Earth - No 08 - 1987

Magazine Overview

Title: EARTH
Issue: 8
Date: Autumn 1987
Publisher: EARTH MAGAZINE
Type: Bi-monthly publication

Editorial Content

This issue of EARTH Magazine, edited by Paul Bennett, delves into a diverse array of topics spanning Paganism, ufology, mysticism, and quantum mechanics. The cover boldly proclaims "PAGANISM, UFOLOGY, MYSTICISM, etc, etc, blah..." and highlights key articles including "SPRINGHEEL JACK, MEGALITHIC CARVINGS, QUANTUM CONSCIOUSNESS, HERBAL FOODS," and "Stone Circle Desecration, Ghosts, UFOs, Sarcasm, etc."

Editor's Notes and Letters

Paul Bennett, the editor, opens with a personal address, expressing enthusiasm for the content and addressing current events, including a critique of government legislation that could criminalize hitch-hiking. He also references his previous editorial regarding Pagan access to Stonehenge and cites the United Nation's Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 18, as grounds for challenging such restrictions. Bennett also announces that he has acquired a telephone, inviting readers to call him for various reasons.

The Old Stone Carvings: Known & Unknown, on Baildon Moor

This extensive article, authored by Paul Bennett, explores ancient stone cup and ring markings found on Baildon Moor and surrounding West Yorkshire areas. It references the work of the Ilkley Archaeology Group and local historian W. Paley Baildon, noting that many recorded carvings are no longer visible due to development and natural overgrowth. The article details specific carvings, including those with 'arc' designs and cup-and-ring motifs, and discusses potential numerological influences and their connection to geomantic energies. It highlights the challenges in dating and interpreting these ancient sites, suggesting that further research is needed.

The Quantum Connection: Part 2 - From Chaos to Uncertainty

Written by Peter Southwood, this article continues a series on quantum mechanics. It contrasts Newtonian physics with quantum theory, explaining concepts like "quantum jumping," probability waves, and the "uncertainty principle" formulated by Heisenberg. The article uses analogies such as family sizes and snooker to illustrate the probabilistic nature of quantum events. It introduces the idea that observation itself can influence the outcome of quantum events, challenging the detached observer model of classical physics. The concept of "wave functions" and their collapse is discussed, leading to the question of what controls this resolution.

Schrödinger's Cat and the Nature of Reality

This section further explores quantum mechanics, using Erwin Schrödinger's famous thought experiment of a cat in a box to illustrate the paradox of wave function resolution. It discusses three interpretations: the Copenhagen Interpretation (where collapse is in the mind), the Parallel Universes Theory (where all possibilities become actualities), and the Hidden Variable Theory (suggesting an unknown factor influences outcomes). The article favors the Hidden Variable Theory as a potential link between mind and matter, and touches upon the idea of "non-locality" and sub-quantum realms.

Nature's Bounty: The Coming of Autumn

This article focuses on the edible and medicinal properties of wild foods available in autumn. It discusses various plants and fungi, including hazel nuts, crab apples, blackberries, raspberries, bilberries, elder fruits, and fungi like Amanita Phalloides (with a strong warning about its toxicity). The author details the nutritional and medicinal benefits of hazel nuts, oak acorns, comfrey, burdock, and elderberries. It emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with nature's sustenance and criticizes modern Western culture's detachment from natural foods, warning of ecological disaster.

Interlude: "It's One of them Sailing Dingies"

This humorous and satirical piece by David Pendleton offers a commentary on contemporary events, including Middle Eastern conflicts, political issues in Britain, and environmental pollution. It uses vivid imagery to describe littering in urban and rural areas, contrasting the perceived beauty of nature with the human tendency to pollute it. The section also includes brief football results and historical anecdotes.

Barbrook Desecrated by English Heritage

Authored by Matthew Atha, this article reports on the damage inflicted upon the Barbrook stone circle, described as a "flattened type B" shape, by English Heritage. The site, along with the Nine Ladies stone circle, is highlighted as a sacred site for Pagan worship that has been subjected to vandalism and 'improvement' by authorities. The article details the physical damage, including the filling of trenches and the disturbance of the site, and calls for action to rectify the situation and spiritually reconsecrate the desecrated locations.

Crossword and Mobe

The issue includes a crossword puzzle with clues related to Paganism, ufology, and mythology. A small comic strip titled "Mobe..." features a humorous take on standing stones, interpreting them as "stone ace vibrators" rather than phallic symbols.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes an interest in ufology, Paganism, mysticism, and alternative perspectives on science and history. There is a strong emphasis on nature, herbalism, and ancient sites, often viewed through a spiritual or esoteric lens. The editorial stance appears to be critical of mainstream authorities and conventional scientific paradigms, advocating for a deeper understanding of the natural world and the esoteric. The publication encourages reader participation and interaction, as evidenced by the editor's invitation for calls and the inclusion of letters and a crossword puzzle.

Title: EARTH MAGAZINE
Issue: 8
Date: August - September 1987
Cover Headline: Spring Heeled Jack

The Legend of Spring Heeled Jack in Sheffield

The article by David Clarke explores the legend of Spring Heeled Jack, a figure who first gained notoriety in the London suburbs in the winter of 1837-38. While often dismissed as the disguise of a nobleman, the Marquis of Waterford, the true culprits were never apprehended. The legend permeated Victorian culture, entering the ranks of 'Penny Dreadfuls' alongside Jack the Ripper.

However, the article highlights that the 'leaping terror' also appeared in Sheffield and other Yorkshire towns during the late 19th century. Many older residents of Sheffield recall childhood stories of 'Spring Heeled Jack' being used as a threat. The primary location for these appearances in Sheffield was the Cholera Monument grounds off Norfolk Road, a site chosen for its historical context as a mass grave from the 1832 cholera epidemic.

The Sheffield 'Park Ghost' Scare of 1873

In April 1873, rumors circulated about a 'ghost' or 'something in white' appearing nightly in the Monumental Gardens and adjoining Clay Wood. Eyewitness accounts described an apparition in flowing white robes, smelling of brimstone, who would suddenly appear and disappear. Reports included a woman fainting in shock, and complaints to the police about a 'tall man covered with a sheet' who jumped out in lonely places.

The 'ghost' was seen not only in the Monumental Gardens but also in areas like Bernard Street, Haigh Lane, and Park Hill Lane. Initially dismissed, the sightings escalated, scaring the 'well-to-do' residents of Norfolk Road. The 'park ghost' was described as tall, gaunt, with an 'unearthly aspect,' skimming over the grounds with supernatural swiftness and making huge bounds into the air, reminiscent of Spring Heeled Jack.

One eyewitness claimed to have seen the apparition clear a fourteen-foot wall in a single bound. Another account described the 'ghost' seizing two young girls and throwing them over a stone fence. A volunteer reportedly shot the 'ghost' through the ankle, yet it bounded away.

Sheffield historian Henry Tatton provided a description of the 'Park Ghost' as someone who could spring like a goat, jump through walls and gates, appear robed in white, and vanish when approached.

Escalation and Public Reaction

By May 1873, the appearances became more daring, with sightings reported on Sky Edge, Arbourthorne, and Heeley Bank Road. Fear spread, leading people to carry sticks for self-defense, and several women were reportedly scared senseless, with the apparition even entering dwellings.

A writer for the Sheffield Independent noted the ghost's evasiveness and its habit of 'scudding through the Cholera burial grounds and steeple-chasing in the disused quarry.' The growing phenomenon attracted hundreds of people nightly, necessitating an extra police force to maintain order. Youths and ghost hunters armed with sticks, knives, and bulldogs gathered, attempting to confront the figure.

On the night of May 22, 1873, large crowds filled Norfolk Road and surrounding areas. The police, including PCs Ironside and Skellett, attempted to disperse the crowds but were met with thrown sticks and missiles, resulting in injuries, including a severe head wound for PC Ironside.

The following night, an estimated two thousand people congregated. Despite the police presence, the 'ghost' did not appear, leading to the crowd's eventual dispersal. A writer in the Sheffield Independent expressed frustration, appealing for the 'ghost' to leave the area, stating that the nightly battles between police and the public were not gratifying.

Later Sightings and Explanations

Following the Sheffield scare, the 'ghost' reportedly moved to other parts of the city, with sightings in St. Paul's churchyard, Upperthorpe, and Daniel Hill. The legend grew, with rumors multiplying and the figure becoming a common topic of conversation.

The article suggests that the 'ghost' eventually ceased its appearances, possibly indicating it was human. A prevailing belief was that the ghost was a 'young fellow of weak intellect' who had undertaken the nightly appearances for a wager of £50 if he could frighten individuals and evade capture. Henry Tatton suggested it might have been a member of a well-known family in the Park district acting out of 'sheer devilment.'

Details of the Sheffield appearances were consistent with other 19th-century sightings of 'Spring-Heeled Jack' across the country. The article notes later scares attributed to leaping figures in Everton (1904) and West Yorkshire towns like Bradford, Bingley, and Bierley (1926). While these could be practical jokes, the persistent mystery surrounding the identities of those involved is highlighted.

Joseph Somerfield, recalling his childhood, mentioned being threatened by 'Spring-Heeled Jack' and described its ability to lurk in hedge bottoms and jump over walls and roads. The mystery of Spring Heeled Jack remains unresolved to this day.

Book Reviews and Magazine Listings

The issue also includes several book reviews and listings of other magazines:

• UFOS 1947-1987: The Forty Year Search for an Explanation: Praised as a comprehensive compilation of UFO evidence, theories, and history, featuring articles from various UFO researchers.
• The All Saints Ley Hunt: A book investigating ley lines and ancient sites around the parish church of All Saints, Pocklington, East Yorkshire.
• The Giant of Penhill: Explores the search for a lost terrestrial effigy and its connection to local legends and earth mysteries.
• Strange Sheffield: Legends, Folklore & Mysteries of Hallamshire: A collection of local tales, including UFOs, ghosts, and paranormal events from Sheffield.
• The Hookah No.6 (June 1987): A magazine focused on the legalisation of cannabis, featuring articles on its social and medical aspects.

Listings for other magazines include Ley Hunter, Fortean Times, Lamp of Thoth, Northern Earth Mysteries, The Kabbalist, Northern UFO News, Chaos International, Dark Lily, Out from the Core, The Cauldron, UFO Brigantia, UFO Newsclipping Service, UFO Contact International, The Franz Bardon Foundation, The Hookah, and Magonia UFOs.

Shops selling related materials are also listed, such as Falcon Books of Saltaire, 10 Aromatics, The Body & Soul Shop, Spooks of Haworth, Inspiration Boutique, and Sorcerer's Apprentice.

Project Pennine's' Initiative

Project Pennine is introduced as a collaborative effort by UFO and earth mystery groups in Northern England to collect and investigate reports of strange phenomena. They are seeking reports of ghosts, UFOs, faerie, poltergeists, and other peculiar occurrences, aiming to investigate the 'Earthlights' hypothesis and geological connections.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around unexplained phenomena, particularly the legend of Spring Heeled Jack and its manifestations in both London and Sheffield. The magazine also features a strong emphasis on earth mysteries, UFO reports, and occult subjects, as evidenced by the numerous book reviews and magazine listings. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these subjects, presenting various accounts and theories without necessarily endorsing any single explanation, while also acknowledging the role of folklore and local legends.