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E. P. McCarthy-Heyzer

From Kook Science

Edward Percival McCarthy-Heyzer
Born c. 1916 [1]
Calcutta, British India
Died 25 September 1986 (70) [2]
Singapore
Nationality British

Edward Percival McCarthy-Heyzer (c. 1916 - September 25, 1986) was a Calcutta-born British naturopath and homeopathist who received international press attention in the early 1950s for his claims to have recovered an unusual note from a missing party in the Himalayas and for his proposals to launch an expedition to hunt the Abominable Snowman.

Background

Per his own testimony, McCarthy-Heyzer was a member of the All India Medicine Society and Health Practitioners Association with an M.D. (Medical Doctorate) from Mexico, an M.B.Sc. (Master of Business Science) from a school in Delaware, a registered psychologist and naturopath, and the recipient of the Madrid Imperial Gold Medal.

The Himalayan Note

The note, which McCarthy-Heyzer claimed he had found in 1938 during a tour of Tibet, Nepal, and Bhutan, was first published in the Singapore Standard newspaper in April 1952, simply reading as follows:[3][4][5]

Dear Joan:

I have eaten some herbs which I have found in the jungle, and I am no longer a human being, but a monster.

(Signed) George.

There was no indication given as to identities of the named parties, Joan and George, nor anything about the nature of the herbs that caused such a transformation in George, though the writer for the Montreal Gazette supposed George had become an Abominable Snowman consequent his ingestion of the mystery herbs.[4]

Expedition for the "Abominable Snowman"

Following the release of the letter, McCarthy-Heyzer made irregular announcements that he would mount an expedition for proof of the Abominable Snowman, which he claimed to have seen twice; these plans seem to have ultimately failed, however, perhaps in part due to McCarthy-Heyzer's recurring legal troubles, including his entering into a new marriage while still being legally married,[6] and from practising medicine without a license.[7]

The party assembled for the mission, McCarthy-Heyzer told reporters, would have included: himself; his new wife, Tan Kwee Hong (Tan Yew Kheng); R. J. Orme, a hypnotist; G. Craig-Smith, a photographer; a Dr. Violletie, a Swiss scientist with previous experience in the Himalayas; and Erik Schurmann and his wife, Belgian scientists; in addition to hired porters and yogis "who would travel without clothes" and without oxygen tanks. Part of the financing for the expedition was, he further claimed, to have been provided by the "Institute of Life Science and Psychological Foundation of Britain," with the remaining to be raised locally in Singapore.[8][9]

McCarthy-Heyzer also related that he had heard there was a lama in Lhasa, Tibet who had meditated with a Yeti, though provided no source for the information.[8]

We have yet to discover any evidence that the proposed expedition ever ultimately took place.

References

  1. "Man acquitted SINGAPORE", The Straits Times, 13 June 1961, https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/issue/straitstimes19610613-1  — recorded as being 44 years of age in June 1961, per court proceedings.
  2. "181 Deaths", The Straits Times: 27, 26 August 1986 
  3. "SILLIEST STORY OF THE YEAR", Singapore Standard: 6, 3 April 1952, "Microfilm Reel NL2289" 
  4. 4.0 4.1 "Dear Joan", The Gazette (Montreal, Quebec, Canada): 8, 25 April 1952, https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/419601446/, "What needs to be known, of course, is whether life as an abominable snowman offers any improvement. Is George happier now than he was with Joan? Has he, perhaps, fallen into the hands of an abominable snowwoman?" 
  5. "Standing By...", The Tatler (London, England): 27, 30 April 1952, https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001853/19520430/031/0027 
  6. "Two women say: I married him.", The Straits Times, 27 May 1954, https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19540527-1.2.72 
  7. "The man with 14 certificates; GUILTY PLEA IN MEDICAL CASE", The Straits Times: 7, 24 July 1956 
  8. 8.0 8.1 Fish, William (27 February 1954), "WANTED: BUSINESSMAN TO INVEST IN AN ABOMINABLE SNOWMAN FOR MALAYA", The Straits Times: 7, "Microfilm Reel NL01766" 
  9. "Auch Dr. McCarthy-Heyzer will den »Schneemenschen« suchen" (in German), Grenz-Echo (Eupen, Belgium): 2, 1954-03-24, https://remote.grenzecho.net/epaper/grenzecho/1954/03/03.pdf