You know I never really cared for the term, “Mass hysteria” it has no style, no panache and most of all it completely lacks a sense of humor. When I think of that phrase I think of a bunch of “experts” sitting around a table clutching their Ph.ds in a death like grip saying that folks who experience some unexplained phenomenon on a mass scale are a bunch of ignorant rednecks who are not smart enough to realize that the whole affair was made up in their minds. No I prefer, mass wackiness, and for only one reason, it just sounds funny. However there was nothing funny about the events that ocurred in the small southeast Wisconsin community of Elkhorn, when a denizen of the ever growing Cryptozoo came to the town and scared the daylights out of it’s citizens. This creature was a terror that forced the citizens of the cheese state to stay in doors at night with the doors and windows safely secured and praying that the daylight would soon rescue them from the beast that haunted their cornfields. The citizens of Elkhorn had many questions but my question is this, Since when does the Wolfman crave Wisconsin cheese?

Appropriately enough, The beast of Bray Road as it had come to be known, made it’s first and terrifying appearance on the night of October 31, 1989. The first known witness was driving down the unassuming Bray Road just minding her business maybe even listening to the radio when suddenly her car lurched, shit, she probably thought, flat tire. Thinking that nothing could possibly harm a hair on her head on this lonely road she exited her car and quickly went about the business of checking for a flat. After the inspection, and satisfied that all her tires were drivable she began to wonder what she had felt. Satisfied that everything was fine she turned around to stare off into the cornfield when she saw a large, hairy, dark form come charging across the field in her direction. The witness would later relate to investigators, that at first she was transfixed at the terror that came bearing down on her at first she thought it was a massive dog until it came to a stop and reared up on his hind legs. The witness finally came to her senses when the “animal” let out a loud throaty growl that sounded like it had been gargling with broken glass and asphalt. The witness made the smartest move she could think of she jumped into her car and sped off like a pack of demons were chasing her.

Terrified by what she had seen and breathing heavily, the witness looked behind her to see that the nightmarish creature was in hot pursuit and quickly gaining ground. The young woman let out an earth shattering scream when the beast leapt into the air landing it’s heavy form on the trunk of her car. She violently swerved for several minutes trying to force the horrific beast from the rear of her car. She would later tell investigators that the beast’s hungry eyes burned brightly in the night as it’s mouth dripped saliva all over the rear window. This creature was hungry and desired to make the young woman it’s late night snack. Finally the beast rolled from the car and hit the pavement, the witness sped off into the night as the beast let out a haunting howl.

When word of this horrible beast got out others who were to to afraid to come forth, mostly due to fear of ridicule, with their own heart rending experiences with the giant dog like creature that was able to run around on it’s hind legs. One citizen of Elkhorn, related to investigators that while she and her little brother were driving down Bray road they saw what they believed to be an injured dog sitting on the side of the road. The closer they came to the animal she realized whatever this thing was it certainly was no dog. The witness described the beast as being well over six feet tall, powerfully built and looking like a wolf while having the characteristics of a man. As they drove by unable to take their eyes off the creature they could see that it was holding in it’s clawed hands and feasting upon roadkill. Needless to say she hauled ass after the creature snarled and bared it’s gore filled fangs.

A few days after her sighting, the young woman’s mother called the local animal shelter to see if there were any reports of a dangerous predator on the loose in their community. The warden replied that to his knowledge there were no reports of bears, wolves or mountain lions loose in the close knit town. The woman knew that her daughter was not making this story up and came to the conclusion that it would be a good idea to alert the local newspaper. If the animal shelter would do nothing about she sure as hell would. Enter Wisconsin native and journalist, Linda Godfrey.

At first, Ms. Godfrey was skeptical about what she was hearing. To her it sounded that the creature was less a dog and more like a beast that resides in fairy tales and shlock horror flicks, it sounded as if this witness was saying that a werewolf was on the loose in the land of Dairy. However considering the seriousness of the claim and the honesty of the witness, she would go about investigating this claim and others to determine whether or not some nightmarish creature was stalking the citizens of Elkhorn, Wisconsin.

Upon her investigation, the journalist discovered that others in the immediate area as well as surrounding communities had seen this exact same creature. One eleven year old girl claimed that as she was looking out the widow of her bedroom she spied the creature sitting in her backyard. At first she thought it was some kind of dog until it reared up on it’s hind legs and walked into the forest at the rear of her home. After the sighting of this creature the poor little girl was never the same.

Several farmers in the area would tell the journalist that some unknown creature of colossal proportions was stealing their livestock. When the farmers would go to check on their animals all they found were pools of blood and perhaps a few scraps of flesh that at one time was their prized hog. Others would report that shortly after letting their pets out to use the bathroom they would hear a loud bark or yelp. When they went to check on the family dog it was no where to be found. Many others claimed to see the beast carry off roadkill into the surrounding woods or cornfields. Whatever this thing was it was huge, dangerous and hungry.

The story of the beast was published in December of 1991, and as with any paranormal or unexplained phenomenon witnessed on a mass scale the wackiness ensued. Practical jokers of all stripes from the basic prankster to the downright sadistic ass came out of the woodwork turning the beast of Bray Road into their personal bitch. People would drive down the road to see a fake road sign with the silohuette of a wolf crossing the street with the words, “Warning, werewolf crossing”, written in bold letters. The witnesses were partically targeted by the practical jokers with these signs in their front lawns. Folks were seen walking around the community wearing werewolf masks. One local politician decided to get in on the fun when running for office, he sent out fliers with a werewolf on it stating that the beast was personally endorsing him in his bid for re-election. Yep, good times were had by all in Elkhorn and the neighboring community of Delevan that is of course except for those who had the displeasure of witnessing the creature and it’s depredations, they were not amused by the attention and most of all they were scared.

As with most reports of monsters the monster hunters came out of the woodwork stating that they and only they had the skill and the talent for hunting the beast and bringing int’s reign of terror to an end. One gentleman was discovered by police sitting vigil in a cornfield wearing a home fashioned suit of armor and holding a large double barrel rifled loaded with, you guessed it, silver bulletts. The man was quickly taken into custody and upon release was warned never to return to Elkhorn ever again. Monster hunters oftentimes are far more dangerous than the monster they are hunting especially when the ammo starts flying.

Others monster hunters of the religious variety appeared in Elkhorn stating that the beast was a product of person being in league with Lucifer. These folks claimed that the creature was a demon conjured up by those who practiced the dark arts somewhere in the community. These monster hunters claimed, that for a price, they could perform an exorcism and rid the area of the satanic creature. Yes siree, greed and sixteenth century ideology are still very alive and fatal bed partners even in the supposedly enlightened twentieth century.

When the summer of 1992 hit sightings of the Beast Of Bray Road came to mystifying and abrupt end, it would seem that either the creature moved on to a different locale or perhaps the would be professional exorcists were triumphant in the their battle aagainst Satan and his demon spawn. Many, even today, are still scratching their heads and wondering just what the creature may have been, and of course there is no shortage of theories. Several folks claim that what eyewitnesses saw was a bear or a large coyote and if you believe that I know of a bridge in Brooklyn that is for sale. While bears may have the height going for them, bears are unable to run for long distances on their hind legs and as far as I know there are no six foot coyotes runnning around out there.

The other theories come from the a legend of the Ojibway nation and a very real animal that once called Wisconsin home and terrified the local Loway tribe. At one time a wolf like creature the Loway called the Shunka Warak’in lived in the area. The name means, “Carries away dogs” for that is what the large wolf like creature did it would steal dogs and eat them. However the animal was hunted to extinction by the white population when it made a nuasance of itself.

The other theory was offered by the Ojibway who believed the creature was a “Dog-man”. The Dog-men were a horrible half wolf half human that they believed lived in the area and hunted their brothers and sisters carrying many away, the men for food the women for a bride. These Dog-men, may be the cause of many of the Native American legends concerning the Wendigo or the Skin Walker.

Again I pose the question, what did the citizens of Elkhorn, Wisconsin and it’s sister communities witness for a little three over years? Perhaps it was a werewolf, a dogman or some demonically inspired creature of the night we will never know because the Beast of Bray Road has not shown it’s shaggy head for over sixteen years.

Rick E. Hale

t_seeker@hotmail.com
you can also find me at Myspace.com/bldrdsun my user name Ourmysteriousplanet.

On the morning of December 23, 1938, Captain Hendrick Goosen of the fishing trawler The Nerien made a discovery that would single handedly turn the science of paleontology on it’s ear and give it a swift kick right in the old keester. As Captain Goosen and and his men were fishing off the coast of Madagascar they pulled their first nets of the day in to check out on what they caught. When the nets were brought on board the Captain discovered a strange large fish that looked like nothing he had ever seen before flipping and flopping around in the net with the other more familiar fish. Believing that he had found something truly phenomenal the good Captain took the fish ashore and called a good friend who was a professor at the local college and asked him if he could find just what the hell this thing was.

When news got out of this wonder fish discovered in the waters of western Africa every academic from various scientific disciplines rushed to Africa to take a look at the fish that had been caught by a simple fisherman. At first, many researchers said no way this fish, which had been identified as a Coelacanth, could not possibly be it had died out when the dinosaurs went to meet their maker. However, despite the fact that this fish was supposed to be extinct, laid on a table looking up at them with it’s cold fishy eyes and posthumously laughing, “Suckers, if I made many more did.”

Cryptozoology or the study of previously unknown species of animal, has always been my second great love in the research of the strange and unusual. Although I will admit I have never had the pleasure of coming face to face with the likes of a Bigfoot or a Nessie, I still feel if the Coelacanth can beat all the odds and swim it’s way into the twentieth century and beyond, it is still a possibility that other extinct or unknown animals may still call our little blue green sphere home. Mainstream science would have us believe that every animal known to man has been discovered, catalogued and put on display for the entire world to see. These researchers have forgotten why they got into the biz, science’s chief mission is to explore, discover and most importantly to learn.

On our world there are still remote and isolated places that mankind hasn’t even begun to explore, locations where something truly amazing may still and thrive well hidden away from the prying eyes of mankind. Throughout the centuries strange tales have been told of amazing creatures that we are told just should not be. Do these tales constitute hardcore objective evidence for the existence of bizarre creatures? No, of course not, however it does provide a springboard for serious scientific enquiry on the subject. Of course errors are made and folks do make misidentifications of known animals under strange circumstances, however when hundreds reports seeing a long snake like neck stick out the water or a large bipedal manthing running naked through the woods then you can truly say, “Yep, something strange is afoot.”

In this series we are going to stay away from the, “Rock Stars” of the cryptozoo and explore other creatures that are far stranger and far more fantastic than a giant swimming lizard and the long haired hippy-thing that haunts America’s forests. Some of these animals will be familiar some not so familiar but many have reported seeing them and survive to tell the tale.

The Mongolian Death Worm.

In his 1926 book, “On The Trail of Ancient Man”, Paleontologist Roy Chapman Andrews (The inspiration for the nazi ass kicker, Indiana Jones) wrote of a strange story that he heard from the Nomadic tribes of the Gobi desert in Mongolia. The Nomads described an animal, a worm to be exact, that was two to five feet long and thick as a man’s arm. The nomads told the researcher that to hunt this worm was unwise because this worm had the ability to spit a corrosive liquid from it’s mouth and emitt a strong electrical current that could kill something as large as a horse from a distance. Naturally Andrews, was intrigued by the stories of an undiscovered species living in the sparsely populated desert and went out to see if he could capture this death worm and bring it back to the west for scientific study. Unfortunately, when Andrews and his reluctant guides ventured into the desert to search for the Death Worm they returned with zip, zero, zilch. Nothing.

The Death Worm has been witnessed for countless generations by the nomadic tribesman who call the Gobi home and they greatly fear this creature. The creature has been known to melt the face off anyone who dares to get to close with it’s acidic saliva or give them a shock they will soon not forget. Luckily for the tribesmen and whoever else would dare to search for this creature, the death worm is known to be active in the months of June and July and pretty much hibernates the rest of the year. I would imagine the tribesmen pretty much don’t do shit during those two months in the fear that they might disturb the deadly worm.

As with most denizens of the cryptozoo a specimen of the Death Worm has never been captured for scientific study, however a former Premier of Mongolia, came upon a death worm as he traveled the rough terrain of the Gobi and said the creature was, “The most horrific thing he had ever seen.” If we are to believe the leader of the Mongolian nation perhaps we can believe the reports of animals that have been discovered dead in the desert their carcasses looking as if someone had spilled sulfuric acid on them or the occassional human corpse that is found fried up like a crispy critter. If these humans and animals were not victim’s of the Death Worm why did they die in a manner consistent with the stories? Perhaps the Death Worm really does exist.

Over the years mainstream researchers have offered a few theories on what the Death Worm might be. The main suspect is a rare snake related to the cobra that is highly elusive and highly deadly but is known to science. The snake is known to kill it’s pray with a poison spat from it’s mouth that can reach up to ten feet. If the stories of the Death Worm are true than it is impossible that this cobra is a suspect, a snake’s venom paralyzes it’s prey it does not melt away the flesh. The second suspect is an eletric eel. An electric eel does match the length and width of the creature that is said to burrow under the sands of the Gobi, however electric eels live underwater and do not melt it’s victims with a corrosive substence neither are their electrical charges strong enough to kill a man. Another theory draws on the magical superstitions of Mongolia. Some believe the Death Worm may be a thoughtform conjured up by magic and are the protectors of a lost kingdom or treasure.

When you take into consideration that the Gobi desert is a vast wasteland of rock and sand not to mention that the temperature at night can dip well below zero and the stories of countless generations of tthe tribesmen who call this unforgiving land, home it is possible that such a creature could exist. Visiting the Gobi desert is an unwise option that many have not considered, if you get lost out here, well basically you are screwed. If the desert doesn’t kill you maybe the Death Worm will. No baiting your hook with this bad boy.

Rick E. Hale

t_seeker@hotmail.com

It is finally time for bed after enduring one of the worst days imaginable, a day where virtually nothing has gone right. You woke to find that lasts night storm knocked the power out causing you to be late. As you make your way out to the car you discover that one of your tires is flat as a pancake, great another fifteen minutes to change a tire. When you arrive at work your boss jumps all over ass about another day being late and says that it if happens one more time your ass is fired. We have all had days like that but right now it doesn’t matter you have successfully navigated the day from hell and it is time to lay your head down on the cool side of the pillow and grab the good night’s sleep you have dreamt about all day. Or so you thought.

Sometime, shortly after closing your eyes, you hear a strange sound that sounds like someone has invaded your sanctum. Your eyes fly wide open as you inspect the inky darkness of your room wondering what that noise was, it sounded as if someone were breathing or perhaps dragging their fingernails along the wall. All of a sudden you are gripped with the undeniable feeling of absolute dread and remember the days when your were a child and woke up screaming for your mommy because you just experienced the worst nightmare of your young life. Well forget it my friend, because those feelings of dread from your younger years do not even come close to what you are feeling at this moment.

At first you think that you must be losing your mind, if someone had come into your home you would have noticed it. You laugh at this thinking that you had a bad dream and begin to close your eyes again when you hear it, a low raspy laugh that sounds as if this invisible intruder had been gargling with glass all there life, there is now no denying it you are not alone and because you can’t see them it scares the living shit out you. And then the sight of a swirling black mass in the corner of your room catches your eye and your heart, mind body and soul are rendered completely helpless by some evil spell what ever this creature may be has put on you. You can’t move a single limb and all you can do is scream in your mind as the dark forboding spirit takes it’s final shape as a dark human totally devoid of color or light. You have just had your first experience with a shadow person and can do nothing about it.

Sounds like some kind of cheesey horror story doesn’t it? Only if that were true. This person much like hundreds of others the world over have all reported having a similar terrifying experience that makes them never want to close their eyes never again because they know that whatever manner of creature this may be will only be back again. Shadow people appear to be the hip new trendy field of study in the field of paranormal research, many radio shows that cater to folks of our rarified interests devote many hours to the discussion of the Shadow Person with stories as equally horrendous as the one I told. However there really appears to be nothing new to this terror that comes in the night. The shadow person, as we call them today appears in practically every culture some ancient and some not so ancient.

In Europe of old, this phenomenon was known as a Succubus or an Incubus. These demonic spirits would come to the good christian soul in the middle of night and suck them dry of their energy and vital juices. The Succubus, was a female demonic spirit that would ride a man (If you know what I mean) until his body was completely depleted of energy and it’s vital juices. An Incubus was a male demonic spirit that would attack and brutally rape a sleeping female attempting to impregnate her with it’s wicked seed. As Europeans moved west into the New World they brought such tales of wasting night visitations with them and as the witch craze gripped the New World and it’s colonies those who experienced a visitation by one of these spirits called it the “Old Hag”. The Old Hag was believed to be a local woman who was in league with the prince of darkness and she was stealing a man’s vital juices for a malevolent spell. You may look back on these stories and think, well this was just the mind of an ignorant uneducated people held hostage by their own superstitions or limited understanding of the world around them. This may be true, however folks in our so called enlightened times of the 21st century are still reporting seeing such beings as they attempt to sleep. Or they may catch a fleeting glimpse of these dread inspiring creatures in the middle of the day.

Those who have reported a visitation by a shadow person all report the same thing which may give one the impression that these creatures are organized and love scaring the bejeezus out of unsuspecting folks. They describe the entity as first appearing like a swirling black mass that seems to appear out of nowhere. The being then begins to form the more articulated form of a large human being with no discernible features such as a mouth, nose or face however the majority of people report that the entity has two red glowing orbs where their eyes should be. These eyes, folks report, seem to be looking straight into your soul reading your thoughts, feelings and most definately your fears. They describe the entities movements as being fast but disjointed almost as if they don’t feel comfortable with the form they have taken. And all those who experience a shadow person report the same thing, this entity, being, creature whatever it is brings with it a feeling of absolute evil and dread.

Those who made the phenomenon of the shadow person their primary field of research believe that the entity may be a product of the use of black magic and have a theory on what this creature may be. In ancient Tibetan black magic there is talk of a being called a Tulpa, or a Thoughtform. The Tulpa is a creature created from the thoughts of a practioner of the dark arts and is formed for one thing and one thing only, malicious intent. The Tulpa, when used for revenge, can cause a person to lose their job, their family and after everything else is gone it can cause a victim to lose their mind possible causing that person to committ suicide. After the Tulpa’s nefarious task is completed it vanishes almost as if it had never existed at all. Seems like a plausible theory, however when the witness is asked if they have any enemies that may delve into the dark arts, nine times of ten the person will answer no. Bummer, back to square one.

Another theory concerning the Shadow Person is that they may be some kind of inter-dimensional traveler who has the ability to gain access to our world. Those who accept this theory believe that a dimension or alternate reality of pure darkness has overlapped into ours and beings from this alternate reality are able to more or less step into our world at will which would explain why they appear in shadow because that is exactly what they are.

Others feel that this phenomeon affects those who either knowingly or unknowlingly have been abducted by aliens at some time in their life and the shadow people are sent by the offending aliens to check up on what they may consider to be their property. The problem with this theory is that many who experience a shadow person show no signs of ever having been an abductee, the experience seems totally random and may happen only once. These are the three prevailing theories at what these creatures may be but what does mainstream science have to say on the subject?

Mainstream researchers tell us the human mind acting in chorus with the human eye has a tendency to look for patterns in light and shadow and this condition called, Paredolia may be the reason behind the person seeing what they think is a shadowy entity. They say that with paredolia your mind is literally playing tricks on you when the lights and shadows come together. I suppose this would explain why people who claim to have had a visitation by a shadow person claim to see it out of the corner of their eye and when they look dead on the form dissipates.

The mainstream also claims that the shadow person phenomenon can be blamed on sleep paralysis. They state that when a person is emerging from a state of deep sleep their brain has not quite caught up with their body and they are unable to move because the connection between mind and body, for whatever reason is not made. They also state that paredolia comes into play because your eyes may be open and you are seeing dark shapes from normal shadows playing across the wall and because the physical and mental connection is not made people become terrified by their experience.

The other theory mainstream researchers have is that people who abuse certain kinds of drugs cause them to see these shadows. A few years ago a person very close to me got hooked on Oxycotin after going through a pretty tough back surgery. As his addiction progressed he began to see dark shadowy entities in the house and believed that these creatures wanted to kill him and drag his soul to hell. After going through detox this person was able to kick the habit and the shadows vanished. I love this person very much and I’m glad they were able to kick the habit because overcoming an Oxycotin addiction is worse than kicking heroine. For those suspicious sorts who read this, no it was not me.

This explantion seems very plausible it is a proven fact that illicit drugs and certain presecriptions ones, can and do play tricks with the mind. But what of the people who experience a shadow person and are the clean living type? In an earlier entry entitled, “True Confessions of a paranormal researcher.” I told the tale of when I was eighteen and investigated a haunting and was attacked by what I described as being a shadow person. I have never used a dangerous drug in my life nor am I a big drinker and such is the story of many who have this rare and terrifying experience. I personally knew of a young girl who was so terrified to sleep at night because of shadow people she had to be checked into a hospital for exhaustion and mental illness. She scared herself right into a psychiatric ward. If it was not for my own personal experience with a shadow person I would be inclined to believe mainstream sciences explantion, but I can tell you this Shadow People are very real and very frightening.

Rick E. Hale
t_seeker@hotmail.com

“Even a man who is pure in heart and says his prayers by night may become a wolf when the full moon blooms and the moon is full and bright!” When it comes to horror movies I’m not the kind of guy who likes slasher flicks. You know the kind, where the sexually repressed maniac grabs the nearest butcher knife and starts carving up big tittied coeds like a Thanksgiving turkey. Nope, for me I’ll take my horror film with a supernatural edge. Ghosts, demons, vampires and werewolves. However when it comes down to the two favorite monsters of the genre my money is on the werewolf. I really don’t care for watching morally corrupt, undead pretty boys who have a flare for evening clothes and a cheesey eurotrash accent. My money is on the damned soul forced to change into a ravenous beast by the light of full moon and although he hates what he becomes and the horrible crimes he committs he is completely powerless to do anything about it.

Over the last sixty plus years Hollywood has offered up a plethora of werewolf movies where some are good and others, well, not so good. “Silver Bullett”, a 80s horror flick starring Corey Haim is one of the best in the genre. The story details the struggle of a wheel chaired bound boy against a seemingly unstoppable foe, a priest who becomes a wolf. Gary Busey is great as the alcohlic uncle who eventually forgets about his own demons to save his nephew from becoming a midnight snack. And no one can forget the truly awesome, “An American Werewolf in London.” This is by far my favorite probably due to the fact that I have a streak of evil a mile long that absolutely loves dark comedy. And of course the Classic, “The Wolfman” Starring the immortal Lon Chaney Jr, who portrays an American visiting his cousin in Europe when he comes across a gypsy werewolf that sinks his teeth into the American turning him into one of the children of the night.

Although I love these movies and they are great entertainment when you have nothing else better to do, like anything else that Hollywood sinks it’s teeth into (pun intended) concerning the paranormal they only get it half right and this is something H-wood is famous for. The legend of the Werewolf does not just go back to the misty slopes of the Carpathian mountains nor is it reserved for the wind swept moors of the British countryside. The legend of the cursed soul forced to become a ravenous beast has it’s shadowy beginnings much further back in the cold mists of prehistoric man and believe me when I say this, Truth is much more terrifying than Fiction.

Anthropologists tell us that the legend of the werewolf may have gotten it’s start with the magical and religious beliefs of prehistoric man. According to these researchers, ancient man believed that by dressing themselves up in the skins of the animals they hunted for food they would gain that animals cunning and physical prowess and make it easier for the hunter to track his prey and make a kill so his little family unit would have a something to eat and wear in the frigid European winters. This Sympethic Magic, as it was called was a great technique and was used by practically every ancient society known to man. Since bears and the ravenous wolf was the most readily available animal in many parts of prehistoric Europe, and the most feared, they were the animals most used. The wolf was a cunning hunter who almost rivaled the prehistoric human for supremecy in the hunt.

These tales of ancient hunters, reserarchers say, is the primary source behind the werewolf legend however many ancient sources from classical Greece have something much different to say concerning the idea of a seemingly normal human being transforming into a blood thirsty creature of the night.

The modern, Lycanthropy, which is used to describe the transformation was first coined by the Roman poet, Ovid who tells a tale of an Athenian King named Lycaon, who was said to have the ability to turn into a wolf at night. Ovid describes the condition, “In Vain he (Lycaon) attempted to speak…he thristed for blood…he raged among the flocks and panted for slaughter…his vesture turned to hair…his countance turned rabid…his eyes glittered savagely.” The transformation of King Lycaon sounds pretty much like any werewolf movie we have ever seen. Of course upon reading this the skeptics, or player haters as I prefer to call them, Feel that Ovid is not describing the transformation of King Lycaon into a ravenous beast rather they say that Ovid is describing a man in the throes of rabies. This explanation really is very absurd, my cousin got bit by a squirrell when we were kids and contracted rabies from the little bastard and I can tell you this my cousins vesture(Flesh) did not grow hair.

If the first hand account of Ovid’s does not convince you of the possibility of making the transformation from man to wolf consider the words of Gaius Petronius who in 60 CE gave us the Satyricon. Gaius speaks of an acquitance he met at a wedding and showed him something the historian would not soon forget. Gaius and his friend left the wedding as the moon came up, the friend began to remove his clothes and piled them into a bundle in the middle of the woods. Gaius tells us that the friend urinated in a circle around his clothes and Presto Changeo turned into a wolf before his eyes. The friend let out a haunting howl and trotted off into the woods. One other story from the classical world tells us that during one of the first Olympics a race of werewolves called the Neuri participated and walked away with all the rewards and accolades. Mike Phelps, ain’t got nothing on these hairy dudes.

Although the modern legend of the werewolf got it’s start with the ancient Greeks our final image of the werewolf comes to us from medieval Europe. The modern term werewolf, was first coined in 1212, by the historian Gervase of Tilbury. In his work, “Otia Imperialia”, Gervase gives many descriptions of men and women who had the ability to turn from human to wolf. The term Werwulf was not just reserved for this horrific man-beast but was also ascribed to outlaws.

During the period of what many historians called the, “Burning Times”, many alleged werewolves were caught in the frenzied belief that satan and his evil minions were lurking behind every corner seeking a good christian soul that they could corrupt. A person who could transform from man to wolf did not do it by the the classic method of being bitten by a werewolf, instead much darker methods were used. In 1573, a tale of greed, evil and cannibilism came out of France that shocked the entire nation and cemented the belief that werewolves were a product of collusion between mortal man and the Prince of Darkness. Gilles Garnier, was, by all appearances a seemingly normal peasant farmer until he was arrested and put on trial for heresy and cannibilsm. At his trial Garnier, told the judges that one day as he was hunting in the forest he was met by a black clad stranger who told Garnier that if he fell down and worshipped him, the stranger would give him a magical salve and a wolfskinned belt that would turn him into a wolf. Of course, Gilles, could not turn the stranger down and ultimately paid the price for being in league with this obviously satanic spirit, Gilles, admitted he was guilty of killing numerous children and eating their flesh while in his preternatural wolf state. Gilles Garnier, was found guilty of these hideous crimes and burned at the stake.

In Europe being a werewolf was considered to be a curse handed down by God to a family or a single person. Many believed that a potential werewolf could be identified early in life and and certain precautions could be taken to save that person from a life lived in hell. A uni-brow was considered to be a dead giveaway that a person was a werewolf or a child born with a caul, a thin membrane that some children were born with. In the event of this ocurring the child was pierced through the hands with silver nails or the caul was immediately removed from the child’s face and burned in a fire made of Mountain Ash. It was also said that if a person was suspected of werewolfery they could be identified by cutting a strip of flesh from the suspect if hair was discovered growing under the person’s skin they were immediately arrested and burned at the stake.

The legend of the werewolf or shapeshifter, was not just believed in by nervous Europeans looking for a sinister flesh eating boogeyman it would appear that certain Native American tribes here in the US believed in some form of a shapeshifter. The tribes of the American southwest believe in and greatly fear an evil being called a “Skinwalker.” The Skinwalker is said to be an evil sorceror who gains the ability to change into a beast by giving his soul to wicked primordial forces of the earth. A tale says that the Dineh or Navajo once wiped out an entire village of suspected Skinwalkers when they believed that the wicked sorcerors were stealing their children and making meals of them. The legend of the Skinwalker is so feared by the Navajo that they refuse to speak of the beings in polite settings especially to whitey. It is believed to speak of the Skinwalker is to invite it’s wrath.

Today modern science accepts the possibility that a human can turn into a ravenous beast although the transformation is far from physical but rather wholly psychological. Lycanthropy is a condition of the mind where a human being believes that they actually make a physical transformation from man to beast. One famous case of actual Lycanthropy comes to us from France when a young man was arrested by the cops for having blood on his shirt and around his mouth the police also reported that the insane man attacked them and tried to bite their faces as he growled like a wolf. When the man came to himself he was visited by a doctor who discovered that the night the strange man was arrested he murdered his friend in his apartment and ripped out his buddy’s throat. The man was sent to a psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane for his crime. While in the hospital the man was witnessed by many employees to run around on all fours and howl at the moon one male nurse said that as he looked in on the mentally Ill man he had to take a double take because at first glance he thought he saw a giant wolf in the patient’s room.

The legend of the werewolf is perhaps the greatest monster known to mankind in our short but illustrious history. Like the vampire, the werewolf is the subject of many myths going back not just centuries but millenia and shows no sign of going away anytime soon. Is it possible that a seemingly normal human being has the ability to transform from a man to a blood thirsty creature of the night? Maybe thats for you to decide, me, I’m like the Fox news of the paranormal (without all the republicans) I report you decide.

Rick E. Hale
t_seeker@hotmail.com

All around our small insignificant planet there are to be found certain locations that many claim are imbued with certain mystical properties as well as paranormal phenomenon. A few examples include Glastonbury Tor in Great Britain. So many stories of the Tor (Which means Hill in Gaelic) and it’s lone sentinel, Glastonbury Abbey have been told over the centuries it has become almost immpossible to seperate fact from fiction. The Tor is said to be the burial site of the remains of the greatest of all Kings, Arthur who is said to said to ride forth on Christmas Eve to protect his beloved country. One other tale tells that Joseph of Arimethea established the first christian church in England and hid the Holy Grail somewhere in the church or buried it on the Tor. The Tor is also supposedly the doorway that leads to, Annwn, or the kingdom of the Fairie realm.

From France we are told that the water to be found at the grotto of the Sanctuary of Our Lady Of Lourdes has miraculous healing powers that are reported to heal everything from cataracts to cancer by just drinking the mystical water. Millions of pilgrims knock back a glass a year just to be made whole of whatever ails them. Sedona, Arizona is another place that is said to have properties that not only heal mind, body and soul but it is also considered a doorway into another realm of conciousness. Of course such locations and the reports that are told about them are highly subjective and have a tendency to be a little New Agey, but millions swear that some kind of positive influence is at work and has made a positive change in their lives.

These locations are amazing and do appear to have some kind of positive energy flowing through them would you believe that such a place exists in Illinois? The problem with our next and final entry in the state of Illinois is that this location does not appear to be blessed with the positive energy said to be at the above mentioned locations, Instead Williamsburg Hill in south central Illinois is said to be a beacon of all sorts of weirdness and negativity, sort of like the Sith tree on planet Dagobah in Empire Strikes Back.

Rising 810 feet above the the small ghost towns of Towerhill and Shelbyville, Williamsburg Hill is quite possibly the spookiest place in Illinois. So many reports of hauntings, strange creatures and UFOs have been reported here over the years it is difficult to pin down why Williamsburg Hill has such a bad reputation and such a bad attitude. Perhaps the trouble started sometime in 1839, when the town of Tower Hill was founded by Doctor Thomas Williams. When Doctor Williams first rolled into the area he was warned by the local Native American tribes that the hill and the surrounding area was a place of great evil and a home for all manner of evil spirits. Although the natives were afraid to step foot near the hill, Doctor Williams pretty much did what every other white devil of the day did, he ignored the warnings of the local tribes and established his town.

For a little over forty years, Tower Hill became a bustling metroplis of over two thousand people and enjoyed incredible prosperity thanks in part that the town was smack dab in the path of the busy stagecoach line that brought the rich, famous and sometimes infamous to the town. However like many other things the party was over in 1881 for the small town when the stagecoach line was retired and the new railroad completely bypassed the town. Virtually overnight the town of Tower Hill became a ghost town when many citizens felt they needed to be closer to the railroad and moved east to Vandalia. As of 1900 all that remained of the town were a few folks eeking out an existense, a Methodist church and a few shops that were quickly failing. The high times were over with a vengence for Tower Hill.

However as time rolled by folks who were seeking a more quiet genteel life began to move back to the shadow of Williamsburg Hill and this is perhaps when all the weirdness began. Many of the stories of terrifying apparitions are associated with the small overgrown cemetary that sits on the highest summit. Ridge Cemetary is home to the eternal remains of many of the early settlers of Tower Lakes and would have been completely forgotten if it were not for the vandalism that has been committed against the cemetary over the years and much darker rumors of occult rituals being practiced in the cemetary. Many folks have claimed to hear bizarre chanting coming from the hill and the sounds of humans and animals in distress.

Over the years citizens of Tower Hill have reported seeing strange and frightening apparitions on the Hill and near the cemetary. The apparition of an old man that is said to be mad has been frightening those brave enough to step foot upon the slope of Williamsburg Hill. The apparition comes screaming out of the woods and dissappears as before he can assault the witness. One citizen claims that she witnessed a ghostly funeral procession in the vicinity of Ridge Cemetary. The witness, who was a little girl at the time, said she watched as a group of black garbed figures materialized out of the fog following behind a black casket, she could hear weeping and sobs coming from the ghostly procession and watched as the party vanished into thin air before her eyes.

Others brave enough to explore the Hill and Ridge Cemetary have reported seeing large dark shadows and apparitions that attempt to entice people to committ suicide within the gates of Ridge Cemetary. One witness reported a strange occurence one day when her daughter caimed that the people who lived in the ground wanted her to come live with them. Needless to say such a terrifying experience caused the woman never to come near the cemetary ever again.

Other witnesses have reported seeing a tall, hairy, bipedal creature haunting the mists and forest of Williamsburg hill. Teenagers have claimed that as they were walking along the path they would catch fleeting glimpses of the Sasquatch like creature following along side them darting from tree to tree. Apparently the Hill may also be home to it’s very own dragon but of course this story is highly suspect and is probably not a true phenomenon associated with the hill.

Many citizens of the surrounding area have reported seeing strange bright lights hovering over or near the Hill leading many to believe that the hill is actually home to an alien base located deep with in the hill. One witness claimed to have seen a large red ball descend out of the sky and land on top of the Hill. The witness then reported watching as the large red ball took off from the Hill and flew over his car causing the car to stall.

When you read the stories and eyewitness accounts of the bevvy of bizarre phenomenon associated with Williamsburg Hill one can not help but wonder what has caused this seemingly innocent hill to have such a crappy disposition. Perhaps the Native tribes that warned Doctor Williams was right, maybe this place is cursed. Native American tribes lived very close to the earth and were well aware of places to avoid because they were believed to be an abode of really really bad things and Williamsburg Hill appears to be such a place.

One theory in the field of paranormal research is that certain areas are vortex or doorways to other dimensions from which spirits, demons and strange creatures from the ether region are able to gain access to our world. Many researchers believe that Williamsburg Hill is one such vortex and beings from other dimensions are able to pop in anytime they want either to say, hey what up dawg or scare the living shit out of people. One other theory we must consider about Williamsburg Hill is that all the phenomenon associated with the hill is pure crapola and the Hill is a victim of the ever popular Urban Legend. With this theory I must respectfully disagree, the phenomenon of Williamsburg Hill have been reported by very sane credible witnesses who have absolutely nothing to gain by reporting their experience infact, the folks who live around Williamsburg Hill would rather you not come around and stir up trouble, spiritual or otherwise.

I really hope that if you live in some other state and wish to experience the weirdness that is Illinois I truly hope that you will pay our little state a visit. However if you live in the Prairie state I suggest you get in your car and take a rode trip into the strange and unusual because there are more than just cows and cornfields in the state you call home. I really hope you enjoyed this peek into the weirdness of Illinois because I had fun writing it.

Rick E. Hale
t_seeker@hotmail.com

The ancient belief in reincarnation has been steadly gaining ground over the last one hundred years in the western part of the world as an alternative to explain what happens to the human soul after death. Many in the United States have virtually left the christian idea of death, judgement and punishment or reward behind to embrace the ancient doctrine which is a tenent of faith for millions of Hindus and Buddhists the world over. I suppose it is a more pleasant idea to come back as an elephant than running the risk of burning in a sea of fire for eternity and a day. It is a nice idea but as with anything pertaining to matters of the paranormal or supernatural is there any proof to back up such a belief. I believe there just may be, and that proof came in the form of a young girl living right here in good old Illinois.

Watseka, a small town in southwest Illinois, was pretty much like any other small town in nineteenth century Illinois, boring as hell. I can tell you from experience as a native born son of the Prairie state, not much has changed. It would seem that the only thing to do on a Saturday night was get drunk, tip cows and screw, sorry I digress. In 1876, that boredom would change for the southern Illinois town when something odd ocurred to the Vennum family that would forever change the way many viewed life after death.

Little twelve year old, Lurancy Vennum, by all appearances seemed to be like any other girld her age. She played with friends, pulled pranks on her older siblings and undoubtably dreamed of the day when she would walk down the aisle and marry the man that she loved. Unfortuanately all that would change shortly after her thirteenth birthday. Lurancy, began to complain to her mother of excruciating stomach pains that would oftentimes cause her to black out. When she awoke from one of her pain induced black outs she told all who were seeing to her safety that she experienced strange visions of angels who came to her and spoke of incredible things that she found difficult to articulate to anyone. Terrified by what her daughter was telling her, the Vennums called for the local doctor to examine their young daughter.

The first time the doctor was sent for, Lurancy, was coming out of one of her mystifying black outs to find the doctor sitting over her. After a complete examination, the doctor took the Vennums aside and reported that he could find nothing physically wrong with their daughter. She showed no signs of epilepsy or any other fainting disease for that matter. The doctor further explained that whatever was effecting the thriteen year old may be something purely in the mind or perhaps she was just succumbing to a swoon, something young girls were prone to do. The Vennum’s were pleased with the doctor’s diagnosis and the doctor headed out the door not knowing that the worst was yet to come.

As the days came and went the strange condition of Lurancy Vennum, appeared to be getting much worse. The quiet of the Vennum household would oftentimes be disturbed in the middle of the night by the screams and cries of Lurancy as she fought with some invisible assailant in her bed. When Lurancy’s family burst through the door they found their little girl sitting on her bed covered in sweat with her bedclothes flung across the room. Lurancy, who was truly terrified, would tell them bizarre tales of evil spirits that flew into her open window and screamed at her as well as show her terrifying images of souls writhing in eternal torment in a sea of fire. By now the Vennum’s were at a loss of what to do for their little girl and they began to fear the worst. They feared their sweet faced little girl was in the process of losing her mind.

Once again the local doctor was sent for and he once again examined the young girl. After inspecting the girl, the doctor told her parents that according to his professional opinion little Lurancy, was going mad and should be admitted to an insane asylum. Let the reader understand insane asylums of the 19th century are nothing like the psychiatric hospitals of today. Folks who were sent to an asylum were either forgotten about and died in their own filth or were subjucted to barbarous experiments that really did nothing but make the patient worse. The Vennum’s were well aware of this fact and would do no such thing, they would care for the daughter and endure anything that should come there way.

For a few weeks the madness of Lurancy Vennum subsided and she went about acting as she normally did, perfectly sane until one day when she was helping her mother hang the laundry on the line in the backyard. Lurancy, began to slip into a strange trance and she began to babble incoherently until a gruff masculine voice issued from her mouth. Mrs. Vennum, rushed to her daughter’s side and called for her husband for his help. Mr. Vennum burst through the back door and run up to his wife who had her arms around the young girl to keep her falling down. “Get the hell away from me you hypocrites.” The gruff male voice yelled when Mr. Vennum reached his wife and little girl. “I don’t need your help”, the voice further said. “You are nothing but pigs to me.” Upon hearing the voice the Vennums began to suspect that their daughter was not going mad but some spirit was using their daughter to speak.

During this time, the new faith of Spiritualism was gaining ground in that part of the United States and those who heard of Lurancy Vennum and the strange voices that came through her was a sign that a powerful medium was in the midst of their small midwestern town. Hundreds from all over the countryside flocked to the Vennum house in the hopes that perhaps they could receive a message from a dearly departed friend or family member that had left this earthly plane. One day as Lurancy was channeling a spirit for a family friend a new voice that had never been heard before began to emerge and Lurancy seemed to take on the personality of this new spirit. Lurancy, or the spirit, began to sob and said that she was Mary Roff, and she was afraid and wanted her mom and dad immediately.

Across town, Mr and Mrs Asa Roff, got word of the strange events transpiring at the Vennum household and the spirit of their young daughter who had committed suicide fifteen years earlier, was demanding to see them. When the Roff’s arrived that the Vennum household, Lurancy jumped up and threw her arms around Mr Roff and said, “Oh Daddy, I missed you so.” Mr Roff pushed the strange girl away from him and after a long look into her eyes began to cry and shouted, “Thanks be to God, this young girl is my daughter, Mary.”

Although the Roff’s were firm believers that the dead could contact the living they still needed proof that this was their daughter inhabiting the body of Lurancy Vennum. After a long talk with Lurancy’s parents, the Vennums agreed to allow Lurancy to go and temporarily live with the Roffs to see if there was any truth to the strange goings on.

Upon arrival at the Roff household, Lurancy ran through the door to find numerous Roff family members present. As she burst through the door, Lurancy greeted Mary’s siblings and Mary’s grandmother with the special pet names that only Mary Roff would know. After a brief chat with the astounded family members, Lurancy ran straight to Mary’s room and flung herself on the bed in a special way the Roff’s said their daughter used to do. Lurancy jumped up from the bed and tried on Mary’s favorite hat and scarf. Lurancy turned to the Roff’s and said with tears in her eyes, “Mommy, Daddy, I’m so sorry for what I did. Will you please forgive me?” The Roff’s hugged the young girl and were delighted to see that their young girl was returned to them even if she did not look like their Mary. The Roff’s were convinced this was their daughter, Mary Roff.

After a few months of living with the Roffs and becoming a true member of the family Lurancy/Mary woke up and began to cry uncontrollably. Mr Roff raced to his daughter’s side and asked, “Mary, what ever is the problem.” Lurancy/Mary looked up at the old man and stammered out, “I’m not Mary, my name is Lurancy Vennum.” Asa Roff could feel his heart breaking inside of him and after a long moment of looking at the young girl who once claimed to be his daughter he did the only thing that he could, he returned Lurancy Vennum to her family. Mary Roff left the young girl never to return again.

When we look back at this strange case many questions come to mind. Was Lurancy a powerful medium who was able to hold the spirit of a dead girl and become her completely? Or was Lurancy merely faking and taking vengence on her parents for something they had done? Or was this a true case of a reincarnated soul who was able to come forth and take over it’s new body? It is entirely possible that Lurancy Vennum was a medium and the spirit of Mary Roff was strong enough to take possession of her body for a time. And as for faking, why what would Lurancy have to gain? By all accounts Lurancy Vennum was a happy well adjusted girl and the Vennum Household was a happy and loving one. So that would leave the reincarnation possibility.

I am reminded of a case that came out of India a few years ago where a young boy claimed to be a criminal who was murdered. The young boy claimed to have terrible nightmares of a bunch of men ganging up on him and shooting him in the head. The young boy complained of horrible headaches and was born with a strange birthmark that to all appearances looked like a bullett wound on his forhead. When the young boy was taken to the village of the man he claimed to be and greeted all the dead man’s relatives and friends as if the boy had known them his whole life. This very true story is much like the strange case that came out of southern Illinois. Perhaps when we die some great judge in the sky does not pass down a guilty or innocent verdict. Perhaps the strange case of Lurancy Vennum is proof that we come back time and time again to get things right. Maybe.

Rick. Hale
t_seeker@hotmail.com

Well let’s see so far the devil came down to Chi-town, ancient Egyptians may have been the first to call Illinois home and lastly vengeful ghosts wreak havoc on all who enter the attic of a nineteenth century mansion. Looking back I really hope we can both agree that Illinois is truly one weird place and it only gets weirder from this point on. Illinois, the Prairie state and the state that I love apparently has a monster seal approval as well. Does that surprise you?

Everyone knows that Sasquatch calls the vast acres of forest in the pacific Northwest home, but what most people don’t know is that there have been strange creature sightings in the Land Of Lincoln as well, In fact apart from Oregon and Washington state, Illinois has the most monster sightings than any other state of the union. We have tales of gigantic birds swooping out of the skies and attempting to carry eleven year old boys away for a mid-day snack in 1977. A bigfoot like creature has been spotted haunting (and stinking up) the woods around the Big Muddy River. And in the city Of Alton, the most haunted small town in Illinois, a giant mural of a grotesque creature called the Piasa graces the side of a cliff as a memorial to the brave native tribes who fought the dragon like creature in open combat and won. Among the many monsters that call our state home one creature has caused many residents of the southern Illinois town of Enfield, to scratch their head and ask, “What the hell is it?”

It was a cool Spring night in 1973, when a local man in the town of Enfield, Hank McDaniel, answered a knock at his door that would open up a whole new chapter in the weirdness of Illinois. Hank had just returned home from a rough day at work after working a double shift to help a coworker out and was tired as hell. As he plopped down on his couch and turned on the television for a little late night viewing and more than a little relaxation. The cold beer that he popped open tasted like heaven as it poured down his throat and filled his stomach with it’s cold frosty goodness. Hank McDaniel knew one thing and one thing only, tonight he did not want to be bothered he wanted to enjoy these last moments before he laid his head down for some much needed rest before a new day began and work started all over again. That is until the knock came to his door.

Hank was truly irritated, who the hell could this be? It was late and he was not expecting anyone to show up at his doorstep. “Who is it?” Hank yelled as he lifted his lanky tired form off the couch. No answer, probably some kids playing a joke. As Hank turned to sit back down on the couch a second and louder knock came to the door. By now Hank, was getting pissed, whoever this jerk was that was knocking on his door at 12AM was going to get a piece of his mind and maybe a bullett in their ass.

“What do you wa…” Hank yelled as he opened the door and was terrified by what greeted him on the front porch of his modest two bedroom home. What dared to knock on his door that late night in 1973 was neither man or beast at least not anything Hank had ever seen. Hank’s blood ran cold as he stood transfixed by the grotesque sight that greeted him. Finally the terrified was able to slam the door and grabbed the double barreled shotgun that stood ever ready by his front door. When Hank, finally built up the courage to open the door the creature stood there still staring down the frightened man. Hank raised his shotgun and squeezed off a shot at the creature. The creature was not wounded by the powerful shot but ran off into the night letting out a strange scream that sounded a cross between a high pitched scream and a car horn. Hank Mc Daniel, hardworking native of Illinois would never bee the same.

Twenty minutes later the local sheriff arrived at Hank’s front door after being alerted by neighbors that some nut was firing a shotgun in the middle of the night. When the sheriff approached Hank McDaniel he could see the terror and the abject fear written all over the man’s face. When the sheriff asked just what Hank was shooting at at 12:30 in the morning Hank was able to stammer out, “A creature on my doorstep.” The Sheriff roled his eyes and I’m sure he thought old Hank was drinking although he could not smell any alcohol.
“What kind of creature, Hank?” The incredulous Sheriff inquired of the man. After the question Hank launched into a description of a creature so fantastical it sounded as if it stepped out of science fiction film. Hank, said that the creature stood about four and half feet tall, with a strange cone shaped body, and was covered in hair. Hank said the strangest thing about the creature was that two gigantic black eyes stared into his soul and had three legs. After hearing the unbelievable story the Sheriff took a report and headed back to the station. He did not know what Hank McDaniel had seen but he knew that whatever it was Hank’s sighting would not be the last.

The next evening the Sheriff received another phone call from a panic striken woman who said that her eleven year old son had been attacked by some kind of horrific creature. The sheriff knew the call was serious when he heard the crying of the boy in the background. The sheriff quickly left his office and made his way out. When he arrived he found his witnesses standing on the front porch awaiting his arrival both seemed to have calmed down quite a bit. When the sherrif asked what happened, the young boy, Greg Garret, told his story. His mother had sent him outside to take the garbage out. When he got to the cans he could hear what sounded like something large rustling in the trees that lined the driveway on the side of his house. Greg, went on to give a description of a the same creature that Hank McDaniel, had seen the previous night. Except the still shaking boy said that the creature had two short arms that reached out at him and ripped his shirt. The sheriff, still incredulous over the creature that was now seen twice, took a statement from the young boy and went searching for the odd and apparently dangerous creature.

After a few days the stories of the assault on Greg Garret and Hank McDaniel quickly spread like wildfire among the frightened citizens of the small town of Enfield. People were terrified to let their dogs out after dark and some parents kept their children from playing outside. A few more citizens reported seeing the strange beast, however the their stories were not taken seriously. The sherrif, desiring to quell an episode of mass hysteria, threatened Hank McDaniel, with jail time if he did not keep his big mouth shut, the charge creating a public nuisance and the sheriff put out a press release in the local newspaper stating that the creature was just a dog and people did not have to be fearful. However despite all the sheriff’s efforts this did not stop some brave monster hunters from grabbing their rifles and venturing into the forest to hunt for the strange creature. One man was arrested after he shot his buddy in the leg while he was taking a leak behind some bushes. Dumb ass.

About two weeks after the initial sightings of the creature or what ever it was, dissappeared from the small town of Enfield, and good riddance. What was it that Hank McDaniel fired upon? And what manner of strange creature was it that attacked little Greg Garret and ripped his favorite t-shirt? Some believe that the creature in question was an alien visitor. this belief came about due to the fact over the last few months many folks reported seeing strange lights in the skies over Enfield and there was a report from a neighboring town of a man being abducted by aliens. One other explanation was that the creature was some animal previously unknown to science and this theory raised the curiosity of many a cryptozoologist. I have a theory, let me give you hint, G’day Mate.

From 1974 throughout 1981, reports flooded into cop shops of people who swear that they had seen a Kangaroo either jumping around their backyard or sitting on the side of the road not just in Illinois but other midwestern states as well. One well documented story tells of two Chicago cops who cornered one of the marsupials in an alley on the north side of Chicago thouroughly got their asses handed to them when they tried to take the animal into custody. Roos may seem all cute and cuddly but they can be downright mean and nasty when backed into a corner by something they perceive as a threat or scared.

Many researchers, myself included, now believer that this was what a few of the citzens saw in Enfield over those two weeks of terror. Now, obviously there are no herds of Kangaroos roaming the plains of the midwest so if that is the case what was the creature that terrified the small Illinois town in the Spring of 1973? It may not have been Roos, I think they are happy in the land down under.

Rick E. Hale
t_seeker@hotmail.com

One of the things I love the most about researching paranormal phenomenon, is learning about the history of our great nation, although sometimes our history is not that great. Slavery was a very difficult time in our nation’s history, I could never wrap my mind around the concept of how an entire nation felt that they had the right to enslave and subjugate an entire race of people just because they were of a different skin color. Thank God we had a visionary president who saw the evils of slavery and said, “Enough of this crap, this just isn’t cool.” I’m sure those were not Abe Lincoln’s exact words however the idea is certainly applied. A great war was fought between brothers to bring an end to this most wicked of institutions many men met their fate on the battlefield so all American’s could be free.

When you look back to that period and the history of the state of Illinois, you may think that Illinois was a very northern state and led the charge against slavery, however one thing that folks don’t know is that in the small southern Illinois town of Equality, one man thought that he could thumb his nose at the law of the land that made Illinois a free state that person was John Hart Crenshaw and his home of slavery and horror was Hickory Hills, the home where slavery lived.

Crenshaw, came to the state of Illinois from the east and almost immediately took advantage of the lucrative salt and coal mines that were virtually untouched in the southern region of the state. After making millions of dollars, Crenshaw built his dream home for his family in the ironically named town of Equality in the mid 1800s. To all apearances, Crenshaw lived the life of a well adjusted family man, he attended church on Sunday’s and gave lavish parties for all his friends, but the money Crenshaw already had was not enough for him he wanted more and would do anything to get it. Within this seemingly ordinary man lived the heart of a cold blooded beast and the soul of a real son of a bitch.

After a few years Crenshaw began to lose money on his mines due to a dwindling work force that left his employ to seek jobs at other mines that paid much better. The idea of losing money was sickening to Crenshaw who felt that he needed to do something quick to obtain cheap labor. Crenshaw hit on an Idea that he felt was pretty sweet. Knowing that Kentucky, a state that allowed slavery, was just a short ride away Crenshaw came the conclusion that the only way to get cheap labor was to tap into the south’s resource of men and women who kept in chains and forced to do hard labor for absolutely nothing. Crenshaw, felt that if a state that was only a mere few minutes away should have slaves than why not him?

Crenshaw, went about the task of hiring himself a gang of shady characters that sympathized with his feelings that slavery should be legal. Crenshaw’s, “Night Riders” as they were called would wait in the shadows of the heavily forested area and keep a look out for any slaves who crossed their path looking for freedom in the north. Thousands of men, women and children were captured by the sinister night riders and brought back to Hickory Hills and Crenshaw. These slaves who thought they fleeing to freedom were either put to work in Crenshaw’s mines or sold back to southern slave owners at a premium. Whatever Crenshaw, had lost in losing cheap labor he would gain back by sending entire families back to the institution they tried so desperately to escape.

Crenshaw, knew the law of land in Illinois and the stiff penalty attached to it if he were caught enslaving escaped slaves. Crenshaw didn’t care to his these folks were nothing but cattle and were created to break their backs in service to the white man. However, people started to sniff around at this workforce, Crenshaw had acquired and questions were being asked. Crenshaw panicked and knew that he had to find a place to store these folks otherwise the law would find out his little enterprise and certainly send him to the gallows. That was when, Crenshaw hit on another nifty idea. His home, Hickory Hills, had a large attic that could easily accomadate perhaps 75 or 100 of the slaves if they packed in there like sheep. Crenshaw and his night riders immediately went about the task of fashioning chains to the walls of the spacious attic to keep his “workforce” from escaping and he installed whipping posts in case any of his property got out of line. So while, Crenshaw was throwing lavish parties for his friends, who I’m sure had very anti-slavery ideas, men, women and children languished in the top level of Crenshaw’s house of horrors.

The historical record tells us that one day a group of slaves revolted against Crenshaw and his task masters. A few of the task masters lost their lives and Crenshaw’s leg was severed when a slave lopped it off with a hatchet. When the night riders arrived with more slaves they discovered the revolt in full swing. Men who were formerly kept in chains and subjected to torture believed that they now had the upper hand, freedom was just a heart beat away, however Crenshaw’s nightriders had other ideas in mind. In one night every last one of the revolutionaries was wiped out and order was restored to Hickory Hills. Shortly thereafter the authorities in the county got wind of the massacre that had taken place at the home of John Hart Crenshaw, All the wickedest man in Illinois received was a slap on the wrist and a stern talking to. In 1871, John Hart Crenshaw died a very wealthy man never knowing justice.

As the years progressed and the twentieth century arrived, tourists began to hear tales of this home where hundreds were kept as property in southern Illinois. The owners really did not mind the attention at first and began charging admission for those who wanted to take a tour of the house where slavery existed. Those who ventured up to the top floor attic came back down with strange and terrifying tales of ghosts. Many visitors told stories of a cold chill that seemed to fill the entire attic despite the summer months. Others reported hearing screams and catching glimpses of shadows that would appear one moment and be gone the next. Some reported the feeling of absolute dread when they reported what felt like hands touching them. Is it any surprise with all the tragedy that ocurred in the attic that some of the slaves who tasted death would hang around and seek revenge despite the fact that Crenshaw was long since dead? I’m not surprised.

In 1928, a well known ghosthunter arrived at Hickory Hills to investigate the strange goings on in the third floor attic. He was on a mission to prove these ghosts existed and hoped that perhaps in some small way he could help them find rest. The intrepid ghost hunter attempted to spend the night in haunted attic but did not make it. The story goes that he clamly left the house and went home and died of a heart attack face down in his mashed potatoes. The spirits had claimed themselves a victim.

In 1966, a couple of badass Marines, who saw action in the early days of the conflict in VietNam, heard of the of the terrifying specters that haunted Hickory Hills and took up the challenge to spend a single night in the attic of horrors. In the middle of the night these tough guys ran from the house screaming like little bitches vowing to never again step foot in that house. When they were asked what had scared them the marines gave a detailed account of the experience that robbed them of their bravado. As they were bedding down for the night they began to hear what sounded like distant voices speaking unintelligable words in the attic. Thinking that a trick was being played on them they turned their flashlights on and were treated to one of the most horrifying spectacles any man could hope to see. A large group of black shadows began swirling around the attic and the once distant voices were now a chorus of screams of agony. I’m really not sure what happened to those once brave Leathernecks.

Only one brave soul ever made it a full night in the attic and came out a changed man. In 1978, local television journalist, Dave Rodgers took up the challenge in the hopes that he could gather evidence for a special halloween segment on haunted houses. When the sun rose and Rodgers descended the attic stairs he reported that during the course of his sleepover he could hear what sounded like men, women and children crying and he reported seeing the occassional dark shadow flit across the walls. Rodgers had accomplished the previously unthinkable, he survived a night in the haunted attic of Hickory Hills.

Today, Hickory Hills is a registered historic landmark in the state of Illinois. Hundreds every year flock to take tours of the house where slavery once lived and thrived in a state that outlawed the practice of slavery. Even today, those brave enough to ascend the stairs that leads to the notorious attic come away believing that something of the home’s evil past still remains and haunts never knowing true rest.

Rick E. Hale
t_seeker@hotmail.com

Every child who grew up attending public school has had the same little ditty drilled into their head until it became a mantra, “In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.” Yes, Christopher Columbus did land in the New World on that date, however there is much debate on the subject of whether or not Columbus was the first from the Old World to truly step foot on the shores of America. Over the last forty years shocking evidence has come to light that the New World may have been visited many years before Columbus’ historic voyage.

In 1964, a Swedish archeology student discovered the ruins of a Viking settlement in L’anse Aux Meadows, in Newfoundland and some evidence that may prove blood thirsty, axe wielding, badass Vikings may have been the first to step foot on the shores of North America. Or Perhaps the Welsh can make the claim to be the first. According to written records and some ruins that were discovered here in the good old US of A, a Welsh prince named Madoc, may have led an entire colony of settlers to the New World in the twelfth century. It is believed by many students of alternetive archeology that, Madoc’s settelers, in order to survive, were absorbed into the local Native population as evidenced by a now extinct tribe called the Mandan, who had light hair, gray eyes and possessed the ability to grow facial hair. Colonists who encountered the Mandan, said these very European looking natives were the most civilized and their language sounded suspiciously Welsh. The Mandan’s were whiped out by smallpox in the early 18th century.

Or perhaps an Irish monk can lay claim to being the first. In the 5th century, Brenden made an historic visit in search of a Island called, “The Land of The Blessed.” Many believe that Brenden, may have actually made it to the North American continent and lived among the Native population teaching them about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Some Native American tribes have legends concerning a white man who came from across the sea and taught them about the one true God. However in 1982, new evidence came to light from right here in the Prairie state that may prove that none of these cultures were the first that perhaps ancient Egyptians may have been the first to discover the America and left evidence of their visit in a cave in Southern Illinois.

In the summer of 1982, Rusty Burrows a spelunker from Illinois may have been the man who found the controversial evidence that proved an ancient connection to the Land Of the Pharoahs. While hiking through the vast wilderness of southern Illinois, Burrows, literally stumbled onto a cave when he tripped on a tree root and almost fell to his death into the yawning black maw. Burrows, was of the mind that no cave should ever go unexplored got his gear together and jumped into the dark unknown.

When Burrows reached the bottom of the cave he discovered strange writing on the wall that looked suspiciously like ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. As Burrows, explored the cave he discovered human remains that were ceremoniously buried with swords, Urns and other artifacts which pointed to the possibility that this cave may be the tomb of some great Egyptian prince or another person of great significance. At first, Burrows wanted to keep this amazing find a secret after all who would believe that ancient Egyptian explorers actually made it the heartland of the United States. But like anything else, the discovery was made known to the mainstream scientific community and it was game on.

Almost immediately, without seeing the cave, archeologists and other researchers denounced the cave and it’s artifacts as a fraud and a hoax perpetrated by a man who wanted to make a quick buck. To the mainstream scientific community the idea of ancient Egyptians reaching the new world was preposterous. Egyptians were not well known explorers and neither did they stray to far away from home when they sailed. Upon seeing a few of the artifacts, researchers claimed that the clay figures were proof of the hoax. The artifacts were to amateurish looking for a people who were well known artisans. Immediately believers in the cave blasted back by saying the people who fashioned the artifacts had possession of very crude tools and could not give it the same professional look that they would given them back home. The mainstream was not convinced.

If the cave and it’s strange artifacts are proof of the presence of ancient Egyptians, how did they get here? Burrows and other students of alternative Archeology believe that the ancient visitors made landfall some where in Louisiana and made their way up the Mississippi into southern Illinois. It is also believed that the ancient visitors took refuge in the cave for two reasons either they came under attack by the local native tribes or perhaps the harsh winter of Illinois drove them underground where they either eventually froze or starved to death. Either way the ancient Egyptian expedition, if it did happen was screwed from the start. I suppose it should also be noted, when settlers began exploring and setting up shop here in Illinois they discovered something very strange about the Algonquin people and their language. The Algonquin language sounded like a Semitic language, much like ancient Hebrew or Punic. Of course this could coincedence and nothing more.

To this day archeologists and paleontologists both agree that Burrows’ cave is a downright hoax and nothing else and do not plan to investigate further. But what if it isn’t a hoax? Perhaps Rusty Burrows is telling the truth that an expdedition from Egypt penetrated the dense forest’s of the midwest and died in southern Illinois leaving a tomb and artifacts as proof of their presence. It is true that many ancient cultures did lack the technology to build ships that could cross the vast oceans of the world. That is except for the Phoenicians. The Phoenician people were a society of merchants and explorers from the middle east who erected great ships that could easily have made the journey across the Atlantic Ocean. Phoenicians were always looking for new people to trade with and would go to the ends of the Earth to do so. Perhaps these ancient people made it to the shores of North America and upon meeting with the local Native tribes decided to strike up some kind of trade. Oh well, I guess we will never know unless these men of science get up off their dead asses and look into the mystery of this Cave.

Rick E. Hale
t_seeker@hotmail.com

When I sat down to write today I thought it would be remiss if I did not pay mad props for the state that spawned a creature such as myself, The great State of Illinois. For the few times that I’ve traveled outside the state that I love and call home I have been asked where I call home, usually the response I receive from those that I meet is all the same, “Illinois, isn’t that the state with all the corn and the cows?” These people are lucky I don’t offend easily otherwise that would receive a sound downhome, midwest thrashing, I joke of course. The one thing that most people do not understand that, although cow tipping is the best way to pass the time in the Prairie state, Illinois is one weird place.

Illinois runs the gambit and gets the booby prize for being home to some of the strangest phenomenon known to our mysterious planet. The first American serial killer called Illinois home. We have, perhaps, more haunted cemetaries per capita than any other state in the Union, folks driving lonely back roads late at night are taken aboard the bitchin’ rides of ETs, and the son of Satan once ungraced the Land of Lincoln with his nefarious presence. Yep, Illinois is one weird wonderful place and in this series you will learn why and perhaps even pay us a visit and sit a spell.

Son Of Satan In Chi-town.

Those of us who live in the northern portion of the wind swept prairie state all know and love the windy city, sweet home Chicago. Chicago is a world class city with posh trendy clubs, and many great venues to see your favorite musical group. Or perhaps restaurants and food is your thing, chicago pizza is the best. Yes sir, Chicago is truly one great place for everything you can possibly imagine. However things have not always been this way, Chicago has not always been the favorite playground for midwest yuppies. At one time in it’s history Chicago, was a much different place, one could say downright deadly.

Chicago of the nineteenth century was not such a fun place to call home. Violent roving gangs of cutthroat miscreants wandered the streets and back alleys looking for some poor sap to victimize. Houses of ill repute or brothels stood proudly on practically every street corner offering every unmarried and not-so-unmarried man the oppurtunity to get their freak on with their pick of a lady of the night. The city was also home to a poor immigrant class who’s only desire was to come to the land of oppurtunity and make a life for themselves but instead they found a city where they not welcome and the natural born American citizen hated them with every fiber of their being. However there was one faint glimmer of hope in an otherwise cesspool of a city, a place where the poor and downtrodden could go and learn how to read, write and receive medical care. That place was Hull House on the cities near west side and it’s mistress, Jane Adams.

Jane Adams, was the daughter of a wealthy Chicago Merchant and like some rich kids, Jane began searching for the meaning of life and her special purpose. When her father passed away, Jane and her close friend, Ellen Starr, traveled to Europe to taste the elite culture of the Continent. On their stop in Jolly Old England, Jane found something other than elite culture, Jane discovered London’s famed West End and that discovery would prove to change not only her life but the way she viewed her fellow man.

Walking the dirty feces covered roads of the West End, Jane could not help but reminisce of the faint glimpses that she caught of her hometown of Chicago as her family drove through the areas that she was told to stay away from. Upon her visit to Toynbee Hall, a home that was famous for feeding the poor and educating the iliterate, Jane was impressed how the children of elite London society gave up their fancy clothes and manor houses and served those who could not serve themselves. After spending a few days at Toynbee, Jane, came to the conclusion that the poor of Chicago needed such a place and Jane Adams made it her personal mission in life to give it to them.

Shortly after returning to Chicago, Ms Adams purchased Hull House, an old ramshackle mansion on the cities near west side that had been abandoned for a number of years. In the early days of 1889, Jane Adams, the wealthy heiress of a large fortune, opened Hull House for all those who needed it the most. Almost immediately Hull House became a haven for the hungry and the abused. Immigrant women came by the hundreds to learn how to speak english, learn to read and write and learn how to take better care of their children. Not only was Hull House and it’s dedicated workers the first place in the city to offer job training courses, Hull House was also the first place to open a fully functioning library that offered every book a new reader could hope to find. Hull House was definately what the grimy city of Chicago needed to fight back poverty and crime, but something sinister was rumored to call Hull House home.

As time passed and Jane Adams gained popularity as a successful social worker, frightening tales of Hull House began to filter down through the poor immigrant classes that sought refuge from Jane Adams. It was reported that the house was haunted by the mad spirit of the house’s builder, Charles Hull. Others told tales of the shadowy forms of Monks witnessed by many walking down the main stairs. On more than one occassion even Jane Adams had admitted to witnessing the apparitions of the monks as well as coming face to face with the shade of the former mistress of the house. The strangest tale of all to come out of the house was the story of a grotesque little imp that called the house home, The Devil Baby of Hull House.

No one is exactly sure when the rumor started that the son of satan came to inhabit the house. Upon hearing the rumor from immigrant women who came to the house desiring to see the devilish child, Jane Adams did everything she possibly could to dispel this rumor. However these women of the old world would have none of it, they were convinced that a child born with horns, red skin and a pitchfork shaped tail called the social reform house it’s abode.

Many claimed that they were present when Ms Adams, and one of her workers attempted to have the child baptized. The story goes that when Jane presented the priest with the child, the devil baby leapt from Jane’s grip and ran around the church laughing and blaspheming God’s name. Jane Adams; was so mortified by the experience she never returned to the church nor did she take the devilish child out from behind the safe confines of Hull House again.

One thing is certain, even if a demon child did not live at Hull House, the immigrant woman who came from such countries as Italy, Ireland and Jewish Russians, believed the story adding their own special ethnic flare from their old world beliefs to the story.

The Italian Job

Perhaps the most common story often told about the origins of the devil baby came from Italian women. The story goes that a poor Italian woman married a very abusive man who claimed to be an atheist and constantly mocked his wife’s faith. One day the woman attempted to hang a picture of the Virgin Mary on the wall when her husband burst through the door and declared that he would rather have his wife give birth to the devil himself than for her to hang that on the wall. Sure enough nine months later, the wife gave birth to a grotesque demonic child. The husband was so horrified he demanded that his wife throw the child away. Instead the wife brought the child to safe confines of Hull House.

More Than Just Blarney

The second most popular tale tells of a poor Irish Family who already had twelve children. One day the wife discovered that she was pregnant with a baker’s dozen, unlucky thirteen. When she told her husband of the impending joyousness, the husband cursed the child saying that he would be a devil. I guess the jerkoff got what he wished for.

The Un-Mitzvah

And lastly, a young Jewish girl had a hot love affair with a nice young gentile boy against the wishes of her parents. When her parents discovered that she was pregnant with a half goyim child her father, a Rabbi, flew into a rage and told her that no child of his would give birth to a half breed. Angered by her father’s reaction the young girl ran off and married her lover. Upon hearing of the happy ocassion the father cursed the child declaring that he would be the devil in the flesh.

Looking back it is difficult to understand why such a nasty rumor would have been made about a house and a woman who gave her heart and soul to those who obviously spread the rumor. Jane Adams spent the last remaining years of her life declaring time and time again that no such creature called the house home she even made brief mention of it in her book (a great read), “My Years at Hull House.” Jane could never escape the nefarious tale of the alleged devil baby at Hull House and the rumor injured her greatly.

Was there ever really a devil baby at the house that was on the cutting edge of social reform? Highly unlikely. The child and it’s hellish pedigree was probably a poor child with severe deformities that gave it the appearance of something unearthly. At that time children born with mental retardation, handicaps or deformities were usually discarded by their unloving parents that did not want them into an uncaring world that would rather see them dead. If such a child did exist that child found a loving person in Jane Adams and a caring home in Hull House.

Rick E. Hale
t_seeker@hotmail.com