The National tribune., 1885-02-19
BELL1cosE CoNGREssMEN.
A Memorable Scene in the House Nearly Thirty
Years Ago.
ben: Perley Poore's RccoVections]

Years Ago.
Ben: Perley Poore's Rcco'lections]
The scrimmage in the House of Representa-
tives early on Saturday morning, Feb. 9, 1858.
was an exciting affair seen from the report
ers gallery. 1t was inaugurated by Keitt, of
South Carolina, who rushed beiigerently at
Grow, of Pennsylvania, when he recciyed-not
from Grow, however, blow that knocked him
down. dozen Southern men at once left their
seats and rushed to the spot. while as many anti
Lec0mpton 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 yigor. Washburne, of Illinois, and
his brother, of Wisconsin, also were prominent,
and for q minute or two it seemed as though
we were to have a Kilkenny fight on mag
nificent scale.
Barksdae had hold of Grow, when Potter
struck him a severe blow, supposing that he
was hurting that gentleman. Barksdale, turn
ing 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 brother, also made dash at Mr..
Barksdale and seized him by the hair, appar-
entity for the purpose of drawing him into
chancery" and pummeling him to greater sat-
isfactiOn. Horrible to relate, Mr.. Barksdale's
wig came off in Calwallader's left hand, and
his right fist expended itself with tremendous
force against the unresisting air. This ludi-
crOus incident unquestionably did much to-
wards restoring good nature subsequently, and
its effect was heightened not little by the fact
that in the excitement of the occasion Barks
dale restored 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 eagle" had no more effect than the
Speakers gayel. 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 Representative from Ohio, was seen
going here and there in the crowd. Davis, of
Mississippi, got severe but accidental blow
| from Mr.. Grow, and various gentlemen sus-
tanned slight bruises and scratches. A Virginia
Representative, who thought Montgomery, of
Pennsylvania, was about to "ptch in !"
laid his hand upon his arm to restrain him,
and was peremptOrily ordered to desist or be
knocked down. Mr.. COvode, of Pennsylvania,
caught up a heavy stoneware spttoon 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
everybody was excited for the time.
Fortunately it did not last long and no weap-
ons were openly displayed. When order was
restored several gentlemen were found to pre-
sent an excessively tumbled and disordered
appearance, but there remained little else to
recall the excitement. Gentlemen of opposite
parties crossed over to each other to explain
their pacific dispositions and that they got into
a fight where their only purpose was to prevent
fight. Mutual explanations and hearty
laugh at the ludicrous points of the drama
were followed by quiet and q return to business