortunately so he can not verify the Indian stories mentioned, but if Mr. (L. Taylor) Hansen is as familiar with Indian legends as he claims and really desires the truth, have him work with the Shoshones and Blackfeet. Consider their tales of the demons who work this countryside. Also investigate the story of the three immortals who have been seen by many – to rescue them from a lethal situation.
Write me if you are interested in these legends and any knowledge I have is yours. — George Haycock., c/o Thriftway Drug., Main and Overland., Burley, Idaho [showmap address=”Burley, Idaho” marker=”1″ map=”SATELLITE” zoom=”12″ scroll=”1″ street=”1″ zoomcontrol=”1″ pan=”1″ mapcontrol=”1″ overview=”1″]
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