What's New Under the Sun
by Dick Richard
The (very) little furor that has been caused by the recent report from
Alvarez County of the arrival of visitors from inside the earth shows
signs of abating completely. Very likely it is just a case of poor
timing, (three reports of flying saucers and one of Saturnian birdmen in
less than a month has pretty well saturated the gullibility market). But
perhaps it is just as well. Not that we are skeptical by nature, but we
cannot help wondering at the somewhat amazing coincidence of the Alvarez
report being issued just two weeks before the start of the Alvarez
County Festival.
* * * * *
_UNITED STATES OF THE WESTERN HEMISPHERE DEPARTMENT OF STATE DIVISION OF
INVESTIGATION_
Report on Supernatural Phenomena: File No. B5138.
Subject: Subterranean Inhabitants.
Reference: Alvarez County Record, News Item of May 9, 2204, et al. (See
File).
On January 3, 2206, in performance of the subject investigation, a visit
was made to the Alvarez Hospital at Alvarez, Alvarez County. Dr. Ernest
Stutfeldt was contacted, and upon being questioned, expressed surprise
and some annoyance that an investigation was being conducted, in his
words, "so damned long after everything was over." It was pointed out to
Dr. Stutfeldt that qualified investigative personnel was limited, that
these matters had to be taken in their proper turn, and that a year and
a half interval for an investigation of this nature was not considered
excessive. The information was then elicited from Dr. Stutfeldt that the
"earth visitors" were no longer patients at the hospital, that two of
them, a Mr. and Mrs. Jon Farmer, were living on their farm about ten
miles out of Alvarez, and that the third, a Dr. Dorn Smith, was studying
medicine at Alvarez University.
Transportation to the university was thereupon obtained, and after
considerable time and difficulty, Dr. Dorn Smith was located. When asked
for some proof of his subterranean origin, the doctor was unable to
provide same. His descriptions of the life and government of his claimed
underground "State" could with a little imagination, have been derived
from any textbook on the absolute governments of the twenty-first
century.
A certain measure of authenticity was temporarily ascribed to Dr. Dorn
Smith's statements, when these were termed as "entirely credible" by
Professor Lorraine Johnson of the university. However, the explanation
for Professor Johnson's corroboration became obvious when it was learned
that the professor and Dr. Dorn Smith were engaged to be married.
Although it was apparent by this time that the claims made by the
subject investigatees had no information in fact, in order to insure a
completely comprehensive inquiry, a visit was made to the Farmers'
domicile. Obviously alerted by a phonovision from Dr. Dorn Smith, Mr.
and Mrs. Farmer were cordial, but no more informative than their
three-month-old baby daughter. The inquiry was then terminated.
A verbatim account of all questions and answers pertaining to the above
investigation is affixed hereto.
Therefore, and in consequence of this inquiry, it is recommended that
the subject supernatural phenomenon be classified as "Not Verified," and
that the file be closed.
Respectfully submitted,
Clarence B. Pendergast,
Special Investigator of Supernatural Phenomena
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
January 5, 2206.
Transcriber's Note:
This etext was produced from _Fantastic Universe_ August 1957.
Extensive research did not uncover any evidence that the U.S.
copyright on this publication was renewed. Minor spelling and
typographical errors have been corrected without note.