-160-
written: They came out of the earth, from Iatik, the
mother. They came out through a hole in the north called Shipap. They crawled
out like grasshoppers; their bodies were naked and soft. It was all dark; the
sun had not yet risen. All of the little people had their eyes closed: they
hadn't opened them yet..."
*******
The following letter appeared on page 193 of the
June, 1945 issue of AMAZING STORIES magazine:
“Sirs: You
asked for stories that might relate to Lemuria or the caves. My mother was told
this story by an old man who said it was as true as truth itself:
“This man
and a friend were hunting, agreeing this time to go to a portion of the woods
to which they did not normally go. They saw a deer and gave chase. It jumped
through a clump of bushed and they followed -- to find themselves unaccountably
in the strangest surroundings. They were in a huge (illuminated?) cavern that
had numerous passageways leading from it. Before them was a monster-like man
they thought sure was the Devil himself. The monster stared, and the two men
stared back. One of them fainted from fear, and the man who told my mother the
story dragged the other away in panic, and as he did so, found himself just as
mysteriously in the forest again. The old man's friend died a week later as a
result of the shock he had suffered.
“The old
man tried later to find the cave again, but failed. I know this story is true
because my mother does not tell fairy tales and because she believes it. ---
Jerry LaPriore., 2024 Pleasant St.
*******
