Doubt - No 52

Magazine Overview

Title: DOUBT
Subtitle: THE FORTEAN SOCIETY MAGAZINE
Volume: II
Issue: Whole Number 52
Date: 1931 AD (referred to as 'the year 1 FS')
Editor: Tiffany Thayer
Price: 35c. (USA), 2/- (Great Britain)

This issue of DOUBT magazine, published by The Fortean Society, presents a collection of intriguing and often bizarre news items and observations, reflecting the society's interest in the unexplained and the anomalous. The cover features a quote from Emerson: "Science does not know its delft to imagination," alongside a striking illustration and the statement, "SCIENCE-GODLESS-MONSTER-SUCH AS-THE-WORLD-HAS-NEVER-BEHELD."

Contents and Articles

First Prize

• This section highlights various curious news clippings submitted by members. Notable items include:
• A headline from the Daily Mail: "NEW WARNING BY BRITAIN / STOP TROUBLE OR WE CEASE SENDING ARMS" into the Middle East.
• A recommendation from Eugene P. Cronkite for a nationwide vaccination program against atomic radiation injury.
• Information from Dr. Helen Spurway (wife of Fortean scientist J. B. S. Haldane) suggesting that virgins may bear without artificial insemination.
• A story about Fiore Pignatoro finding a newspaper clipping from 1897 in a painting, which mentioned 'earth men' in contact with Mars.
• An AP dispatch about a "fieldgun" found on the highest ledge of Stonehenge.
• A report on Mrs. Sally Moody's ambition to have dog breeders fined in Los Angeles.
• The tragic story of John Sainsbury, who died after consuming stomach powder mixed by Miss Verna Crewe, who also died after testing it herself.
• An account of an "Oriental Kaspar Hauser" found in Annapolis, unable to communicate.
• A report on Dr. Robert J. Dwyer's rampage in a laboratory, wounding colleagues and himself.
• An incident where a "heavy object," possibly a missile booster, fell onto a natural gas pipeline.

International Press Institute Report

The International Press Institute meeting in Zurich found that only three countries (Britain, Belgium, and Denmark) had "full" press freedom, with the USA cited for "restrictions considerably impede free access to official information."

Correspondence and Notes

• MFS Markham is mentioned for correspondence, though specific content is not detailed here.
• Dr. George Gerard predicts that future aircraft may be designed for only a few hours of use.

Mitchell's Best

• This section compiles more unusual news items:
• Seven members of the U.S. Weather Bureau were assigned to regional Civil Defense offices.
• The National Geographic Society is mystified by "lowly ice worms" found in Washington State.
• An expedition to see an eclipse in Bangkok noted that Manila was in a different location than previously thought, which Mitchell suggests might relate to the "Thayer Theory of a constantly growing Earth."
• An archaeologist is "baffled" by a "mysterious geometrical design" found in Neptune's temple at Isthmia.

Jack Campbell Writes

Campbell proposes the formation of a "Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to People" (SPCP), modeled on the SPCA, to address and denounce activities that inflict cruelty on humans, distinct from human rights or civil liberties.

Bath-Tub Swirls Etc.

An inquiry is posed to Forteans in the Southern Hemisphere about the direction of bath water swirls down the drain, with a request for observations on pigs' tails and dogs' bedding-down paths.

Compass at the Poles

An inquiry is made for observations or descriptions of magnetic compass behavior at the Earth's poles.

Robert Lindner

A tribute to Dr. Robert Lindner, who died at 41, is presented. He is remembered as a brilliant thinker whose book "Must You Conform?" is highly recommended. His death is described as a blow to Forteanism and rational thinking.

Floor of Plato

Robert Weirauch, a new astronomer member, is interested in observing the lunar crater Plato, which exhibits phenomena such as drastically changing shadows, a convex/concave floor, and varying numbers of smaller craterlets.

Falls

• This section details various unusual falling phenomena:
• "Fat" rained from the sky in Corsano, Italy.
• Fish were plastered against rock shelving by wind in Port Hastings, Nova Scotia.
• "Pieces of brass-like metal" fell in Peckham, England, injuring a woman.
• A dead frozen fish crashed through a car's windshield in Alexandria, Virginia.
• "Strange looking stones" fell on a house in Black Mountain, North Carolina, one of which contained a garnet and copper colored liquid.
• A "ball of honeycombed ice" fell from a clear sky in Jefferson, Pennsylvania.
• Black and orange-red-stained houses in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, were attributed to a nearby factory.

Pink Fog

A "pink fog" covered a 40-mile stretch from London to Bridlington, England.

Displaced Red

A rare bird, a "spotted redshank," appeared in a Rhode Island marsh.

N.Y.C. Stinks

Greater New York experienced a stench from midnight until 9 a.m., with no explanation.

Credits and Thanks

Acknowledgements are given to members for contributions, particularly for items related to lights and unidentified objects in the skies. Thanks are also extended for information on the Moberly-Jourdain story and Rosicrucians.

Dr. Frederick A. Cook: American Dreyfus?

By Russell W. Gibbons. This article critically examines the historical narrative surrounding the claims of Arctic explorers Dr. Frederick A. Cook and Robert E. Peary. Gibbons, an Associate of the Arctic Institute of North America, argues that history has wrongly favored Peary and discredited Cook, presenting evidence and suggesting that Cook's claims to have reached the North Pole and Mt. McKinley may be valid. The article criticizes the "accepted" Peary version and the historical geographers and institutions that have perpetuated what Gibbons calls a "greatest fallacy of recorded history."

World Citizens

Caresse Crosby is mentioned as Counselor to the Commonwealth of World Citizens, with plans to adopt a constitution in September. Readers are invited to write to the address provided and send a dollar or two to help with printing bills.

Prose: Let the Laugh Not Be Held Blasphemy

This piece, submitted by Andre Wurmser, argues for the importance of laughter and joy, even in the face of societal discontent. It suggests that laughter is a vital part of life and a sign of hope for a better future.

Fort in French

This section announces the French translation of Charles Fort's "The Book of the Damned" (Le Livre des Damnes) by Louis Pauwels. It mentions that Robert Benayoun made the translation and wrote a presentation, with contributions from Jacques Bergier and Tiffany Thayer.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of DOUBT revolve around the unexplained, the anomalous, and the challenging of established scientific and historical narratives. The editorial stance, as embodied by The Fortean Society and Tiffany Thayer, is one of open inquiry, skepticism towards conventional explanations, and a willingness to explore even the most outlandish claims. The magazine actively encourages reader participation through submissions and inquiries, fostering a community of individuals interested in the fringes of knowledge. The critical examination of the Cook-Peary controversy highlights a deep-seated distrust of established authorities and a commitment to re-evaluating historical accounts based on evidence, even if it contradicts popular belief.

This issue of "MORE NOTES of CHARLES FORT" (Volume 407, Issue 407, dated July-August 1957) is published by The Fortean Society and focuses on challenging established historical narratives, particularly concerning the Arctic exploration controversy between Frederick Albert Cook and Robert Peary, alongside a compilation of unusual phenomena.

The Cook-Peary Controversy

The article begins by detailing how Dr. Cook's 1951 narrative, "Return From the Pole," received positive reviews but was later subject to a media blackout orchestrated by figures like George Seldes, who suggested a tie-up between Grosvenor and the digest's editor to protect the "reputable standing" of geographic institutions.

It highlights previous attempts to suppress favorable information about Cook, including four manuscripts bought up or sabotaged in the 1930s. One notable instance involved Professor Andrew Freeman, commissioned to write a book on the affair, whose findings strongly supported Cook's honesty and Peary's dishonesty. The publisher paid advance royalties but suppressed the manuscript, which has not been published in twenty years.

Popular magazines like the American Mercury and Real America published articles supporting Cook in the 1930s without refutation from Peary enthusiasts. Ted Leitzell, author of the Real America series, became a Cook champion but later joined Zenith Corporation, which coincidentally had Donald B. McMillan (a Peary expedition member) on its board. More recently, in 1953, Bluebook magazine published John Euller's article "The Great North Pole Lie," featuring a cover image of Peary captioned "This man was a liar!" This revived the controversy, causing geographers to scramble.

The article then addresses the persistent claim that the Cook-Peary squabble is a "laid ghost." It poses the question of whether Cook, in a "lone wolf" expedition, could have achieved what Peary failed to do with extensive resources.

Debunking Charges Against Cook

The article systematically refutes eight charges leveled against Cook:

1. Hoaxer/Con Man: Cook was known in 1909 as a surgeon and explorer of high merit, having served with Peary. He was knighted by the King of Belgium in 1900 for his services in the Belgian Antarctic expedition and honored by scientific societies, including the National Geographic Society, for his Mt. McKinley attainment. He authored best-selling books and was praised by fellow explorers like Amundson, Greeley, and Peary himself. His moral integrity was such that only Peary doubted his polar claim.
2. Mt. McKinley Claim: Cook's Mt. McKinley attainment was public record before the polar controversy. Critics only questioned it after Peary's attack. His book was published before his Arctic journey, and subsequent experts confirmed his success.
3. Eskimo Testimony and Instruments: The article dismisses conflicting Eskimo testimony reported by Peary's associate McMillan, citing Roald Amundson's skepticism towards Eskimo accounts. Cook's nautical and astronomic observations were deemed credible by five qualified experts in 1914. Peary allegedly refused to return Cook's instruments from his ship Roosevelt, and shipmates testified they were buried in northern Greenland.
4. University of Copenhagen Findings: While the University of Copenhagen initially found Cook's records insufficient proof in 1909, they had awarded him an honorary degree for his Polar quest. The article notes that Admiral Schley suggested Peary submit his records to Copenhagen as well, which was met with accusations of an "insult to American Science."
5. "Confession" of "Polar Delusions": The article states Dr. Cook never made such a confession. It attributes this claim to a Peary conspiracy involving planned insertions in his story in Hampton's magazine while Cook was lecturing in England. Hampton's later admitted this, and O. O. McIntyre, the editor, confessed to it, described by Driscoll as "the most dastardly deed in the history of journalism."
6. "Run Away" from Scientific Investigation: On the contrary, Dr. Cook pressed for a congressional investigation and an international commission of explorers to decide the controversy. Peary declined Chautauqua offers to debate Cook.
7. Lack of Scientific Recognition: Dr. Cook was acknowledged as the discoverer of the Pole by prominent explorers like Amundson, Greeley, Schley, Sverdrup, Nordenskjold, Cagni, and Baldwin. He was honored by the Royal Danish Geographical Society (which refused to honor Peary), the Geographical Institute of Berlin University, the German Geographic Review of Vienna, the International Bureau of Polar Research, and the Arctic Club of America. Polar scientists like Professor Brewer and Professor Wright of Yale, and Professors Leclercq and Lecointe of the Belgian Royal Observatory, supported him. The oceanographer Prince Albert of Monaco reportedly wrote a corroborating monograph.
8. Conviction and Imprisonment: The article suggests Cook's conviction in 1923 was influenced by anxiety over the growing demand to vindicate him, referencing the Lietzel series in Real America and Pohl's introduction to "Return." Many present at the trial contended he was unjustly convicted.

Revival of the Controversy

Fredrick A. Cook died in 1940, still labeled "Doc Cook the faker." The renewed attention to the Arctic in the sixteen years since his death, driven by military significance (Russian landings in 1936, US operations in the Arctic Basin), has brought forth new phenomena. The "Ice Islands," first defined and observed forty years after Cook and Peary, are highlighted.

Air Force observers in 1952 identified "T-3" as a fresh-water ice island, a break-off from the Ellsmire glacier. This matched Dr. Cook's 1911 description of "Bradley Land." The Journal of the Arctic Institute of North America (July 1952) noted the historical significance of this, and military personnel like Colonel Joe Fletcher recognized Cook's 1908 observation as important, showing he was geographically distant from the Pole when he described it, contradicting the Peary crowd's claim that he never went ninety miles into the Polar Sea.

The article concludes that geographic societies that previously shunned Cook are unlikely to admit their error. Cook's posthumous book was hailed in Europe but largely ignored in the US, continuing the pattern of ignoring his European recognition and the debunking of the Peary myth decades prior. The author draws a parallel between Cook's tragedy and that of Columbus: rejected, despised, imprisoned, and dying neglected, with honors only potentially coming posthumously.

Charles Fort's Notes

The latter part of the issue presents "MORE NOTES of CHARLES FORT," transcribed chronologically from his manuscript notes, starting with the year 1800 AD. These notes are presented in a serialized format, alternating between records of non-human phenomena and records of persons. The handwriting is described as difficult, often in symbols and code, filling 32 boxes.

Notable Entries from the Notes:

• July-August 1957: Mentions of meteors, including one exploding at Norwich with no sound; strange objects seen near the sun during an eclipse; and a "fiery red" object that disappeared near Herring's Gate.
• June 1869: Reports of an earthquake in San Francisco followed by sea waves; a severe quake in Christchurch, New Zealand; and a peculiar incident at the Feathers Hotel in Manchester involving an "indescribable presence."
• August 1869: A significant entry details a shower of "flesh and blood" and short, fine hair falling over two acres in Los Nietos Township, California, described by witnesses and the local newspaper. Another report from Llangollen, Wales, mentions a similar shower of flesh attributed to vultures.
• July 1869: Includes reports of a great water eruption in Colopaxi, Ecuador; a waterspout in Chenoa, Illinois; and dry fog over Europe, with maximum effects noted in Palermo and Paris.
• August 1869 (continued): Mentions of a "dark spot on Copernicus," a large meteor over New York City, and lumps of ice causing damage in Basle.
• August 1869 (continued): A description of a strange animal caught in a rabbit trap in Slane, County Meath, Ireland, with unusual physical characteristics.
• September 1869: Notes on the "Gipsy moth" and its introduction to North America.

Other Fortean Entries:

The notes also include a wide array of phenomena such as "destructive whirlwinds," "waterspouts," "dry fogs," "severe quakes," "met bursts" (meteors), "luminous objects," "insect years," "locusts," and "swarms."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the questioning of established historical accounts, particularly in the realm of exploration and scientific consensus, and the meticulous cataloging of anomalous phenomena. The editorial stance is clearly in favor of re-examining suppressed or overlooked evidence, advocating for a more open-minded approach to historical events and natural occurrences that defy conventional explanation. The publication champions the work of Charles Fort by presenting his detailed records of the unexplained, suggesting that many accepted truths may be incomplete or deliberately misleading.