Bilk - no 038 - 1990 11

Magazine Overview

This is BILK, published by Ulrich Magin in Mutterstadt, F.R. Germany, for November 1990. It is a bi-monthly publication with subscriptions costing 15 German Marks per year. The cover features a whimsical headline about 'The last great American whale,' with humorous attributions of sightings.

Behemoth: Loch Ness and Lake Erie Monsters

The 'Behemoth' section focuses on lake monsters. For Loch Ness, it reports on a new book by German journalist Karl-Ernst Jipp, titled 'Nessie Das Rätsel von Loch Ness,' which explores various theories about the creature, including plesiosaur, giant eel, optical illusion, or hallucination. The book's availability is uncertain. Two new expeditions to Loch Ness are mentioned: a London bookmaker, William Hunt, has put a price of 700,000 Pounds on Nessie's head, inviting participants to search in October. A similar report from Berlin mentions a Paris enterprise offering 250,000 Pounds for proof of Nessie's existence, with researchers using sophisticated technology at the Loch on October 5. The issue also references a story from the British tabloid 'Sunday Sport' suggesting the Loch Ness Monster is a Nazi U-Boat from WWII, complete with a photo allegedly taken by an American tourist. This is contrasted with an older article from 'UFO-Nachrichten' (1972) by Ilse von Jacobi, who proposed the monster was a flying saucer powered by an electro-magnetic drive. The article also revisits the alleged prophecy of the Brahan Seer, which foretold the destruction of Inverness by fire and water when the monster was caught, noting that this prophecy appears to be a 20th-century invention traced back to a 1984 Scottish newspaper account. An earlier version from 'Fortean Times' (1979) is mentioned, which states the Brahan Seer foretold that 'when the Ness River is overbuilt nine times... a powerful sea monster will appear.' The author seeks earlier or different versions of this prophecy.

Moving to Lake Erie, USA, the magazine reports on a developing 'lake monster myth.' Isolated reports from 1985 and 1987 are mentioned, followed by a significant sighting on September 4 by Harold Bricker, his wife, and son. They observed a gigantic, black creature, approximately 11 meters (37ft) long with a snake's head, surfacing about 300 yards from their boat and moving rapidly. Following this report, five new witnesses came forward with similar sightings. The editor of a Port Clinton newspaper established a toll-free phone line for witnesses and initiated a naming competition, ultimately christening the creature 'South Bay Besse.' Thomas Solberg, a pier owner, has offered a $5000 reward for the monster's head, and the small harbor town has erected signs proclaiming it the 'Future home of the lake serpent.'

Mixed Bag: Diverse Sightings and Stories

The 'Mixed Bag' section presents a collection of disparate unusual reports:

• Elsbeth the Pygmy Hippopotamus: The story of Elsbeth, a pygmy hippopotamus that escaped from a circus and spent a week in the Rednitz River near Fürth, Germany, is recounted. Initially called a 'river monster,' Elsbeth was regularly spotted by tourists and police but evaded capture for a week in the Pegnitz and Regnitz Rivers. The pig-sized creature was eventually caught by a crew of policemen and helpers, with TV cameras present.

• Yemen Monitor Lizard: The discovery of an unknown, 3 ft monitor lizard in Yemen is noted, based on a TV documentary on Yemen wildlife.

• Autobahn Crocodiles: A traffic warning issued on September 6 alerted drivers to beware of crocodiles running wild on the Autobahn between Esslingen and Stuttgart, Germany. Police explained the warning had leaked from a training session.

• Gravel Pit Pike: A 1.50 m (5 ft) giant pike weighing 40 pounds is officially recognized as the 'monster' of a gravel pit in Schwansen, Germany. Despite claims from divers who have seen it, no evidence has been produced.

• 'Fur Trout' Fake: A report from the British Museum's 'Fake' exhibition in London features a 'fur trout,' a fish coated in fur due to cold water, which is a fake dating from the 17th century.

ISIS: Conil, Spain

According to a report by Jose Ruesga Montiel, several young witnesses in Conil, Spain, observed three humanoid creatures emerge from the sea on September 29, 1989. They initially believed the creatures came from a UFO. However, Ruesga suggests they were likely normal bathers mistaken for extraterrestrials after the 'Voronesh excitement' (referring to a previous UFO event).

USO: Das Drachen-Dreieck and Marine Life

• Book on 'Das Drachen-Dreieck': A new book by Charles Berlitz, published by Droemer Knaur, Munich, titled 'Das Drachen-Dreieck,' discusses the 'devil Sea' off Japan, described as a kind of Bermuda Triangle. The book includes accounts of ship disappearances, UFO reports, and sea serpent stories, largely drawn from Heuvelmans, with minimal referencing.

• Marine Life Sightings:
• Killer Whale: A killer whale has been living in Randers Harbour, Denmark, since July 9.
• Pilot Whales: A mass stranding of 60 pilot whales occurred at Cheticamp, Nova Scotia, Canada, with efforts made to save them.
• Sharks: A 7-meter (23 ft) basking shark was caught off Caro Isola d'Elba, Italy. A 3.8-meter (12 ft) white shark was caught off San Diego, California, by brothers Pete and John Busalacchi. The section also notes that sharks 'strike back,' referencing a California shark attack on a bather.
• Leatherback Turtles: Leatherback turtles are mentioned as using magnetism to navigate.

...AND...

• Lake Char Name: The original Indian name for Lake Char, Massachusetts, is provided: Chargog-gagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg, translated as 'I fish on my side, you fish on your side and nobody fishes in the middle.'

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of BILK are centered around unexplained phenomena, particularly lake monsters (Loch Ness and Lake Erie being prominent), but also extending to other unusual animal sightings, alleged extraterrestrial encounters, and mysterious events. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting on these phenomena, often citing multiple sources and sometimes questioning the validity or origin of the reports (e.g., the Brahan Seer prophecy, the Conil sighting). There is a clear interest in cryptozoology and ufology, with a tendency to present diverse theories and anecdotal evidence. The inclusion of a humorous poem and the naming of the Lake Erie creature suggest a lighthearted approach alongside serious reporting.