Wonders - Vol 8 No 1 - 2003

Magazine Overview

WONDERS magazine, Vol. 8 No. 1, dated March 2003, is published by MARK A. HALL PUBLICATIONS and focuses on "SEEKING THE TRUTH IN A UNIVERSE OF MYSTERIES." The cover prominently features the title "Mysterious Midwest" with an illustration of a bandaged bust.

The Intractability of Genuine Mysteries

This section discusses the encounter with remnants of Homo erectus, described as primitive but once intelligent primates who spread across Eastern Asia. The article contrasts them with archaic Homo sapiens and Neandertal Men, and eventually modern Homo sapiens who replaced their predecessors. It recounts the story of a Homo erectus male found in Asia around 1966, put on ice, and sold into the black market. The body was put on tour for two years, eventually attracting attention that led to its disappearance before legal authorities could inquire about its origin. This event is linked to the mystery of the Minnesota Iceman, with the article suggesting that only the discovery of another Homo erectus relic will fully explain the Iceman.

Mysterious Midwest Series: Fly-Over Country

This article initiates a new series on the mysteries of the American Midwest. It describes the region as a land between the Great Lakes and the mountain states, characterized by forests, wetlands (now drained), and wide-open spaces. Notable geographical features include the Porcupine Mountains, Sawtooth Mountains, Turtle Mountains, Black Hills, and the Driftless Area. The landscape is presented as a result of the Pleistocene Epoch glaciation, with ice caps forming Hudson Bay and shaping the land with rivers and lakes. The article notes that mankind has significantly altered the land with farms, towns, and cities, leading to the perception of the Midwest as mere "fly-over country."

Mysteries of the Midwest: Limber Pines and Spooky Lights

The "Mysterious Midwest" series continues by highlighting specific mysteries. One is the Limber Pines of Slope County, North Dakota, found in an area of steep-sided scoria bluffs overlooking the Little Missouri River and Cannonball Creek. The origin of these trees, which are typically found in mountains, is unknown and they are thought to be a remnant population from a Pleistocene environment.

The magazine then delves into the phenomenon of "Spooky Lights." It recounts an early report from the Detroit Evening News on April 6, 1897, about a bright light, the size of a hen's egg, seen emerging from a river near Lee, Michigan (now Leisure), moving with a zigzag motion and emitting a whizzing sound. A more spectacular event occurred near Neillsville, Wisconsin, in 1924, where a large, nebulous green light reportedly melted snow and scorched a path through a field. The light was described as having a high-pitched hum and descended to the road, creating a cloud of steam.

The Duluth (Minnesota) News-Tribune's 1972 request for reader experiences with UFOs yielded a large response, with many requesting anonymity. Reports included abductions and strange objects in the sky. Dorothy Peterson of Superior recounted an incident in 1965 or 1966 at Denfeld Stadium where a bright, large object flew over the field, hovered, and then left. The event was witnessed by spectators but went unremarked upon at the time.

Characteristics of UFOs and Spook Lights

The article notes that not all extraordinary aerial phenomena are necessarily vehicles. It suggests that the broad label of UFOs is used because of a fear to discuss these phenomena openly. The "Spook Lights" are described as peculiar lights that reappear in the same locations. While often associated with ghosts or departed people, the article suggests this is an unjustified assumption, with origin stories often being vague or fictional. A genuine spook light is typically a globe of light, about the size of a basketball, in various colors (red, white, yellow, blue, green), sometimes oblong. They can move or hover and be approached. Lights that are not approachable and appear on the horizon are considered illusions from distant artificial sources.

Specific Spook Light Accounts

The Blue Light of the St. Croix

The St. Croix River Valley is mentioned, with a reference to petroglyphs and a name carved into a cliff: "Rivard." Phillip Rivard was a hermit who lived by the river and was rumored by some to be responsible for Minnesota's spook light, the "Blue Light of the St. Croix." Stories circulated about the light dating back to an incident around 1900 involving a farmer whose house burned down.

Young people were attracted to these sites to watch for the light. Laura Amdahl Mabie of Stillwater recounted an experience in 1968 where she and friends found their car tires flat and then saw the blue light hovering above the ground.

North Dakota Light

A spook light near Fargo was investigated by Dr. J. Allen Hynek on February 26, 1967. Hynek found it "totally unable to explain" and noted it was photographed. The light was described as rising from a snow-covered field, being very bright with a glow and a dome-like bulge. Hynek found no evidence of a hoax.

Upper Peninsula of Michigan Lights

Lights in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, known as the "Watersmeet Light" and "Paulding Light," are mentioned. These have been determined to originate from vehicles on a highway and are used for tourism, with some people deliberately misleading visitors about their origin.

Iowa's Mystery Light

An account from the Annals of Iowa in 1965 summarizes a recurring light seen in Warren County, south of Des Moines. The light appeared on a farm, described as being about 15-20 inches in diameter, brilliant red in the center, shading to orange at the edge, with rays. It was seen to bounce or hang motionless, and sometimes pursued people. In 1947, Roy Whitehead heard the light's "voice of a lost earthbound soul."

Stories linked the light's appearance to a farmhouse fire in 1938 that claimed the life of a young girl, though the date was uncertain, possibly as early as 1874. Another version linked its appearance to the violent death of a young girl.

A Ghost Story: The Mysterious Messenger

This section presents a "ghost story" by Hugo E. Schmidt of Wichita, Kansas, titled "The Mysterious Messenger." Schmidt, head of the federal seed loan division for Kansas, submitted the story for a contest. The narrative describes the author, as a fourteen-year-old boy in Nebraska, observing an old haunted sod-house. A "large ball of light" had reportedly traveled over the countryside every night since a murder many years ago, emanating from the vicinity of the sod-house.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are unexplained aerial phenomena, particularly "Spooky Lights," and regional mysteries of the American Midwest. The magazine adopts a stance of seeking truth and exploring unexplained events, presenting various accounts and investigations without necessarily offering definitive explanations. There is an emphasis on the persistence of mystery and the human tendency to seek explanations, even if they are folkloric or speculative. The publication appears to be open to reporting on a wide range of unexplained phenomena, from ancient hominids to contemporary sightings.

This issue of WONDERS, dated March 2003 and identified as issue 11, delves into a variety of unexplained phenomena and historical mysteries. The content spans personal accounts of ghostly lights, archaeological discoveries, and unusual atmospheric events, offering a blend of anecdotal evidence and historical research.

The Mysterious Messenger

The lead article recounts a personal childhood experience with a 'Mysterious Messenger,' described as a large ball of light that haunted a deserted homestead. The narrator details numerous encounters with this phenomenon, which appeared nightly, exhibiting behaviors such as emerging from a chimney, moving across the landscape, and visiting a graveyard. The homestead itself is presented as the site of a tragic murder-suicide, where the husband allegedly shot his wife and then himself. The narrator's investigation into the abandoned house reveals remnants of the family's life and the attic's contents, suggesting the family had left the property years prior. The 'Mysterious Messenger' is characterized by its consistent visits to the graveyard and its avoidance of inhabited farm places. The article concludes with the narrator's later visit to the ruined homestead, noting the light's disappearance in recent years and reflecting on the unsolved mystery.

Unexplained Atmospheric Phenomena

Two distinct cases of unusual atmospheric events are presented. The first details a 'heat flash' in Greensburg, Kansas, on July 7, 1987, where temperatures rapidly increased by 20 degrees Fahrenheit in just 10 minutes, baffling weather experts. The phenomenon is attributed to a sudden mixing or overturning of the atmosphere. The second case, also referred to as a 'heat flash,' occurred on the central coast of Portugal on July 6, 1949, where temperatures reportedly rose to 158 degrees Fahrenheit for two minutes. Another source mentions a similar event in Coimbra, Portugal, in September 1933. The article notes that while temperature fluctuations can be influenced by mountain winds like Chinooks, Kansas does not experience these.

Indians and Explorers

This section explores early European encounters and archaeological findings in North America. It begins with the archaeological work led by Thomas Lee on Manitoulin Island, Ontario, where ancient artifacts were discovered at a site named Sheguiandah, suggesting a pre-ice age human presence. The article then discusses the possibility of earlier European visitors than the Norse, referencing settlements known as 'Greater Ireland' or 'Whiteman's Land' in Newfoundland and New Brunswick. These settlements, established centuries before the Vikings, disappeared around the same time as the Greenland colonies. Evidence suggests these Irish explorers may have allied with the Dorset Culture and reached as far as Baraga County, Michigan, possibly leaving behind stone cairns. The text also touches on the exploitation of copper deposits by these early settlers.

The Kensington Runestone and Norse Exploration

The issue delves into the history of Norse exploration in North America, focusing on the Kensington Runestone. It describes the 14th-century expedition dispatched by the King of Norway under Paul Knutson to check on early Norse colonists in the New World. The article posits that Norse colonies existed in Greenland around AD 982, with settlements known as the Eastern and Western Settlements. By the mid-14th century, the Western Settlement was found abandoned. A group of 32 Europeans, including Norwegians and Swedes, traveled further into North America than any other recognized group, possibly following the earlier colonists. The text suggests that the geography of Hudson Bay, potentially larger due to the melting Tyrell Sea, could have facilitated their journey. The Kensington Runestone, found in 1898, is presented as evidence of their penetration into the continent, with its inscription detailing an encounter with native inhabitants and the death of ten Norsemen in 1362. The validity of the runestone, initially questioned, has been supported by later linguistic analysis, with an article in 'Scandinavian Studies' in Spring 2001 affirming its 14th-century origin. The article also addresses the concept of 'Viking Mooring Stones,' explaining that the boulders with drilled holes found in Minnesota are likely the result of pioneer farmers clearing land, not evidence of Norse activity.

Unique Catlinite Object

A visual feature presents a unique catlinite bust of an unknown American Indian, found before 1900 by Governor John Lind in a burial mound in South Dakota. Catlinite, a rock sourced from Wisconsin, Kansas, and Minnesota, is primarily quarried at Pipestone Quarry, now Pipestone National Monument. The article references 'The Red Pipestone Quarry of Minnesota; Archaeological and Historical Reports' as a major source.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around unexplained phenomena, historical enigmas, and the exploration of early human activity in North America. The magazine appears to adopt an open-minded stance towards these mysteries, presenting personal accounts alongside historical and archaeological findings. There is an emphasis on the ongoing quest for understanding, acknowledging that many questions remain unanswered. The editorial stance encourages investigation into phenomena that challenge conventional explanations, whether they be spectral lights, ancient explorations, or unusual natural events.

This issue of WONDERS magazine, dated March 2003, presents a collection of articles exploring historical enigmas, archaeological curiosities, and the field of cryptozoology. The main feature, "AN AMAZING ROSTER OF ANIMAL WONDERS" by Mark A. Hall, reviews George M. Eberhart's comprehensive encyclopedia on the subject, offering both praise for its scope and critique of its accuracy and organization. The issue also touches upon various unexplained phenomena and historical accounts from North America.

Articles and Features

Mysterious Stones and Walls of Minnesota

The magazine begins by discussing several intriguing sites in Minnesota. The "So-Called Altar Stone" near Sauk Center is examined, a rock with holes that has been speculatively linked to Viking use as a makeshift altar. The author, after visiting the site, dismisses this theory, finding the holes unsuitable for such a purpose. Following this is a description of the "Blue Mound Stone Wall" in Rock County, an ancient wall whose mysterious east-west orientation and origins are discussed. The article notes that recent studies have indicated it's not precisely oriented, but the mystery persists. The author suggests it might be the work of pre-Indian peoples, like the Kennewick People or Taller-hominids, who inhabited North America long before the arrival of American Indians.

The La Verendrye Stone and Beardmore Artifacts

Two other historical artifacts are presented: the "La Verendrye Stone" and the "Beardmore Artifacts." The La Verendrye Stone, lost to history, is described as an inscribed rock whose markings were said to resemble Tataric characters, possibly indicating it was a runestone left by 14th-century explorers. Its existence is known through the record of Swedish botanist Peter Kalm, who encountered Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, Sieur de la Verendrye, in 1749 and learned of the stone from him.

The "Beardmore Artifacts" refer to three items of undoubted Norse origin discovered near Beardmore, Ontario, in the 20th century. The origin of these artifacts is debated: they were either unearthed from what appeared to be a Norse grave or were brought to Ontario by the son of a Norwegian weapons collector. The evidence is deemed inconclusive for either explanation.

Review: Mysterious Creatures: A Guide to Cryptozoology

Mark A. Hall's extensive review of George M. Eberhart's two-volume encyclopedia, "Mysterious Creatures: A Guide to Cryptozoology," forms a significant part of the issue. Hall notes how much easier it is now to find information on cryptozoology compared to 45 years ago, when only a few famous creatures like the Loch Ness Monster were widely known. He highlights that Eberhart's work describes hundreds of suspected and alleged animals, arranged alphabetically with entries detailing names, etymology, physical descriptions, behavior, distribution, sightings, explanations, and sources. Hall praises the book's comprehensiveness but points out several flaws.

He criticizes the use of proposed scientific names that lack sufficient evidence, such as "Ameranthropoides loysi" and "Gigantopithecus canadensis," arguing that such proposals are pretentious without specimen proof. Hall also finds Eberhart's categorization scheme somewhat disorganized, though he acknowledges the extensive cross-referencing. He notes that some entries lump different animals together and that the work includes a Geographical Index and a Cryptid Index.

Hall identifies both minor and major errors in the encyclopedia. Minor errors include incorrect dates for events like the excavation of Homo gardarensis bones (1926, not 1920) and the expedition for a "South American ape" photograph (1917-18, not 1920), as well as incorrect locations for the Twin Lakes mentioned. Major errors, which could be more harmful, include the description of the "True Giant" entry, where Eberhart acknowledges the absence of witness names while ignoring the explicit mention of "Mr. John Ostean" as an eyewitness in the original newspaper account. The "Pitt Lake Lizard" entry is also criticized for being potentially a hoax, as the claimant also reported being abducted by a Sasquatch.

Prehistory and Human Migrations

The issue touches upon the evolving understanding of North American prehistory. It notes that the area was once thought to be inhabited only by wildlife, followed by American Indians as recent arrivals. However, evidence now suggests earlier waves of intrusion from Asia by primitive human types, such as "True Giants" and "Taller-hominids," followed by the Kennewick People tens of thousands of years ago. There is also serious consideration of human voyages across the North Atlantic around 20,000 years ago, predating European exploration.

Historical Accounts of Cryptids

Two historical accounts of unusual creatures are featured:

• The North American Ape in 1868: This section reprints an account from The Daily Telegraph in Toronto, dated July 4, 1868, describing a strange creature discovered near Meadville, Mississippi. The creature is depicted as man-sized but more muscular, covered in dark brown hair, with tusks, and a backward-turned toe. It reportedly attacked and killed a dog before escaping into the Mississippi River. A similar creature was reportedly seen near Vicksburg the previous fall. The report generated fear and speculation, though the excitement eventually died down.
• A Naga in China: This piece recounts an experience of Russian Peter Goullart in the 1940s in Likiang, Yunnan Province, China. He describes glimpsing a giant king cobra with a cock's comb, which he identifies with the Nagarajas, heroic spirits of Nagas or serpents in Hindu and Buddhist mythology. These beings are described as having beautiful human faces and the ability to manifest in human form. The Nagaraja cult is popular in Burma and Siam, and in China, it survives as the worship of the Dragon. Goullart recounts an instance where a Naga lived near his cooperative, demanding sacrifices of milk, eggs, chickens, and pigs.

Philosophical Barriers to Discovery

Mark A. Hall concludes his review by discussing "Philosophical barriers" to accepting new discoveries in cryptozoology. He suggests that human life spans are short, leading some to doubt new things without seeing conclusive proof, thus defending the status quo. Academics are described as willing to look at evidence but wanting it presented to them. The primary reason for the size of "Mysterious Creatures" is attributed to human behavior, where it is easier to do nothing than to risk one's status by pursuing mysteries. Hall also addresses "Prejudice against anecdotal evidence," arguing that anecdotes, when combined with physical evidence, can reveal consistent patterns. He also touches on "Lack of preparation," noting that humans have not developed the means to trap or preserve large, unknown animals.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue include the exploration of historical mysteries, the examination of archaeological anomalies, and the critical assessment of cryptozoological research and literature. The magazine appears to maintain an open yet critical stance towards unexplained phenomena, encouraging investigation while also demanding rigorous evidence and careful analysis. The review of Eberhart's encyclopedia highlights this balanced approach, acknowledging the value of compiling such information while also pointing out its shortcomings and the need for scholarly diligence. The issue emphasizes the ongoing nature of discovery and the re-evaluation of historical and scientific understanding, particularly concerning North American prehistory and the potential existence of unknown creatures.

This issue of WONDERS, dated March 2003 and numbered 31, delves into the complex world of cryptozoology, exploring the challenges, historical context, and educational potential of studying mysterious creatures.

The Spotty Record of Fossils

The article critiques the persistence of outdated ideas in cryptozoology, particularly the notion that hairy giants worldwide can be explained by a single primate genus. It highlights that detailed records over decades show this construction to be unworkable. Eberhart's distinctions between various hairy bipeds are noted as nebulous and possibly arbitrary, though the author argues that other distinctions arise from supportive examinations of tracks, sightings, and folklore. The poor fossil record for primates is acknowledged, with even new fossil discoveries raising more questions than answers. The author promotes the study of mystery primates as a means to help anthropologists sort out the fossil record.

Dangerous Territory

Investigations into certain cryptozoological topics can be perilous. The article recounts an incident in 1986 in Russia's Komi Republic where Nikolai Avdeyev and his guide were fired upon and ordered to leave while investigating the Yag-Mort. It also mentions the death of Jordi Magraner in Pakistan in 2002 during an investigation into wildman sightings, suggesting he was targeted possibly due to his Christian faith or suspicious activities. The text notes that while not all hinderances are violent, people may obstruct investigations to protect privacy or preserve something they consider special.

Lack of Funds

The financial aspect of cryptozoological research is addressed, noting that few new discoveries are directly attributed to such investigations. The author questions the perception of cryptozoologists as wealthy dilettantes, stating that many are individuals of modest means who subsidize their pursuits with personal resources and time without compensation. Tom Slick is mentioned as a rare example of a wealthy individual who funded cryptozoological endeavors in the 20th century but unfortunately hired people who turned out to be hoaxers and confidence men, a problem that continues to plague the field.

The Role of Education and Resources

The magazine suggests that the topics covered in 'Mysterious Creatures' are among the tough questions that scientists have explored too little. The book is presented as an invitation to marvel at the unknown, with extensive lists of sources for further reading. It is recommended for libraries and high schools, encouraging young people to investigate local history and natural history. Students can be introduced to methods used by historians, folklorists, naturalists, biologists, and geologists, potentially uncovering new ground. The article laments that teachers may have had their curiosity suppressed, leading to a prevalence of "sceptics" who merely defend the status quo. The book is also suggested as a valuable addition for newspaper offices to provide historical context for reports on unusual animals.

George Eberhart's 'Mysterious Creatures'

George Eberhart's encyclopedia, 'Mysterious Creatures,' is described as a gargantuan task that has been accomplished well. While the author expresses disagreements with some statements and categorizations, readers are encouraged to consult the provided sources and form their own conclusions. The encyclopedia is hoped to be a starting point for many, especially young people, to pursue these subjects further.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the challenges and realities of cryptozoological research, including the scientific difficulties posed by incomplete evidence, the physical dangers faced by investigators, the financial constraints of the field, and the importance of education and accessible resources. The editorial stance appears to be one of encouraging open-minded investigation and critical thinking, while acknowledging the practical obstacles and historical issues that have affected the study of mysterious creatures.