Shaver Mystery Magazine - Vol. 1, No. 1 (1947)

(From the Letters from the Readers section)

Dear Mr. Geier:

I’m glad to see that someone is doing something to start some organized research on the “Shaver Mystery.” No open-minded person can help but be interested in it as there are too many phases of the mystery that stir up vague memories in everyone’s mind.

For example, about four years ago a friend and I were exploring a small cave near our homes in Pittsburgh, Pa. It seemed to end, but we discovered a round tube near the floor. It was almost filled with sand at the entrance, but when we dug some away the rest was clear, and we proceeded through the foot-and-a-half tube, with our Scottie dog in the lead.

We were about one hundred feet in the tunnel, which sloped at a twenty or so degree angle when we heard a very deep sound. It was not loud, and seemed to be felt more than heard. The dog was out of sight ahead, but not for long. He let out a screech — which is the only way I can describe it — and raced back over us, clawing as he went.

We got out as quickly as we could and couldn’t find our dog. He had never run away like that before, no matter what the circumstances, but this time he was gone. We finally found him at home, acting queerly, and he wouldn't go near any of us for quite some time.

We didn’t return to the cave for quite some time, and when we finally did, armed with rifles, we found that the whole cliff had been dynamited by the railroad company, and the entrance to the cave was buried under tons of rock and ground.

There are also records of a robber band who used to disappear in that vicinity after raids on the surrounding towns. The trail led to the plateau atop the cliffs, and though the area was thoroughly searched and guarded for months, no signs of a cave was ever found.

Yet, one of the gang was killed, and before he died, he mentioned something about an “automatic door,” but that was all. I don’t know how much more information we can get on this, but we’ll try . . .

Lyon McCandless Jr., U.S.N.R.. Cecil Field, Jacksonville, Fla.