Fortean Society Magazine - No 01

Magazine Overview

This is the inaugural issue, Volume 1, Number 1, of THE FORTEAN SOCIETY MAGAZINE, dated September 1937. Edited by Tiffany Thayer, it serves as the official organ of The Fortean Society, founded in 1931. The magazine's cover prominently features the question "WHO KILLED EARHART AND NOONAN?", suggesting a critical examination of the aviator's disappearance through a Fortean lens. The issue also announces that "THE NOTES OF CHARLES FORT ARE PRINTED HERE for the FIRST TIME."

Contents and Key Articles

Who Killed Earhart and Noonan?

This lead article, penned by Tiffany Thayer, Secretary of the Fortean Society, presents a scathing critique of "Dogmatic Science" and its perceived role in the death of Amelia Earhart and Fred Noonan. Thayer argues that scientific complacency, particularly from schoolmen, physicists, and astronomers, led to their demise. He questions the accuracy of modern geodesy and astronomy, citing the inability to precisely determine the Earth's shape and size, and the potential for significant errors in astronomical timing, such as a solar eclipse. Thayer criticizes the "smug complacency of Authority" and suggests that despite advancements, humanity remains as ignorant of the Earth's true nature as Columbus was. He highlights the "doubtful islands" marked on Admiralty charts and the historical struggle to solve the problem of longitude at sea, referencing John Harrison's work. Thayer recounts his own attempts to alert authorities to the possibility that Earhart and Noonan might have landed near certain "reefs" indicated on charts, which were overlooked by the official search parties. He concludes that Earhart's failed flight is more significant than a successful one, as it exposes fundamental gaps in scientific knowledge.

Do You Believe in Fairies?

This section briefly reports two incidents: a hole in the port horizontal fin of the Navy blimp ZMC-2 at Lakehurst, N. J., attributed to a "bullet," and the official explanation for the Hindenburg explosion (May 6, 1937) being ignited by St. Elmo's fire, as decided by the Bureau of Standards.

A Sea of Doubt

This article, accompanied by a detailed map, discusses the uncertainty surrounding geographical locations and navigational accuracy in the South Pacific. It references the eruption of volcanoes in Rabaul, New Britain, on May 29, 1937, and a solar eclipse on June 9 and 8, 1937, which lasted longer than expected. The article criticizes the U.S. Navy's charts of the South Pacific as a "crazy-quilt of guess work" and highlights "doubtful" landmarks marked on charts. It also touches upon a gold strike near Port Moresby, New Guinea. The author, presumably Thayer, draws a "Thayer's Line" on the map indicating the supposed source of various anomalies, including the gold, volcanoes, eclipse duration, and Noonan's navigational error.

Occultation of Venus

This piece contrasts the public excitement surrounding a solar eclipse with the relative silence preceding the occultation of Venus on August 3, 1937. The author expresses skepticism towards astronomers' predictions, suggesting they are reluctant to publicize events that can be easily verified by amateurs, preferring more spectacular and less scrutinizable events like total eclipses in remote locations. The article notes that Professor J. Schilt of Columbia University described the event as "spectacular and exceedingly beautiful" but lacking "scientific importance," a sentiment the author disputes, equating its importance to that of an iceberg's temperature or a pollen count.

Parade of Pallid Data from the Day's News

This section presents a collection of miscellaneous news items:

• Farm Sinks in Idaho: An area of over 20 acres sank 300 feet near Buhl, Idaho, with fears of an underground river being lost.
• Something in the Sky: A report of a "plane" sighted 500 miles off Cape Race, Newfoundland, by the freighter Scanmail, which could not be identified by aviation authorities.
• Clown Contest: A humorous comparison between Sir Hubert Wilkins and Professor Jean Piccard, both described as "Scientific Clowns," detailing their respective expeditions and publicity stunts.
• Sir Hubert Wilkins Extra!!!: A satirical piece on Sir Hubert Wilkins' expeditions, suggesting he will return with motion pictures of himself.
• Sea Monsters: A report of a 34-foot sea "serpent" caught off Newfoundland, described with unusual physical characteristics.
• Real Sea Serpent: Mentions Otis Barton donating a water cobra to the Aquarium, captured by William Beebe.
• Fresh-Water Monster Dropped: An account of a possible "fresh-water monster" sighted in the White River, Arkansas, which disappeared before being identified.
• Nuts Next: A report of a pear tree bearing cherries.
• Geese Mistaken: Canadian geese were observed flying south during a heatwave in New York.
• Those Eclipse Photographs: A critique of photographs of the solar corona, suggesting they are actually pictures of Sol with Luna obscuring the direct emanations, and a brief discourse on the nature of stars and cosmic expansion.
• Man Fussess With His Environment: A note on a tree-planting project to combat soil erosion.
• Grows Eyes: A report on newt tail tissue and tadpoles developing crystalline lenses when transplanted.
• Fit to Print: A report of a canary hatching three baby birds from a single egg.

Explorers and Scientific Expeditions

This section, accompanied by a world map, lists numerous scientific expeditions underway in September 1937, detailing their locations, sponsors, and objectives. Notable expeditions include those led by Donald B. MacMillan (Baffin Land), Bradford Washburn (Alaska), the American Museum of Natural History (various locations including British Columbia, Northern Rhodesia, Burma), Dr. George W. Crile (Canadian Arctic), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Cuba), Brown University (Rhode Island), Bowdoin College (Kent's Island), the Clark-Kissel Alaskan Expedition, Dr. William Beebe (Bermuda), and the Asiatic Primate Expedition in Siam.

Harvard

This section discusses astronomical dispensations granted by Harvard, including permission for an amateur to see two tails on Finsler's comet and Dr. Edwin T. Hubble's discovery of a third comet. It also mentions a sighting of "cosmic dust" reddening the area about Polaris.

Earliest Man

A brief mention of bones and flints discovered by the Wellcome Marston Archaeological Research Expedition, potentially representing the earliest traces of man.

Smithsonian

Dr. Earl S. Johnston's study on the effect of moonlight on plants.

Purity Seal Awarded

The 1908 Siberian meteorite is officially recognized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Millikan

Dr. Robert Millikan's experiments with toy balloons in Saskatoon concerning "cosmic rays."

Oil in Alaska

Reports of oil discovered in Alaska at Haines.

Fungus Spores Aloft

A. G. Newhall's discovery of the cause of onion blight at 1500 feet.

Gold in Brazil

Announcement of a rich gold deposit in the Matto Grosso jungle.

And the Children Went Back to Sleep

A curious report of maple trees growing out of school walls.

Lobsters Going

Fishermen's practices leading to a scarcity of lobsters.

Oysters Early

Warm weather causing oysters to spawn earlier than usual.

Blue Sparks Explained

An explanation for blue sparks in Khartoum and Kano, attributed to static electricity generated by sand friction.

British Correspondence

This section, compiled by Eric F. Russell, includes reports from Britain:

• A volcanic outburst in Iceland under a glacier, causing a massive flood and a column of fire.
• Mysterious "stunt flight" over Hendon aerodrome, with no record of any plane leaving the ground.
• A series of mysterious disappearances of divers off the Australian coast while salvaging shells from sunken pearling vessels.
• The death of Miss Hilda Constance Hunt from blood poisoning after being bitten by a large blue insect on a train.
• The death of James Handley from toxic jaundice and acute mania, with the coroner recording death by misadventure.

Regional Correspondents

Lists active members of The Fortean Society in various locations in the U.S.A. and England, and mentions the Journal of Parapsychology from Duke University.

Bugs

A collection of brief reports on insect infestations and incidents, including grasshopper infestation in South Dakota, locust invasions in Argentina and Nicaragua, "Mormon" crickets in Wyoming, cricket invasions in Camden, N. J., Japanese beetles, a bee sting fatality, and "army worm" issues.

Coincidence?

Reports of two individuals dying from fractured skulls after falling out of windows on the same day, and a man attending his uncle's funeral only to find the unidentified body killed by an auto was also his uncle.

The Founders

Features Alexander Woollcott, described as a "Crier, radio star, dramatic critic, story teller supreme, author," who is a strong proponent of Charles Fort's work and the Fortean Society's doctrine.

Woman Burned in Bed

A report of Charlotte Mullen being severely burned when her bed caught fire.

Mysterious Fires

Coincident with the above, five blazes broke out in parked car seats early in the morning.

It Is Always the Heart

Ed Hamilton died of a "heart attack" after witnessing an execution.

Dorothy Arnold's Brother

Dan Hinckley Arnold died, noted as the brother of the girl whose inexplicable disappearance Charles Fort had previously documented.

Forget How to Read!

An editorial excerpt from the N. Y. Sun questioning the adequacy of reading instruction and the potential obsolescence of reading and writing.

The Sky This Month

This section provides astronomical data for September 1937, including sunrise/sunset times, lunar positions, planetary conjunctions, and tidal predictions for New York Harbor. It notes the positions of planets like Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Mercury, and celestial events such as occultations and conjunctions. It also mentions the "Monthly Evening Sky Map" as a resource for further astronomical detail.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The overarching theme of this issue is the critique of established scientific dogma and authority, particularly in the context of unexplained phenomena and mysteries like the Earhart disappearance. The magazine champions skepticism towards official explanations and encourages readers to question conventional wisdom. There is a strong emphasis on collecting and documenting anomalous events, positioning The Fortean Society as a repository for the inexplicable. The editorial stance is critical of "Dogmatic Science," promoting a more open-minded and empirical approach to understanding the world, even if it means challenging the pronouncements of established scientific institutions. The issue also highlights the importance of amateur observation and reporting in uncovering truths that may be overlooked or suppressed by mainstream science.

This issue of The Fortean, dated September 1937, is Volume 12 and features "THE NOTES OF CHARLES FORT ARE PRINTED HERE for the FIRST TIME" as its cover headline. The magazine is published by The Fortean Society and is in English, originating from the USA. The issue includes extensive chronological listings of anomalous events, particularly from the 1800s, drawn from the extensive notes of the late Charles Fort.

The Notes of Charles Fort

The core of this issue is dedicated to presenting Charles Fort's meticulously compiled records of unexplained phenomena. These "Notes" are presented in a chronological format, detailing events from the year 1800 onwards. The notes are described as being written in a personal shorthand, making translation difficult, and are organized into various "boxes" of memoranda.

1800s Anomalies

The magazine meticulously lists events by year, month, and day. These include:

• Earthquakes: Numerous entries detail earthquakes across the globe, from Colombia and Ecuador to Mexico, China, France, Italy, and Japan. Specific details often include the intensity, location, and any reported consequences, such as damage or loss of life. For example, an earthquake in Mexico is noted for November-December, and another in Lima, Peru, on December 1.
• Volcanic Activity: Events like the volcano Lemongang in Java, the eruption of Etna, and the opening of a new crater at Vesuvius are recorded. The issue also notes the appearance of two new islands near the Kurile Islands, attributed to a submarine volcano.
• Meteorological and Astronomical Phenomena: Reports include "sulphur rain" at Rastadt, "red snow" in Carniola, Germany, and a "cascade of water and hail" in London. Meteors and fireballs are frequently documented, with specific locations and times, such as a fireball in England on December 22, 1809, and another in Geneva in 1807.
• Unusual Occurrences: The notes also cover a wide range of other anomalies, such as "fir bog bursts," "streaming muddy water," "stonefalls" (including one weighing 734 lbs in Ireland), "wild dogs" causing havoc, and mysterious disappearances, most notably the case of Benjamin Bathurst in Perleberg, Germany, in 1809.
• Specific Cases: The "Notes" section often includes references to other publications or Fort's own annotations (marked with "T.T."), indicating cross-referencing and personal investigation. For instance, the case of Benjamin Bathurst is detailed, including the discovery of his bullet-perforated trousers and the mystery surrounding his disappearance.

Earthquakes Section

This section provides a more focused list of earthquakes occurring between May and August 1937. It details events in Rabaul (New Britain), Alturas (California), New York City and Long Island, Naples (Italy), Fairbanks (Alaska), Mexico City, Tientsin (China), Shanghai (China), and Long Beach (California). The descriptions often include the time of the shock and any immediate consequences.

Volcanoes Section

This section briefly mentions volcanic activity, including the eruption of Kluchev in Kamchatka and the appearance of new islands near the Kurile Islands. It also notes an event at Mount Vesuvius in Naples, Italy, where a new mouth opened, and the activity of the "extinct" volcano Tacora in Chile.

The Notes of Charles Fort: A Tribute

A full-page feature on page 6 is dedicated to Charles Fort himself. It describes him as "the man who liberated minds" and credits him with freeing intelligence from the absolute faith in science of his era through his writings, particularly "The Book of the Damned." The accompanying photograph shows Fort seated at a checkered board, which he referred to as his "Super-Checkers" game, used as a device for investigating prognostics. The text states that all of Fort's books are out of print but available through The Fortean Society. It also notes that Charles Fort died on May 3, 1932, at the age of 57, and the picture was taken in 1931.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the meticulous documentation of anomalous events and the promotion of Charles Fort's legacy. The magazine's stance is clearly to champion Fort's approach to investigating phenomena that fall outside conventional scientific explanations. The "Notes" section serves as a testament to Fort's dedication to collecting and preserving records of the unexplained. The editorial emphasis is on challenging established scientific dogma and encouraging independent thought, as highlighted in the tribute to Fort. The "NEXT MONTH" section encourages readers to compare the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey Tide Meter records with the predictions provided in the magazine, reinforcing the publication's commitment to empirical verification of anomalous data.

The "PERSEIDS FLOP" note indicates a recurring disappointment with expected meteor shower displays, further emphasizing the magazine's focus on events that deviate from predictions or expectations. The "WONDER-MONGERS NOTE!" from Tiffany Thayer, Secretary, warns against using the material without proper credit, underscoring the Society's proprietary interest in Fort's work and its dissemination.