Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-12-23

The wcaver-sparks AFFAIR.
From the Boston Journal Special. /
Tur E,xn,rxs SrArr

! Ni>pLiN6 SfAhhs
II was while replying to personal assault
that Sparks of III. spoke the word which kim
died the fires of passion. Sparks seemed to
feel that the responsibility of defending the
democratic party was upon his shoulders, and
TO general statement as 10 the acts of the
democracy made by Weaver, Sparks, inter-
rupting, charged that il was false. Mr.. Wea-
yer accepted this explanation evidently in
good humor. and intimated that Sparks had
| iafirmities OF temper that were well known
aad which ought To induce him never 70 open
his mouth when he was excited. Weaver
added that he always endeavored himself TO
keep COOL but that if any one in private con-
versaiion had said outside OF the House what
Sparks had said within reach of his arm he
would have answered with blow.
Sparks sprang to his feet and said that he
scorned the reach of his arm. MIR. Weaver,
still apparently in good humor, said that
Sparks ought not to be hasty with his con-
tempt. as he did not know that his (Weaver'sl
fighting weight was lS5 pounds,
tbs CRlsis.
Sparks lost his temper. Springing to his
feet, he said that Weaver had shown through
The campaign that he did not possess the
qualities of gentleman. and that he had
shown that again to-day. This was the
dramatic crisis of the scene. Mr.. Weaver
rose, and in a silence which was oppressive
calmly said that in the presence of the House
and of the country he branded the gentleman
from Illinois (Mr, Spsrks1 as u liar.
Sparks quickly retorted with the words,
Contemplate scounerel and villain" He
had not time TO say more, for the word liar
had scarcely escaped from the lips ofWeavcr
before the latter rushed from the seat which
he occupied the broad aisle near the area
front ..et b. ,l..s,
Sparks in very defiant and threatening
manner.
4 LNEiN ScENE,
There can be no doubt as to what Viewers
intentions were. lie intended to make
personal assault on Sparks. as the dozen men
who instantly seized him will testify, for he
struggled TO be released, and with somewhat
vigorous oaths demanded that he should he
let go. Sparks meanwhile rose quickly in
his place in one of the front seats facing the
area, and seized the back of n chair as il he
intended to use il as a weapon. Townshend
Of Illinois seized Sparks. The little faction
OF greenbackers was quite disposed TO allow
Weaver to have an encounter with Sparks.
The tall. gaunt form of Jones of Texas was
noticed above the crowd, plunging along as
il he himself wished to take up Weaver's
quarrel and help to tear Sparks in pieces;
while Low, greenbackcr of Alabama, man
of very great courage and an athlete in frame,
was heard to say to those who were holding
Weaver, LET him go, let him go;" but the
members demonstrated with Weaver that he
ought not to disgrace himself and finally by
force raised him from the floor and fairly
carried him back to his seat. Mr.. Weaver's
struggles with those who were holding him
lasted fully minute, and he dragged those
who first seized upon him some distance be-
fore his progress could be checked. Mean
while Sparks was heard TO mutter between
his teeth, in height of passion, as he clinched
the back of his chair; "let the - -
come on"
TnI SERcEANT-Ar-ARMs CALLED For.
All this was in Committee of the Whole
and Covert OF New York, who was in the
chair, was utterly powerless to preserve
order. The committee could not rise. \
crisis imminent, and Speaker Randall,
by technical usurpation OF the functions Of
the Committee of the Whole, sprang TO the