Wonders - Vol 6 No 1 - 1999

Magazine Overview

Title: MARK A HALL'S GUIDE TO NORTH AMERICAN MONSTERS
Issue: VOL.6 NO.1
Date: MARCH 1999
Publisher: WONDERS
Type: Magazine Issue

This issue of Wonders magazine, presented as Mark A. Hall's guide, delves into the world of North American cryptids and legendary creatures. It aims to introduce readers to the 'hidden wonders' and 'elusive and rare animals' that cryptozoologists investigate. The magazine is structured around different categories of these mysterious beings: 'LAND', 'AIR', and 'WATER'.

Thunderbirds

The magazine features an article on Thunderbirds, describing them as giant birds with wingspans of twenty feet or more, sighted for centuries by farmers, loggers, and campers in Pennsylvania. A notable incident occurred in Illinois in 1977 when a ten-year-old boy was reportedly lifted off the ground by one of these birds, an event dismissed by professional biologists. The article notes that American Indians had many names for these giant birds, which were considered a menace and commonly preyed on bison, elk, deer, and moose. Traditional nesting locations are indicated on a map of the East and Midwest, with migration patterns suggested as an explanation for seasonal appearances. The Lawndale, Illinois sighting in 1977 is highlighted as a spectacular recent appearance, with two birds reportedly returning south from the Great Lakes before heading towards the Ozarks.

Bigfoot (The Giant Owl / Mothman)

Another section focuses on 'Bighoot,' also referred to as the 'Giant Owl' or 'Mothman.' Reports from southwestern West Virginia in the twentieth century describe a 'birdman' seen flying at night. After World War II, accounts emerged of this creature flying over cars. Its exploits gained media attention in the 1960s, with some speculating it came from outer space. The article suggests its bird-like appearance and historical reports point to it being a giant owl. American Indians knew this creature as 'Big Owl' and 'Flying Head,' the latter name attributed to its fiery red eye-shine and its appearance as a flying head with fierce talons. In the Ozark Mountains, it was known as the 'Booger Owl.' While once a menace, the birds are now considered fewer and less bold, with scattered reports across the USA.

From 1966 to 1968, reports of Bigfoot were numerous in West Virginia and Ohio, particularly in the territory from Dixie, West Virginia, to Lowell, Ohio, and along the Scioto River. These creatures were described as six feet tall or more, brown, with wingspans of 10 feet. They were observed on the ground, in trees, and hovering over speeding automobiles, with the behavior suggesting they used car drafts to aid their flight.

Giant Bats

The magazine also covers 'Giant Bats,' described as the most widely-spread mammal after mankind, inhabiting both continents and islands, with suspected giant forms in Africa, Asia, and Pacific islands. Rare modern reports suggest their presence in the Americas, particularly in southern Texas. The 'Big Bird' fuss in south Texas in the mid-1970s, extending from Corpus Christi to Brownsville to Del Rio, is attributed to these very large bats, rather than misidentified birds.

Starting in late 1975 through January 1976, numerous reports of large flying creatures in southern Texas were documented. While some were identified as birds, a few were described as something else, landing on roofs and leaving strange excrement. One man in Eagle Pass, Texas, reported a face-to-face encounter on January 21, 1976, at 1:40 a.m. He described an attack by a creature 'six feet tall, with large red eyes on a bat-like face, having a six-foot wingspan.' It was 'featherless and had skin like a bat.' This experience is compared to reports from Java of encounters with a giant bat called the 'Ahool.' The man, Francisco Magalles, was hospitalized and sedated, with a strange 'quill' found at the scene, but no official preservation of evidence occurred.

Giant Snakes

Giant snakes are presented as creatures that have figured in ancient North American rock art and oral stories of American Indians. The record of encounters in the 1800s is extensive, but in the 1900s, sightings have become sporadic, suggesting a decline in numbers and wetland habitats. Escaped pets are dismissed as an explanation for this history. Locations with reported giant snake sightings include Holdredge, Nebraska (1933, 15-18 feet); Lake Minnetonka, Minnesota (1887, 30 feet); Lock Springs, Missouri (1897, 16 feet); Drowned Lands, New York (1873, 30 feet); Wewoka, Oklahoma (1950, 25 feet); Peninsula, Ohio (1944, 19 feet); Hazel, Kentucky (1962, 28 feet); Fort Wayne, Indiana (1952, 18 feet); and Albertville, Alabama (1959, 30 feet).

Many reports of GIANT SNAKES originated in states like Indiana and Ohio, where the Great Swamps bordered the Great Lakes. The era of canal-building and agricultural expansion decimated these wetlands. The latest widely-publicized report was in southeastern Texas in 1982, where a hog farmer claimed to have killed a 25-foot-plus snake, which then attacked one of his pigs before disappearing back into the swamps. The Great Serpent Mound in Ohio is also mentioned.

Lake Monsters

The final section covers 'LAKE' creatures. Lake Iliamna is noted for large, unknown fish seen from aircraft, feared by Indians. Lake Manitoba is associated with Manipogo, reported yearly in July and August from 1955 to 1962 by fishermen. Lake Okanagan is the home of Ogopogo and a scene of many reports. Flathead Lake has sightings of a large black creature, up to 15 feet long, since 1923. Lake Desmet in Wyoming is a legend since pioneer days, with a 30-foot long creature featuring a bony ridge on its back. Lake Tahoe has reports of huge black things emerging like submarines since the 1800s. Great Salt Lake, Utah Lake, and Bear Lake are mentioned, with Indians telling of monsters and pioneers seeing them, sometimes more than one at a time, with the largest reported at least 40 feet long.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout the magazine is the existence of large, often uncatalogued or legendary creatures inhabiting North America. The editorial stance, as presented by Mark A. Hall, is one of investigation and documentation of these phenomena, drawing from folklore, historical accounts, and eyewitness testimonies. The magazine presents these reports as credible, even when official explanations are lacking or dismissive, and encourages further research through references to other publications by Hall and other authors in the field of cryptozoology.

This issue, titled "MONSTERS," is part of "MARK A HALL'S GUIDE" and is identified as issue number 11, likely from 1999. It focuses on various cryptid reports from North America, including lake monsters, mer-beings, giant cats, Taller-hominids, and Neandertals.

Lake Monsters

The article "MONSTERS" on page 11 states that lake monsters have been reported across Canada and the USA in lakes, ponds, and marshes. It suggests these creatures were more numerous in the past when Native Americans gave them names. Examples provided include:

• Interior Lakes of Labrador: A large otter or a seal-like animal ten feet long reported by Naskapi Indians.
• Lake Champlain (Quebec): A long history of reports of large unknown animals.
• Lake Michigan (1867): A 50-foot creature was seen by many, with Joseph Muhlke providing details.
• Green River, Kentucky (1902-1904): During a drought, a huge black thing shaped like a horse was reported.
• Lake James, North Carolina (1981): Fishermen reported a 'dragon-like' thing the size of a car.
• Altamaha River, Georgia (1980): A 20-foot snake-like creature with two brownish humps was reported.

Mer-Beings

Pages 12-13 discuss "MER - BEINGS." Mermaids and mermen are described as an unavoidable part of the cryptozoological landscape of North America. American Indians knew of these beings. Encounters have occurred sporadically over the past two centuries, with a notable recent reminder near Bishopville, South Carolina, in 1988, involving sightings and tracks of "Lizardman."

Intensive settlement has reduced wetland areas, but traditions of mer-beings persist. One explanation suggests a primate adapted to an aquatic environment, possibly using a "swimming costume" resembling a fish tail, akin to humans using swim fins.

Indigenous names for these beings include:

• Quebec: Tambe'gwilou (Naskapi), Tambe'gwinu (Montagnais).
• Minnesota: Nibanabe or Netaunaubay (Ojibwe).
• Maine and Nova Scotia: Noted by folklorist Albert Gatschet.
• Ohio: Mansanzhi (merman) and Mansanzhi kwa (female companion) among the Miami Indians.

Descriptions also exist from the Pacific Northwest and Central America.

Giant Cats

Pages 14-15 cover "GIANT" cats, specifically "black panthers" in the Eastern USA and fewer reports in Western states. These are described as large, all-black cats, sometimes seen with large brown-colored cats with manes. The maned cats are suggested to be males and the black ones females of the extinct Pleistocene fossil cat *Panthera atrox*. Reports have been dismissed as feral cats, fishers, or "black pumas."

Notable reports include:

• 1948: A large maned cat and a black panther traveled through SE Indiana and nearby Ohio.
• Maine (1836): Indians reported ferocious giant cats with manes that made a roaring sound, calling them the Lunkasoose.
• Pennsylvania (1797): Frontiersman Peter Pentz killed a "panther with a mane."

*Panthera atrox*, the American Lion, is described as the largest cat ever known in the Western Hemisphere, possibly surviving as the Lunkasoose. Males are rarely seen but surprise witnesses with their size and manes. They are called "TV lions." The tracks of males are huge, compared to dinner plates. Female tracks are smaller (about 5 by 4.5 inches) and have been cast more easily. Biologists sometimes dismiss tracks with claw marks as belonging to dogs, but the female cat track does display claws.

Taller-hominid

Pages 16-17 discuss the "TALLER -" hominid, also known as Homo gardarensis or the Marked Hominid. Its modern existence is supported by substantial skull fragments found in Greenland in 1926 by Danish archaeologists. These beings are thought to be kin to the Dorset culture, known to the Greenland Norse as "trolls" and to the Eskimos as the Tunnit. Modern encounters date back to 1862 in Michigan and continue to the present. This is distinguished from "Bigfoot."

Reports suggest Taller-hominids have their own origins among fossil primates. Modern reports are frequent in Ohio and Pennsylvania but are found across North America and globally. Male Taller-hominids are typically about seven feet tall, muscular, swift runners, and knowledgeable about forest environments. Their tracks, which they try to conceal, are slightly larger than human tracks.

The skull fragments exhumed in Greenland were labeled a "pathological specimen" by Prof. F.C.C. Hansen. Other "Wild Men" bones, like the "Minaret Calverium" from California and bones from northern Minnesota, were lost after being sent to university warehouses or the Smithsonian Institution.

Stone ruins attributed to the Tunnit exist in Labrador and Greenland. The Taller-hominids had the intelligence to work and use tools and lived alongside the Eskimos. Over time, conflict arose, and the Eskimos reportedly wiped out the Tunnit. Some Eskimos claim surviving Tunnit live in underground homes in Greenland fjords.

Neandertal

Page 18 covers "NEANDERTAL." American Indians have told visiting anthropologists about the Nakanni/Nahanni Indians, referred to as "Bushmen," who appear in summer months and are seen at a distance, retiring to camouflaged pit-lodges in winter. Drawings are based on eyewitness accounts of a "Nuk-luk" (Man of the Bush) seen near Fort Simpson in 1964.

These Bushmen sometimes wear human footwear and clothing, or sometimes none at all. Their bare feet leave unique tracks. They are considered survivals of Neandertal Men and Women. While the nearest recognized Neandertal fossils are from Asia, persistent reports of Bushmen suggest Neandertals found their way to the New World. Tracks in Asia also suggest Neandertal survival there.

Man (Primates)

Page 19, "MAN," synthesizes the primate reports: Neandertals, Taller-hominids, Patterson's Bigfoot, True Giants, and Mer-beings. These have not been sorted by simple criteria like size or tracks but by multiple categories of evidence, including modern observations of physical descriptions and behavior, folklore, unique tracks, and matching fossil evidence with living reports.

A map shows locations in the Mackenzie River region, including Great Slave Lake, Fort Simpson, and Nahanni River.

Patterson's Bigfoot

Page 20 features a map related to "PATTERSON'S" Bigfoot. Stars indicate sites of genuine tracks and sightings of Patterson's Bigfoot, as opposed to other reports of "wild men."

Locations marked include:

• British Columbia: Tete Jaune Cache, Toba Inlet.
• Washington: Vancouver, Seattle, Eatonville, Woodland.
• Oregon: (no specific locations marked on map, but Columbia River shown).
• California: Blue Creek Mountain, Bluff Creek, Hyampom, Basin Gulch, Sacramento.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently presents reports of cryptids as credible phenomena, often referencing indigenous knowledge and historical accounts. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into these unexplained beings, presenting evidence and eyewitness testimony without outright dismissal, while also noting how some reports have been historically misinterpreted or lost. The recurring theme is the potential for undiscovered or surviving hominids and other unusual creatures in North America, challenging conventional scientific understanding.

This issue, titled 'TO NORTH AMERICAN MONSTERS', focuses on various cryptid and mysterious primate reports from North America. It features articles on Bigfoot, True Giants, Little People, Giant Monkeys, Yeti, and other unusual creatures.

Bigfoot

The article on Bigfoot states that reports of large hairy primates in the Pacific Northwest began in the 1800s with loggers and miners. The name 'Bigfoot' was applied in 1958. The 1967 motion film by Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin is highlighted as providing visual proof and defining the creature's image. These shy forest giants, reaching 8 feet in height, are suggested to be living descendants of the fossil primate Paranthropus. Similar survivors are reported in Asia, such as the Bear-Men of China and creatures seen by Slavomir Rawicz in the Himalayas. They are adapted to steep mountain slopes and thick forests and their tracks exhibit sexual dimorphism.

True Giants

Storybook giants are linked to the existence of 'True Giants,' described as being more than twice the height of human beings. These are considered distant relatives of man and survivors of the fossil primate Gigantopithecus. They inhabit North America and have retreated into mountainous regions and tall forests to avoid human contact, as they sometimes ate humans. Names given to these True Giants are listed on a map of North America. The tracks of modern True Giants are distinctive, measuring typically over 20 inches long with only four toes, suggesting a vestigial fifth toe. They are noted for their broad, flat feet, physical appearance, behavior, tracks, and success.

Giants (Fossil Evidence and Legends)

This section discusses the finds of Gigantopithecus fossils, which consist mainly of partial jawbones and teeth, primarily from Asia. The scarcity of fossils makes it difficult to determine the exact nature of this creature, leading some to believe it was a giant gorilla. However, accounts of 'True Giants' worldwide suggest a bipedal primate resembling humans, from a different evolutionary line. Giant bones have been reported in the New World, but older finds were not preserved for examination.

A map shows various names associated with giants across North America, including 'ICE GIANT,' 'WENDIGO,' 'ATCHEME,' 'COUGOU,' 'GUGWES,' 'KOOKWES,' 'STRENDU,' 'MAUSHOPE,' and 'TSULKALU.'

Little People

North America is home to local populations of 'Little People,' known to American Indians and dealt with through shamans. European traditions parallel the decision of the Little People in North America to withdraw from human contact. They live apart and are seldom reported, possibly due to fear or scarcity. The most well-known tradition is that of the 'Menehune' in Hawaii. A map shows locations in North America where 'Little People' are reported, including 'Na'hni'as,' 'NINOMBY,' 'Gada'zhe,' and 'PYGMY APACHE.'

People (Little People)

Little People are described as typically growing to about three feet in height. They work together to accomplish great feats despite their size. Their origin is uncertain, but they appear to have existed longer than humans, accumulating great wisdom. They have their own culture and survive concealed on islands and in mountains globally. A map indicates various names for 'Little People' in North America, such as 'Memegwecio,' 'Pigmies,' 'Puk-Wud-Jies,' 'Monkey Men,' 'Isti lupu'tski,' and 'LITTLE PEOPLE OF THE SMOKIES.'

American (Yeti Relatives)

The article suggests that the Yeti of the Himalayas have relatives in North America, known in the swamplands of the South and around the Mississippi River bottomlands. Modern reports come from this region and further north. The Choctaw Indians called them 'Kashehotapalo' ('Calls like a woman') for their screaming sound. They are described as having the appearance of a large gorilla with long hair on the upper body, leaving tracks similar to those identified with the Yeti in Asia. A map highlights the Mississippi River bottomlands and surrounding states (MO, KY, TN, AL, GA, LA, AR) where these primates are reported.

Yeti

The American Yeti is described as similar in physical appearance to its relatives in Asia and Africa, with American reports indicating a height of 5 feet. It is seen sitting in trees, swimming, and playfully chasing people, and is capable of killing livestock for food. Knowledge of them comes from detailed encounters and brief ones. They are reported in states bordering the Ohio River, such as Indiana, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania, and also in Oregon and Minnesota, suggesting adaptability. Cryptozoologist Loren E. Coleman found and photographed its track in Illinois in 1962, leading him to propose the 'North American Ape' (NApe). Their appearance and distribution suggest they are descendants of the genus Dryopithecus.

Giant

The largest and most formidable monkey, Simopithecus, is now rare. Humans and these Giant Monkeys once fought battles, evidenced by fossils. They now survive by being cautious in mountain places in Asia and are scattered across North America as remnants. Simopithecus is a giant baboon, a larger version of the Gelada Baboons of Ethiopia. Young Giant Monkeys resemble small marsupials and move by leaping. They are playful and less cautious, making them more likely to be observed. Caution is instilled as they age. Reports of kangaroos in North America are linked to these Giant Monkeys. Numerous reports of them occurred in the twentieth century in states from Illinois to Pennsylvania.

A map shows Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky in relation to these Giant Monkeys.

Monkeys

American Indian names for these monkeys include 'Nalusa Falaya' ('The Long Evil Being') from the Choctaw in Louisiana, and 'Sdonalyasna' from Alaska Indians, noted for imitating animal and bird sounds. Modern reports of giant baboons indicate they survive in small family units and move constantly, sometimes causing a stir in newspapers. Their presence is noted across North America and Canada. Their tracks are distinctively broad with three large toes. They are formidable creatures that have learned to be retiring to avoid detection by humans.

More (Other Cryptids)

This section briefly mentions several other cryptids:

• Giant Bear: One specimen of *Velularctos inopinatus* was killed in June 1864.
• Sea Serpents: Sightings of 'Cadborosaurus' and other marine unknowns continue on the West Coast.
• Giant Freshwater Scorpions: Large tentacled creatures in Oklahoma lakes are said to drown people and cause whirlpools.
• Carlsbad Creature: In New Mexico in 1938, a creature with the body of a large horse, a long neck, and a snake's head attacked a dog.
• Pterodactyls: Pterodactyl-like flying creatures are reported in the Southwest, with a famous sighting in Arizona Territory in 1890.
• Giant Crocodiles: Known to Indians and reported from lakes in central states. In 1750, one emerged from Lake Espantosa and dragged a woman into the lake.

The issue concludes with an invitation for readers to share their own sightings or heard accounts of monsters with MAHP.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme is the exploration of mysterious creatures and primates reported in North America, drawing parallels with global legends and fossil evidence. The magazine presents information from historical accounts, folklore, and cryptozoological research, suggesting a belief in the existence of these entities and encouraging reader participation in documenting them. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into the unexplained phenomena of cryptids.

This issue, identified as number 31 and published in 1999 by Mark A. Hall Publications, is titled "UNKNOWNS" and focuses on "TO NORTH AMERICAN MONSTERS." The cover features a map of North America with callouts to various cryptid reports.

Cover Features

The cover highlights several distinct cryptid reports:

• Ocean Spider: Stories from the Eskimos in the Far North describe giant saltwater monsters that pose a threat to people.
• Sea Serpents: Numerous reports occurred along the New England coast between 1817 and 1886, with rare sightings still occurring today.
• Woo-Woo: An aerial mystery animal heard flying over New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Eyewitness accounts are described as nervous, and its identity is shrouded by darkness in modern times.
• Monster Lizards: Pioneers in Ohio reported giant amphibious creatures in the Pickaway Plains. A giant lizard was also reported in Kentucky in 1975.
• Sea Monster Johnny: Also known as "Pinky," this pink-skinned dragon is reportedly seen every few years in the St. Johns River and is described as being the size of a donkey when out of the water.
• Lusca: Feared by residents of Andros Island in the Bahamas, Lusca is said to emerge from lakes and "banana holes" to kill people. It is described as a half-octopus and half-dragon.

The cover also directs readers to "For more: See 'Pinky- The Forgotten Dinosaur' in Wonders Vol. 1 (1992)."

Pursuing Monsters Article

Page 32 features an article titled "PURSUING MONSTERS" by Mark A. Hall. Hall posits that real-life "monsters" are intriguing rather than scary, being elusive and rare creatures that occupy diverse ecological environments across North America. He suggests that these creatures are nature's way of ensuring that capable life forms fill available niches throughout geological ages.

Hall notes that Native Americans knew of these creatures and passed down knowledge orally, which has made it easy to dismiss their accounts as mere stories. He attributes the monsters' retreat into remote locations, deeper waters, and out of sight to deforestation, draining of swamps, mining, and city-building. They are most active at night, coming closest to humans before disappearing, leaving behind convinced witnesses and skeptical observers.

To learn more about monsters, Hall recommends a combined approach of "search and research." Research involves reading the best available discussions on monster reports, allied natural history fields (like herpetology for giant snakes), folklore studies, newspaper accounts, and evaluating anecdotal evidence. The personal experiences of witnesses are crucial for understanding these unusual animals and human reactions to them. It is important to study findings within the context of nature and geography.

"Search" involves going into the field to the scenes of reported encounters, meeting people, and potentially finding traces or the creature itself. Preparation through research enhances the chances of success.

Hall concludes that nature holds many wonders, including these rare creatures we call "monsters" due to our ignorance. He encourages pursuit, promising surprise at their capabilities and insights into human behavior.

Publication Details

The issue is copyrighted 1999 by Mark A. Hall. It is part of WONDERS Vol. 6 No. 1 (Whole Number 21). The publisher is Mark A. Hall Publications, located at Box 3153 Butler Station, Minneapolis, MN 55403 USA. WONDERS is published quarterly. Subscription rates are provided for North America (US$18 for four issues), Europe (US$24), and elsewhere (US$26). Single copy prices are US$5.25 (North America), US$6.50 (Europe), and US$7 (elsewhere), all postpaid. Catalog requests cost US$3 in North America and US$5 outside.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The primary theme is the existence and study of cryptids and unknown creatures in North America. The editorial stance, as articulated by Mark A. Hall, is one of curiosity and scientific inquiry, encouraging a methodical approach to understanding these phenomena through both field investigation and academic research. The magazine presents these creatures not as terrifying entities, but as fascinating subjects of study, highlighting their place in folklore and natural history.