Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-03-27
WATER WHEEL-AGAIN

Our first account Of this novelty, on Nori..
was given by ;he Impressions conveyed by,
general view Of its operations; which imDr.,
sions were also received BY number of r,cr
gent and respectable gentlemen Of Ibis ci
who like US, had no soft of connection or 60,
cern with the affair. Yet, it will be rccollrc,,i
that while expressing our qualification al Il,
apparent ingenuity Of the inventor, We not o,,
forbore giving our testimony 10 the VALIDITY
the machine, but unequIvocally disclaimcd az,
specific knowledge concerning II, or any oua.
ordinary faith in its powers. We even sgsI
that the source of its action was "puz,.o
which we did not understand, and which, p.
hoped, would be particularly examined m,o d,
those who were competent to the task. For
nately for those who had embarked time, hon.
and money upon the fraudulent REPRESENTING,
Of Baxter, our suggestion III the article reierr,i
to, has led to the discovery described below.
We think it proper 10 remind the reader o,
this, inasmuch as the machine turns out 10 h,
an impudent, though very cunning, imposing,
The trick was detected last evening, bv The \.
rcc,ors of the Company who hal become iD,cr
es,ed in, and arc now defrauded by il. Thedi,
coyery took place in The following manner
n a
at which Baxter, the supposed inventor va,
present, the challenge in the Enquirer and i,
acceptance, became topics Of conversation, and
| the natuie Of the machine, Of course, was IL.
subject Of more particular remark than On am
previous occasion. At length one Of the d.
rectors said, that as the business had now as.
sumed an interesting attitude, II was proper FL
| Mr.. b not only 10 renew his assurances Of his
own sincere belief in the alleged capabilities Il
his Improvement but TO give 10 the board mor.
free inspection of all its parts than he had ys;
done He added that he, and he believed To:
whole board, was sincere in his confidence IN
| Mr. B and his water wheel, hut he thought il
no more than right that minute inspection
should at once be had.
! Mr.. Baxter was al no loss 10 repeat his a..
severations on the subject, but requested De.
lay until morning, for which he gave dyegim.
portant reasons. These reasons, however, fall
ed TO satisfy the board, and as Mr.. Is was over.
ruled by majority, he was Obliged, seemingly,
to comply with their requisitIon. He wen, or
pretended TO go, 10 his house, for the key 9th:
premises wherein the wheel is kept, which hal
always been exclusively In his custody. Short
" afterwards he returned, and pretended that
his boy had the key in his pocket, and that b:
had gone on an errand 10 Division-stIeet. His
object plainly was to put off an examination IN
til morning. In this, however, he was di;lp
pointed, as the directors, from his evasive man
ner, were becoming more and more suspicious
He then hurried from them, on pretence Of 60
ing in pursuit of his boy; while the director
proceeded TO the premises in question, to J.
wait his return, TO prevent any secret COMM
nication on his part with the wheel, and to pV
stop TO any Juggling which he might have i
contemplation.
They waited until half past 10 O'Clock, wber
as Mr.. Baxter did not appear, they resolved ,
make forcible entry, on their own responsibiI
ty; which they accordingly did. They foua
the machine in dishabihe, or in plain words, con
2letely disarranged; and cursory view at one
disclosed cavity large enough to hold one
two men, dug beneath and connected with Ii
forcing pump, SO that the source Of power ":
evident at once.
Perceiving that they had been completely d
luded, and that their money had been bestOwe
upon mere fraudulent contrivance, the direc
ors took immediate measures to prevent NJ
B. from escaping the city, and TO have lin a
pretended. They a, length succeeded, thong
not without much trouble, in finding him, Cot
cealed in his own house, and we believe be
now in the hands of the police. We shall 81
further particulars her after.
Ne,o. York Statesman, Il1rCh %.