Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-12-01
BELLICosE CoNGREsSnEy.
A Memorable Scene III the House
Nearly Thirty Years Ago.

Pen: Ferley PORES Recolcctioaz
The scrimmage in the House of Representa-
tyes early on Saturday morning. Fec. 9. 1858.
was an exciting affair as seen from the repor-
tiers gallery. II was inaugurated by Keitt, OF
South Carolina, who rushed heligerently at
Grow. OF Pennsylvania, when he received--not
from Grow however, blow that knocked him
down dozen southern men at once left their
seats and rushed to the SPOT while "a riany
Rnti-Leccmpton men came to the rescue. Fore
most came Ar. Potter. OF Wisconsin very ath-
letic. compact man. who bounded into the center
Ct the excited group. striking right and left with
tremendous vig0r. WGshburne, OF Illinois. and
his brother. of Wisconsin, also were prominent.
and for minute or two 1t seemed as though
We we're to have a Kilkenny fight on q
magnificent scale. Barksdale had hold OF
Grow, when Potter struck him severe blow,
snpposing that he was hurting that gentleman.
BARK sdaie, turning around and supposiDg it
was Eiihu WashbQrne who struck him. dropped
Grow and struck out at the gentleman from
Illinois. Cadweliader Washburn. perceiving
the attack upgn his brother. also made a dash
at Mr.. Barksdale and seized him by the hair.
apparently for the purpose Of drawing nim
Into chaneery" and puIomelng him to
greater satisfaction. Horrible to relate Mr..
Barksdales VIC came OFF In Cadwalader's lett
hand. and his right fist expended itself with
tremendous force against the unresisting air.
dItt
much towards restoring good nature subse-
quently. and its effect was heightened not little
by the fact that in the excitement of the occa-
SION Barksdale restored his wig wrong side
foremost.
The Speaker Yelled and raped for ord er
without effect The seFgeant-at-arms stalked
to the scene Of battle, mace In hand. but his
American eagle" had no more effect than the
Speakers gavel- Owen LOvejoy and Lamar. o.
Mississippi, were paving each other at one
point-each probably trying to persuade the
other to be still. Mr.. Mott, the gray-haired
Quaker Representative from Ohio, was seen
going here and there in the crowd. Davis. OF
Mississippi got a severe but accidental blow
from Mr. Grow. and various gentlemen sus-
tanned slight bruises and scratches. \ Virginia
Repres> ntative. who thought MONTGOMERY, CT
pennsylvania was about to pitch in " laid his
hand upon his arm to restrain him. and was per-
emptOrily ordered TO desst or be knocked down.
Mr. CoyOde, OF Pennsylvania, caught up a heav !
stoneware spittoOn with which to brain" who
ever might seem TO deserve it, but fortunately
did not get far enough into the excited crowd
to find an appropriate subiec, for mis- vengeance.
and all over the hall erybody was excited for
the time.
Fortunately it did not last long and no wea-
Pons we're openly displayed. When order was
restored several gentlemen were found to pre-
sent an excessively tumbled and disordered ap-
pearance but there remained little else to recall
tie excitement Gentlemen of opposite parties
crossed over to each other to explain their pa
cine dispositions. and that they got into fight
where their only purpose was to prevent a fight.
Mutual explanations and hearty laugh at the
Mdicrous points Of the drama were followed by
quiet and return TO business.