Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1856-05-30
The Assault Upon senator summer.

We make extracts from the various tele-
graphic reports of this outrage.
Washington, May %.
Evidence is positive that the assault on
Senator Sumner was deliberately planned
last night among a party of Southernors.-
Brooks waited at the porters lodge Of the
Capitol grounds this morning to make the
assault, but Mr.. Sumner happened to ride
up in carriage,
After the adjournment Brooks took a
seat in the Senate chamber, and waited
some twenty minutes until Mr.. Sumner was
quite alone before approaching him. Mr..
Sumner was writing hurriedly, and was
penned into his arm chair by his desk
Brooks approached and called him by nane,
when Mr.. Sumner looked up. Brooks said,
Il bave read your speech twice and care
fully. 1t is libel on South Carolina, and
on Mr. Butler also, relative of mine." AT
the same instant, without warning, he struck
Mr.. Sumner blow which rendered him
unconscious, repeating it at least a dozen or
fifteen times.
Such men as Crittenden. Geyer and
Payne, promptly characterized it as a cow
ardly and shameful outrage. This seemed
to excite Keitt and Brooks, who exchanged
glances, when the latter exclaimed, aNo
matter-one will do for te-dayr' The
meaning of this expression seems to be that
they would forbear the assault on account
of Crittenden's denunciation.
Brooks colleagues and the majority of
the Southern men Justify the brutal act
Brooks has been arrested, and will have his
examination tomorrow.
My opinion is decided, that the intention
was to take Mr., Summers life, and not one
man in a thousand would recover from the
effects of such blows.
Another account says:
Messrs. Brooks and Keitt approached
him, each with cane. Mr.. Wilson had
just left him, on his way out passing Brooks,
who was sitting on back seat. Brooks
walked up in front Of Mr.. Sumner, and told
him that he had read his speech twice, and
that it was libel on South Carolina and
a relative of his, Judge Butler. Without
waiting for any reply or asking any expla-
nation, he Immediately struck Mr.. Sumner
a violent blow over the head with his cane,
while Mr.. Sumner sat in his seat unable to
extricate himself cutting by the blow a
cash, four inches in length on his head
The cane was of gutta pereha, an inch in
diameter. Brooks followed this blow i'm
mediatcly with other blows, striking from
twelve to twenty in all.
Mr.. Sumner had no distinct consciousness
after the first blow. He involuntarially
strove to rise from his seat but being fas-
tened by his position, tore up his desk from
its fastening in the attempt to extricate
himself He staggered under the blows
and fell senseless to the floor, being wholly
stuned and blind from the first.
It is stated by reporter, who was pres
ent that Keitt stood by and brandished his
cane to keep off Others. Mr.. Morgan and
Mr.. Murray of the New York delegation
were in the front ante-room, and, hearing
the noise, came in. Mr.. Murray seized hold
of Brooks, who had now broken his cane in
to several pieces, and Mr.. Morgan went to
the relief of Mr.. Sumner, whom he found
PROSTATE and nearly unconeious.
The persons present in the Senate, were
Mr.. Sutton, one of the reporters, the Assist
ant sergeant-at-arms, Mr.. Simonton, Sena-
tors Crittenden, Iverson, Bright, ToombS,
Douglas, Pearce and few cthers. No one
of the Senators seemed to offer to interfere
but Mr.. Crittenden, who pronounced it an
inexcusable outrage.
Mr.. Wilson rushed into the chamber on
hearing of the attack, but found that Mr.
Sumner had been removed to the Vice
Presidents rooms, and that surgeon was
in attendance. He then helped to put his
colleague into carriage, and went with
him to his lodgings. Mr.. Sumner is badly
injured, having two very severe cuts on the
head. His clothes were literally covered
With blood, when he was removed. Con
siderable blood was alto spattcred on the
adjoining desks.