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Just What Did Mr. Barker Discover?Now that all the heat and furor generated over the Braxton County monster- have simmered down, the time seems to have arrived. for calm appraisal of the incident.writer, has M Ulookbd into the yi ? ‘ fl matter quite as- ^7^ ro b s e r v ayour study reaction.Barker comments at the outset that he can understand the concern of persona writing to our Reader’s Forum- asking that we cease coverage of the so-called “monster.*1“With all the rumors and exaggerated reports that have been Circulated by some newspapers,” Barker* says, “prospective residents might give* the county a wide berth.” And then he gets into the subject, adding:“I cannot agree, however, that editors of magazines and newspapers in general are* printing wild stories they themselves do not believe. I quote from a telegram received from FATE magazine, for which I spent three days investigating this case — 'Story probably hoax but investigaterigorously. Don’t speculate. Simply state facts.’Quite Disquieting“Speaking as a representative of a magazine, who investigated as ‘rigorously* as he was asked,I wonder if these folks (those complaining in the Readers Forum) are as qualified as I arc to draw conclusions as to whether this story is a product of ‘overwrought imagination.'“Exploding a hoax makes better copy than creating one. I, mvsalf, was' unable to shake this story, and, to my knowledge, no one else from the press has been able to do it. I sincerely hope someone is able to do so—to mysatisfaction—fur the chain 'of events, as I have found them, ii quite disquieting.“The writers say it must be one of two things—a meteor, of which much is known by scientists; and an ‘electrical phenomenon/ which, lor my money, is an admission of a mystery just as great as the entire flying saucer business, for little Is known of an ‘electrical phenomenon' which would flash through the skies in such manner.“These people (writing to the Forum) must not have all the information about the incident. They mention, for example, that foliage was ignited. That did notoccur. One should be slow to pass opinion on something about which he has little information.“They cannot believe the story, for, in their limited experience, they cannot find ground for cam-paring the event with others which make up the framework and pattern of their culture.Might Be a Panic “For example, they might have believed the story ‘if the entity seen was described as an angel or devil, common elements of our religion. But the aspects brought forth by this and similar, events are to them incomprehensible because they are quite new.In my article, I have first of all tided to bring forth. as much fact as possible. The conclusion I have reached is based upon thosefacts, but is entirely my own,“In this case anyone is entitled to his own conclusion, but I feel he should first of all be in possession of as many facts as possible.“It is perhaps well that stories of this natur# are generally doubted. If the entire population were in possession of all the evidence of ihi3 and other related events, there easily could be widespread panic,“Unusual aerial phenomenon are gaining in prevalence and should be the subject of more careful observation and recording. Such information, and conditioning, may be quite valuable at some future date.It looks as if Mr, Barker uncovered sumpthin.’
Newspaper Details
Charleston Gazette
Charleston, West Virginia, US
Tue, Sep 30, 1952
Page 4
Full Page
Clipped by
Jeff H.
NA, 07 Jul 2023
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