Wonders - Vol 2 No 2 - 1993

Magazine Overview

Title: WONDERS
Issue: Vol. 2 No. 2
Date: June 1993
Publisher: Mark A. Hall Publications and Research
Country: USA
Description: This issue of WONDERS magazine, subtitled 'Seeking the Truth in a Universe of Mysteries,' focuses on the broad spectrum of unexplained phenomena and mysteries that populate our world. The cover prominently features 'Lake Michigan Monsters,' suggesting a focus on cryptids or unusual aquatic sightings.

Editorial: An Editorial Preamble & Why The World is Full of Wonders

The editorial section, written by editor Mark A. Hall, is extensive, departing from the usual brevity. Hall defines 'wonders' as unexplained experiences of human existence that suggest more to reality than currently understood by science. He posits that mysteries abound because humanity collectively places them beyond narrow, scientifically accepted boundaries. Hall shares his personal journey of curiosity about these topics, noting that while he hasn't personally experienced many of the phenomena, his interest began in his youth through reading.

He outlines numerous reasons why wonders persist, dividing them into two main categories: the validity of unexplained natural phenomena and the filters through which humans observe the natural world. The editorial then delves into specific categories:

1. The World of Other Intelligent Life: This includes not only extraterrestrial visitors but also the possibility of 22 different sources of UFOs and their controllers, with some entities existing within Earth's biosphere. Hall also mentions the potential for atmospheric life forms communicating through crop circles and the concept of time travelers.
2. The World of Unseen Forces: This category encompasses natural and artificial forces that influence life, such as weather patterns, radiation, magnetism, and artificial broadcast waves (radio, TV, cellular phones, etc.). It also touches upon the subtle influences of time, related to celestial body positions and human behavior cycles.
3. The World of Geology: The Earth is presented as a geologically active planet subject to periodic shifts of its crust, potentially affecting life every 30,000 years. Hall references Charles Hapgood's hypothesis on crustal shifts.
4. The World of Geography: This section critiques the typical modern focus on landscapes for human comfort, suggesting a need to contemplate landscapes without human presence and to recognize that vast spaces still hold mysteries.
5. The World of Water: Highlighting water's pervasive presence and its capacity to conceal secrets, the section notes the importance of wetlands.
6. The World of Night: Darkness is presented as a realm where many things avoid human detection. The development of technology to amplify human eyesight is discussed, encouraging a braver exploration of the nocturnal world.
7. The World of Plants: Hall challenges the strict division between plants and animals, suggesting a continuum of life with shared characteristics and potential psychic connections between plants and humans.
8. The World of the Psychic Web: This section explores the idea of a psychic web linking living things, suggesting humans may have lost or not perfected this communication. It posits that this loss might be a price paid for human evolution and competition, and that psychic abilities might be more common in other animals, including cryptids like Bigfoot.
9. The World of Discarnate Workers: This category refers to phenomena that appear as spirits or poltergeists, which can move objects or communicate. Hall notes the difficulty in explaining these phenomena due to a multitude of unsatisfactory answers.
10. The World of Animals: The magazine criticizes the complacency of biologists for limiting the study of animals to easily caught or found specimens, asserting that many unknown creatures, including 'monsters' of land, sea, and air, exist.
11. The World of Primates: Hall discusses cryptozoology, defining it as the pursuit of topics not financed by the establishment. He suggests that Homo sapiens may not be the smartest animal on the planet and that other primates, including those loosely labeled as 'wild men,' 'Bigfoot,' and 'giants,' are still around and unrecognized in their living forms.

A diagram on page 9 visually represents these interconnected categories surrounding a depiction of North America.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the vastness and mystery of the universe, the limitations of current scientific understanding, and the importance of exploring unexplained phenomena. The editorial stance is one of open-minded inquiry, encouraging readers to question conventional views and to consider a broader spectrum of reality. Hall advocates for a deeper appreciation of the unknown and suggests that many perceived 'mysteries' are simply natural phenomena not yet understood or accepted by mainstream science. The magazine positions itself as a platform for investigating these diverse wonders, from cryptids to unseen forces and psychic phenomena.

This issue of WONDERS, dated June 1993, issue number 31, is a compilation of articles exploring various unexplained phenomena and the human perception of them. The magazine covers topics ranging from cryptozoology and archaeology to the nature of scientific inquiry and media influence.

The World of Archaeology

This section discusses how archaeologists approach historical finds, noting their tendency to avoid controversial subjects and sometimes fail to pursue further evidence that could substantiate disputed findings. The Acambaro collection of Mexico is cited as an example of such a failure. The article suggests that archaeologists sometimes opt for easy answers, leading to topics being neglected or artifacts disappearing. It emphasizes that revisiting these topics can still yield new knowledge.

The Human Window

This article reflects on the limitations of human senses, stating that we are not all-seeing or all-knowing creatures. We are evolved to function within a narrow band of Earth's biosphere. While humanity has developed means to extend its capabilities into deep oceans, mountain peaks, and space, individual experiences of unusual phenomena, like seeing a sea monster or a Yeti, are often met with skepticism. The article highlights that our senses of hearing and sight are limited, and we cannot perceive everything. It concludes that humans function best as a group, relying on the experiences and records of others, and accepting that wonders may exist beyond our immediate sensory perception.

Human Nature

This section posits that human beings are naturally suspicious, with fakes often selling better than the real thing because they can be produced on demand. Wonders, conversely, are the real thing and do not appear on demand. Humans are described as comfort-seeking creatures who welcome the familiar, making topics like space aliens unsettling unless presented in a science fiction context.

Scientists

Professional scientists are generally perceived by the public as smarter, leading to faith in their ability to validate mysterious phenomena. However, the article argues that scientists are ordinary people with a particular interest that they have pursued extensively. This specialization does not necessarily make them wiser than other professionals. They acquire narrow, arcane information and are trained to please colleagues, which aids their careers but not necessarily their wisdom. Scientists are said to value prestige and seek acclaim over controversy, with a quote attributed to Harry Truman suggesting experts fear learning new things that might challenge their expertise. The author expresses a desire for more in-depth discussions of controversial wonders by scientists who have thoroughly investigated them.

Debunkers

Debunkers are presented as a group distinct from scientists, who tend to dismiss rather than debunk within their specialties. Debunkers actively attack subjects and include high school science teachers, journalists, magicians, ordinary citizens, and some scientists. They see themselves as guardians of scientific rigor and resent attention given to phenomena they deem untrue. Some debunkers are science writers who have a symbiotic relationship with professional scientists, benefiting from awards and support from scientific and medical organizations. Other debunkers are scientists who have strayed into other fields, believing their training gives them authority to pronounce on topics where non-scientists might be misled.

The Deficiencies of Debunking

When scientists attempt debunking within their specialties, the results are often deficient because they may be the least skilled professionals in that area. They may treat subjects as 'soft targets' with oversimplifications and weak arguments, often without peer oversight. While some debunking is accurate and necessary, it often amounts to explaining the obvious. A significant criticism is the lack of admission that many wonders are genuine mysteries. Debunkers can create a false impression that all wonders are being seriously examined and can make extravagant claims of solving mysteries or exposing fraud, operating without regulation.

Hoaxers

Hoaxes are described as coming from various sources, including ordinary pranksters, journalists, debunkers seeking to discredit others, and even scientists. Hoaxes are often based on genuine examples of wonders. The article advises prudence when investigating hoaxes, emphasizing that accusations must be proven, just as extraordinary claims require proof.

Fortean

Forteans are individuals who dedicate their time to studying wonders, inspired by Charles Hoy Fort, who collected data on strange happenings. The term 'fortean' and 'forteana' are derived from his name. Forteans are ordinary people who apply years of patient effort and life experience to solve difficult problems, often going beyond textbook knowledge and avoiding the hidebound views of scientists. The article suggests that scientists' biggest problem is their failure to act on wonders. Forteans are presented as the best friends of scientists, particularly the next generation, as the future of science may rely on the work of unpaid amateurs.

Influence

This section, referencing Robert Cialdini's 'Influence: How and Why People Agree to Things,' discusses how the pace of modern life compels people to forgo thorough decision-making, instead relying on single pieces of information. This shortcut mentality can lead people to dismiss genuine wonders because they are not widely discussed in the media, cutting them off from understanding the world and its mysteries.

Cities

Cities offer benefits by allowing people to marshal resources, but they also insulate individuals from the natural world. The urban environment, with its lights, haze, and heat islands, threatens to become the limit of our reality, pushing the natural world further away.

Culture

We are constantly exposed to culture, which feeds our work and personal lives. Entertainment options are abundant. Wonders can easily get lost in the daily pace of modern cultures, and cultures often have pre-made labels for phenomena, prioritizing expediency over logic.

Communications Media

Bad news tends to dominate print and broadcasting media because it is readily available from authorities. Media people are described as lazy for not seeking out other types of news. Bad news drives out good news and wonders, and this condition is not expected to change.

Inertia

The power of inertia is greater than anything else, preventing great change. Scientific organizations make self-congratulatory declarations, and politicians respond only when demanded. The best hope for action lies with individuals acting on their own to seek truth, which is found through personal discovery, not by being told.

Information

Drawing from experience in military intelligence, the article explains how information can become distorted as it moves up channels. It advises staying at the lowest level of information gathering or maintaining close contact with those who are, checking original sources, and using supporting notes. This section concludes the 24 reasons why the world is full of wonders, with a mention of 'Chaos' as a category for things that cannot be pigeon-holed.

The author expresses a desire to create high expectations rather than low ones, encouraging exploration of wonders. The pursuit of wonders may not always lead to new discoveries but creates an expectation of more to existence. The article states that if today's scientists could provide solutions for all wonders, they would deserve the blind faith accorded them, but they cannot. Probing mysteries is a life-long, enriching experience that opens windows onto the universe. The easy questions have been solved, while tough questions are shunned. The status quo is maintained by ignorance, complacency, and fear, but a different future is possible if we find the courage to open our minds.

Lake Michigan Monsters

This article by Mark A. Hall details historical reports of lake monsters, particularly in Lake Michigan. It begins by tracing the earliest references to 'sea serpents' in North American waters, noting that the term was used for large, poisonous water snakes in the 17th century. Early accounts from explorers like Pierre Esprit Radisson and John Josselyn describe large sea serpents. W.D. Williamson's 'The History of the State of Maine' mentions a 'Sea-Serpent' seen along the eastern coasts in 1818. The article explains that in the 19th century, people applied the term 'sea serpents' to creatures seen in the Great Lakes, a practice that evolved into using the word 'monster' today. Reports from Lake Erie, Lake Ontario, Lake Simcoe, and Lake St. Clair are briefly mentioned, with a specific account from Lake St. Clair in 1948 describing a creature "60 feet long, green and purple colored, scaly, and with a huge horned head." Lake Huron also has monster reports from Wasaga Beach, Ontario. The article then focuses on Lake Michigan, citing a series of sightings in 1867 at the southern end of the lake, which were reported in the Chicago Tribune. The author re-prints these newspaper items and notes that he has added illustrations based on the text. The first newspaper account, "A LAKE SERPENT: The Monster of the Ocean at Our Doors," from August 6, 1867, describes a mysterious Leviathan appearing in Lake Michigan, having seemingly left the ocean. Crews of the tug "Crawford" and the propeller "Sky Lark" off Evanston reported seeing a creature about forty to fifty feet long, serpentine in shape, with a neck size like a human's and a body size like an ordinary barrel. The creature ducked swiftly under the water when approached. The second newspaper account, "THE LAKE MONSTER: Description of the Animal by a Fisherman," from August 7, 1867, corroborates the sighting and adds details from a fisherman named Joseph Muhlke. Muhlke described the animal as between forty and fifty feet long, serpentine, with a neck like a human's and a body like an ordinary barrel. He observed a dark object in the water, oval in shape, which rose to reveal itself. The general color was bluish-black, graduating to blue towards the head and tail, with a grayish-white underside. The head was described as larger than a human's, sloping towards the mouth, with barbels on the snout but no visible teeth. Large eyes were noted. A ridge of bony plates, like those of a sturgeon, extended along the upper surface of the neck and part of the body. Muhlke also believed there were fins or legs towards the head and under the water, and a well-developed fin near the tail, possibly with lateral and longitudinal motion. He also noted an anal fin and two well-developed, flexible legs in front of it, suggesting the animal might walk on the lake bed.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the nature of unexplained phenomena, the human capacity to perceive and interpret them, and the societal structures that shape our understanding. The magazine consistently questions conventional explanations and encourages an open-minded approach to mysteries. There is a critical stance towards the limitations of scientific dogma and the often-superficial nature of debunking. The editorial stance appears to champion the pursuit of knowledge beyond established paradigms, valuing the contributions of independent researchers and the courage to explore the unknown. The issue advocates for a broader perspective that acknowledges the existence of wonders and the potential for enriching life through their investigation, while also cautioning against accepting information uncritically and highlighting the role of media and societal inertia in shaping perceptions.

This issue of WONDERS magazine, dated June 1993, focuses on historical accounts and ongoing investigations into lake monster sightings, primarily in Lake Michigan and its surrounding waters. The issue presents a detailed narrative of a sighting in 1867, along with other historical reports and scientific speculation.

The 1867 Sighting

The central narrative details an encounter by a Mr. M. with a large, unsymmetrical creature in the water, described as possibly belonging to the sturgeon family but possessing unusual characteristics like "long hair" covering its upper surface and sharp ridges on the underside. Mr. M. observed the animal's movement, which was likened to a snake, with its head rising and falling and its tail striking powerful blows. The creature made a peculiar noise before submerging. Mr. M. reported his experience to the TRIBUNE, and his account was corroborated by other reports, including one from the schooner Alert, captained by Henry Durant, and a dispatch from Michigan City, Indiana, where a "monstrous animal" about forty feet long was sighted.

Dr. Johnson, interviewed by the TRIBUNE, expressed confidence that the animal was merely an immense sturgeon, dismissing the presence of legs as imagination. Conversely, Colonel Danby suggested it might be a whale species that entered the lakes via the Welland Canal. The Academy of Sciences is noted to be investigating the phenomenon thoroughly.

Historical Context and Other Sightings

The magazine then broadens the scope to include other historical reports of lake monsters. It references a summary by Gerald Nelson of the Detroit News, which documented reports beginning in 1895 at Petoskey, where a "sea serpent" was sighted and photographed. This photograph was later revealed to be a hoax by John C. Wright in 1931.

Further reports mentioned include sightings in Lake Charlevoix, elsewhere in Lake Michigan, and at Gull Island, where a "green serpent" was initially reported but later identified as "two logs covered with seaweed." In 1976, giant snakes were reported in the Straits of Mackinac between Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.

An account from the owner of the Four Seasons Motel off Point Nipigon describes seeing a "giant snake" estimated at 18 to 20 feet long with a flat, dark head. Despite initial sightings being attributed by local authorities to swimming carp, the motel owner remained convinced of what he had seen.

Scientific and Cryptozoological Perspectives

The issue explores potential identities for these creatures, moving beyond simple explanations. It considers the possibility of surviving primitive species or animals that have adapted to freshwater environments over millions of years. The article suggests looking at fossil records, mentioning creatures like Eogyrinus, Greererpeton, and particularly Mosasaurs, which existed at the end of the Cretaceous period and possessed the size and characteristics described. Other candidates mentioned include Clidastes, Plotosaurus, and Platecarpus, all large marine reptiles.

The magazine highlights the extensive Great Swamps that once existed in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana, suggesting these environments could have harbored large, uncatalogued aquatic life.

Notes and References

The issue includes a "NOTES" section with references to various sources, including historical explorations, dictionaries, newspaper articles, and books on dinosaurs and natural mysteries. This section provides citations for the information presented, lending credibility to the historical accounts.

Index and Subscription Information

A comprehensive index to Volume One of WONDERS is provided, listing numerous names and topics covered in previous issues, such as "Ice Giants," "Gigantanthropus," "Dinosaurs," and various cryptids. The issue also includes information on ordering a perfect binding of Volume 1, containing the first four issues from 1992.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the persistent mystery of lake monsters and the ongoing quest to understand these phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry, presenting historical accounts and scientific speculation without definitively concluding the nature of the sightings. The magazine encourages further investigation and the collection of evidence, suggesting that these mysteries may be part of a larger, unexplored aspect of the natural world. The inclusion of scientific and paleontological perspectives indicates an effort to ground the discussion in factual research while acknowledging the unexplained.