Doubt - No 48

Magazine Overview

Title: DOUBT
Issue: Whole Number 48
Volume: II
Date: 1931 AD (Fortean 13-month calendar used)
Publisher: The Fortean Society
Editor: Tiffany Thayer

This issue of DOUBT, the magazine of The Fortean Society, presents a collection of unusual events, anomalies, and phenomena, often referred to as 'Forteana.' The cover features a quote from Emerson: "Science does not know its debt to imagination," and an illustration that visually represents the magazine's theme of exploring the unexplained.

Contents and Articles

First Prize: Correspondents' Reports

The "First Prize" section highlights contributions from various members, showcasing their findings and observations. Bob Steinberg submits two seemingly unrelated New York Post headlines from December 1954, suggesting a hidden connection. Jack Campbell reports on a householder in Stockton-on-Tees who took it upon himself to pave his street, saving money. F. McMahon shares a story about Greenland Eskimos petitioning for direct taxation and a report on the number of Mau Mau killed in Kenya. Another piece from the Irish Press details how long-term prisoners helped the National Library of Ireland with cataloging. The section also includes a story about a sharpshooter, an Army Engineers' bridge built over dry land due to a river's course change, and the unusual situation of Eskimos seeking direct taxation.

Other Notable Reports and Anecdotes

The magazine is replete with diverse anecdotes and reports from correspondents across the globe:

• Reincarnation Claims: A church organist in Gaza, Egypt, believed he was the reincarnation of an ancient Egyptian general and planned an expedition with a woman who claimed to have been a hand-maiden to a pharaoh. The expedition was later cancelled.
• Goldfish Behavior: A goldfish named Peter in West Denton, England, leaped out of its tank, was found unable to swim, and was reportedly helped by its owner who attached a piece of cork to its back.
• First Aid Mishap: A policeman in Haltwhistle, England, fractured his ribs while acting as a casualty in a first-aid lecture.
• Burglar Alarm Incident: In Dennison, Ohio, a bank's burglar alarm rang for an hour and a half, leading to confusion and a fire truck stalling.
• Gull Behavior: Gulls in Mystic, Conn., were observed dropping clams through window glass to crack them, with one incident resulting in a woman being hit on the head.
• Indian Stories: The issue features two stories about Native Americans: John Rice of Sioux City, Iowa, and Ira Hayes of the Pima Reservation in Arizona, both of whom served in the US armed forces and were buried with military honors, though their stories highlight issues of racial discrimination.
• Moon Observations: Dr. H. Percy Wilkins, a British selenographer, announced that the moon is cracking up, with 'cracks' sighted since 1891.
• Unexplained House Intrusion: In Santa Clara, Calif., a man returned home to find a picture on his wall that had not been there before, with no signs of forced entry.
• 'Uranium Tunnel' Operation: A farmer in Lone Rock, Wis., was stopped from operating a 'uranium tunnel' where people paid to sit in an enclosure lined with bags of low-grade uranium ore.

Meteorite Encounters

Several accounts detail meteorite impacts:

• Sylacauga, Alabama: A nine-pound meteorite struck a home, bruising the resident.
• Winchester, England: Two meteorites pierced an observatory dome, one so hot it fused aluminum from the roof.
• Darby Township, Pennsylvania: A ball of fire crashed through a window, exploded, and set fire to a room.
• Near Seattle, Washington: L. L. Hawthorne, an amateur astronomer, reported a meteorite that broke a clock and set fire to his books.

Environmental and Industrial Anomalies

• Los Angeles Smog: The issue reports on a severe smog in Los Angeles that led to health issues and police roadblocks.
• 'Gray and Cobwebby' Substance Fall: A strange, 'gray and cobwebby' substance fell over a half-mile square in Horseheads and Elmira, N.Y., for twenty-four hours, described as radioactive but not dangerously so.
• Explosions: Reports include an explosion in a shed in Cornwall, England, and an explosion in the firebox of a moving passenger train in Wales.
• Synthetic Drug Industry: An article discusses the rapid obsolescence of new drugs in the pharmaceutical industry, leading to mergers and diversification.

Other Noteworthy Items

• Blasphemy Law: A case in New Britain, Connecticut, involved a man arrested under an old law prohibiting blasphemy, who was subsequently sent to a mental hospital.
• Fortean Fellowship Nominations: Several individuals are nominated for the Fortean Fellowship, including James F. Lincoln for his views on the Korean War, Walt Kelly for his cartooning, M. H. Alexander for withdrawing his son from school over an oath, Bruce A. Wallace for his views on the flag, Dr. Alvin Johnson, Robert Graves for his historical theories, and Kenneth Roberts for his books on dowsing.
• Posthumous Forteans: Arthur Garfield Hays and Joseph McCabe are noted as significant figures who have passed away, contributing to the cause of civil liberties and atheism, respectively.
• Sicilian Superstition: A legend from the Lipari Island group states that when Stromboli and Etna erupt simultaneously, it will be the end of the world. The issue notes recent eruptions of Stromboli.
• Volcanic Activity: Etna and Stromboli are reported to be active, with descriptions of lava flows and earth tremors.
• Stenches: A foul odor was reported in New York City, described as smelling like cooking cabbage or rotten cabbage.
• 'Vardefjell' Ship Incident: A new tanker, the Vardefjell, is called a "jinx ship" due to a series of unfortunate events, including a death aboard and launch delays.
• Earth's Growth Theory: The magazine reiterates the theory that the Earth is steadily growing, citing new measurements of Mount Everest's height.
• Radio-Controlled Rockets: Experiments are underway for radio-controlled rockets to transport parcels between the US and Europe.
• 'Liquid Petroleum Gas': This new motor fuel is discussed as being cheaper than gasoline in Amsterdam and The Hague.
• 'Light' Power Radio: A West Berliner has perfected a radio that operates on light power instead of electricity.
• 'Pink Tinged' Sea Water: Sailors report the sea off New Ireland taking on a "definite pink tinge."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of DOUBT are the exploration of phenomena that lie outside the realm of conventional scientific understanding, the importance of imagination in scientific inquiry, and the collection of unusual anecdotes from around the world. The editorial stance, as embodied by Tiffany Thayer and The Fortean Society, is one of open-mindedness and a willingness to investigate and report on events that challenge established norms. The magazine encourages critical thinking and a broad perspective, often questioning official explanations and highlighting the limitations of current scientific knowledge. There is a consistent emphasis on the value of individual observation and the reporting of 'Forteana' by its membership.

This issue of "More Notes of Charles Fort" (pages 341-343) is a continuation of the chronological presentation of Charles Fort's extensive notes on unexplained phenomena. The publication is from The Fortean Society, based in the USA, and is written in English.

Anomalous Precipitation and Falling Objects

The issue details numerous instances of unusual precipitation and objects falling from the sky. These include:

• Hailstones: In Maihdia, India, on December 31, 1954, hailstones were so large they damaged roots and killed five people.
• Yellow Ice: On December 1, 1954, near Greensboro, North Carolina, a chunk of yellow ice, described as 'stinking to high heaven' and the size of a shoe, fell. The finder, Benny Lewis, was hoping scientists would offer to buy it.
• Brown Snow: On January 16, 1955, brown snow fell in abundance at Largo, Scotland. A correspondent, Cr Gee, speculated it might be the same substance that caused a blackout in London.
• Carp: After a rainstorm in Arcadia, California, on November 11, 1954, carp were found in street gutters, attributed to 'snow run-off gutters' carrying meltwater, with local guesses suggesting a lake overflowed.
• Sardines: A syndicated feature by Elsie Hix mentioned that in Yoro, Honduras, 'thousands of sardines' fall annually during the rainy season, typically around 5 o'clock in the afternoon.
• Yellow Ice: A chunk of yellow ice, stinking 'to high heaven', the size of a shoe, fell near Greensboro, N.C., on the morning of 12-1--54. No planes were seen or heard. It was put in a jar and subsequently melted. The finder, Benny Lewis, was treasuring the liquid at last reports, hoping that some scientists would make him an offer.

Displaced Critters and Strange Occurrences

The publication also highlights several instances of animals appearing in unexpected locations or exhibiting unusual behavior:

• Rattlesnake: A dead rattlesnake was found in a street in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The origin was unknown, with speculation it might have fallen from a Texan's car.
• Alligator: During a rainstorm, a two-foot alligator was observed walking down Wilshire Boulevard in Beverly Hills, California. Its origin was also a mystery.
• Birds: Two black birds, approximately 3 feet high, landed in the street of Blaydon-on-Tyne, walked past a police station, and then flew to perch on buoys in the river. Observers noted they looked like 'black swans'.
• Octopus: An octopus with two-foot long tentacles was found by four boys in a creek near Grafton, West Virginia, and given to the dog-catcher.
• Eureka Phenomenon: A resident of Eureka, California, discovered a 'strange white solution' on his roof that removed graphite and bared shingles, believed to have been thrown there by someone. The publication asks a local member to inquire further from Mrs. John Semenoff.

Civil Defense and Other News

Brief news items include:

• Civil Defense: A new Civil Defense strategy involves 'enlisting' supervisory employees as a body to ensure they obey orders or face job loss.
• Frank Lloyd Wright Design: Conrad L. Wirth of the National Park Service rejected a restaurant design by Frank Lloyd Wright for Yosemite National Park, deeming it unsuitable for the scenery.
• Infant Death: A five-week-old infant in West Islip died, apparently from a 'severe, quick acting virus'.
• Snowy Owls: Snowy owls appeared in the New York area out of their usual four-year cycle, contrary to their typical synchronicity with lemmings.
• Dust Storms: Unprecedentedly dense dust storms occurred around Riverhead and the Hamptons, Long Island, causing topsoil loss.
• School Window Breakage: A Federal grand jury in Chicago investigated whether glaziers might have inspired school window breakage, which was costing schools significant amounts annually.
• J.B.S. Haldane: The British scientist stated it was possible he would die as a citizen of the Indian republic.

Book Reviews and Society Notes

The issue includes several book reviews and announcements:

• 'The Foundations of Intelligence' by Brother Williams: Described as a 'simplified approach to four-dimensional logic'.
• 'An Almanac of Liberty' by William O. Douglas: A book arranged by date, highlighting reasons for pride in American liberty.
• Books by Scott and Helen Nearing: 'Man's Search for the Good Life' and a collaboration on making a living from a maple sugar bush.
• 'Contradictions in Darwinian Source-books' by W. L. McAtee: A pamphlet by a retired professor critiquing Darwinism.
• 'Budget of Paradoxes' by Augustus De Morgan: A reissue of a classic work known for its wit and exploration of human quirks.
• 'FLATLAND' by A. Square (Edwin A. Abbott): A reprinted work described as a 'romance of many dimensions' and a philosophical preachment against intolerance.
• 'Natural History in Water Pipes' by George Wetzel: An 18-karat Fortean item detailing critters found in tap water.
• 'Crisis and Resurrection' by Samuel Greiner: A book that probes 'our carrion roots', with a caution to readers who are not open to challenging established prejudices.
• 'American Seances with Eusapia Palladino' by Hereward Carrington: A new work by Honorary Founder Hereward Carrington.
• 'The Books of Charles Fort' (4 volumes in 1): A compilation of Charles Fort's major works.

In the Sky

The section "In the Sky" reports 117 'saucer' items and 11 reports of meteors or fireballs that were not described as 'saucers'. Notable mentions include:

• Meteors/Fireballs: Two airline pilots over Florida changed course to avoid a meteor that appeared very close. On the same night, February 7, an object 'likened to an exploding star' was observed in Salt Lake City, Utah. Another similar object was seen on February 6.
• Comparison of Sightings: MFS Gearhart is seeking exact times for these sightings to determine if they were the same phenomena, requesting Florida members to report times for February 6 and 7.
• 'FIREBALLS' Magazine: A group in Tasmania is publishing a magazine called 'FIREBALLS', which is described as trying to be less 'zany' than most.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the documentation of anomalous and unexplained phenomena, often referred to as 'Fortean' events. The editorial stance, as represented by the content and the continuation of Charles Fort's work, is one of open inquiry into events that defy conventional scientific or rational explanation. The publication encourages readers to submit their own observations and highlights books that challenge established beliefs or offer alternative perspectives on intelligence, society, and the natural world. There is a clear emphasis on presenting factual accounts of unusual occurrences, even if their causes are unknown, and on providing resources for those interested in these topics.