Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-04-18


were going down upon the platform, and had
only descended ten feet when the cable broke
and precptated them 10 the bottom of the
shaft 40 feet Five of them were instantly
killed, and the other only lived half an hour.
Correspondence of the New York Tribune.
The End of the Fisht.-Potter's Appear
ance in the House on his Return from the
Wars.
This friday afternoon, about two o'clock,
Mr.. Potter of Wisconsin, after an absence of
forty-eIght hours, entered the House of Rep.
resentatives. He came in without being her
aided, in his usual quiet manner, taking the
House by surprise. No sooner was his face
recognized, than score of republican men,
bers rushed forward to greet him and soon
there was a universal uprising on that side of
the chamber, Potter retrcating to the cloak
room, and the crowd following. The saluta-
tons were hearty and general, even the door
keepers and pages participating in the enthu.
asm 1t was whispered from lip to lip in the
galleries, That is Potter" and soon the spec
tators from above were bending over to catch
better view OF the scene transporting below.
Usually, by O'Clock P. NJ, the mass of the
democracy gets to be hilarious, not to say iol-
ly. The writer hereof has often been present
when solemn and touching prayers were put
up by GIFTED clapains for the souls of honora-
bic gentlemen; and occasionally, when i'm
presslve funeral rites We're performed over the
remains of some tavorite member but he has
never witnessed upon the democratic side of
the House, and especially among the chivalry,
such general and extreme elongation of
countenance as was exhibited to-day. Nor
dld the glow Of satisfaction which mantled ev-
cry republican cheek when Potter, standing
erect as is his wont, his head firmly poised,
his iron features and keen gray eye indicating
selt-possesslon and calm courage, was literally
crowded into the coak-room by the greetings
and congratulations which his friends pressed
upon hm--nOr did this unprecedented and
spontaneous tribute to the man who had ode
monstrated" that ne stood by his words, while
his Wanting foe had been compelled to eat
his, tend to tighten up the visages and cheer
the hearts OF his dropping sympathizers in the
other wing OF the chamber.
Potter was in his place. But where was he
OF the lowing black locks, protuberant nasal
appendage, and vast eXpanse of shirt collar?
No one Ill the House certainly knew though
men OF ardent lmaginatiunS tancied that at
that precise Juacture he might be snugly es-
consed III il rear room of dingy hotel in the
ancient town of Alexandria, toying with an
unpalateabe dinner, and Illuminating over the
uletlc problem whether worms preferred to
have their meats served up whole or cut into
slices.
When Potter entered the House, the com
mittees were being called for reports Not
long after he came in, the committee on revo.
lutlonary pensions, of which he is chairman
was called. AT its last meeting the committee
had resolved to ask the House to vote them a
clerk. And now, when the Chair announced
that reports from this committee were in or
der, Potter rose Instantly the House, W itch
had been in unusual confusion all day, sank
into the most profound silence The chiyalry,
especially, strained their eyes to catch the lin
eamentS of the man who had crushed their
champion under his heel, and now wanted IL
clerk for his committee. Quite a debate
sprang up on his motion. Potter, in tones
and manner which indicated not the slight
est embarrassment on account OF the novelty
OF bis position, explained the reasons why his
committee needed a clerk. Barksdae, the vo-
cilerous, and Burnett, the logged, opposed
the motion, but were careful to use the most
respectful language toward Potter lie very
seldom addresses the House; but ever since
his encounter with Keitt and his hackers, two
years ago, whenever it has been necessary to
allude to him, the chivalry have called him
'the member from Wisconsin" Pryor nvari-
ably used this term in the coloquy with him
on Wednesday.
'ue tO-Ney Ddi hSudS DuIHOll, Ill the
running debate on the resolution, persistently
called him either "the gentleman from Wis
consin," or, more frequently, 1.-THE honorable
gentleman from Wisconsin" And Mr.. Thomas
of Tennessee, one Of Potter's colleagues on
the committee, bestowed unmeasured encomi-
ums upon the fidelity with which he DISCHARGED
his duties, informing the House that if all the
other members were as laborious as "the hon.
orable chairman" there would be no need of
having clerk. During the rest of the debate,
Thomas keynote was echoed by all the dis
putants on the democratic side, and Potter was
thenceiorward ''the honorable chairman OF the
committee" How much virtue, to some
eyes, there is i'll the CLEAN of bowie-knile!
Though the House had just denied clerks to
two or three committees, it was evident that
Potter's motion would prevail Burnett po-
htely suggested an amendment. Potter rose
and blandly accepted it. Barksdale desired to
PROFOUND a question to "the honorable chair
man Of the committee" and the chairman in,
chned his honorable ear toward the fiery Mis-.
sissipian, and impaired to him the desired in-
formation. The manner III which the House
went oft into the usual buzz and turmoil while
Burnett and the others were speaking and
sank into the deepest silence whenever Potter
replied was ludicrously interesting. Tom.
Florence finally intmated that the House was
ready for the vote, and the House agreed with
Tom Floretce. The previous question was
sustained, and on call of the yeas and nays
the motion was adopted by about two to one