Wonders - Vol 1 No 4 - 1992

Magazine Overview

Title: WONDERS
Issue: Vol.1 No.4
Date: December 1992
Publisher: Mark A. Hall Publications and Research
Country: USA
Theme: Seeking the Truth in a Universe of Mysteries

This issue of WONDERS magazine delves into the unexplained, with a primary focus on the alleged sightings of a creature dubbed 'Pinky' in Florida's St. Johns River. The magazine also features an editorial explaining the origins of 'Fortean' and 'Forteana' terminology.

Editorial: Our Jargon

The editorial addresses the specialized jargon used in writings about the unexplained, specifically focusing on the terms "fortean" and "forteana." These words, originating in the 1930s, are derived from the name of Charles Hoy Fort, who compiled a vast array of unexplained natural phenomena in his books. "Fortean" as an adjective describes something unexplained, while the noun "forteana" refers to the collection of such phenomena. Categories of forteana mentioned include UFOs, ESP, "monsters," and Crop Circles. The editorial notes that while science fiction writers are familiar with Fort's work, the general public and mainstream scientific community often remain distant from the study of forteana. The article also touches upon the role of Tiffany Thayer and Ivan Sanderson in popularizing these terms.

Pinky, The Forgotten Dinosaur

This feature article, written by Mark A. Hall, investigates the mystery of "Pinky," a creature reportedly seen in the St. Johns River in Florida. Witnesses describe it as a large, pink, dinosaur-like animal. The article contrasts Pinky with more famous cryptids like the Loch Ness Monster, noting that Pinky has largely been forgotten by the public but remains known to cryptozoologists and witnesses.

The author posits that despite the 1990s' sophisticated worldview, unknown animals persist, adapting to less desirable habitats rather than vanishing. The St. Johns River is described as a unique ecosystem, often called "the American Nile," with a history of industrial pollution that is being addressed.

The most recent documented appearance of Pinky occurred in May 1975. A fishing party of five—Dorothy and Charles Abram, Brenda Langley, Ed St. John, and Wallace McLean—reported seeing a creature emerge from the water. Brenda Langley first noticed something moving, describing it as a "big thing." The head and neck of the creature surfaced about twenty feet from their boat. The witnesses described it as pink, bony-looking, with a long neck, and a head the size of a human head or larger. It had "big, dark, slanted eyes" and what appeared to be snail-like horns with knobs and gill-like flaps on the sides of its head. The mouth was turned down at the edges. The creature submerged without creating a ripple.

After the sighting, the story was reported in the Times-Union newspaper. Dorothy Abram described it as looking like a dinosaur with its skin pulled back, and noted its pink color, comparing it to boiled shrimp. Brenda Langley likened it to pictures of dragons and mentioned it had little horns or fins down its neck.

The article includes sketches made by Brenda Langley and re-drawn by the author to illustrate the creature. It also presents a reconstruction of Thescelosaurus, a dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous period, as a potential candidate for what Pinky might be.

Further testimony comes from a letter to Ivan T. Sanderson from Mary Lou Richardson, who described a similar creature seen twenty years prior to the 1975 sighting. A spokesperson for the U.S. Coast Guard stated they had no jurisdiction over "monster investigations." The Florida Marine Patrol suggested the sightings might be of a sturgeon, a large fish found in the river, but witnesses disputed this. Other suggestions included a tree stump or a sea cow, though these also had inconsistencies.

The article proposes that Thescelosaurus, a dinosaur known to have lived at the end of the Cretaceous period, might be a plausible identification. The author notes that Thescelosaurus was well-adapted to changing conditions and may have survived in certain niches. The "horns" reported for Pinky are discussed as possibly being erectile breathing tubes, and the pink color could be attributed to its diet, similar to flamingos.

The author introduces the concept of "telebiology," defined as biology conducted at a distance, as a new approach to studying elusive creatures like Pinky. This method involves gathering data, hypothesizing, and making original observations without necessarily requiring the capture of a specimen. The article suggests that such studies are often undertaken by amateurs and that Pinky serves as an example of an unknown animal awaiting dedicated study.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores unexplained phenomena, cryptozoology, and Fortean subjects. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry into mysteries that lie beyond conventional scientific understanding, encouraging the pursuit of knowledge through methods like telebiology and valuing curiosity over traditional, specimen-driven scientific approaches. The magazine champions the idea that unknown animals may still exist and that rigorous, albeit unconventional, investigation is warranted.

Title: WONDERS
Issue: 59
Volume: 1
Date: December 1992

This issue of WONDERS, titled "Sobering Sights of Pink Unknowns" and authored by Mark A. Hall, delves into the intriguing phenomenon of unusual pink-colored creatures reported in various locations. The magazine explores the cultural biases that often lead to skepticism regarding such sightings and advocates for open-minded investigation. It features detailed accounts of specific encounters and provides biographical sketches of prominent figures in the field of cryptozoology and fortean studies.

Pink Unknowns: A Closer Look

The central theme of the issue is the reporting of animals that are unusually pink. Mark A. Hall argues that nature does not conform to human biases and that there are genuine unknown animals that are pink. He references his own book, "Natural Mysteries," where he discussed the Giant Pink Lizards of Ohio, theorizing they might be the larval stage of an unrecognized giant salamander, possibly due to albinism. He suggests that a pink axolotl illustration in "The Encyclopedia of Reptiles, Amphibians, & Other Cold-Blooded Animals" might resemble these creatures.

Pink Alligators of Florida

A significant portion of the article details reports of pink alligators in southern Florida in 1976. The phenomenon began with Danny Decker, an airboat tour guide, who saw a five-foot pink alligator in an Everglades canal near Andytown. He later returned with tourists, including Elsie and Joe Beswick, who confirmed the sighting. A commercial photographer, Alfred Harkins, also took pictures. Officials from the Florida Game and Fish Commission, such as Tommie Hines and Pat MacIntosh, were initially skeptical, suggesting it might be a prank or a released pet spectacled caiman. However, the renowned Florida reptile expert Ross Allen (1908-1981) observed that while pink alligators might not exist, white alligators can appear rosy due to sunshine and blood, and he had seen such a white alligator with a rosy glow near Sarasota. The St. Augustine Alligator Farm on Anastasia Island reportedly had such specimens. The article notes that in 1987, white alligators with a rosy appearance were displayed at the Audubon Park Zoo in New Orleans, bringing vindication to the earlier reports.

The "Pinky" Phenomenon and Other Cases

Hall suggests that a mysterious animal from Florida, nicknamed "Pinky," might derive its color from its diet, similar to other pink wildlife. The article also recounts an earlier report from South Carolina, shared by author Herbert Ravenel Sass. In 1948, Sass recounted an experience from around 1928 when he and his wife, Marion, boating on Goose Creek near Charleston, glimpsed a large, heavy, bright salmon-pink and orange creature below the water. They described it as having short legs, possibly like an alligator's or salamander's, and estimated it to be five or six feet long. They were certain it was not an alligator.

Another account comes from Ivan T. Sanderson and his wife, Sabina. Around 1950, on their farm in Warren County, New Jersey, they encountered a two-foot, pinkish-orange, worm-like creature in a pond they had created. Ivan Sanderson speculated it might be a tatzelwurm, an unrecognized amphibian reported from Europe. Sadly, Ivan Sanderson died of cancer a few months after recounting this experience, preventing further investigation.

Finally, the issue mentions a report from Vermont, written by journalist Charlie Spencer in his "Fishy Tales" column in the Rutland Herald. Spencer referenced a sighting of a "pink crocodile" in the Tinmouth Channel, the headwaters of the Clarendon River. Hall notes that the watery North American landscape seems to harbor peculiar, unrecognized animals, possibly including salamanders larger than known species, which might appear pinkish in their larval stage. He suggests that reports from South Carolina and New Jersey hint at the amphibian's presence in widely separated areas and laments the cultural bias that hinders the reporting of such pink peculiarities.

Ivan T. Sanderson: A Fortean Pioneer

The issue includes a biographical tribute to Ivan T. Sanderson (1911-1973), a British-born nature writer and avid fortean author who lived in the U.S.A. The tribute, likely written by Mark A. Hall, highlights Sanderson's extensive work on mysterious natural phenomena. His earlier books covered mammals, elephants, primates, and whales. He was often controversial but consistently took positions on the cutting edge of scientific inquiry. His later works included books on UFOs ("Uninvited Visitors," "Invisible Residents") and collections of essays. His most influential book is considered to be "Abominable Snowmen: Legend Come to Life," which is seen as a foundational text for Bigfoot research. The article also mentions his popular paperback books, "Things" and "More Things," which were influential in maintaining public curiosity about the world's mysteries and assuring witnesses that they were not alone.

Sanderson's popular articles in magazines like the Saturday Evening Post, True, and Fate covered topics such as sea monsters and living dinosaurs, reaching millions of ordinary people. The author refutes allegations that Sanderson died from a brain tumor, stating he died from abdominal cancer and remained a forceful advocate for investigating mysteries until his death. The article also addresses a 1948 hoax in Florida that Ivan Sanderson investigated, noting that while he failed to identify all the hoaxed elements, it serves as a lesson for investigators. The piece concludes by emphasizing Sanderson's positive influence and his role in encouraging exploration of the unknown, despite the challenges and risks involved in fortean research.

Herbert Ravenel Sass: Chronicler of the Carolinas

A biographical section is dedicated to Herbert Ravenel Sass (1884-1958), a writer from Charleston, South Carolina, known for his love of the natural world. His writings often touched upon cryptozoology. He is credited with the account of the pink unknown creature observed on Goose Creek. Sass also wrote articles on mountain lions and Cherokee traditions, including the Great Mythic Hawk (Thunderbird). His notable books include "The Way of the Wild," "Adventures in Green Places," and "The Story of the South Carolina Low Country."

Corrections and Bibliography

The issue includes a section for corrections to Volume 1 of WONDERS, addressing the location of Saluda, the author of "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Pterosaurs," and the countries where Gigantopithecus fossils have been found. A selected bibliography of Ivan T. Sanderson's works is also provided, listing his books from 1937 to 1974.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the investigation of unexplained phenomena, particularly unusual animal sightings, and the biographies of key figures in fortean research and cryptozoology. The editorial stance, as presented by Mark A. Hall, is one of encouraging open-mindedness, critical investigation, and a willingness to explore mysteries that are often dismissed by mainstream science. The magazine champions the idea that "the best fortean endeavors" require patience for vindication and that scientists who avoid such topics are merely "time-servers."

This issue of WONDERS magazine, dated December 1992 and identified as issue number 69, features content related to fortean research, folklore, and cryptids.

Charles Montgomery Skinner (1852-1907)

The primary article focuses on Charles Montgomery Skinner, a significant figure in fortean research in North America. His most notable works are "American Myths and Legends" (1903) and "Myths and Legends of Our Own Land" (1896). While categorized as folklore, these books are valuable for their compilation of fortean news items from the 19th century. Skinner's position as an editor for the Brooklyn Eagle provided him with an ideal vantage point to gather such news.

The article highlights that Skinner's collections, particularly under headings like "Some Snakes" and "Monsters and Sea Serpents," contain numerous examples of lake monster reports. These reports were common during the 19th century as the North American continent was settled.

Biographical details about Skinner are provided: he was born on March 15, 1852, in Victor, New York. He received a public school education in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and Hartford, Connecticut. He married in 1876. In 1902, he was sent by the Eagle as part of the relief expedition of the "Dixie" to Martinique following the eruption of Mont Pelée.

Skinner was also a playwright, having written "Villon, the Vagabond," and adapted other dramatic plays that served as vehicles for his actor-brother, Otis Skinner (1858-1942). Otis Skinner's daughter, Cornelia Otis Skinner (1901-1979), also achieved fame as an actress and writer.

The article notes that C.M. Skinner's folklore collections, beyond his well-known books, are less recognized and can be difficult to locate. A bibliography of his works is presented:

• MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF OUR OWN LAND (1896)
• NATURE IN A CITY YARD: SOME RAMBLING DISSERTATIONS THEREUPON (1897)
• MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF OUR NEW POSSESSIONS & PROTECTORATE (1899)
• DO-NOTHING DAYS (1899)
• FLOWERS IN THE PAVE (1900)
• AMERICAN COMMUNES: PRACTICAL SOCIALISM IN THE UNITED STATES (1901)
• AMERICAN MYTHS AND LEGENDS (1903)
• LITTLE GARDENS: HOW TO BEAUTIFY CITY YARDS AND SMALL COUNTRY PLACES (1904)
• MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF FLOWERS, TREES, FRUITS, AND PLANTS (1911)
• MYTHS AND LEGENDS BEYOND OUR BORDERS
• WITH FEET TO THE EARTH

Thunderbirds are Real!

The second page of the magazine features a prominent cover design with the headline "Thunderbirds are real!". This section announces a second edition of the book "THUNDERBIRDS!" by Mark A. Hall, which was revised and slightly enlarged, with publication planned for the end of 1993. The first edition, published in 1988, was still available for $16.95 postpaid in the U.S.A. and Canada. Ordering information is provided, directing readers to Mark Hall at 9215 Nicollet So., 104, Bloomington, Minnesota 55420, USA.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine appears to focus on fortean phenomena, folklore, and unexplained mysteries, as evidenced by the articles on C.M. Skinner's research into historical accounts of strange creatures and the prominent feature on "Thunderbirds." The editorial stance seems to be one of exploring and documenting such phenomena, presenting historical research and contemporary works on the subject.