Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-03-19
Beilicose Con gressmen.

The scrimmage in the House of Rep
resentatives early on Saturday morn
ing, February 9. 1858, was an exciting
affair as seen from the reporters gal
lery. 1t was inaugurated by keitt, of
South Carolina, who rushed belliger-
emily at Grow, of Pennsylvania, when
he receiyed-not from Grow. however
"a blow that knocked him down. A
dozen Southern men at once left their
seats and rushed to the spot, while as
many anti-Lecompton men came to the
rescue. Foremost came Mr.. Potter, of
| Wisconsin, very athletic, compact
! man, who bounded into the center of
the excited group, striking right and
left with tremendous vigor. Wash
burne, 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 a
magnificent scale. Barksdale had hold
of Grow, when Potter struck him Sc
we're blow, supposing that he was hurt
ing that gentleman. Barksdale, turn
ing around and supposing it was Elihu
Washburne who struck him, dropped
Grow and struck out at the gentleman
from Illinois. CadWallader Washburne,
perceiying the attack upon his brother,
also made dash at Mr.. Barksdale, and
seized him by the hair, apparently for
the purpose of drawing him Into chan
Gerry" and pummeling him to greater
satisfaction. Horrible to relate, Mr..
Barksdale's wig came off in Cadwal-
LADDERS left hand, and his right fist ex-
pended itself with tremendous force
against the unresisting air. This ludi-
crouS incident unquestionably did much
toward restoring good nature subse-
quently, and its effect was heightened
not little by the fact that in the ex-
citement of the occasion Barksdale re-
stored his wig wrong side foremost.
The Speaker yelled and raped for
order, without effect The Sergeant-at
Arms stalked to the scene of battle,
mace in hand, but his american ca
gle' had no more effect than the Speak
er's gavel. Owen Lovejoy and Lamar,
of Mississippi, were paving each other
at one point-each probably trying to
persuade the other to be still. Mr.
Mott, the gray-haired Quaker Repre-
sentative from Ohio, was seen going
here and there in the crowd. Davis,
of Mississippi, got a severe, but acct
dental, blow from Mr. Grow, and vari-
Gus gentlemen sustained slight bruises
and scratches. A Virginia Representa-
tive, who thought Montgomery, of
Pennsylvania, was about to ''pitch in, !"
laid his hand upon his arm to restrain
him, and was peremptorally ordered
to desist or be knocked down. Mr..
CoYode, of Pennsylvania, caught up a
heavy stoneware spittoon, with which
TO ''brain" whoever might seem to de-
serve it, but, fortunately, did not get
far enough into the excited crowd to
find an appropriate subject for his
vengeance, and all over the hall every
body was excited for the time.
Fortunately, it did not last long, and
no weapons were openly displayed.
When order was restored, several gen
tlemen were found to present an excess
sively tumbled and disordered appear
ance, but there remained little else to
recall the excitement. Gentlemen of
opposite parties crossed over to each
other to explain their pacific DISPOSE
tons, and that they got into a fight
where their only purpose was to pre-
vent fight. Mutual explanations and
hearty laugh at the ludicrous points
Of the drama were followed by quiet
and return to business PerIey
PORES Rec0LlecttOnS.