Like Clattering Feet



Spiders maintain the remarkable ability of revolting and shocking many of those who see them. For years psychologists have studied the condition of Arachnophobia tirelessly, seeking to determine a root cause. Some within the field suggest that the fear of spiders remains linked to the evolutionary process, in that poisonous spiders naturally led to a hereditary aversion from them. Others go as far as to suggest such a fear remains perfectly healthy, and allows individuals to avoid possibly dangerous and even deadly encounters with arachnids. However, some people afflicted with Arachnophobia result to elaborate and often unnecessary means to avoid any and all contact with spiders. In fact, some Arachnophobic's experience panic attacks simply by being in the same room or location as a spider. This poses a captivating question: If Arachnophobia is indeed hereditary and linked with human evolution, is the threat of a venomous bite the only means to this end? In other words, is there something else driving this fear, something much darker and incomprehensible? One little reported story out of California may hold the answer.

On July 19th, 1995, the Sacramento Bee published a bizarre story near the back of the publication. The brief, four paragraph article was titled "Unusual Clues in Missing Family Case." According to the article, the Lamott family had disappeared while leaving Yosemite National Park after a brief vacation just one week prior. Family members reported the Lamott family missing on the evening of July 11th, two days following their anticipated return home. The only evidence law enforcement officials maintained during the case was a missing vehicle, later determined to belong to the Lamott's, located on the side of California State Route 140 near Bear Creek, and a statement from a possible witness at the Bear Creek Diner.

The article states that recent analysis of the recovered vehicle, although showing no signs of a struggle, revealed disturbing new details involving the fate of the family. Investigators discovered the presence of tiny fang marks on virtually every surface of the car, both internal and external, including the air conditioning vents. The fang marks, according to the article, were determined to be completely identical to arachnids throughout the region.

The witness statement remains equally troubling. The article states that Ms. Sandra Milton, a waitress at the Bear Creek Cafe located roughly two hundred yards away from the site of the missing vehicle, remains the only witness in the entire investigation. According to her statement, at a approximately 11:15pm on the night of July 9th, "The ground seemed to shake....and there was what sounded like clattering feet coming from outside. It was deafening. It was everywhere" Ms. Milton also stated that web completely covered the road and most of the surrounding foliage immediately following the incident.

The Lamott family was never found.