The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-06-09
ANGRY LEGISLATORS.
A Funny Scene in the Pennsylvania House
of Representatives.

| A Funny Scene in the Pennsylvania House
of Representatives.
| Harrisburg Special.
| A disgraceful scene occurred in the Hall of
Representatives early this morning during
the closing hours of the legislative session.
By midnight the members were ready for
anything. The roll-calls had been continu.
and anything that would bring diversion was
| a relief Some of the members had been
| providing about assiduously for cooling bever
ages. They were entirely successful in their
search, SO successful, in fact that one or two
of their number were hardly able to
walk chalk-line with the dignity
that becomes statesmen. Following
their lead, the House gave itself
up to all sorts of undgnifed performances.
| Paper balls began to fly in all directions, and
the moment Speaker Faunce left the chair
the air was white with bills and files When
the Speaker would bounce out Statesman
! Hugh Mackin would bounce in, and senators
strolled over to the House to see him preside.
! He was the target for every one in the House.
Books and bills flew thick and fast at his
head and Senator Coke, after studying the
thing for half an hour, was totally unable to
see how it was possible for so many project
| lies to be fired without some of them reach
ing the mark. Mackin pounded the desk
with a club, lodged the files Of bills, and
whooped up the disorder. At o'clock the
fun was at its height. Mackin had discarded
his club, and had secured a broom for a
gavel. He pounded the desk with the handle
and used the other end ON the hats of the
members.
| Just above the Speakers desk is a gallery.
1t is small and of no use, and one of the
watchmen has a mattress up there, where
he sleeps. Some one bethought him of this
mattress, and climbing up into the gallery he
| surveyed the House from this lofty stand
| nOiOf bn ha of bnd
him curiously. Mackin alone was uncon-
| scious of his presence. While in the midst
of one of his orations the mattress scared
down from aloft. 1t hit the unfortunate
would-be speaker upon the head, and he was
| buried under It, Mackin was inclined to re-
sent this as an insult. but the only revenge
he took was to sweep the stove-pipe hat from
| the head of the Waterman, who climbed up
| into the Speakers stand to claim his prop
erty. This was the beginning of the bad
| feeling. 1t reached its climax when Gentner
| undertook to have some more boisterous
fun at Mackin's expense, He filled a
pitcher with water, assembled into the gallery
and leaned over. The House roared with an
| ticipation of what was to come. Mackin
| took it for applause all to himself, and only
redoubled his antics in the chair. Then
| Gentner, taking steady AIM deliberately
turned the pitcher bottom upward. The
water fell in steady stream upon Mackin's
head. 1t rolled over his face and down his
neck. He was wet through from head to
foot. A wharf-rat just out of the dock could
hardly be wetter.
This was the straw that broke the camel's
back. Mackin was entirely overcome with
rage. He bounded out of the chair as if he
had been shot. Gentner, who is lame, made
slow progress down the stairs Mackin
caught him coming down, pitcher in
hand He grappled Gentner by the
throat, and swore he would kill
him on the spot. Several members
grabbed Mackin, and it required all their
strength to hold the Infatuated statesman.
In the melee Mackin got Gentner's thumb
between his teeth and bit it severely 1t was
found necessary to lock Gentner up in the
postoffice for time to keep him away from
the drenched representative from the Sixth
ward. Mackin made lively scene while it
lasted, and for the only time during the
night the hall was filled with oaths and
threats. 1t was deadly insult Mackin de-
| clared. and he expressed his intention to get
even with his prosecutor if it took ten years.
Then he felt down in his pocket on still
hunt for $500, which he was willing to stake
that he could thrash any man on the floor,
big, little or Indifferent, who insulted him.
No one took him up, and the scene ended,
and with it the riotous proceedings.