Annals of the Enquiring - 1994 No 19

Magazine Overview

ANNALS OF THE ENQUIRING, Issue 19, dated Jan/Mar 1994, is a magazine dedicated to exploring UFOs, Forteana, Bizarrerie, Paranormal, and Cryptozoology. The cover features a striking illustration of a spherical, helicopter-like craft and lists the magazine's core themes. The issue is priced at £1.50 and is edited by Gerry Lovell.

Contents Overview

The issue contains a diverse range of articles, including an editorial titled 'First Word,' which muses on the nature of belief and benevolent beings, referencing a mystery man in Boston giving out money and a secret Santa in Bath. Other articles delve into UFO brief reports, Ulster crop circles, UFO patterns and predictions, science news, and 'The Fort Dimension' column.

Further articles explore animal-related oddities ('Animal Crackers'), strange lands, mermaid legends, the mystery of Nessie, book reviews, and specific creature reports such as the 'Cat Beast Identified,' 'Out of Bounds,' and 'Amazonian Monster Hunt.' The contents also include 'Mighty Mollusc,' 'A Devil of a Name,' 'Spirit Shorts,' 'Satanism Scares,' and a report on 'Bishop Freezes "moving statues".'

The cover picture is an illustration from 'The Sky Raiders!', a British comic published in 1932.

Editorial: First Word

Editor Gerry Lovell opens the issue with a reflection on belief, using the example of Santa Claus to explore how adults reconcile childhood myths with reality. He then presents two anecdotes: one about a mystery man in Boston distributing $50 bills anonymously, and another about the Barret couple in Bath who have received gifts from an invisible 'Santa' for 14 years, suggesting a benevolent, unknown benefactor.

UFOs and Paranormal Investigations

UFO Brief: This section reports on a protest outside the UN headquarters by the 'Right to Know' group, advocating for the confirmation of extraterrestrial life. Astronaut Story Musgrave expresses his belief in extraterrestrial life and his attempts to communicate with it. A report from Ceefax details an incident in Nottinghamshire where two couples claim to have been abducted by aliens. Another report mentions a hoax transmission about a UFO landing in South Yorkshire, leading to arrests.

UFO Patterns & Predictions: This article explores the periodicity of UFO sightings, differentiating between 'waves' and 'flaps.' It discusses Aime Michel's theory of Orthoteny and Dr. Jacques Vallee's statistical analysis of sighting locations. The piece also references research by Bernard Delair and Dr. David Saunders, suggesting a ten-year cycle in UFO reports connected to sunspot activity. The article delves into the potential influence of the Moon and Mars positions on UFO waves, introducing the concept of a 'Moon Space Window' (MSW) and 'Mars Window.' It analyzes UFO flight patterns in the US and UK, correlating them with lunar and planetary cycles. The article also touches upon the possibility of UFOs originating from Mars or other stellar systems, and the optimal times and flight corridors for such travel.

Science Eye: This section highlights scientific advancements, including Princeton University's breakthrough in nuclear fusion producing electricity with minimal radioactive waste. It also mentions astronomers in Edinburgh potentially explaining dark matter as consisting of black holes and invisible planets. A new, massive prime number has been discovered, calculated by a super-computer.

The Fort Dimension: Dedicated to Charles Fort, this column features an article titled 'Raining Cats and Frogs!' by J Fairhurst. It compiles historical reports of objects falling from the sky, including showers of frogs in Trowbridge and Selsey, and hay falling in Stone. The article speculates that whirlwinds and tornados might be responsible for vacuuming up small creatures and depositing them elsewhere, questioning how they survive the process.

Ulster's Vintage Crop Circles: This article discusses crop circles found in Ulster, predating those reported in August of the previous year. It mentions a photograph published in the Mourne Observer and details the location revealed by the Belfast Telegraph.

Europe Tackles UFOs: This piece reports on an EC plan to establish a European Observation Centre for UFOs, facing objections from British MPs.

Cylindrical Object: A witness in Yeovil reported seeing a glowing cylindrical object in the sky.

UFO Patterns & Predictions (Continued): This section further analyzes UFO wave calculations and discusses the correlation of UFO sightings with the positions of the Moon and Mars. It explains the concept of a 'Moon Space Window' (MSW) and its relation to UFO activity peaks, particularly in the US and UK. The article also mentions 'Moonquakes' observed by Apollo seismometers and their connection to these phenomena.

Science Eye (Continued): The article discusses the possibility of predicting UFO waves using the Moon Space Window (MSW) and the 2 MSW's, taking into account flight times and lunar perigee.

Animal Crackers: This section presents a collection of unusual animal stories: fishermen rescuing a dog miles offshore in the Pacific; a wild boar causing chaos in Kyoto; an African cat stowaway delaying a flight; a cow at a wedding reception dying of rabies; an escaped budgie returning home by speaking its name and address; a woman finding a snake in her hire car; a monk trying to sell a Siamese cat for a large sum; a boy catching a piranha; and Russian police shooting a cow that attacked a woman and child.

Strange Lands: This section includes reports of a mysterious canal discovered in Honduras, a sea fire near Vladivostock attributed to oil pollution, and a letter in a bottle found 51 years after being sent.

Mermaid: Legend or Red Herring?: This article examines the legend of mermaids, citing various historical reports from Hong Kong, Cairo, the Isle of Man, and Ireland. It discusses potential explanations for the myth, including manatees and dugongs, and mentions Victorian-era fakes.

Nessie: Monster or Myth?: This piece reviews the results of a five-month survey of Loch Ness sponsored by the Discovery Channel. It discusses scientific investigations, witness testimonies, and the examination of famous sightings. The article also touches upon the implications of a larger-than-expected fish population in Loch Ness for the existence of a breeding population of water monsters.

In Review: This section provides brief reviews of several magazines: NEXUS, THE CEREALOGIST, ENIGMAS, COSMOLOGY NEWS, FORESIGHT, NORTHERN UFO NEWS, THE CROP WATCHER, THE GATE, and ALIEN SCRIPTURE.

Cat Beast Identified: This article investigates reports of a large, black cat-like creature, possibly a puma or black leopard, sighted in Exmoor and Bodmin Moor. It includes eyewitness accounts and expert opinions, suggesting the creatures may be breeding successfully in the UK.

Out Of Bounds: This short piece reports on a wallaby that escaped from a wildlife park and is roaming the Quantock hills.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores the unexplained, the mysterious, and the fringe aspects of science and folklore. There is a clear interest in UFO phenomena, cryptids, and historical anomalies. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting various accounts and theories without necessarily endorsing them, as stated in the 'Submissions' section: "The opinions and views expressed by contributors to this magazine are not necessarily shared or endorsed by the Editor."

The magazine encourages reader contributions and aims to provide a platform for diverse perspectives on the unexplained. The inclusion of 'The Fort Dimension' column highlights a respect for historical researchers like Charles Fort, who approached strange phenomena with a questioning and investigative spirit.

This is the December 1993 issue of FATE magazine, Volume 46, Number 12, with a cover price of $3.00. The main cover story is about an "AMAZONIAN MONSTER HUNT", with a secondary headline "A DEVIL OF A NAME". The magazine features a variety of articles on unexplained phenomena, paranormal events, and unusual occurrences from around the world.

Amazonian Monster Hunt

The lead article details a planned expedition by American biologist David Oren to the Amazonian rain forest to track a creature believed to be a giant ground sloth, extinct for 10,000 years. The creature, named 'mapinguari' by local tribes, is described as a shaggy beast the size of a 280lb man, known for ripping heads off victims and possessing a strange 'mouth in its belly' which may be a gland releasing foul-smelling gas.

Mighty Mollusc

This short piece reports the discovery of a rare, ten-inch mollusc by groundsman Frazer Jepson on a beach in North Devon, UK. The mollusc, initially thought to eat vegetation, surprised its caretaker, Angela Jepson, by preferring chicken.

Thanks to Agent Orange?

Wildlife experts have confirmed the existence of an extremely rare species of one-horned rhinoceros in Vietnam's Lam Dong province. Once thought to be a Vietnamese myth, a herd of about ten has been discovered, leading conservationists to call for a nature reserve to prevent extinction. The animal, which evolved 10 million years ago, resembles a cross between a horse, antelope, and ox.

A Devil of a Name

This article recounts an incident where Reverend Clive Kirke of St Andrew's Church, Litherland, Merseyside, refused to baptise a baby named Damien. He cited the name's association with the devil and the film 'The Omen'. The child's mother, Gaynor Brennan, and her partner Colin, had previously had the baby baptised elsewhere without objection. The article contrasts this with the historical figures Saint Damian and Father Damien, who were known for their good deeds.

Unpredictable

A brief report from Polenza, Italy, states that Paulo Gallici shot fortune teller Mario Montebruno three times because he disliked his predictions. Police noted that Mario "didn't see it coming."

Kill Or Cure

The Argentine government has banned the import of Mexican holy water due to fears it could cause cholera.

Spirited Defence

An Australian pig farmer was cleared of manslaughter charges. He claimed he was trying to exorcise satanic spirits from his wife when she died, but the charges were dropped due to lack of evidence.

Hell's Cop Cracks

A Bangkok traffic policeman was diagnosed with severe mental illness after an incident where he switched off all the lights and danced amid chaos. He was nicknamed 'Hell Intersection'.

Wacky Doctor

A Cairo doctor beat a woman to death with a rod while attempting an exorcism on her, claiming she was possessed by evil spirits.

Spell (re) Bound

Kenya's only licensed witch hunter, Tsuma Washe, has died after allegedly being placed under an evil spell. Washe had a government permit to hunt witchdoctors and had denounced hundreds of victims.

666

Priest John Rona was fined £25 in Cebu, Philippines, for refusing to display a car licence plate that included the number 666, considered the mark of the Beast.

Satan of Swansea

Churchgoers in Swansea protested a statue of the Devil, which was fixed to a wall at the entrance to the Quadrant shopping centre, causing them great offence.

Old Flame

The Saltergate Inn near Whitby has kept a fire burning for 198 years as a symbol of respect and fear of the Devil, with legend stating that if the fire goes out, the Devil will appear.

Witch Report

An elderly woman in an eastern Indian village was beaten by residents after failing to revive a dead infant, and was accused of being a witch.

Hand of God

A Swiss driver caught speeding in Geneva claimed "God was driving my car" and was on his way to buy condoms to stop an Aids epidemic. The prosecution dropped the case after he refused to give evidence until God could be called as a witness.

Joke's On Him

Parish councillors refused to allow a joke epitaph, "I told them I was ill", on hairdresser Keith Woodward's headstone.

Unforgiving

Former soldier Ron Davies is in a dispute with a vicar over his father's headstone, which bears the letters RIP, as the vicar has banned it from his churchyard.

Robert the Bruce's family curse

An ancient curse is said to have dogged the Bruce family since the 18th century, stemming from a clan member smashing a church symbol. A cleansing ceremony was planned for September 20, 1993, in the Bruce family vault at St Margaret's, Westminster.

Satanism Scares

This section details fears of black magic rituals in Ballyshannon and Ballymoney, Northern Ireland. Reports include a stone mound resembling an altar, dead crows, animal cruelty (skinned cats, ducks hanging from a fence), a satanist symbol drawn in the earth, and candles found scattered. Councillor Charlie O'Kane expressed concern, while the RUC stated there was "no evidence whatsoever" connecting the graffiti and animal killings.

Bishop Freezes “moving statues"

The phenomenon of "moving statues" has reappeared in Ireland. An 18-year-old girl in Inchigeela, West Cork, reported a vision at a grotto, with another woman later seeing a similar vision. Bishop Michael Smith of the Irish Episcopal Conference urged caution and circumspection regarding these claims.

Psychic Investigation

Detectives investigating the murder of the Mid-Glamorgan couple Harry and Megan Tooze consulted a psychic, Jenny Croft, who has assisted other police forces. She attended a psychic fair and was requested to visit the murder scene.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently explores themes of the supernatural, unexplained phenomena, cryptozoology, and alleged paranormal activities. The magazine presents a wide array of anecdotal reports from various locations, often citing newspaper sources and dates, suggesting an editorial stance of documenting and reporting on these unusual events without necessarily endorsing them as factual, but rather as phenomena of interest to its readership. The inclusion of diverse cases, from alleged monsters and demons to psychic investigations and religious controversies, indicates a broad interest in the mysterious and unexplained aspects of life.