Wonders - Vol 4 No 3 - 1995

Magazine Overview

WONDERS, Vol. 4 No. 3, published in September 1995, is a quarterly magazine subtitled 'Seeking the Truth in a Universe of Mysteries.' It is published by Mark A. Hall Publications out of Minneapolis, MN. The cover prominently features headlines about 'TRUE GIANTS 1829-1994' and '& GIANT SNAKES,' accompanied by an illustration of a large snake and a giant footprint.

Editorial: Fads of the Moment

The editorial, written by Mark A. Hall, discusses the transient nature of popular scientific theories, referring to them as 'fads of the moment.' He critiques the current acceptance of the Atlantis story being solely linked to the volcanic eruption of Santorini, suggesting past fads identified Atlantis with Crete. Hall also addresses the 'global warming' trend, contrasting it with the earlier 'ice age' predictions, and the theory of dinosaur extinction due to cosmic impacts, questioning the definitive causal link. He urges readers to maintain skepticism and ensure all viewpoints are heard, rather than blindly accepting prevailing scientific narratives.

Encounters with True Giants, 1829-1994

This section, authored by Mark A. Hall, delves into historical and modern accounts of 'True Giants.' Hall posits that these beings, possibly descendants of Gigantopithecus, were once known but have since become legendary. He notes that their traces, such as teeth and jawbones, have been found, and that modern sightings often correlate with progressively larger tracks. The article highlights North American records, particularly from newspapers, as valuable sources of information.

The Earliest Record: A Giant Story from 1829

The earliest documented account dates back to June 6, 1829, from the Vincennes, Indiana, Western Sun & General Advertiser, originating from Milledgeville, Georgia. This story, referencing a Creek Indian tradition about an enchanted island in the Okefenokee Swamp, describes a 'Man mountain' with a foot measuring eighteen inches long and nine inches wide, and a stride of over six feet. The legend speaks of 'Daughters of the Sun' who saved intrepid hunters. This account is corroborated by Dr. Moran in 1806 and supported by local residents like John Ostean.

Modern Accounts and Sightings

The magazine presents a chronology of alleged True Giant encounters and track finds from 1829 to 1994, detailing numerous incidents across the USA and Canada. These include:

• 1829, Okefenokee Swamp, GA: A 9 x 18 inch track.
• 1948, Cherokee Co., SC: 4 x 9-10 track, 4 toes.
• 1963, Tuolumne Co., CA: 22 x 40 inch track, 4 toes.
• 1965, Pitt Lake, BC: 12 x 24 inch track, 4 toes.
• 1968, Tuolumne Co., CA: Creature estimated at 10-12 feet tall.
• 1969, Big Horn Dam, Alberta: Creature estimated at 15 feet tall.
• 1970, Glen Rock, PA: 7 x 14 inch track, 4 toes.
• 1972, Lander, WY: Creature estimated at 12 feet tall, tracks with two toes.
• 1975, Corona, CA: 15 inch track, 4 toes.
• 1976, Snoqualmie, WA: 8-9 x 17 inch track, 4 toes.
• 1976, Cold Lake, Alberta: 10 x 21 inch track, 4 toes.
• 1976, Corinth, MS: 6 x 15 inch track, 4 toes.
• 1976, Brookhaven, MS: 15-inch track.
• 1976, Hallsville, TX: Creature estimated at 12 feet tall.
• 1977, Saluda Co., SC: 7 x 14 inch track.
• 1977, Fort Mill, SC: 5.75 x 12.25 track.
• 1977, Riceville, MT: Creature estimated at 15 feet tall.
• 1977, Clatsop Co., OR: 7.5 x 17 inch track, 4 toes.
• 1977, Abee, Alberta: 23.5-inch track.
• 1978, Granite Falls, WA: 6.5 x 14 inch track.
• 1980, Yacolt, WA: 12 x 30 inch track.
• 1988, Poplar River, Manitoba: 7 x 14 inch track, 4 toes.
• 1993, California, PA: 14 x 30 inch track, 4 toes.
• 1994, Angeles Crest NF, CA: Creature estimated at 12 feet tall.

Detailed descriptions are provided for several incidents, including the 1963 Tuolumne County tracks (22x40 inches, 3 toes), the 1965 Pitt Lake sighting (10-15 feet tall, auburn hair), the 1968 Confidence Ridge sighting (10-12 feet tall, fuzzy hair), and the 1976 Snoqualmie River tracks (17 inches long, 9 inches wide, 4 toes).

Giant Snakes

The cover also mentions 'Giant Snakes Alive!', and the table of contents lists 'MORE GIANT SNAKES ALIVE!' and 'MORE ABOUT...' with corresponding page numbers (.63, .80, .90), indicating that this is a significant topic within the issue, though detailed content is not provided in the scanned pages.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores phenomena that lie outside mainstream scientific acceptance, such as 'True Giants' and potentially other unexplained creatures. The editorial stance, as expressed by Mark A. Hall, is one of critical inquiry and skepticism towards prevailing 'fads' in science, encouraging readers to question established narratives and seek a deeper truth. The focus on historical accounts and detailed chronologies suggests an effort to build a case for the reality of these phenomena based on evidence, however unconventional.

This issue of WONDERS magazine, dated September 1995, features a cover story titled "MORE GIANT SNAKES ALIVE!" by Mark A. Hall, alongside extensive reporting on "True Giants" (Bigfoot-like creatures) and their associated phenomena. The magazine presents a compilation of sightings, footprint discoveries, and anecdotal evidence from various locations across North America, spanning several decades.

True Giants: Sightings and Footprints

The magazine details numerous encounters and physical evidence related to what it terms "True Giants." These reports include:

• Cold Lake, Alberta (June 8, 1976): Ben Lefebvre discovered giant tracks at the Imperial Oil site. The prints were 2.25 inches deep, 10 inches wide, and had four toes. The circumstances were deemed to rule out a hoax due to the depth and lack of other marks.
• Corinth, Mississippi (March 14, 1976): Strange footprints, 15 inches long and 6 inches wide, were found at two sites. Some prints showed three toe markings with a faint fourth, while others had only three visible. Photographs showed four toes clearly.
• Brookhaven, Mississippi (February 14, 1977): Footprints were reported in Lincoln County, eleven months after the Corinth discoveries.
• Clatsop County, Oregon (November 18, 1977): Glenn Lauper found footprints measuring 7 by 17 inches. He also noted broken tree branches between 6 and 11 feet high, suggesting a large creature. Lauper theorized the presence of an infant based on smaller prints found within larger ones.
• Abee, Alberta (December 1977): Andy Zachary found tracks 23.5 inches long, with toes visible and prints over seven feet apart, suggesting a creature at least 10 feet tall.
• Granite Falls, Washington (December 29, 1977): Two sets of tracks were found on a logging road. The larger track was 17 inches long with a 6-7 foot stride, while a smaller track was 6.5 inches wide and 14 inches long with a 4-5 foot stride.
• Yacolt, Washington (October 1980): Darryl Cahoon reported finding footprints 30 inches long and a foot wide.
• Poplar River, Manitoba (May 1988): John Larson found footprints measuring 7 inches by 14 inches, with only four toes.
• California, Pennsylvania (February 1, 1994): Large tracks, 31 inches long and 17 inches wide with four toes, were found in the snow, with a six-foot stride between heel to heel.
• Angeles Crest National Forest, California (November 12, 1994): Seven people reported seeing a family of True Giants: a 15-foot male, a 10-11 foot female, and a 4-foot juvenile.

Other reports include sightings of "hairy creatures" in Natchez, Mississippi, and Hallsville, Texas. Zollie Owens in Hallsville described a creature nearly 12 feet tall with silver hair, accompanied by a smaller female with red-tinged hair.

Physical Evidence and Characteristics:

The magazine highlights consistent characteristics across these reports: large size (often estimated at 10-15 feet tall or more), hairy appearance (silver, black, gray, brown), upright bipedal locomotion, and distinctive four-toed footprints. The presence of broken trees at significant heights is also noted as a common sign.

Historical Context and Folklore:

The article draws parallels between modern sightings and historical accounts, including a 1836 newspaper report of the "lunkasoose" in Maine and a "Man-mountain" from 1829. It also references folklore and primate fossils as potential evidence for the existence of such creatures. A 1963 Sports Afield article is cited for reports of twisted trees, a sign attributed to "True Giants" or "Gilyuk" by Dene Indians in Alaska.

Giant Snakes Alive!

The cover story by Mark A. Hall focuses on reports of giant snakes. Hall presents historical accounts, including:

• Illinois (1854): A story from Willard Price about a giant snake hunt near Cairo, which Price suggested was an election day hoax. Hall calls for a re-examination of this event.
• Kansas (1871): An item from the Humboldt Kansas Union referencing a story from the "Humboldt Statesman" about a 38-foot, 9-inch snake killed in 1869 near Fredonia. The snake was reportedly skinned, stuffed, and shipped to the Woods Museum.

Hall notes that previous issues of WONDERS have covered reports of super-snakes up to thirty feet long and indicates that future issues will explore giant rattlesnakes.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine's stance appears to be one of open inquiry into unexplained phenomena, particularly cryptozoological reports. It encourages readers not to dismiss these stories lightly, emphasizing the consistency of descriptions and evidence across numerous accounts. The editorial suggests that "True Giants" possess superior knowledge of nature and intelligence, possibly capable of communication. The article concludes by urging consideration of what humanity might say to these creatures and the potential for learning from them. The consistent nature of the reports, from footprints to physical descriptions and associated environmental signs like broken trees, is presented as strong evidence for the reality of these phenomena. The magazine aims to document and analyze these reports, drawing connections between modern sightings and historical folklore.

This issue of WONDERS magazine, dated September 1995, focuses on the intriguing topic of "Giant Snakes in North America." The cover headline boldly announces this theme, and the content explores numerous historical sightings and accounts of large serpentine creatures across the continent.

Historical Sightings and Accounts

The magazine presents a chronological compilation of reported encounters with giant snakes and sea serpents, drawing from newspaper articles, historical records, and eyewitness testimonies. These accounts span a wide period, from the mid-19th century to the late 20th century.

1874 - Kansas

An early report mentions a snake associated with the Woods Museum in Chicago, humorously linked to Mrs. O'Leary's cow. A check of historical Kansas newspapers and records for references to Dr. Tipton or Dr. Barrett in specific counties yielded no results. The article notes that authorities consider anacondas and pythons to be the largest known snakes and believe it impossible for such cold-blooded reptiles to survive in a temperate climate with bitter cold.

1874 - Pennsylvania

A report from the Williamsport, Pennsylvania, Sun-Gazette on September 30, 1874, mentions a "large serpent" sighted in the summers around Morgantown, Pennsylvania. The Sun-Gazette writer expresses suspicion about the report's validity, suggesting the story might be a fabrication to keep people away from berry patches, thus allowing professional berry gatherers to work unmolested.

1887 - Minnesota

According to The Lake Minnetonka Book of Days, an entry from April 19, 1887, describes men building the Grays Bay Bridge sighting a 30-foot sea serpent on the surface of Lake Minnetonka, west of Minneapolis/St. Paul. A more recent, second-hand account from around 1981-83 describes a snake in Lake Minnetonka that was longer than the witness boat, charcoal gray with yellow stripes.

1892 - Indiana

Two reports from southwestern Indiana in 1892 are detailed. The first, published in the Vincennes Commercial on April 22, describes a "Wonderful Aquatic Monster Sixty Feet Long" seen in Horseshoe Pond near Vincennes township. Isaac Daines and others reported the creature, resembling a sea serpent, with a head like a sea lion or large dog, and a serpentine body. It was described as black on the back and sides, inhabiting the water, and moving with graceful ease. Daines attempted to kill it, shooting five times without apparent effect.

A subsequent article from June 17, 1892, in the Vincennes Commercial, mentions a creature said to be half as large.

1897 - Missouri

The Wilkesboro, North Carolina, Chronicle, referencing the St. Louis Globe Democrat, reports on an incident near Lock Springs, Missouri. Farmers were harassed by a large snake that preyed on chickens and pigs. Newton McCrary tracked the reptile to the Grand River. After finding it asleep, McCrary shot it with buckshot. The creature measured 16 feet and was described as resembling a python. It was believed to have escaped from a circus.

1901 - Ohio

An article from the Hartford Courant, dated August 9, 1901, relays a story from the Cleveland Plain Dealer about an enormous snake seen in Loudonville, Ohio. Initially dismissed, the reports gained credibility when two responsible men corroborated sightings. The snake left a path as if a huge log had been dragged. A party of men and boys found and killed the snake in an abandoned barn; it measured over twenty feet and was thought to have escaped from a circus.

1933 - Nebraska

A Nebraska Land Magazine article describes a giant snake sighting near Holdrege, Nebraska. Gus Larson and his wife reported seeing what looked like a pole in a field, which then rose up and hissed at them. A subsequent search by a group found nothing.

Map and Key of Giant Serpent Sightings

Figure 2 presents a map titled "Giant Serpents in Eastern North America," illustrating various locations of reported sightings. Accompanying this map is a key that lists specific incidents by year, location, and estimated length, along with references to their appearance in WONDERS magazine. Notable entries include a 15-foot serpent in Tennessee (1868), a 30-40 foot serpent in New York (1873), a 15-30 foot serpent in Ontario (1874), a 60-foot serpent in Minnesota (1887), and a 20-25 foot serpent in Indiana (1892).

Cryptozoological Perspective

The article discusses the subject of giant snakes in North America within the framework of "ethno-known" cryptozoology. It posits that these creatures are known to ordinary people but not acknowledged by science. The author suggests that American Indians were aware of these reptiles and incorporated them into their art. The article criticizes the scientific community for its dismissive stance, arguing that scientists are often unwilling to consider the possibility of undiscovered animals and adhere to a paradigm that denies their existence. The author advocates for a new paradigm where large, undiscovered animals are considered numerous, albeit with small populations.

Related Topics and Resources

The "More About..." section provides brief mentions of other cryptozoological subjects and related literature. These include the Yeti, the "Hairy Man" of Alaska, Eastern Catamounts (mountain lions), and the Black Swamp in Ohio, which reportedly contains tales of monstrous snakes. It also lists books on cryptozoological investigation and two book dealers specializing in such topics. A rare megamouth shark sighting in Japan is also noted.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

A recurring theme throughout the issue is the contrast between anecdotal, eyewitness accounts of giant snakes and the skepticism of the scientific community. The magazine appears to champion the investigation of such phenomena, framing it as a pursuit for amateurs and advocating for a more open-minded approach to the possibility of undiscovered species. The editorial stance supports the idea that these creatures may have survived into modern times, particularly in dwindling wetland habitats, and encourages further investigation.