Cryptozoology conference draws fans of the unusual

Those searching for Bigfoot and other unusual creatures gathered Saturday for the fourth annual Southern Crypto Conference at the Montgomery County Fairground's Horseshoe Club.

"About 250 people gathered today to talk about the pursuit for unknown creatures," said conference organizer Chester Moore. "We think this is important because (cryptozoology) is the forefront of zoology. This is about the pursuit of unknown animals and it's becoming very popular." And what crypto conference would be complete without Bigfoot. "I'm obsessed with Bigfoot," said Ella Howard, of East Bernard. "They practically own East Texas." There was a Bigfoot sighting 15 miles Southeast of Howard's residence in 1979 and another one 20 miles south in the 1990s, she said. "I can't call myself a researcher, but I am a field researcher," Howard said about interviewing those who've claimed to have seen Bigfoot and keeping up with current research available on the Internet. Howard and her sister, Melissa Miller, of La Porte, attended the first and second annual Southern Crypto conferences and are big fans of Moore's research. Other topics of Saturday's conference were living dinosaurs, pterodactyls in New Guinea and giant catfish. Moore, cryptokeeper.com host and zoologist, is researching giant catfish across Southern reservoirs. Many people have reported catfish the size of Volkswagen Beetles; however, Moore said he's pretty sure a catfish has not been found that large nor can one grow to that size. In order to prove just how big a catfish can get, he's conducting the Giant Catfish Tour and will dive in Lake Conroe in the weeks ahead to search for a giant catfish there. Wesley Simpson, of Silsbee, attended Saturday's conference with his 11-year-old son, Ben. "Basically I wanted to get some information on giant catfish," Wesley said, adding that a relative of his caught a nearly four-foot-long catfish by accident while clearing a rice field. "I've been curious about how big a catfish can get." Ben was interested in learning more about Mothman, which is a creature that supposedly suddenly appears and disappears, and the Chupacabra, which is a creature from Mexico that lives off goats and it's been debated the Chupacabra is scaly and can fly. But Ben said he doesn't think the Chupacabra, which is reportedly moving into the U.S., can fly. For more information about cryptozoology visit Moore's Web site, www.cryptokeeper.com

I once had a discussion with a man who was a firm believer in all sorts of cryptoids, including the Loch Ness Monster. He was an especially strong believer that there was a plesiosaur in Loch Ness and brought forth all sorts of theories and explanations to "prove" that an ancient sea reptile lives in Loch Ness. I then asked him to answer two questions, questions that apply to all living creatures. How does the animal breath and how does the animal breed? He apparently had never thought about those problems before.

I own a copy of "Home From the Sea" by Captain Rostron (Master of the Carpathia that rescued the Titanic survivors). This is an extremely rare book but one that details the life of an Edwardian Naval officer or impeccable honesty and integrity.

I bought the book because it was an absolute steal but I was interested in his account of the Titanic and the rescue. However, the bonus was his account of a "sea serpent" that he sighted, described and logged as he piloted his ship into Liverpool. He was the First Officer at the time and was called into the Captain to answer for his log book entry. Having watched the creature pace the ship, observe it's surrounding and perform various manuevers for over half and hour, Rostron stood by his account. After asking if he had been drinking, the Captain vetted the log. A few days after this incident, while in port, the Captain again called Rostron into his quarters. This time he handed Rostron a local newspaper with an account of a local fisherman who was picked up in the open sea after a few days exposure. The man told a tale of having been attacked by a "sea serpent" and in the fight he had lost his oars and boat hook and since been adrift. The Captain thought Rostron would be interested in the account since it answered a lot of questions...

The idea of creatures roaming this world that science does not vet is entirely plausible. In fact, I would hold the view that trusting in the approval of science for evidence is just as foolish as rejecting the information that true science my provide.

For example, in Minnesota, hunters and rural folks have claimed for years that large felines predators were active across the state. Of course, the yokels were sneered at by the 'scientific' opinion that said no evidence existed and the habits of the big cats precluded a cheek and jowl existence with humanity and development. Then, a cougar was hit and killed on a highway up north. Well, well, well. The great minds then insisted that this cat was anomalous. Today, large feline predator numbers are unknown but enough of them exist so that one was shot and killed in a city park a few years back. Another cat was photographed watering in a metro suburb.

The point is that science, and what it observes, ain't the whole story. In fact, those that hang onto the pronouncements of science as gospel truth are every bit as ignorant and drumming savages keeping the darkness of night at bay. It is a big world out there and I, for one, think we don't really know what we think we know.

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