-85-
depth.
The steps, from all information, are 18 inches high, 10 feet from side to side,
and about a Yard broad. From what has been reported, the cave has been
penetrated for about a mile without finding an end to the steps. There is also
a ‘bottomless’ pit along one side of these stairs.
“There were three persons in the party which
penetrated the entrance. They had only one small flashlight so they turned back
for more supplies. Just as they were nearing the top of the entrance, a few
feet from the outside, they were attacked by a strange form of animal
resembling a man, yet, not a man. One of the three had a colt .45 with him and
began shooting at the beast. As he did so, the other two escaped outside just
as a slide covered the entrance. The man with the gun was trapped inside. The
other two who had escaped began to dig him out and it took only a few minutes
since the entrance was not badly covered with dirt and rocks. In the meanwhile
the first rush by the beast was stopped, and there was time to reload the gun.
After the entrance was cleared and the man inside was about to be helped out,
the beast grabbed him by the foot and others appeared and began to pounce on
him. He shot one point blank and in desperation, and fright, emptied his gun in
a hurry.
“The three managed to get away from the area
and in the melee the person with the gun had noticed even in his fright, a
strange yellowish fluid which he assumed to be the blood of the beast which he
had just shot at close range.
“At the entrance to the cave was three small
mounds and at the bottom of one of these mounds is a cross placed there by a
preacher long ago. The owner of the land where the cavern is located does not
talk about it and shows no alarm when cattle or other animals mysteriously
vanish.