Ghost Trackers Newsletter - Vol 07 No 2 - 1988 06

Magazine Overview

Title: GHOST TRACKERS NEWSLETTER
Issue: VOL. 7, NO. 2
Date: JUNE 1988
Publisher: GRS

This issue of the Ghost Trackers Newsletter, published by GRS, delves into various paranormal accounts and research activities. The cover features a simple design with the title, volume, and date, along with decorative borders and a ghost illustration.

Editors Page

The editor's page opens with a note about the approaching summer and the editor's upcoming tour of England, including London and the south and west portions, with a hope to offer similar tours in the future. A new column, 'The Celebrity Page,' is introduced, which will feature GRS members who have appeared in newspapers or magazines, relying on reader submissions. The editor expresses gratitude to Antony Egan, Maurice Schwalm, Evelyn Geras, and Tom Perrott for their contributions, including clippings, photographs, and a book titled 'Gazeteer of British Ghosts.' Plans are underway for controlled experiments involving photography, tape recording, and ghost sensing at various locations, with an invitation for interested members to participate. The editor also reminds members of the free book search service for occult and UFO-related books.

Upcoming Publication

A section announces the upcoming book 'DISNEYLAND OF THE GODS' by John A. Keel, described as an addition to his previous works on the unexplained, covering topics like extraterrestrial visitations, astral projection, and ley lines. Ordering information is provided for LMOK PRESS.

Ghost Research Society Activities

The 'Ghost Research Society' section details recent activities. The writer is finishing a chapter for Sharon Jarvis' upcoming book, 'True Tales of the Unknown, Vol. 2.' The society has received offers from other authors and has been contacted by a freelance writer for Omni Magazine and by companies interested in producing videos on ghosts. Radio interviews have been conducted on WMRO and WJNT, and there has been a high volume of requests from students for help with reports on ghosts. The newsletter welcomes new members and renewals, emphasizing efforts to keep subscription costs low despite postal increases. It also highlights 'Cosmic News,' a newsletter edited by William Alexander Oribello, which aims to promote his work and provide a networking medium for 'Light-Workers.'

Strange Adventure in the County of Cornwall

This article by Tom Perrott recounts a strange experience of his friend David Thomas and his wife in a bungalow in Porthowan, Cornwall. The bungalow, situated on a gravel path off the St. Agnes-Porthowan Road, was isolated and described as cold and damp, with a feeling of being watched. One night, after going to bed, they heard a terrifying scream followed by three loud bangs on the back door. The door rattled in its surround, but they were too frightened to investigate. In the morning, they found three distinct marks on the back door where the black paint had been chipped. The landlord revealed that the bungalow was built on the foundations of an old mine office and had previously been used as a drug factory, with evidence of a police raid still present.

A Strange Haunting in the Scottish Borders

Tom Perrott also writes about a haunting at Traquair House in Peebleshire, Scotland, described as the oldest inhabited house in the country. The Laird, Peter Maxwell Stuart, shared a story from 1940 where a worker named Andrew Brown saw the figure of an elderly woman in Victorian clothing. This figure was identified as Lady Louisa Stuart, who died at Traquair in 1875. Her former dressmaker confirmed that she had made such a dress for her. While no other ghostly sightings have been reported, some guests sleeping in the 'Chintz Room' have complained of a feeling of unease.

The Friendly Visitor

Authored by Rev. Maria D'Andrea, this piece describes a psychic experience involving her young son, Rick, who claimed to have a 'friend' – a tall, friendly man with dark hair. The mother, who is also psychic, felt the presence of this entity when her son interacted with it. She recounts walking through the man without seeing him, confirming his presence. Rick is now 19, and the encounters have become less frequent. The author suggests that children are more open to seeing ghosts and that not all spirits are negative or harmful, with some here to help or guide.

Haunted Bookshop: Singapore Ghosts Have a Good Time

This news report from Singapore (Reuters News Agency) dated October 18th, 1985, describes the 'Festival of Hungry Ghosts.' Despite an economic recession, Singaporeans are spending large sums to ensure their dead have a good afterlife, including elaborate banquets for about 100 dead relatives. Paper effigies of the deceased, dressed in colorful attire, are placed at dining tables with food and delicacies. The festival is an annual event, and for those whose remains are at the ancient temple of Tse Tho Aum, spirit banquets are held. The article notes the commercial aspect of the festival, with auctions for items like 'Black Gold' (charcoal) that can fetch high prices. Some complain that the worship of the dead has become too much of a money-spinner.

Egyptians Puzzled by "Miracle" Child

This dispatch from Cairo, dated March 24th, 1985, by Duart Farquharson, reports on a mystery baffling Egyptian authorities. Mazloum Salah el-Din, a tiny child who died a year prior, reappeared. The child, described as seven years old and mentally retarded, recognized his parents and family members. The authorities are investigating, with theories ranging from a criminal plot to a mistake by the doctor who certified the death. The article questions how the child could have escaped a tomb with a heavy iron door bolted from the outside if he had been buried alive.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around paranormal phenomena, including ghost sightings, hauntings, and psychic experiences. The editorial stance appears to be one of open investigation and documentation of such events, encouraging reader participation and sharing of experiences. There's a focus on the GRS's ongoing research and activities, as well as a broader interest in unexplained mysteries from around the world. The newsletter also emphasizes the importance of listening to children's accounts and the idea that not all spiritual entities are malevolent.

Title: EXAMINER
Issue Date: March 15, 1988
Document Type: Magazine Issue

Featured Articles and Content

Demon-Infested House Hard to Rent

The lead story on the cover, "Demon-infested house hard to rent," details the struggles of a landlord trying to rent a house in Ston, Pennsylvania. The home gained notoriety in 1986 when its former owners, Jack and Janet Smurl, publicly shared accounts of demonic torture, including claims of being dragged from bed, slapped, and scratched by unseen entities. The family also reported hearing screams, moans, snorting pigs, hoofbeats, and disembodied voices, along with overpowering smells and household items disappearing and reappearing. The current owner, Richard Bridle, states that the "stigma attached to the house" is hindering rental prospects.

Unexplained Phenomena and Investigations

The issue delves into various paranormal accounts. One section discusses a case involving a child named Mazloum, whose existence is questioned by authorities due to his poor health and the family's claims of a miracle. Signs of his authenticity include a missing left testicle and scars from accidents.

Another significant piece details an investigation by paranormal expert Dale Kaczmarek in a cemetery in southwestern Missouri. Kaczmarek describes encountering a mysterious mist forming above a gravestone, which moved unnaturally fast and was then observed being "sucked right into the ground." Infrared camera footage developed from this event revealed a strange blue-and-purple light bathing the area around a tree and gravestone, which Kaczmarek found to be "positively unearthly."

Book Reviews

Two book reviews focus on supernatural themes:

• "The Mummy of Birchen Bower and Other True Ghost Stories" by Harry Ludlam: This book is a reissue of fifty-six case histories documenting supernatural visitations ranging from monasteries to modern aircraft plants. It includes the tale of Hannah Beswick, who was mummified after a suspected premature burial. Other stories feature a "tall grey thing" on Ben Macdhui, a time warp replaying the Battle of Edge Hill, Roman warriors, a headless lady, and various ghosts like monks and cavaliers. The review highlights apparitions that appear to be "Video-tape re-runs of past events" and mentions instances of vehicles, like the "Ghost Bus of Kensington," appearing and disappearing. The reviewer, W. Ritchie Benedict, praises the book for its factual accounts and recommends it for thrills.
• "Haunted Heartland" by Beth Scott & Michael Norman: This book covers classic cases of hauntings, possessions, spontaneous human combustion, psychic imprints, animal ghosts, poltergeists, ghost ships, and more, focusing on the American Midwest. While the stories are presented as true, the review notes the lack of firsthand investigations, making it difficult to distinguish between myth and reality. The reviewer, Jon Mullin, rates it an 8 out of 10 and calls it an "extremely enjoyable book."

Opinion Polls

Several readers share their opinions:

• Antony M. Egan from New York City suggests the publication should charge more, deeming it higher quality than other periodicals.
• Jay Halloran from Huntsville, Alabama, agrees with Andrew R. Jarett's criticism of the newsletter's content as "rather juvenile ghost stories" and suggests the publication should focus on more intriguing content. He shares his own story and mentions his lifelong experiences with ghosts.
• Joyce R. Hall from Sacramento, California, requests more stories about ghosts, famous and non-famous, and ghost ships on the eastern seaboard.

Personal Services and Classifieds

Advertisements and listings include:

• Denise Riccardo: Spiritual Tarot Counselor offering readings on destiny and love.
• "Excursions Into The Unknown": Legendary tours of haunted areas.
• Classified Ads: Listings for "Psychic Press" newspaper, "Single's Registry," "American Forum" newsletter, "Marfa Mystery Light Photographs," "Psychic/Occult Friendship Club," "Felix the fire dog-hero" fund, "Sourcefinder" newsletter, "Psychic Pathways" newsletter, and "Voices From Spirit Magazine."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine appears to focus on paranormal phenomena, ghost stories, and unexplained events. The editorial stance seems to be one that encourages the sharing of such experiences, as evidenced by the opinion polls and the call for readers to submit their own eerie tales. There is a clear interest in documenting and exploring supernatural occurrences, with a blend of personal accounts, investigative reports, and reviews of related literature. The classified section further supports this theme by offering related services and publications.