Gil Perez was a 16th century soldier and guard. He was a member of the Filipino Guardia Civil and worked at the palace of the Governor General in Manila, Philippines. His life was rather typical of a soldier in that place and time. He did his duty to his government and did his job regardless of any circumstances that arose during his guard duty–even the alleged spontaneous teleportation to another country.
Teleportation is a common theme in literature, movies and anything science fiction. The crew of the Starship Enterprise had it down to a science. The mad scientist in The Fly botched it terribly and Stephen King had it stealing the sanity of children in his short story The Jaunt. There is no denying that teleportation has an appeal in fiction because it strips away the location limitations of characters and it is open to interpretation; all manner of horrors can occur as a result because we simply do not know what side effects teleportation may have.
There is also an interest in real life teleportation because it would obviously be quite convenient. The real life applications could be life saving and bring people closer together. However, it could also change the face of modern warfare and make it very difficult to track criminals. That is all assuming teleportation is something we could control. What if there was no control? What if some people could teleport spontaneously without any knowledge they are about teleport? That is what reportedly happened in the case of Gil Perez.
On October 24, 1593, Gil Perez was doing his guard duties at the Governor's palace in Manila. Chinese pirates had assassinated the governor–Gomez Perez Dasmarinas–the night before, but the guards still guarded the palace and awaited the appointment of a new governor. Tired, Gil Perez decided to lean against a wall and rest for a moment. When he opened his eyes, he was in a completely unfamiliar place. Unsure how to react, he continued to do his guard duties until he was approached by someone who started asking him questions and telling him that he was somewhere that it was impossible for him to be. Gil was in Mexico City's Plaza Mayor.
When questioned, Gil Perez gave the story of his supposed teleportation and the death of his country's governor. The assassination was unknown to those in Mexico City, but Gil Perez was reportedly wearing the uniform of the palace guards in Manila. He was placed in jail because it was thought he might be a deserter and/or a servant of the devil. After two months, a ship arrived from the Philippines, bringing news of the governor's death. They said that they knew Gil Perez, though they did not know he was in Mexico City. The last time they had seen him was on October 23 at the palace.
The authorities in Mexico City decided to release Gil Perez and send him home. As there is no other account of Gil materializing anywhere, it is assumed that he never spontaneously teleported again. It was lucky for him that, if the story is true, he did not wind up in a country where Spanish was not spoken or worse, in a harsh terrain like the ocean, desert or arctic tundra. Some sources say that the story was not told until 100 years after it reportedly occurred. Other sources say that authorities documented the occurrence immediately. Without details like this, it is hard to say if the story is any more suspicious than its science fiction premise already suggests.
Sources
Teleportation, retrieved 8/21/11, psychic101.com/teleportation-learn.html
Bizarre Disappearance: Frederick Valentich
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| Map of Valentich's Flight |
On October 21, 1978, at 6:19 p.m., Frederick Valentich left Melbourne, Australia to begin a 125-mile training flight to King's Island. It was only Valentich's second solo night flight. He was flying a single engine Cessna 182L. At a little after 7:06 p.m., Frederick Valentich made radio contact with air traffic controllers in Melbourne to inquire if there were any other aircraft known to be flying in the area. The answer from Melbourne was no, an answer that was confirmed again during the odd communication that followed.
From Frederick Valentich's six-minute exchange with air traffic control, we can piece together some information about what it is that he saw, claimed he saw or thought he saw in the sky over Bass Strait that night. After receiving information that he was supposed to be the only thing in the sky at his location, Valentich told controllers in Melbourne that something was flying near him. When asked if he could confirm that it was an aircraft, he said that he could not, a statement that he repeated several times during the exchange. He described the object as having at least four lights and one green light, he said it was elongated (many sources say cigar-shaped, but Valentich made no such statement.) and "all shiny on the outside."
At one point, Frederick Valentich said that he was unable to tell what it was because of the speed at which it was traveling. However, the unidentified flying object supposedly went out of sight and then approached him from different angles several times, so he was able to ascertain the above information, but nothing more. Near the end of the exchange between Melbourne air traffic controllers and Frederick Valentich, Frederick complained that his engine was coughing. Not long after, radio communication was lost.
Interestingly, some sources claim that the exchange went on after this and that Valentich said his Cessna was engulfed in a green light and he was burning. I have found no proof of this in my research. Another claim is that the end of the transmission contained a loud noise like metal scraping on metal. This claim seems more valid and may very well be truth. It is hard to know because audio of the exchange is difficult to find. The last words that air traffic controllers officially heard Frederick Valentich speak were "It is not an aircraft." Extensive searches for the pilot were conducted. No sign of Frederick or the Cessna was ever seen again.
Interestingly, there appear to have been numerous UFO and/or strange light sightings in the King's Island and Bass Strait area on the night that Frederick Valentich disappeared. There also may have been sightings both in the weeks before and after the event. The number of reported UFO sightings in the area range anywhere between 11 and 50, depending on the source. Some sources even claim that all of the sightings were reported after Frederick Valentich's disappearance was made public. At this point, the information has become so convoluted that it would be nearly impossible to come up with a definite number of sightings and verify each of them.
One interesting fact that is worth mentioning here is that Frederick Valentich had studied UFOs in the past and had a particular interest in them. Does this mean that he made it all up? Of course not. Does it mean that aliens targeted him because of his interest in UFOs? That is highly unlikely. Frederick Valentich may very well have encountered a UFO on his flight that fateful Saturday evening. However, whether said unidentified flying object had anything to do with his disappearance is impossible to ascertain. The most likely of scenarios is that he encountered engine trouble (with or without the help of a UFO) and crashed into the ocean, where the plane, and possibly his body, remains to this day.
Several theories have been set forth regarding the disappearance of Frederick Valentich. All of them are rooted in some truths, though all are speculations, due to the fact that we cannot verify what happened to Valentich that night. One theory is that Frederick was playing an elaborate practical joke, yet his father later said that Valentich would have taken such a thing very seriously. Another theory is that Valentich committed suicide, but wanted to go out 'with a bang.' There is nothing to suggest this, apart from the fact that he disappeared. Another is that he was either killed or taken by aliens. There is no way to prove or disprove that suggestion. Lastly, there is a theory that Frederick Valentich's engine troubles came from 'interference' from the unidentified flying object, whether intentional or not. This is yet another theory that cannot be proven, but it is supported by the fact that Valentich reported engine troubles during his encounter with it. However, this is hardly evidence of the truth of the theory. The fact is that we may never know and theories may simply get wilder and wilder given time.
Sources
The Frederick Valentich Accident, retrieved 5/12/10, ufologie.net/htm/valentich.htm
Australian Pilot Frederick Valentich Disappears, retrieved 5/12/10, ufocasebook.com/australianpilot.html
Bizarre Disappearance: The Flannan Isles Mystery
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| Flannan Isles Lighthouse Photo by Marc Calhoun |
On December 7, 1900, Donald MacArthur, Thomas Marshall and James Ducat arrived at the Flannan Isles lighthouse to begin their two-week rotation as keepers of the lighthouse. The Superintendent of Lighthouses, Robert Muirhead came with them to do a routine check of the lighthouse and speak to the men. He made certain that everything was in working order and then spoke with James Ducat about some difficulties they were having with the heavy mist that commonly surrounded the island. The men then said goodbye to the Superintendent and he left.
The lighthouse was regularly monitored from the mainland by telescope. This way, if there were an emergency, the men could signal for help. Unfortunately, there was the problem with the mist. The lighthouse was seen on December 7 and December 12. The lighthouse was also seen on December 15 by a passing ship. The crew noted that the light was not shining, as it should have been. It was not seen from land again until December 29, well after the men should have ended their rotation.
The ship that was to deliver the men's relief and bring them home from the Flannan Isles lighthouse was delayed until December 21, because of a run of bad weather. When the ship, the SS Hesperus, arrived at Eilean Mor, the men on board expected to see a flag flying to indicate that the keepers had noted their arrival and would be deploying a rowboat to retrieve their relief. However, the flag was not flying, nor did the men respond to a siren. A landing craft with two men on board was launched from the SS Hesperus with two men on board.
When the two men reached Eilean Mor, one man, Joseph Moore, went up to check the lighthouse for the three missing men. He found the entrance locked. He unlocked the door and entered to find the Flannan Isles lighthouse unmanned. The clock on the wall had stopped, no fire was in the grate (nor had one been there for a few days), there was a meal sitting at the table. It looked like someone had set it down with the intention of eating it soon, but it was untouched. Whatever had happened to the men, it had happened to them suddenly. There was nothing anyone could do about it with so few clues, so four men, including Moore, were left on the island to operate the lighthouse and everyone else left.
The records of the missing men were subsequently inspected. It was discovered that Eilean Mor was hit with a strong storm on December 14. The last entry was made on the afternoon of December 15. Superintendent Muirhead concluded that the men must have been taken by nature when they left the lighthouse to repair some damage that was done to a storage container outside during the storm. One of his theories (the most likely) was that a large wave came up on the men while they were working and swept all three of them into the Atlantic Ocean, where they died.
Muirhead's theory is largely regarded as truth. The only other alternatives seem to be that the men left of their own accord, they were kidnapped, aliens intervened or they were sucked into another dimension, all of which seem ludicrous. Unfortunately, none of their bodies was ever recovered, so there is no way to be sure.
Sources
The Mystery of Flannan Isle, retrieved 4/20/10, bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A1061335
Flannan Isles Travel Guide, retrieved 4/20/10, scottishholidays.net/visit/scotland-tour-western-flannanisles.html
Bizarre Weather: Electronic Fog
Electronic fog is an unproven phenomenon described by pilot Bruce Gernon. Bruce named the phenomenon after a supposed encounter with it in the Bermuda Triangle one afternoon in December 1970. Bruce claims that this electronic fog caused all of his navigational equipment to malfunction. He was so disoriented that he was unable to determine his location. If this phenomenon were real, it could explain the seemingly high number of disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle. However, many people believe that there is nothing unusual about the disappearances in the Bermuda Triangle, including the number of them.
The experience that led to Bruce Gernon coining the term "electronic fog" occurred on December 4, 1970. That afternoon, Bruce, his father and Chuck Lafayette took off in the Gernons' Beechcraft Bonanza A36 from Andros in the Bahamas en route to Miami, Florida. Weather forecasts predicted clear skies and smooth flying. There was nothing in the forecast about fogs, electronic or otherwise.
Not long after leaving Andros, Bruce Gernon noticed a low-lying lenticular cloud. He says the cloud looked normal, but it was lower than any he had ever seen. Radio controllers assured him that skies were still clear. Nonetheless, Bruce says he watched as the cloud went from a low-lying lenticular cloud to a large cumulus cloud. Bruce says he then attempted to climb over the cloud at a rate of 1,000 feet per minute, but that the cloud grew as fast as he was climbing. After roughly 10 minutes, he managed to get past the cloud. Looking back, he judged it to be about 20 miles long.
Soon after getting by the first cloud, Bruce saw a second cloud that was similar, but seemed to originate from the ground and go up roughly 60,000 feet. He flew into the cloud. He says that inside the cloud there was no rain and it was very dark. He saw bright white flashes that were not lightning. Visibility within the cloud was four to five miles. He attempted to exit the cloud by going due south. He estimated his time in the air at about 27 minutes when he concluded that both of the clouds he had encountered were in fact one large donut-shaped cloud that had formed rapidly. He had flown about 13 miles after making that observation when he saw something that would lead him to electronic fog.
Bruce Gernon saw a u-shaped opening ahead of him. He watched as the opening in the u joined, forming a tunnel. He estimated that the tunnel was about one mile across and roughly 10 miles long. He says that he and his companions could see blue skies through the tunnel. The tunnel was getting smaller, so Bruce increased his speed. Once inside, the tunnel continued to get smaller, but it also appeared shorter. Bruce says that the tunnel was now only one mile long. He estimates that it took him 20 seconds to get through the tunnel, at which time he entered the electronic fog.
When he got through, he radioed what he thought was his location-near the Bimini Islands in the Bahamas. The controller said that there were no planes in that area. Confused, Bruce looked around him, but all he could see was gray fog. His navigational equipment had ceased to work. Bruce associated the malfunctions with the electronic fog (hence the term "electronic fog"). He could not see the sky, land, ocean or horizon. While in the fog, radio control informed him that they had spotted a plane over Miami Beach, Florida. Bruce told the controller that he should be somewhere near the Bimini Islands. Then, the electronic fog began to break in a way that Bruce Gernon called an "electronic fashion." Horizontal lines of blue skies appeared which eventually joined. The fog had vanished and Bruce Gernon found himself over Miami Beach- just as the controller had said.
Bruce has since shared his experience with others, including his claim that the flight only lasted 47 minutes, when it should have taken about 30 minutes longer. This story has led Bruce and others to refer to the cloud he entered as a "timestorm" and the tunnel a "tunnel vortex." Bruce believes that the tunnel took him through "100 miles of space and 30 minutes of time in little more than three minutes." It is important to note that some very prominent scientists believe that time travel is possible, at least in theory. However, there is no way to determine if electronic fog and tunnel vortexes that muck up navigation and send you through time and space rapidly exist.
To some, the Bermuda Triangle is the mystery of all mysteries. It is a menacing area of ocean that has claimed the lives of hundreds, if not thousands of people. To others, it is an area of ocean that is predictably dangerous, given the location and its weather that is hyped up by people who perpetuate the myth by telling stories about UFOs and electronic fog. Even Bruce Gernon, a seemingly sincere man, has claimed to see numerous UFOs. So, is it possible that UFOs and weather phenomena are attracted to him? Maybe and maybe not. Either way, we may never know. There have been only two other cases of this electronic fog being reported and the reports are dubious at best. The first comes from Christopher Columbus. The second comes from Charles Lindbergh. What makes them dubious is that these accounts could simply be looked at a certain way to fit the electronic fog story.
Sources
Bruce Gernon, retrieved 7/31/10, bermudatriangle.org/html/bruce_gernon.html
A New Explanation for an Enduring Enigma, retrieved 7/31/10, electronicfog.com
The experience that led to Bruce Gernon coining the term "electronic fog" occurred on December 4, 1970. That afternoon, Bruce, his father and Chuck Lafayette took off in the Gernons' Beechcraft Bonanza A36 from Andros in the Bahamas en route to Miami, Florida. Weather forecasts predicted clear skies and smooth flying. There was nothing in the forecast about fogs, electronic or otherwise.
Not long after leaving Andros, Bruce Gernon noticed a low-lying lenticular cloud. He says the cloud looked normal, but it was lower than any he had ever seen. Radio controllers assured him that skies were still clear. Nonetheless, Bruce says he watched as the cloud went from a low-lying lenticular cloud to a large cumulus cloud. Bruce says he then attempted to climb over the cloud at a rate of 1,000 feet per minute, but that the cloud grew as fast as he was climbing. After roughly 10 minutes, he managed to get past the cloud. Looking back, he judged it to be about 20 miles long.
Soon after getting by the first cloud, Bruce saw a second cloud that was similar, but seemed to originate from the ground and go up roughly 60,000 feet. He flew into the cloud. He says that inside the cloud there was no rain and it was very dark. He saw bright white flashes that were not lightning. Visibility within the cloud was four to five miles. He attempted to exit the cloud by going due south. He estimated his time in the air at about 27 minutes when he concluded that both of the clouds he had encountered were in fact one large donut-shaped cloud that had formed rapidly. He had flown about 13 miles after making that observation when he saw something that would lead him to electronic fog.
Bruce Gernon saw a u-shaped opening ahead of him. He watched as the opening in the u joined, forming a tunnel. He estimated that the tunnel was about one mile across and roughly 10 miles long. He says that he and his companions could see blue skies through the tunnel. The tunnel was getting smaller, so Bruce increased his speed. Once inside, the tunnel continued to get smaller, but it also appeared shorter. Bruce says that the tunnel was now only one mile long. He estimates that it took him 20 seconds to get through the tunnel, at which time he entered the electronic fog.
When he got through, he radioed what he thought was his location-near the Bimini Islands in the Bahamas. The controller said that there were no planes in that area. Confused, Bruce looked around him, but all he could see was gray fog. His navigational equipment had ceased to work. Bruce associated the malfunctions with the electronic fog (hence the term "electronic fog"). He could not see the sky, land, ocean or horizon. While in the fog, radio control informed him that they had spotted a plane over Miami Beach, Florida. Bruce told the controller that he should be somewhere near the Bimini Islands. Then, the electronic fog began to break in a way that Bruce Gernon called an "electronic fashion." Horizontal lines of blue skies appeared which eventually joined. The fog had vanished and Bruce Gernon found himself over Miami Beach- just as the controller had said.
Bruce has since shared his experience with others, including his claim that the flight only lasted 47 minutes, when it should have taken about 30 minutes longer. This story has led Bruce and others to refer to the cloud he entered as a "timestorm" and the tunnel a "tunnel vortex." Bruce believes that the tunnel took him through "100 miles of space and 30 minutes of time in little more than three minutes." It is important to note that some very prominent scientists believe that time travel is possible, at least in theory. However, there is no way to determine if electronic fog and tunnel vortexes that muck up navigation and send you through time and space rapidly exist.
To some, the Bermuda Triangle is the mystery of all mysteries. It is a menacing area of ocean that has claimed the lives of hundreds, if not thousands of people. To others, it is an area of ocean that is predictably dangerous, given the location and its weather that is hyped up by people who perpetuate the myth by telling stories about UFOs and electronic fog. Even Bruce Gernon, a seemingly sincere man, has claimed to see numerous UFOs. So, is it possible that UFOs and weather phenomena are attracted to him? Maybe and maybe not. Either way, we may never know. There have been only two other cases of this electronic fog being reported and the reports are dubious at best. The first comes from Christopher Columbus. The second comes from Charles Lindbergh. What makes them dubious is that these accounts could simply be looked at a certain way to fit the electronic fog story.
Sources
Bruce Gernon, retrieved 7/31/10, bermudatriangle.org/html/bruce_gernon.html
A New Explanation for an Enduring Enigma, retrieved 7/31/10, electronicfog.com
The Mysterious Disappearance of Theodosia Burr Alston
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| Theodosia Burr Alston |
Theodosia Burr Alston was the
daughter of an infamous former vice-president of the United States, Aaron Burr.
Her father’s name lives in infamy because of a duel that he fought and won
against Alexander Hamilton, which resulted in Hamilton’s death. He was also
arrested for conspiracy when it was suspected that he was trying to plan a
coup. Theodosia, however, is not known only for being the son of this man. She
is known for her mysterious disappearance in 1813.
On December 30, 1812, Theodosia
Burr Alston boarded a schooner ship known as the Patriot. She was leaving her
home in South Carolina to visit her father in New York. Her father’s name had
already been ruined, due to the incidents mentioned above. However, Theodosia
stood by her father and maintained his innocence throughout. The two were very
close. Also, Theodosia had lost her only son, Aaron Burr Alston, only months
before and her father thought it would be good for her to come see him. In
reality, they would never see each other again.
The Patriot should have made it
to New York in a matter of five or six days, but it never arrived.
Investigations were made into the schooner’s whereabouts and it was discovered
that a British ship off of Cape Hatteras had stopped the schooner on January 2,
1813. No one had seen it beyond that date. So Theodosia had to have met with
some accident or incident between January 2 and January 4.
No more was heard about the
Patriot until twenty years later when a known pirate confessed that he and some
other men had boarded and looted the vessel. He also claimed that they killed
everyone on board. After another fifteen years had passed another pirate made
the same claim. It seemed as if this was the fate of Theodosia Burr Alston.
However, no concrete evidence of her fate emerged and then the story got a
little weirder.
The pirates claimed to have
killed every single passenger and crewmember on board the Patriot. Yet, there
is a story that a ship washed up in the mouth of the San Bernard River in Texas
after a big storm a few years after Theodosia’s disappearance. An
English-speaking Native American Karankawa warrior found the ship and inside
was a naked woman chained to the it. The only thing on her person was a locket.
The locket belonged to Theodosia Burr Alston. Shortly after the warrior found
her, the woman supposedly died. He buried her along the banks of the river and
covered her grave with a door from the ship. If this were true, it would mean
that she was taken prisoner by pirates and held captive. Whether or not this is
true is a matter of speculation, but there are records of the existence of an
English-speaking Karankawa warrior from Texas.
It is certainly possible, if not
likely, that pirates killed that Theodosia Burr Alston. How and when is
unclear. The testimony of pirates and tales from more than 100 years ago are
all the evidence we have to go on. So, it is hard to say with any certainty.
However, we can probably safely assume that Theodosia did not survive long after
leaving her home in South Carolina, whether she was the victim of pirates or a
victim of a freak accident at sea.
Sources
Mysterious Theodosia, retrieved
4/4/10, theoutlaws.com/people3.htm
Hause, Eric, The Fate of
Theodosia Burr, retrieved 4/4/10, coastalguide.com/packet/theodosiaburrmystery.shtml
Bizarre Disappearance: Ambrose Small
Ambrose Small was a wealthy theater owner from Ontario, Canada. He was also a womanizer, a gambler and possibly a cheat. He disappeared in December of 1919. As is wont to happen when men of his caliber disappear, there were many suspects and many false leads, making it difficult to solve the case. To this day, the only sightings of Ambrose Small since his disappearance are that of his ghost at his biggest theater–The Grand Opera House.
Ambrose Small was born in 1863. His father owned a small hotel in Toronto where Ambrose began working when he was 13 years old. It was not long before Ambrose took on small management tasks, including arranging entertainment for the hotel. Ambrose also had a part time job at the Grand Theater. Over time, he became very successful at booking entertainment, which led to a lucrative career in the field.
With success came a love for gambling and women. Ambrose Small was a notoriously avid gambler. It is also said that he was a cheat. It is quite possible given that he seemed to win a bit more than he lost. As for women, showgirls were his disposable female of choice for a time. He went from one beautiful hopeful to the next, capitalizing on the pretty women's hopes for a career in show business.
Despite Ambrose Small's penchant for a variety of women, he married a rich heiress when he was 39. It is highly likely that Ambrose married his wife Teresa for money rather than love. His behavior both before and after the wedding are evidence of this. Very soon after Ambrose and Teresa Small were married, Ambrose began using his wife's money to buy theaters and fill them. He bought the Grand Opera House, where people have claimed his ghost resides. Ambrose also continued seeing other women, one named Clara Smith in particular. He even had a room built in the Grand Opera House for the sole purpose of having extramarital relations.
Ambrose Small was a scornful man in his success. He treated other people as if they were below him. He continued to make enemies in love, business and gambling. He also lost interest in his business. Ambrose was so consumed by his lifestyle that he had given over most of the control of his theaters to his personal secretary–John Doughty. In the end, he decided to sell them.
On December 2, 1919, Ambrose Small sold all of his theaters to Trans-Canada Theaters Limited for 1.7 million dollars. The deal was made good with a check for one million dollars and the promise for $700,000 more. Both Theresa and Ambrose signed the check and deposited it into their bank account. Ambrose went on to have two meetings with his lawyer and then he disappeared.
It was days before anyone began searching for Ambrose Small. Teresa Small suspected that he was just up to his usual bad habits, or that is what she said. His mistress, Clara Smith did not report anything, either. When the search finally did begin, it was a massive one. Police teamed up with all kinds of reward hunters (Clara had put up a 50,000 dollar reward), but they came up with nothing but a few dead-end facts and rumors.
Interestingly, John Doughty disappeared on the same day as Ambrose Small. He was eventually found in Oregon and charged with stealing a little over 100,000 dollars in bonds. This was, of course, very suspicious, but there was no evidence that tied him to the disappearance of Ambrose Small. He could have been planning to steal the money and run because he knew Ambrose had just sold the theaters. His disappearance on the same day may have been a coincidence, albeit a strange one. Both Clara and Teresa were implicated, but there was no evidence in that direction either. Countless tips came in, but after all these years, nothing has turned up.
Sources
Taylor, Troy, Ambrose Small, retrieved 9/11/10, prairieghosts.com/ambrose.html
Cumerlato, David, The Disappearance of Ambrose Small, retrieved 9/11/10, hauntedhamilton.com/gotw_ambrosesmall.html
Ambrose Small was born in 1863. His father owned a small hotel in Toronto where Ambrose began working when he was 13 years old. It was not long before Ambrose took on small management tasks, including arranging entertainment for the hotel. Ambrose also had a part time job at the Grand Theater. Over time, he became very successful at booking entertainment, which led to a lucrative career in the field.
With success came a love for gambling and women. Ambrose Small was a notoriously avid gambler. It is also said that he was a cheat. It is quite possible given that he seemed to win a bit more than he lost. As for women, showgirls were his disposable female of choice for a time. He went from one beautiful hopeful to the next, capitalizing on the pretty women's hopes for a career in show business.
Despite Ambrose Small's penchant for a variety of women, he married a rich heiress when he was 39. It is highly likely that Ambrose married his wife Teresa for money rather than love. His behavior both before and after the wedding are evidence of this. Very soon after Ambrose and Teresa Small were married, Ambrose began using his wife's money to buy theaters and fill them. He bought the Grand Opera House, where people have claimed his ghost resides. Ambrose also continued seeing other women, one named Clara Smith in particular. He even had a room built in the Grand Opera House for the sole purpose of having extramarital relations.
Ambrose Small was a scornful man in his success. He treated other people as if they were below him. He continued to make enemies in love, business and gambling. He also lost interest in his business. Ambrose was so consumed by his lifestyle that he had given over most of the control of his theaters to his personal secretary–John Doughty. In the end, he decided to sell them.
On December 2, 1919, Ambrose Small sold all of his theaters to Trans-Canada Theaters Limited for 1.7 million dollars. The deal was made good with a check for one million dollars and the promise for $700,000 more. Both Theresa and Ambrose signed the check and deposited it into their bank account. Ambrose went on to have two meetings with his lawyer and then he disappeared.
It was days before anyone began searching for Ambrose Small. Teresa Small suspected that he was just up to his usual bad habits, or that is what she said. His mistress, Clara Smith did not report anything, either. When the search finally did begin, it was a massive one. Police teamed up with all kinds of reward hunters (Clara had put up a 50,000 dollar reward), but they came up with nothing but a few dead-end facts and rumors.
Interestingly, John Doughty disappeared on the same day as Ambrose Small. He was eventually found in Oregon and charged with stealing a little over 100,000 dollars in bonds. This was, of course, very suspicious, but there was no evidence that tied him to the disappearance of Ambrose Small. He could have been planning to steal the money and run because he knew Ambrose had just sold the theaters. His disappearance on the same day may have been a coincidence, albeit a strange one. Both Clara and Teresa were implicated, but there was no evidence in that direction either. Countless tips came in, but after all these years, nothing has turned up.
Sources
Taylor, Troy, Ambrose Small, retrieved 9/11/10, prairieghosts.com/ambrose.html
Cumerlato, David, The Disappearance of Ambrose Small, retrieved 9/11/10, hauntedhamilton.com/gotw_ambrosesmall.html
Bizarre Health: Auditory Conditions
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| Left Ear Photographed by David Benbennick |
Musical Ear Syndrome
Musical ear syndrome is a phenomenon in which a person hears music that is not there. It is also known as musical hallucinations, though it does not appear to be a psychiatric condition. Those with musical ear syndrome are most often aware or capable of being made aware that the music they hear is not actually playing.
Musical ear syndrome is most prevalent among people with significant hearing loss. The songs that they hear are songs that they heard when their hearing was not damaged. This may point to a neurological cause. In a way, the musical part of the brain becomes bored when it can no longer store music and thus "plays" music that the individual is familiar with to maintain stimulation. Of course, this is put in the simplest of terms, but describes the mechanism well enough.
Taos Hum
The Taos Hum is a worldwide phenomenon, though it derives its name from a town in New Mexico where the auditory symptom became famous in the 1990s. The symptom is the sound of an engine–particularly diesel–in the distance. It tends to happen in clusters. A group of people in a certain area will start hearing it while others remain immune to whatever is causing the frustrating sound. Sufferers often say it is worse indoors.
The cause of the Taos Hum is yet unknown. It has happened in so many distant places that local causes can typically be ruled out. Once researchers learn what all of these places have in common that could cause such auditory symptoms, we will be closer to having an answer. The fact that the sound is louder indoors does seem to point away from local environmental sources, however.
Exploding Head Syndrome
Exploding head syndrome is a cross between an auditory hallucination and a sleep disorder. Of all the symptoms on this list, it may not be the most mysterious, but it is certainly the most frightening. People who suffer from exploding head syndrome experience explosive sounds that no one else can hear. The sound can present as screaming, explosions or an electric buzzing. It is not painful, though it does wake the victims from their sleep. They will often experience anxiety or sleep paralysis upon waking from an episode. The symptoms can occur during waking hours, but it is most commonly associated with sleep.
The cause of exploding head syndrome is unknown. However, it does not appear to be related to any other neurological or psychological issues.
People may hear things that are not there when they are suffering from psychological disturbances or physical ailments, such as migraine headache. If a person is hearing something out of the ordinary, it is prudent to speak to a medical professional about the situation. Ailments such as tinnitus are harmless, but hearing voices that are mean to you or tell you to do things is a good indication that medical help is of the utmost importance. Sounds associated with pain should also be checked out immediately.
Sources
Case of Exploding Head Syndrome, retrieved 10/27/11, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20112796
Sasha, The I-Pod Brain: Musical Hallucinations, retrieved 10/27/11, serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/559
Sources
Case of Exploding Head Syndrome, retrieved 10/27/11, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20112796
Sasha, The I-Pod Brain: Musical Hallucinations, retrieved 10/27/11, serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/559
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