Creature Chronicles - No 12 - 1988 February

Magazine Overview

Title: Creature Chronicles
Issue: Number 12
Date: February 1, 1988
Publisher: R. Schaffner
Country: USA
Type: Independent Information and News Service on Wildlife Phenomena

Editorial: What Constitutes Evidence? The Trial Continues...

The editorial addresses the ongoing debate about the evidence for alleged phenomena, particularly Bigfoot. It revisits a previous discussion about using the legal system to prove Bigfoot's existence, acknowledging a skeptical viewpoint that requires actual proof, such as a live specimen. The publication notes that responses to its previous editorial have been mixed, with some favorable and others offensive.

Researcher Erik Beckjord of Malibu, California, is featured with a lengthy rebuttal, parts of which have been edited for clarity. Beckjord agrees that the Patterson/Gimlin film is significant but argues that without a body, no amount of evidence like blood, hair, feces, or even thousands of sightings will satisfy science. He states that scientists he has interviewed emphasize the need for a body or bones, which are never found. Beckjord outlines a three-stage progression for investigators: initial belief in their techniques, frustration with lack of results, and finally, either becoming a skeptic or investigating alternative theories.

Beckjord posits that Bigfoot may be an energy phenomenon rather than a physical one, capable of leaving traces but not remaining in a dead physical form. He believes that Bigfoot will find humans, not the other way around, and that attempts to shoot, kill, or trap it will fail. He suggests that the creature may find humans, and that the best approach is observation or photography. Beckjord concludes that Bigfoot does not exist on a physical basis in a permanent form but does exist on an energy basis, citing events in Rome, Ohio, in 1981/82 as making more sense in this light.

Editor's Response to Erik Beckjord

The editor expresses partial agreement with Beckjord's initial points but has significant issues with the rest of his draft, noting that his line of thinking cannot be proven or disproven without a specimen. The editor points out that Beckjord's theory about Bigfoot being an energy phenomenon is not new, having been formulated in the late 1960s by Fortean researchers like John A. Keel and Brad Steiger. The editor also suggests there are arguments to explain the lack of anatomical remains.

The editor refutes Beckjord's idea that investigators become skeptics solely due to bitterness or lack of results, calling it a fallacy among true believers. The editor states that questioning general acceptance does not mean losing interest, using personal examples of investigating phenomena like red rain or sewer alligators while still keeping records. However, the editor does question the existence of Bigfoot.

Investigating Anomalies and Eliminating Possibilities

The editor emphasizes the importance of eliminating all possibilities to properly investigate any alleged anomaly, thereby excluding misinterpretation or hoaxes. The editor notes that many skeptics want to believe in Sasquatch but cannot find indisputable hard evidence. The editor finds Beckjord's argument for an energy basis invalid because it can easily explain surrounding elements and enhance believability, potentially influenced by science fiction and horror media.

Regarding physical evidence like hair, blood, and tracks, the editor believes strict field investigations and interviews can eliminate problems. An example is given of an incident in Big Bone, Kentucky, in 1980, where a witness claimed to have shot a large animal, but evidence later suggested the shots hit two trees. Another case in Vinton County in 1980, where alleged blood was found, was never confirmed, and the editor questions how one could definitively link such blood to Bigfoot, even if it were from a primate. The editor also dismisses hair samples as inadmissible without a true comparative sample and notes that prints can be easily faked, even those with dermal ridges.

Conclusion on Bigfoot Origin

The editor concludes that a theory on Bigfoot's origin cannot be substantiated without an actual specimen. The core issue remains proving its existence. Once proof is established beyond reasonable doubt, then possibilities of physical and/or energy compositions can be examined. The editor characterizes this as a "no-win scenario" where the burden of proof remains with the believers.

Panther Pandomonium or "Cat-Scratch Fever"

This section presents a chronological listing of alleged "Panther" reports from the eastern United States, collected from newspaper accounts between 1984 and the present. The author acknowledges that these reports cannot be positively verified but believes there is sufficient evidence to suggest the existence of these felines.

Key Sightings and Incidents:

• May 30, 1984: Manchester, Michigan - Police Chief William Zsenyuk reported four sightings of a "cat-like" black animal with pointed ears and a tail 2½ to three feet long, weighing 100 to 150 pounds.
• June 6, 1984: Manchester, Michigan - Federal game officials and police, including Chief Zsenyuk and Officer Don Burger, encountered a black "leopard" weighing about 100 pounds.
• July 11, 1984: Wixom, Michigan - Rhonda Marshall saw a panther larger than a German shepherd.
• July 12, 1984: Wixom, Michigan - Ken St. Jean witnessed a large cat leap over an eight-foot fence.
• July 14, 1984: Wixom, Michigan - Police Sgt. Vern Darlington saw a five-foot-long cat.
• July 17, 1984: Coloma, Michigan - Two deliverymen saw a medium-sized cougar.
• July 18, 1984: Location unknown - U.S. Fish and Wildlife authorities and Chief Zsenyuk set a trap, but it failed. Two women sighted a large cat.
• July 20, 1984: Manchester, Wixom, Coloma, and Grand Rapids, Michigan - Authorities theorized three or four panthers were roaming, possibly escaped pets.
• August 13, 1984: Flint, Michigan - Employees of Fisher Body plant reported a large dark cat with a long tail.
• December 3, 1984: Flint, Michigan - A truckdriver claimed to have almost run over a panther. In Cincinnati, Ohio, a lion was reported.
• July & August, 1985: Michigan City and La Porte, Indiana - Approximately 40 people reported an alleged panther. Detective Kenneth Waltz noted the cat was about four feet long and weighed about 150 pounds, with possible dung and paw prints resembling a human double fist.
• August 17, 1985: La Porte, Indiana - Louis Keen saw a strange cat-like animal.
• August 29, 1985: La Porte, Indiana - Jim Williams saw a panther crossing a lawn.
• July 10, 1986: Milford, Michigan - A horse was found dead with its neck broken and clawed. Officer Rick Sharpe saw a large melanistic cat.
• July 11 & 12, 1986: Milford, Michigan - Officers observed a large feline, and one officer shot at it.
• July, week of the 7th, 1986: Pontiac, Michigan - Residents reported a Bobcat, with paw prints too large for a domestic cat.
• July 13, 1986: Milford, Michigan - Fini shot at the animal, finding blood drops. The animal was described as black, about five feet long, and weighing around 190 pounds.
• July, week of 14th, 1986: Milford, Michigan - Federal Game Officers converged, believing the cat was a leopard. It was suggested someone illegally brought leopards into Michigan for breeding.
• July 27, 1986: Nicholson, Pennsylvania - A striped cat resembling a tiger was observed.
• July 28, 1986: Wyoming and Susquehana Counties, Pennsylvania - Police continued a tiger hunt, using a deer carcass as bait.
• July 29, 1986: Newton Township, Pennsylvania - Gary Steier reported seeing a large orange cat.
• July 30, 1986: Jackson, Pennsylvania - Cindy Belmont and her brother saw a huge beige cat with a long tail.
• August 4, 1986: Waukegan, Illinois - A lion was reported in an apartment complex; later identified as a German Shepherd named Henny with a peculiar haircut.
• December 18, 1986: East Carondelet, Illinois - An alleged phantom feline was reported killing pet dogs. A black leopard struck a car. Mayor Herb Simmons and Police Chief Skip Mize claimed to have seen the animal.
• February 20, 1987: East Carondelet, Illinois - A woman reported seeing the animal outside her house.
• February 22, 1987: Dupo and Cahokia, Illinois - The Armstrongs saw a cat eating a carcass.
• May 29, 1987: Nauvoo, Alabama - Mayor Higgins reported half-dozen sightings of a black cat.
• June 14, 1987: Vineland, New Jersey - Reports of a large black cat with a long tail were received.
• June 19, 1987: Vineland, New Jersey - Officials found a paw print and clumps of black hair.
• August 15, 1987: Elkins, West Virginia - Benny McWilliams witnessed a cougar or mountain lion.
• September 21, 1987: Millstadt, Illinois - Large tracks were seen, and a large cat was observed leaping onto the road.

Theories on Panther Sightings

The article discusses various theories for the panther sightings, including escaped pets, particularly from drug dealers who might use exotic pets to mask illegal activities. The possibility of a large-scale conspiracy to release panthers into the US is deemed improbable but not entirely eliminated. The escaped/abandoned pet theory is considered the most logical, supported by testimony of a cat running with a domestic canine, which is common when hand-raising kittens.

Expert Opinions and Skepticism

Don Burger of the USFWS reported seeing a black leopard, and James Engle of the USFWS noted interest in alleged eastern cougar sightings, though black ones are rare. Steve Bircher of the St. Louis Zoo confirmed reliable reports of melanistic cats (cougars) but noted leopards and jaguars are not indigenous to North America. Dr. Amlung is convinced of a large cat roaming southern Illinois. However, officials in Ohio and West Virginia are skeptical, attributing sightings to wild dogs or coyotes. The article suggests wildlife officials should adopt a more rigorous discipline of investigation and population counts.

In Memory of Tim Curry

The publication dedicates future research endeavors to the memory of Tim Curry, an illustrator for Chronicles and a friend of the editor, who passed away. His talents are noted as significant.

Editor's Note to Readers

The editor thanks correspondents and staff members Charles Wilhelm, Mark Opsasnick, and George Green. The publication is duplicated by xerox and is free, operating on an exchange basis. Readers are asked to send postage stamps to cover shipping if they wish to receive the publication without an exchange.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the nature of evidence in paranormal and cryptozoological investigations, the challenges of proving the existence of elusive creatures like Bigfoot, and the reporting of numerous sightings of large, exotic cats (panthers) across the eastern United States. The editorial stance is one of critical inquiry, acknowledging the existence of unexplained phenomena while demanding rigorous evidence and logical explanations, and expressing skepticism towards theories lacking empirical support. The publication encourages reader participation and investigation.

This issue of The Huntsville Times, dated Sunday, October 11, 1987, features a collection of intriguing and mysterious reports from around the world. The main cover story focuses on "40 animal deaths are a mystery" in Geneva, Alabama. Other prominent articles include "Soviets tracking legendary yeti" and "Scientists discover 'new' cats." The publication also includes reports on a wolf attack on children in Egypt and a snake incident in Azerbaijan.

Animal Deaths Mystery in Geneva, Alabama

The lead story details the baffling deaths of approximately 40 animals, including pigs, dogs, and a horse, in Geneva, Alabama. Authorities are investigating, but the circumstances, particularly the reported ripping off of organs and the lack of blood, have led to a "stampede of evidence-trampling sightseers." Dot Kirkland, a Geneva County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman, noted that the mystery has attracted many people, hindering the investigation and posing potential dangers. Lloyd and Ann Stinson reported the deaths of two of their pigs and their stock boar, describing an unfamiliar sound heard around the time of the incidents. They expressed confusion, stating, "We've been studying books about animals and we can't figure out what this might be."

Soviets Tracking Legendary Yeti

A report from Moscow, via Tass news agency, reveals that a society created within the U.S.S.R. Ministry of Culture has initiated a search for the legendary yeti. The creature, described as large and manlike with a protruding forehead and eyebrows resembling "cap peaks," has reportedly been sighted over 100 times. Anthropologists have linked its features to the prehistoric Neanderthalman. The "society of cryptozoologists" aims to keep the government informed about efforts to find "man's shy next-of-kin," who is said to roam the snowy expanses of Siberia.

Scientists Discover 'New' Cats in Scotland

In London, reports indicate the discovery of a new type of large cat, previously unknown to science, in a remote part of Scotland. Dr. Karl Shuker, a Birmingham zoologist, believes these animals are a distinct species, too large for domestic cats and too slender for Scottish wildcats. The stuffed bodies of four such felines were displayed at a scientific meeting in Edinburgh. The first specimen, found near the village of Kellas, was preserved due to its unusual nature. These "Kellas cats" are described as long-limbed with powerful hind legs, a small head, prominent teeth, and a slender, muscular body. Six more have been found since the initial discovery. Samples from three frozen carcasses are being examined by Professor Robert Berry at University College, London.

Other Reports

Wolf Attacks Children in Egypt A brief report from Cairo states that a rabid wolf attacked and injured 11 children in Maghagha, a rural town south of Cairo, before escaping. Police patrolled the streets in search of the animal.

Reptile Rouses Girl to Rude Awakening In Moscow, an eleven-year-old girl named Matanet reportedly woke up from a nap having swallowed a 2-foot-long snake. Doctors later removed the reptile, identified as a Caucasian cat snake, from her stomach. The incident occurred in the village of Sabirabad in Azerbaijan.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue highlights a fascination with the unexplained and the discovery of the unknown, covering mysterious animal behavior, legendary creatures, and new species. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting on unusual phenomena and scientific investigations without overt skepticism, presenting the information as reported by news agencies and experts. The inclusion of diverse international reports suggests a broad scope of interest in unexplained events and natural discoveries.