Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-02-18
A FIGHT in the Housa.

side of the Hall to talk with Mr.. Hickms
of knnsylvsnia. As he turned to leave, n
Hifman rose and asked to make an exp
IN. Mr.. Grow objected to any speech
were out of order, and then start
rs own seat, when Mr.. Keil:, of Sou
Carolina called out to him, asking, "WI
don't you 90 over on your own side, G.
d-n you, if you want TO object VII
business have you over on this side al
howl" or something to that effect.
Mr.. Grow replied, quietly and cody, sa
ing. This is a free hall, and | have a rig
to object from any part of it, when | choose
: Then, in response to an appeal from d
u Harris, of Indiana, Mr.. Grow withdrew h
I objection in order to permit Gen. Quitms
e 10 60 on. By this time, Keitt, who seen
f to have supposed that he had only to loe
ferociously at a Northern man TO wilt him
and who presumed, perhaps, upon the fat
that he is a more athletic man than tn
gentleman from Pennsylvania-had crosse
over to meet NJ. Grow. As the latter WI
about to pass, keitt inquired in a %ruffianl
tone, what did you mean by that answe
which you gave me just now!"
"I.mesnt precisely what | said-that thi
is a free hall, am | will object FROM what
ever part OF it | see ft,'' was Mr.. Grow
reply, as he looked his assailant calmly il
the face. The chivalrous and gentleman,
South Caro!inian returned to the charge
saying, "l'll show you, you id Blacl
Republican puppy" DIR. Grow, still unex
cited, answered, You may ihiak me wha
he please. Dir. KeiIt; but let me tell yo,
that no niger driver shall cCme up rom hi.
plantation to crack his lash about my ears
Well see about that" said keitt. as he
rsught Mr.. Grow by the throat. NJ. Grow
threw his assailant's hands off, and Mr.
Reuben Davis, OF Mississippi, who had fo.-
lowed Mr.. Keitt, evidently with the inten.
tion of restraining him, interPosed at once
for peace.
This ended the difficulty for an instant
but almost Immediately Keitt broke from
Mr.. Davis and rushed upon Grow, ~seizing
him again by the throat, when the latter
planted a blow under the left ear of The
SChblShhou SOutl NdlOIlUd, WHICH
sprawied him fairly On his lace ON the floor
Dir K. picked himself up, and after some
Intellectual and random passes, left the batl,
and was seen no more until after the melee
ended, except by some friend who sponged
h 6 bruises. ! understand that he is under
the impression that he studied his toe, and SO
fell! The mistake, certainly, is excusable.
for the blow which he finally provoked from
Mr.. Grows long suffering patience, was So
severe that he would hardly be expected to
have any very clear recollection of the cir
cuInstance.
When the blow was struck, a dozen
Southern men rushed towards the parties,
sumo doubtless to keep the peace, and others
to have a hand in the fight. Barksdale OF
MissiPpi, Mcqueen Of South Carolina,
Craigs OF North Carolina, and Reuben Davis,
were prominent in the scrimmage. To
gentlemen on the other side OF the hall, il
looked very much as though the gentleman
from Pennsylvania was about to be cut into
mince meat, and the anti-Lecompton men
rushed over in a body to to the rescue.
Foremost came Mr.. Potter, of Wisconsin, a
very athletic, compact man, who bound I'd
into the center of the excited group, striking
right and lett with tremendous vigor. Wash.
burne OF Illinois, and his brot er Of Wiscon
sin, also were very prominent, and for d
minute or two it seemed although we were
10 have d Kilkenny fight on a magnificent
scale, Barksdale had hold Of Grow, when
Potter struck hin Il severe blow, suppos ins
that he was hurting that gentleman; Barks.
dale turning round and supposing it was
Elihu Washburne who struck him, dropped
Grow, and struck out at the gentleman from
illinois. Cadwailader Wgshburne, ~perceiv.
ing the attack upon his brother, also made
a dash at Ma. Barksdaie, and seized him BY
the hair, apparently for the purpose OF draw
ing him into chancery, and pulnmelihg hin
to greater satisfaction. Horrible to relate
Mr.. Barksda ,e's wig came off in C. Wash
burne's left hand-and his right fist expen
ded itself with tremendous force against the
unrest Ting air. This ludicrous incident un.
questionably, did much towards restoring
good nature subsequently, and lis effect va:
heightened not a little by the fact that in thu
excitement OF the occasion. Backsdale re
stored his wig wrong side foremost.
There seems to have been very LITTLE
method in the struggle, and it was hard It
tell who was in Tor earnest, and who wa.
trying to restore order. The Speaker yellet
and raped for order, without effect. Tn,
Seurgeant-aI-Arm stalked to the scene o
battle. mace in hand, but the "AmericuI
Eagle" had no more effect than the Speak
er's gavel. Owen Lovejoy aud Lamar, o
Mississippi. were paving each other al on,
point-each, probably, trying to persuad,
the other TO be still. Dir. Mott, the gray
haired Quaker representative from Ohi'
was seen going here and there in the crowd
Davis, of Mississippi, got a severe but acct
dental blow from Mr.. Grow, and variyu
gentlemen sustained slight bruises ant
scratches. A Virginia representative, VIII
thought Montgomery, OF Pennsylvania, wa:
about to "plich in," laid his hand upon hi
arm to restrain him, aad was peremptoril,
ordered to desist or be knocked down. Mr.
Clovode, of PeDnsy %lvania caught up a heav
stone ware spittoon, with which to "brain'
whoever might seem to deserve it, bu
fortuna civ did not succeed in getting ia
enough into The excited crowd to find an ap
propriate subject for his vengeancc; and al
over the Hall every body was excited for tn
time.
"Inspector," of the Courier and Inquire
thus sketches the fight:
The presumption from the beginning wa
that the attack upon Mr.. Grow was premed
itated, like the outrage upon Mr.. Sumner
and Republicans were seized with a desir
to punish Keitt. Had the rufian been .oun
alter the beginning of the disturbance he
would have been severely handled. Mr.
Barksdale was collating Mr.. Washburne Q
Illinois; seeing this, e. c. Washburne @
Wisconsin bore up to the relief of hi
brother. Mr.. Lamar of Mississippi range
up by the side of Mr.. Barksdaie, and Mr
Potter opened in artistic sty lie On the whole