Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1884-12-05
A CONGRESSIONAL ROW.
The Scrimmage I'm the House of Rep
resentatives In 1858.
Boston Budget

The scrimmage in the house of rep
resentatives early on Saturday morn
ing, Feb. 9, 1853. was an exciting af-
fair as seen from the reporters gallery
1t was inaugurated by Keitt, of South
Carolina, who rushed belligerently at
Grow, of Pennsylvania, when he re-
ceiycd-not from Grow, however,
blow that knocked him down. A
dozen southern men at once left their
seats aud rushed to the spot, while as
many anti L compton men came to
the rescue Foremost came Mr.. Pot
ter, OF Wisconsin, a very athletic,
compact man, who bounded into the
center OF the excited group, striking
right and left with tremendous vigor.
Washburne, of Illinois, and his
brother, of Wisconsin, also were
prominent, and for minute or two it
seemed as though we were to have a
Kilkenny fight on magnificent scale.
Barksdale had hold of Grow, when
Potter struck him a severe blow, sup
posing that he was hurting that gen.
tleman. Barksda'e, turning around,
and supposing it was Elihu Wash
burne who struck him, dropped Grow
and struck out at the gentleman from
Illinois. Cadwallader Washburne,
perceiving the attack upon his broth
or, also made dash at Mr.. Barksdale
and seized MIN by the hair, apparent
ly for the purpose OF drawing him
Into chancery" and pummeling him
TO greater satisfaction. Horrible to
relate, Mr.. Barksdale's wig came off
in Cad wallader's left hand, and his
right fist extended itself with tremend
Gus force against The unrest stin. air.
This ludicrous incident unquestion-
able did much toward restoring good
nature subsequently, AID its effect
was heightened not little by the fact
that in the excitement of the occasion
Barksdale restored his wig wrong side
foremost.
The speaker yelled and raped fer
order, without effect The sergeant
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, of Mississippi, were paving
each other at one poInt-each trying
to persuade the other to be still. Mr..
Mott, the gray-haired Quaker resre
sentative from Ohio, was seen geing
here and there in the crowd. Davis,
of Mississippi, got severe but acci-
dental blow from Mr.. Grow, and
various gentlemen sustained slight
bruises ard scratches. A Virginia
representative, who thought Mont
gomery, of Pennsylvania, was about
to ''pitch in" laid his hand upon bis
arm to restrain him, and was peremp-
torily ordered to desist or be knocked
down. Mr.. Covode, of Pennsylvania,
caught up a heavy stone-waTe spit
toon, with which to "braln whoever
might seem to deserve it, but fortu-
nately did not get far enough into the
excited crowd to find an appropriate
subject for his vengeance; aud all
over the hall everybody was excited
for the time.
Fortunately, it did not last long,
and no weapons were openly display
ed. When order was restored,
several gentlemen were found to pre-
sent an excessively tumbled and dis
ordered appearance. but there re
manned little else to recall the excite
ment. Gentlemen of opposite parties
crossed over TO each other TO explain
their pacific dispositions, and that
they got into fight where their only
purpose was to prevent a hight
Mutual explanation, and a hearty
laugh at the ludicrous p ints o. the
drama. were followed by quiet anG
! return to business
An American traveller In England
who recently VISITED Birmingham
lodged at hotel In the city. which
| he found well sr1nnlie.i with reIIslOus