Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1849-10-19
scene OF RIOOn


a1lray III the Arkansas Legislature in 1896. be-
tween two members. Messrs. Anthony and VIII
son, which resulted in the death Of the former
An article from 'Noah's Times" giving yivit
description of the encounter, will repay perusal
The manner in which the ARRAY originated i.
thus given in the "BatCsville (Ark) Eagle"
The all-absorblng ''wolfscap bill" was on the
carpet. 1t seems some entcrprising Yankee
had been raising young wolves, for the scaIps Of
which he was allowed twenty-five dollars each
On this occasion they were proposing amend
Inents to the bill, by requiring four afdavits anl
twelve justices signatures. those Of the iudgns
OF the county and district courts, and finally thai
of the Governor Just at this crisis Mr. Abe
Anthony humorously proposed that it be coun-
| tcralgned by the President of the Real Estate
Bank, who happened TO be the Speaker of the
House, then in the chair Speaker Wilson, tn
person alluded to, ordered Mr.. Anthony to take
his seat. Mr.. A., who had therefore, been con
sldorcd as wanting in courage, stood firm:
whercupon Mr.. w. left his seat never more 10
resume it 'drew his bowie knife, descended tho
steps of the platform. and slowly and DELHI ratclv
advanced through the hall some forty feet in the
direction of his foe-alI the while that CHASTITY
smile cOinr up his paIlid lips, like two twin
snakes, and his ears moving up and down. and
backwards and forwards, with the appalling Vi
brations which had won for him the appollalion
Of "ItOrse Ears
The article in ':Noah's Times" then continues:
AS Anthony was commonly considered a
coward, when the spectators brhcld the c4lebra-
ted ducllist advancing upon him, with upliltcd
knife glanclng in the air, as ready for the dread
tu blow all supposed that the reputed cra7en
would flee iii terror from from his place. No one
believed that he was armed, or that he would
fight under any circumstances, or with any adj
vantage Of position or weapons. But in this Opin-
ion every BODY was mistaken, and no one mere
30 than his Infatuated adversary While that
fcrocOus man was coming toward him. he stood
calm and mOlionl IS as Il stone statue. His CO.
lor didnOt chanyc-his limbs did bot trombe-
The attitude of the man was that of pass0ness
rcposc. His only evidence Of unusual emotion
was Il copous ctlluX Of tears. At the sight Of
this all shuddcrcd, for we knew the wccpcr
would conquer or perish. In the hackWools
there are two unmstakabla tokens of thorough
csporaiom-trozan smiles and hot gushing
tears; and tears may always b, regarded as far
the most dangerous. Such conclusion was
verified fully in the present instance; for as soon
as the Sp1akor appro3cAc within ten feet of his
weeping q, my, the latter suddenly Grew bowie
knife from behind his vest. and stepped boldly
f1rth 10 the fell encounter. And tdcn c3mmcnc ii
Il deadly Srugge-thc most obstinate, bloody,
and irighthl ever Witnessed in the Southwest.
Wilson made the first pasS--a determined
thrust aimed at the pit OF his antagonist stOm
ach. which the other deXterousiy parriod For
a time both fought with admirable GOODNESS, and
with such consunmatc skill that only SLIGHT
wound, were inflicted, and those only on the
head and face whence blood began to trcklc
lrccy And stll-omnous and awful vision
while the contest ragged, the opposite and char
aot.ri.tic aiyns of utter desperation remained
fixed in either countcnanca The cold smile
now converted mo a ficndish grin OF nnmrasur-
able malice. still fingered on Wilson's iVil lips;
and the tears sill flowed, mingHng HOW with
warm blood, from Anhony's black blazing
eyes! I'he c!attr Of the knives, t.lru.ing and
tending off and sharply ringing against each
other. wa, hdrous to hear, ana aioac broke the
aDrallinr silence that rligncd throughout the
hail.
At lcngth both foes, cnragcd at the prolonged
ob,liaacv of the struggle, and blinded by the
blood rom the red cash : about their broWs lost
all ca4.ion and cluauimity AMI fought m4dly
and Mily more like devils than men. Each
one more mt.m, upun taking the Iii Of his enc
II: than regarding his own, cNerttd every nerve
and muscle with a perfect fury that struck the
b.holders with far. Both were soon severely
wounded on diff rent parts of the body; bat stiil
there came no pause in the combat, TIL Anthony
striking heavy oycrhauLcd blow. cut his al
vrrsary's arm half Oft at the wrist. Wilson
changed his bowie knife into his Iolt hand am,i
for an instant ran Tor several steps Backward rs
Tito decline any further contest lie then paused
and smiling more trgitIuIy than ever. again
rushed forward. Precisely al tbs crisis, An
thony committed the tcliy OF throwing his knit