Dear folks,
Today`s blog is about a strange occurrence during World War One near the Jenkin(a) Chapel area of the Peak District, in the vicinity of Saltersford. I wrote a letter to Animals & Men a few years ago asking for further information but none turned up. Like so many Fortean stories I have found, this one was discovered whilst I was a patient in a psychiatric hospital. But it wasn`t a delusion, because I have the extract right in front of me. The story of the Kaiser`s caterpillars was published in In And Around The Peak District by Doug Pickford (1993), a Macclesfield historian who has been connected with Old Macc magazine.
Pickford asks:
'Did a German Zeppelin drop millions of caterpillars around the Jenkin Chapel area of Saltersford? An unlikely if not preposterous question may well say,but some senior Saltersford and Rainow residents are firmly of the opinion that this very much the case during the First World War. Since hearing of this strange incident I have spoken to a number of inhabitants of the area who can recall the events that unfolded during the dark days of war in the year 1917, when a plague of millions upon millions of caterpillars descended on the area.' (1)
Now when I first read this I thought of three things: I have read about swarms of insects appearing, even in the unlikeliest of places, such as in urban areas. But I have not heard of millions upon millions; that does seem a lot. I am no entomologist, but Pickord describes them as being 'furry' (2) and 'black and yellow', 'some one and a half inches in length' (3) and a great number of crows ('thousands' 4) came from a wide area to feast on the multitude of insects. Also, I remembered that pre-World War One was a time of phantom airship scares, which I know nothing about. Does anyone know of associations between swarms of insects and U.F.Os? Thirdly, if this wasn`t an early U.F.O. was it a German attempt at 'plague warfare'? Note the caterpillars, if that is what they were, appeared just in time for the harvest.
Pickord picks up (if you`ll pardon the pun!) the story at around harvest time, 1917. This would be around the time of the Russian Revolution:
'The only Zeppelin - a gas filled balloon powered by propellers - known to have flown over that particular area came one moonlit night in 1917. The exact date has not been ascertained but it was around harvest time. The German aircraft is said to have dropped a bomb at Pott Shrigley but it did not explode and then it turned and flew over the valley, over Rainow and on to Saltersford. It was eventually brought down when it reached the coast. However, that night and the following morning locals discovered literally millions of black and yellow coloured furry caterpillars some one and a half inches in length. They were everywhere. The plague of wriggling creatures appeared to be centred on Greenstacks Farm where all the downstairs rooms were covered inches high with the creatures. Green Booth and Hollowcowhey Farms were also affected very badly. My 83 year old informant told me “It was though a stone had been thrown in a pool, with the ripples strong in the middle at Greenstacks and they went out for about a mile in circumference. Farms were almost bankrupt after. The caterpillars had eaten everything. There was no grass, no greenery at all growing. There was no food for the cattle and there was no hay to be harvested. Afterwards the area was black where grass and crops should have been [this blackness is interesting, it occurs in some mystery snake reports-RM]….And then the crows came. Apparently “thousands of crows” came from all around and started to eat those furry caterpillars with a vengeance. They gorged themselves until they were so full they could not fly. A lot of them managed to get on to the tops of the drystone walls and stayed there for hours, unable to move off. The walls were turned white with their droppings.' (5)
The story goes on to describe how the curate of St Peter`s in Macclesfield [this may be the same as the church I used to go to-RM] was posted to Rainow during the Great War. He collected some of the caterpillars but there is no record of what he found out about them. As for the villagers: '…It was a frightening experience for them, not least because they appeared from nowhere…dropped from the sky,perhaps, as a secret weapon by an enemy hell bent on destruction? Or was it one of nature`s aberrations?' (6)
a. Jenkin was a drover who preached at a 'preaching cross' at a crossroads in this area.
1. D.Pickford. In And Around The Peak District (1993). pp5-6
2. D. Pickford Ibid. p7
3. D. Pickford Ibid.p7
4. D. Pickford Ibid. p.8
5. D. Pickford Ibid pp 7-8
6. D. Pickford Ibid p 10.
Muirhead`s Mysteries will be taking a short break till Tuesday November 3rd. I will be 43 on the 5th. Yipee, bank, wizzzz!! - Bonfire Night. Rare crypto books and bottles of ginger wine kindly appreciated. Just don`t ask me to blow up Parliamant, I`m not that radical!
October, trees are stripped bare,of all they wear,
Do I care?
October,kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall,
But You go on and..on. (U2 October)
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
JAN EDWARDS: Deer rescue
We have been in contact with Jan for ages, and it is with great pleasure that we welcome her aboard, not only as a guest blogger, but as a Co. Durham representative for the CFZ. With Davy Curtis already at the helm in the county, the two of them will make a dream team par excellence....
Just rescued this beautiful adult male roe deer. He’d fallen down a steep bank and ended up in a river. He’s called 'O. Deer' short for Ofer, which means fawn (naturally!!)
He’s no broken bones and no wounds. Slight concussion, vet thinks. Overnight rest and hopefully released tomorrow.
NEW FROM CFZ PRESS: Karl Shuker takes an unexpected new direction
New from CFZ Press:
Today Dr Karl Shuker is a world-renowned author on cryptozoology and animal mythology, with over a dozen books and countless articles to his name, but long before his first book on such subjects had been published he was already a prolific poet. Yet in stark contrast to his continuing output of scientific writings, his poetry has remained largely unseen by the outside world – only his family, friends, and selected colleagues have ever read any of his very sizeable collection of poems…until now.
At last, after having been hidden away for many years in a couple of dusty folders, a rich selection of Dr Shuker’s poems has finally been compiled, enabling the CFZ Press to present this world-exclusive to his many fans and poetry readers in general. Just as his non-fiction writings have documented a wide range of subjects, so too do Dr Shuker’s verses – from the wonders of the natural world, and the mysteries of other worlds far beyond our comprehension, to deeply personal recollections and contemplations of his past, present, and future, his faith in God, and also a series of poems written especially for children.
Welcome to a world of star steeds and nightingales, childhood’s end and silent farewells, realms of dreams and shadows, memory’s mirror and ghosts from the past, Faerie worlds and flying horses, the voice of the winds and the music of the spheres, roses and rainbows, airports, angels, balloons, butterflies, clowns, dragons, elves, fireworks, monasteries, poppies, Stonehenge, tattoos, UFOs, unicorns, and much much more. Even Nessie, the Loch Ness monster, makes an appearance.
All of these and many others too await your company within the pages of this very different but truly delightful book by Dr Shuker, offering its fortunate readers a fascinating, unique glimpse of a alternate line of literary evolution equal to but hitherto overshadowed by his cryptozoological writings. So let his star steed transport you right now to a magical, enchanting world that only poetry has the power to create, deep within the glorious infinity of our own imagination.
Buy it now:
END OF AN ERA
Today, in a little way, is the end of an era. I closed the eBay `Crypto Shop`. Sadly, for various reasons it has been becoming less and less economically viable, partly because of the recession, and partly because of changes in policy by eBay. We can no longer afford to run it.We would still, of course, like to have an online marketplace where we can flog stuff, and will eventually be building our own shop. However, in the meantime, has anyone got any serious suggestions as to which of the non-eBay auction sites is any good?
NICK REDFERN: The Real Wolfman
Tonight, the History Channel broadcasts a 2-hour show called The Real Wolfman, which tells the strange, intriguing and notorious story of the Beast of Gevaudan.
The star of the show (the beast aside, of course!) is good friend - and Texas-based CFZ rep - Ken Gerhard, who sets off to France in an effort to try and resolve the puzzle.
Ken has told me a lot about the show over the last few months, and it sounds like it will be an excellent production.
Here's the link for times etc, for those who may want to watch the show.
The star of the show (the beast aside, of course!) is good friend - and Texas-based CFZ rep - Ken Gerhard, who sets off to France in an effort to try and resolve the puzzle.
Ken has told me a lot about the show over the last few months, and it sounds like it will be an excellent production.
Here's the link for times etc, for those who may want to watch the show.
OLL LEWIS: Yesterday’s News Today
As I’ll be away for a few days I’ll be leaving you in the capable hands of Hallowe’en Jack and the diamond dog Biggles. I am looking forward to reading the Friday Fact and finding out what the Saturday Soundtrack is this week, upon my return. If all goes according to plan I’ll have something rather spectacular ready for Sunday’s 3D photo. I can’t promise anything of course but it might be a ‘Good Snap’ - ooh, could that be a clue? Anyway, what you’re here for is news and to a lesser extent, a bad pun or play on words, not my ramblings so let us press on:
Q: What is a sheep’s favourite singer?
A: ‘Ram’-dy ‘Ewe’-man
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