-37-

   "I must still answer your question with my mind in doubt, for we speak of a weird land. White-man does not yet know it as well as the Paiutes, and we have ever held it in awe. It is still the forbidden; Tomesha--Land-Of-The-Flaming-Earth."

 

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#7 --- The following letter was published in the March, 1947 issue of AMAZING STORIES magazine and can be found on pages 171-173 of that issue:

   “...The writer is presently a writer for the Washington Times Harold, is a former World War II combat infantry officer and a holder of the Distinguished Service Cross.

   “I can be checked upon at my paper or better, simply contacted there by your Washington office. I vouch for the following and will be glad to be of assistance for the hell and not the cash of it.

   “I'll tell you a story about a story about a cave and if you want to kick it around, I, as I say, will do all that I can to help, although at this writing I intend to furnish you with the names of persons more closely involved and you won't need me. In fact, for the time, I'd feel better if I just BURNED this letter.

   “In 1935 these weary eyes gazed awe-stricken upon a blue print of a California cave prepared in his off-time by a member of the U.S. Geodetic Survey.

   “This cave was approximately the size of the Grand Canyon.

   “As I said, this is a story about a story.

   “The story, telling all that was known to the writer at the time, was written, with some slight assistance from me, by Lowell E. Harmer, at present a reporter for the Los Angeles Daily News -- he's a man with an overweening interest in caves.