Journal of the Fortean Research Center - Vol 2 No 1

Magazine Overview

Title: JOURNAL of the FORTEAN RESEARCH CENTER
Issue: VOLUME II, NO. 1
Date: APRIL, 1987
Publisher: FORTEAN RESEARCH CENTER
Price: $3.50

This issue of the Journal of the Fortean Research Center delves into various unexplained phenomena, with a strong emphasis on bipedal humanoids and animal mutilations. The cover prominently features a photograph of a mysterious bipedal creature found in Nebraska, accompanied by the headline "BIPEDAL MYSTERY BEAST FOUND IN NEBRASKA."

Editorial and Staff

The journal is published quarterly by the Fortean Research Center, a non-profit corporation based in Lincoln, Nebraska. The stated purpose of the center is to investigate all aspects of unexplained phenomena. The masthead lists the key personnel: Ray W. Boeche (Director), Scott Colborn (Associate Director), Dale Bacon (Secretary), Nancy Boeche (Treasurer), David White (Associate Director, Business), and Clyde Adams (Associate Director, Ancillary Activities).

Membership is available for $15.00 per year, which includes a subscription to the journal, discounts on publications, and reduced fees for conferences. The editorial staff emphasizes the need for public support to continue their investigations.

A Note from the Director

In his note, Director Ray W. Boeche addresses the journal's coverage of UFOs, clarifying that while full issues won't be dedicated to the subject, investigations will continue. He highlights an update on animal mutilations by Linda Moulton Howe, producer of the documentary "A Strange Harvest," and provides her contact information for those interested in obtaining a copy. Boeche also notes that 1987 marks the fortieth anniversary of the modern UFO age and expresses hope that government cover-ups will be exposed through Freedom of Information Act requests. He mentions ongoing investigations into alleged UFO crashes and recovery by the government, as well as plans for surveys on the unexplained. The director also appeals for charitable contributions to support the center's research and conferences, and mentions the pending ruling on their tax-exempt status.

BIPEDAL HUMANOIDS IN NEBRASKA: A CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS

This extensive article presents a chronological history of sightings of what the author terms "bipedal humanoids" in Nebraska, distinguishing them from entities directly related to UFO landings. The timeline begins with anecdotal reports from the mid-1800s concerning a "large two-legged monster" in the Minersville area. Subsequent entries detail sightings from the 1950s of a "monkey-like creature" near Exeter, followed by more specific accounts:

• 1959, December 13: Billy Hauschild and Carol Craig independently reported seeing a large, white creature with black hands and face near Ravenna.
• 1968, October 31: An unidentified animal walking on its hind legs was struck by a truck near Falls City and later shot; its identity remained unknown.
• 1968, November 24: Daily reports of a monster near Minersville described it as about six feet tall with a wolf-like face and bear-like body, walking upright. Footprints were found, and one report mentioned a boy being grabbed and thrown into a ditch.
• 1969, August: A farmer near Minersville reported seeing a large, hair-covered form, 6-7 feet tall, which he described as a "man-like shadow."
• 1972, September 26: Several Gering residents reported seeing a large hairy, man-like creature.
• 1973, April 27: Four sisters near Crete saw a hairy creature that moved in a side-stepping manner and ran into a field, described as 6 to 8 feet tall.
• 1973, October 9: Individuals near Fort Calhoun reported sightings of a large brown, upright animal, with five-toed tracks found measuring seven by seven inches.
• 1973, November 30: Tracks of an unknown two-legged creature were found near Battle Creek, measuring 8 inches long and 5 inches wide.
• 1974, August: Oakland residents reported sightings of a large, hair-covered creature, about six feet tall and three feet wide, making hideous sounds. It was usually seen walking upright but occasionally on all fours.
• 1974, September 11: Reports circulated around York about a large hairy creature, described by most as about 8 feet tall and weighing over 1000 pounds, though a police officer described it as 3-5 feet tall.
• 1975, June 13: A trucker near Nebraska City reported seeing a coal-black, furry creature, about a foot in height, jumping on the highway.
• 1975, December 9: Two men in Lincoln saw a large, hair-covered, man-like form vault a six-foot privacy fence, estimated to be between 8 and 9 feet tall.
• 1976, August: A woman south of Lincoln saw a silhouetted figure running through her pasture, which then vanished. Hair samples were collected but refused by authorities.
• 1980, July 5: Lincoln police investigated a report of a 7-foot tall, 300+ pound animal that ran in front of a motorcycle, described as ape-like and smelling like a creek.
• 1982, December 11: A couple returning to Utica saw a creature about six feet tall, human from the waist up and "goat-like" from the waist down, with long hair and glowing yellow eyes.
• 1986, June 13-20: Macy area residents reported sightings of a creature about 8 feet tall, leaving three-toed tracks 15 inches long. Authorities examined the tracks but offered no definitive answers.

The article concludes by stating that these accounts have been thoroughly investigated and represent "true anomalous residue," while other explained incidents have been discarded. The center invites readers to provide further information.

FORTEAN NEWS FLASHES

This section compiles various unusual news items from around the time of publication:

• A decomposed elephant carcass was towed to sea near Marathon, Florida Keys, with its origin unknown.
• A "lovesick ape" was reportedly terrorizing women in Sonepat, India, sinking its teeth into at least two dozen.
• A 14-year-old boy in Arnolds Park, Iowa, found an alligator skull. Separately, three fishermen near Waterloo, Iowa, spotted what appeared to be a 6-foot alligator.
• Cedar Lake, a 75-acre manmade lake, vanished in November, draining through a crevice into an underground cavern large enough to "bury a bus in."
• A man found a human finger with a fingernail in a can of Mexican stew, prompting a supermarket recall.
• Astronomers discovered mysterious glowing blue arcs, the largest structures seen in the universe, possibly bands of new stars.
• Five people were charged in the strangulation death of an eight-year-old girl during an exorcism intended to cure her of Down's syndrome.
• A jury ordered two Transcendental Meditation organizations to pay $138,000 to a man who claimed they falsely promised he could learn to fly.
• Tallahassee, Florida police and the FBI were searching for parents of six children found with two men believed to be members of a cult known as the "Finders." Photographs seized in a related search showed disturbing images, including children with decapitated goats and goat fetuses.
• A Bengal tiger was shot and killed on Interstate 75 in Georgia after charging law enforcement officers.
• A tall slender man was arrested in New Orleans for attempting to kick a woman, possibly linked to assaults on eight other women's feet. In Boulder, Colorado, two people were injured by darts shot from a blowgun on the University of Colorado campus.
• Two sisters delivered babies on the same day at the same hospital with the same doctor, for the second time in just over two years.
• A colorful streak of light, described as orange with a green tail, was seen flashing across the night sky from eastern New York to Massachusetts.

STRANGE HARVEST: ANIMAL MUTILATION UPDATE

Authored by Linda Moulton Howe, this update revisits the phenomenon of animal mutilations, tracing its history back to the "Snippy" horse case in 1967. Howe notes that in the early 1970s, mutilations were reported in the Great Lakes area and Pennsylvania, shifting to the midwestern and western United States by 1975, with Logan and Elbert counties in Colorado investigating up to three cases a day.

• Key characteristics of these mutilations include:
• Animals found warm to the touch, dead for only minutes or hours.
• Bodies carved in strange ways, with ears, eyes, and tongues typically removed.
• Neat, round patches of hide removed from eyes, extending to the forehead.
• One half of the face stripped cleanly, exposing sun-bleached bones.
• Rectums "cored out," leaving a 4-inch by 6-inch hole.
• Udder/teats of females and penis/scrotum of males removed.
• Lack of blood at the scene, despite extensive wounds.
• A "cookie cutter" appearance of cuts.

Howe recounts seeing seven mutilated animals, one of which appeared capable of walking despite having been dead for three weeks.

The report details a specific case from August 25, 1986, near Trinidad, Colorado, where a yearling bull was found mutilated. The cuts were precise, removing the nose, lips, tongue, one eye, and a large triangular section of tissue including the genitals and rectum. Deputy Mike Bailey and District Attorney investigator Lou Girodo documented the case. Girodo, who had investigated numerous mutilation cases in the 1970s, expressed his belief that "creatures not of this planet" might be responsible.

The article also mentions unexplained red lights seen by neighbors three nights before the Trinidad bull mutilation. Further reports include unexplained red lights seen by teenagers in 1986, and a description of a "silent light hovering over their house."

In 1986, other mutilation reports came from Escalante, Utah; Guntersville, Alabama; Oja Sarco and Chimayo, New Mexico. In Oja Sarco, a rancher found his six-year-old cow missing its udder, rectum, left eyeball, and lip from bloodless cuts, stating he didn't believe the phenomenon until he saw it.

1985 cases are mentioned from Texas, New Mexico, and South Dakota. In Scenic, South Dakota, a mix of UFO reports and a mutilation occurred. Mike Heathershaw found an 8-year-old cow dead and mutilated on March 8, noting the absence of blood and the clean removal of the udder and rectum. Heathershaw dismissed coyote predation, stating, "They chew and eat more." The cow's calf was also missing.

Phyllis Clifford of Porcupine, South Dakota, reported seeing a light over the Badlands change colors. David Brewer reported sighting red and green lights dropping into a village. Tommy LaDeaux saw a "biggest light I've ever seen" moving along the ground, estimated at 300 feet in diameter. Pine Ridge Judge Nancy Perez saw a light sit down in her yard, which police also observed before it took off.

Book Reviews

(Content for this section is not provided in the OCR text.)

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The journal consistently explores the unexplained, with a particular focus on phenomena that defy conventional scientific explanation. The editorial stance appears to be one of open investigation and a desire to present rigorously researched accounts of anomalous events. The center actively seeks public input and support to continue its work. Recurring themes include cryptids (bipedal humanoids), UFOs, animal mutilations, and other strange occurrences, often presented through chronological accounts and news roundups. The publication aims to provide accurate, reliable information to the public regarding these perplexing mysteries.

This issue of the Fortean Research Journal, identified as issue number 12 and dated November 1976, focuses heavily on the phenomenon of animal mutilations and its potential connection to UFOs and extraterrestrial activity. The journal also includes book reviews and information on available government document sets.

Animal Mutilation Cases

The journal presents several detailed accounts of animal mutilations:

South Dakota Cases

A five-year-old Hereford cow in Chimayo, New Mexico, was attacked, with its udder and rectum removed. The rancher, Tony Martinez, noted the other cows were spooked. In May, near Pine Ridge, South Dakota, rancher Eldon Lessert found a six-year-old Black Angus cow dead with its udder 'very smoothly removed in one cut,' and its rectum also cut out. The hide had small holes 'punched out – sort of in a line.' Lessert described the cuts as 'very sharp knife... nothing jagged. Just smooth cuts.' The cow's calf refused to approach its mother's body.

Pennsylvania Cases

Stan Gordon, Director of the Pennsylvania Association for the Study of the Unexplained, reports on two cases in Pennsylvania. On November 3, 1986, a 700-pound cow near Uniontown, Fayette County, was found dead with its tail sharply cut off, left ear removed, skin from the head area removed, and all teats missing. The carcass appeared drained of blood. In mid-June 1985, on a farm near Perryopolis, 11 cows were found dead within a week. Mutilation wounds varied, but included removed tails and ears, and a common feature was an 8-inch diameter hole in the chest area. Police initially suspected a satanic cult, but later found no evidence. The police were unfamiliar with classic mutilation cases and were unsure of their opinions, stating that what they found gave no evidence of a cult killing.

The 'Who' and 'Why' of Mutilations

The journal explores the potential perpetrators and motives behind animal mutilations. It notes a strong association with unidentified flying objects, with Deputy Sheriff Bill Waugh of Elbert County, Colorado, stating that 'big orange balls of light' were always associated with the mutilations. One speculation suggests that extraterrestrial biological entities (EBEs) are harvesting animal parts for DNA to create biological robots. This theory is supported by the work of Dr. James Womack at Texas A & M University, who reported in 1984 that large chunks of cattle chromosomes are identical to human chromosomes. Further, in 1986, Texas Tech University reported that cow's blood can be used as an emergency blood transfusion substitute due to its hemoglobin closely matching human blood. The journal questions if EBEs are using cow parts because the DNA is close to humans, and if they are secretly among us. It also ponders the intense harvesting activity between 1975 and 1980, which has since dropped off, asking if this was in anticipation of some alien need. The current situation is described as a 'one-way trade route' where animals are left dead and humans experience fear and anger.

Book Reviews

This issue features reviews of two significant books on UFO abduction:

Communion by Whitley Strieber

Published in January 1987, 'Communion' is described as a compelling story of Whitley Strieber's own abduction by UFO occupants. While his consciously remembered events began in December 1985, hypnotic regression suggested abductions dating back to childhood. Neurological and psychological tests confirmed his sanity. The book is noted as being number two on the New York Times Bestseller List, and Strieber is commended for risking his reputation to make the public aware of these events.

Intruders: The Incredible Visitations at Copley Woods by Budd Hopkins

This book details the case of Kathie Davis, who experienced a series of terrifying abductions. The investigation, involving chemists, radiologists, medical practitioners, and psychologists, suggests that aliens are abducting humans for an ongoing series of genetic experiments. Hopkins, an experienced investigator, is praised for his meticulous and compassionate search for the truth, and the book is considered one of the most important on the UFO phenomena. The journal emphasizes the psychological trauma and social stigma faced by abduction victims.

Document Sets Available

The Fortean Research Center offers various sets of U.S. government documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. These include:

• The Bentwaters Incident: A complete working file on the 1980 alleged UFO landing at a U.S. Air Force base in England.
• FBI DOCUMENTS: Documents relating to FBI surveillance of UFO investigators and research groups.
• Department of Energy Documents: Dealing with the 'green fire-ball' phenomenon over Los Alamos in the late 1940s.
• Project Moon Dust Documents: Documents related to an effort by the government to recover downed UFOs.
• Defense Intelligence Agency Documents: Previously unreleased documents concerning the DIA's involvement with the UFO problem, many of which are virtually unreadable, but some contain fascinating reports.

The center makes these documents available as a service, covering only the costs of copying and postage, believing that wider access can help break the government's wall of silence.

Help Our Friends

The journal lists several other organizations involved in studying the unexplained, encouraging readers to support them financially and in spirit. These include:

• Mutual UFO Network (MUFON)
• Fortean Times
• Arcturus Book Service
• The Gate
• Fair Witness Project
• Computer UFO Newsletter
• Yorkshire UFO Society
• Odyssey/Bulletin
• International UFO Reporter / Center for UFO Studies
• UFO Newsclipping Service
• Project Stigma/Crux
• Northern UFO News
• Citizens Against UFO Secrecy
• Lake Champlain Phenomena Investigation
• UFO Contact Center International
• Ghost Research Society
• California UFO

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are animal mutilations, UFO sightings, alien abductions, and the potential for government secrecy or involvement in covering up information about these phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting evidence and theories from various sources while encouraging critical examination and public awareness. The journal advocates for greater transparency regarding UFO-related information and supports organizations dedicated to researching the unexplained. The emphasis on scientific investigation, as seen in the discussion of chromosome similarities and blood properties, suggests an attempt to bridge the gap between anecdotal accounts and empirical evidence. The journal also highlights the psychological impact of these experiences on individuals and the societal stigma associated with them.