The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1855-05-18


Vhs orsst splrataalht Controversy Bstwss;
J1Age Eansnas and MIR. uwer, q San
Fr~Acaseo-E xtrass oinary Letter from tho
J~sge-lGrs Ewer's Fistisioss Hero M Fio-
rxrmr BUILDING, Nay "a, 1855.
To JAS. 0oHpox BENNETT Esa., Editor Herald
su-Ysa we're ki.d enough some time since to insert
for mo . letter In answer TO an attack made on me
through ysur columns By the editor Of the San Francisco
nagaziss. TIE Pioneer.
J thea said all could say at that time. Bat since
then have received further information on the sub
ject which have embodied in the accompanying arti-
Gle and that article 10 necessary to my full defence,
take the liberty OF asking for place Jour columns
that the same readers who w the attack may the
defence Yours, &C., J. W. EDMoNDS
Tm CALIFORNIA MANIFESTATIONS.
and tiAt amere important lesson than dreamed Of
TO be learned from that which intended as &C.
tisn end was sxulted over successful imposition
my credulity
It will be reconected by readers, that when OBJ.
tanned the number of the San Francis. magazine which
contained the first of the articles received through
medium In whom bad great confidence, communica
ton from what purported to be the spirit of the
whose death there recorded and that after Yards
received another Communication purportng to be from
the same source, and which came TO me through the
same medium. These knew TO be vsrtsble spirit.
communions any had received and when after
ward the editor OF that announced his whole
narrative to be sheer fabrication OF his own, was
less dstui bed by the exposure OF my credulous
and his abuse Of confidence in the he made OF
private letter. than the apparent fasty Of the
spirit To have my confidence 50 shaken
in spiritcommanipg worried not little. And though
IhAd had witness instances Of false commu
nicaoDs had often myself and others OF tho
Aau fron had
marked stance OF this danger unsccount
able. The only solution could imagine was, that some
unprert ssed spirit designing TO expose and ory me,
and perbaps impair my usefulness in this Geld Of
labor had assumed character identity which did not
belong to him And 1t worried me, because saw how
many amid minds, just entering upon investigation,
might be driven back BY 10 garng instance OF the
unrsliabity Of the intercourse. Yet that could not
help and had no right to complain that even at my
expense, important lesson that OF due alton
should be taught to myself and others and Isubmitea
therefore, with a. GOOD grace az could to the morta
cation, hoping that gooa roold grow out OF 1t.
The poiat was this tnst the Articles in the CALIFORNIA;
manifestation afterward from q man by the name of
SJohn r. Lane 4" The communications whtch received
here ported 10 be from the "John Lane and
the exposure editor Of that maya
zine avowed that there such "JJhn f.
lane" but he Wa, fiction merely, imaginary char
acter, exiting only In the fancy OF that writer Hs
says 81 gave the name Of John f. Lane to my leading
fictitious character sine surprise nothing to
my astoniAbm.nt bsiDg made acquainted by him with
the fsct that he had several spiritual interviews with
my defuDct fictitious character, John F. Lansn
That had had ssseyera spiritual interviews, with
person protesting 10 his John F. Lane - knew for
could mot be mistaken respect to the circumstances
attending them, and Anew that they could in
spect be fsbricatioDs Of the medium; but II "John +.
Lane" VISA merely 'Betitousn character, fgmsnt Of
that writer's braio then his articles in respect
epritua, and had had no comm sation with any
spirit having any connection with them
From bis ayowai OF his ,tion supposed that such
BILE, medium in Phladelphis which published In the
April number OF our monthly szine, The Sacred Cir
Gle That letter conveyed TO me for the first time the
idea that after all the fctions With which that editor
had ornameDted his story in fact in its matsria
parts spirit communication and that the spirit
which bad Influenced him to writs IT, had in very deed
spoken to me. surprised that the idea had not
Cured to because that writer says "Wth regard to
my being writing medium had had any hest.
very singular manner, withou. any direct volton
my part to my mo ledge."
dous parsonage, who might well have beea called
Doesticks Smith Our readers viii then Judge OF my
the street and asked ms IL had known heard
Of Colonel Lane OF the armyf This gentleman took no
N. ~, 10 but ne had seen MT
Lane, be would show me who he In the courss Of
two or three days he broush to my Office pamphlet
published in this CITY 849, called Reports India
Rubter Air Ponoons and from the United States
Quartz ras.ters and Ordinances Departments"
From that pamphlet IL appears that John f. Lans
captain auo brevet lieutenant colonel in toe I'd reei
nent United siates Drsgoops, and engaged under
General Jessup in the FOroa war He had invented An
improvement In pontoons and bridges for the OF
the army, which. in August, 1885, was submitted
to bosr of examination ordered by Gen. Jsssup aud
subsequently to another board ordered BY Col Brooks
the reports OF both Of which boards in the
pamphlet and speak hvorsbly OF Capt. Lanes invsn
ton. Then follow these extracts:
from the Army and Navy CbroBcle washinxtou CITY,
PoSTooS EouIPAGE-Ip our last paper gave the re-
port, Of two boards OF officers upon experiments made
md n he uunbe hsy
copied article from the United Service Journal
gait giving an account the exhibition OF two different
descriptions OF poptoons on the river Midway.
The decided superiority Of the invention Of Colonel
Lane over the EDeish Improvements may DO seen at
glance.
The pcntoons and cordage for the entire bridge Of COL
Lane, sufficient to deep and rapid river Of $50
wagon tie English account boasts that portion only
Of TIE apparatus, sufficient for forming twenty feet
Of bridge wa, packed mp 10 wagon drawn BY four
English plan toronstruct bridge OF $50 feet, would
quie seventeen Tour horse wagons, while the whole Of
Again. to form bridge 0, a5o fest on the English plan
requirei 16 canoes OF % feet each, and
az mem sltboush Il Is said that thirty viii BE- .uoisnt
Col Lanes bridge is simple and the entire equipment
capable of the utmost facility and rapidty Of USE and
may be aDeuvred and secured by few men
American Ingenuity has achieved another triumph,
and laid the military community under additional obi-
As Col Lanes bridge Ia formed Of india rubber ppm.
toons bave extracted from English publication,
as serman to the subject an account Of various plants
which produce caoutchouc.
IL 20 be lsmented that the early and dis ressiug
death Col lane should have before he had
his ihveotion generally used we'll in this coun
Try as in England.
WASHINGTON CRY, Nov 3, 1886.
By officers In the army, just arrived in this city from
Florida, learn that very trssic,l affair occurred at
the pment near the old sts Fort Lorraine
18th alt.
Col John r. Lane, OF the ID regiment Of Dragons
had arrived that day with bis command, consisting Of
elk hundred and ninety friendly Creek Indians and
bad
the march OF oppressive pain in the forehed and
thought that he exhibited some symptoms Of in.
sanity.
On the day Of bis arrival however, he appeared to be
In good sprits, and copversed freely with the officers
While In Capt Gslps tent he again complained OF the
pain in his forehead He after retired his
tent. and when some persons entered they found
HIM recnirg his knee with his sword pierced through
bis hight eye as to penetrate the BRAIN he fingered