The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-02-04
FAcTs avn FANcIEs ABOUT TOWN.
lily Amiable Friend Or. W.-The Washington
Engine Imposition.

DIR. Wood, simply because there is nothing in
his article Of last Tuesday at all calling for
reply. Excepting to allude to Spiritualists as
fanatics and to so term them, used no
harsh words in my communication. Yet my
amiable and intelligent friend, the Doctor,
makes reference to my communication as con-
tanning language unsuitable to enter families of
respectable women and children. 1 leave you
to judge, Mr.. Editor, whether the language Of
Incog, writing anonymously too as he does, is
as reprehensble as DR.. Woods published over
his own name. / am not aware that he pos
sesses any particular moral immunity, by
which vulgar language from himself may be
considered perfectly proper while more polite
language from fount of less moral purity
must, because he says so, be regarded as essen
TALLY vulgar. l at least hope, that when it be-
comes necessary for Incog to take lessons in
the ordinary courtesies of address, he may not
be compelled, from the absence of steamboat
mates, to appeal to Dr. Wood
| My amiable friends article contains not one
word to prove there is anything in Spiritual
ism, recommending it to the gullbility ofeven
the softer portion of mankind. Even his at
tempt which 1 am sorry you nipped in the
bud, to prove that Spiritualism is founded
upon or justified by the Bible, is so absurdly
ludicrous that nothing but an utter ignorance
of the Holy Book could possibly justify him
in the endeavor The idea that the Bible in
bic friends quotations, alludes to these latter
day spirits, or to any thing similar, is most pre-
posterously absurd. As well believe that my
dear friend Mrs. w. has the same authority
as Christ for healing the sick
But, Mr.. Editor, | recollect that all discus
sion on this subject is cut off. What have
said was due myself as well as the Doctor
Yet one further idea. He thinks that the
Spiritualists of this city, have been pursued
by their neighbors with vindictive malice
This is not so. They have been and are re-
garded with unmitigated pity, and possibly, as
in my amiable friends case, with spicy mix,
ture of contempt. There is much the same
feeling for him and them as would be called
forth by the insanity of individuals on any
other subject. Thus 1 conclude the subject.
Now, Mr.. Editor, am writing under the
head of "Facts and Fancies about Town"
So long as write at all, or can have my
writings published, intend to speak right out,
desiring if possible not to offend, but caring
hot T ID 1ny
feel conscious of pursuing the right
now desire, sir, to enter the protest, not of
lncog, but of larger number ofIncog's fellow
citizens, against an operation, which if there
should call in plain terms, an attempt to swim
die our city. This is not the first time sir,
that men cheated by others or by themselves,
have endeavored to secure restitution by cheat
ing the city in return. | say, Mr. Editor, that
if the attempt now making, by a company Of
private individuals to throw bad bargain off
their hands, on to the financial shoulders of
the city, is not direct swindling, it is at least
as bare-faced piece of impudence, as ever
confidence men" dared play. l now allude
to those gentlemen who recently purchaseda
row boat engine for high price, too late dis
covered it's worthlessness, and are now, with
fair prospects of success, endeavoring to coax
the city to take the bad bargain to itself l
am sorry, Mr.. Editor, that you have not taken
up this subject, and properly exposed those en-
gagged in it.
What are the facts? Why a company Of
six or eight men sent to adistant city and pur
chased an engine and apparatus, right in the
face of the information, known to others here
| if not to themselves, that the machine bore
bad character, had been once sold to corpora
ton and returned, and was the very machine
which committee, sent from this city, had
declined purchasing by the advice of the Chief
Engineer Of the Fire Department of Cincin-
natl These gentlemen could only purchase
| by getting the endorsement of this city to their
notes. They asked for the endorsement and
got it, the city taking a mortgage on the en-
CINE, &c. The purchasers brought down the
engine, and proceeded to form a company.
The result was, in one respect, as any sen
sible man might have anticipated. The old
companies, finding themselves thinned out by
the new company became dissatisfied. They
lost many of their best members, and this pro-
duced a rank and dangerous jealousy. All be-
fore was peace, or at least the previous jealousy
was only honorable emulation. Since this new
company started, there has been nothing but
bad feeling. So much for that.
The new and costly engine has never proved
itself the equal of either of the others, but it