The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1861-05-16
Almost A Fight

hoChPOkT, May iotn, 1901
EDtToR JOURNAL Intense excitement
exists in our little town. The first hostile
shots fired here were exchanged with the
tow boat Guthrie, which passed up yester-
day, with the traitors flag flying To add
injury to insult, they fred several shots
from guns and pistols at the Stars and
Stripes, (Which we had floating to the breeze
in front of our town. the contents rafting
around the heads of several small boys that
happened to be on the river bank. There
were but few persons on the bluff at the
time, some of whom returned the fire with
small arms, and others rushed back into
town, gave the alarm, seized the cannon
and quickly had her planted on the bluff in
commanding position. A blank cartridge
was first fred, and then a ball was sent
whistling after her, which dropped a few
yards from her side. The gun was quickly
reloaded, when some of the citizens inter-
fered and earnestly protested against any
more firing, especially as the boat was in
range with some houses on the Kentucky
Shore which the boat was closely hugging
all around the point. at the second shot
fired, she dropped her flag, but soon hoisted
it again. | hear this morning that in going
| by Grand View, just above here, the
citizens on the bank fired with rifles and
guns as long as she was passing, but as the
river is high and the boat on the opposite
shore presume they did but little, if any,
damage to her.
The blood of our citizens is up to boiling
point. They swear that no other boat shall
insult them with the traitorous ensign
again. The rebel government have decar-
ed war upon Uncle Sam and the old Star
Spangled Banner, and if any of their kith
and kin wish to bear aloft the damnable
colors of JEFF. Davis, they will have to go
to a climate more congenial than that
around the hills of old Spencer.
| There are few men in our midst who
take every occasion to apologize for the acts
of the rebels and who are very indignant
| at the outrage of firing on the traitor
! flag but the mss of our people are patient,
long suffering, and willing to endure much,
| but there is a point where forbearance
| ceases to be a virtue, and that point will
soon be reached here, and he who is not for
! us will be counted against US.
If traitors are among us, the sooner we
| know it the better We want no SPIES no
neutral men. If there are any who feel I'M
| VIKING 10 protect rom Insult the stars anu
| Stripes, let them seek the protection of a
| flag they can uphold and defend. The voice
of old Spencer is: As for me and my house,
we will serve under no flag but the flag of
our fathers step to no music but the music
of the Union battle under no war-cry but
the cry of the Constitution and the enforce
ment of the laws. If any in our midst cap
not subscribe to such programme, reason
| BILE time will be given them to arrange their
business matters, preparatory to leaving for
a more suitable place of abode.
Our volunteer company has disbanded,
having got word that there was no possible
chance ofgstting in service. The boys were
camped on the fair grounds for several days,
and the news caused great dissatisfaction
among them, and they departed to their
homes with long and sorrowful faces.
The Common Pleas Court commenced to-
day, Judge Key presiding, and notice sew
eral strange faces about town.
A night patrol has been kept up for the
past week, and l suppose viii be as long as
our present troubles last.
SPENCER COUNTY.