The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1885-01-10
BELLICOSE (ONGRESSME

The scrimmage in the House of
Representative early on Saturday
morning, February 9, 1888, was an
exciting affair as seen from the re-
porters gallery. 1t was inaugurated
by keitt, of South Carolina, who
rushed belligerently at Grow, of Penn
Sylyania, 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 as many anti-Lecomp-
ton men came to the rescue. Fore
most came Mr. Potter of Wisconsin, a
very athletic compact man, who
bounded into the center of the excit-
ed group, striking right and left with
tremendous yigor. Washburne, of IL
linois and his brother, of Wisconsin,
were also prominent, and for minute
or two it seemed as though we were to
have a Kilkenny fight on a magniti-
cent scale. Barksdale had hold of
Grow, when Potter struck him a Sc
we're blow, supposing it was Elihu
Washburne who struck him, dropped
Grow and struck out at the gentle
man from Illinois. Cadwallader
Washburne, perceiving the attack
upon his brother, also made u dash at
Mr.. Barksdale and seized him by the
hair, apparently for the purpose of
drawing him into chancery" and
pummeliing him to greater satisfac-
ton. Horrible to relate, Mr.. Banks
dale's wig came off in Cadwallader's
left hand, and his right fist expended
itself with tremendous force against
the unresistins air This ludicrous
incident unquestionable did much to-
wards restoring good nature subse-
quently, and its effect was heightened
not a little by the fact that in the ex-
element of the occasion Barksdale
restored his wig wrong side foremost.
The speaker yelled and raped for
order without effect The sergeant
alarms 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 probab
lY trying to persuade the other to be
still. Mr.. Mott, the gray-haired
Quaker representative from Ohio, (of
Toledo, was seen going here and
there III the crowd Davis, Of Missis-
sippi, got severe but accidental blow
from Mr.. Grow, and various gentle
men sustained slight bruises and
scratches \ Virginia representative,
who thought Montgomery, of Penn
aylvania, was about to pitch 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 Il
heavy stoneware spitton with which
to brain whoever might seem to de
serve it but fortunately did not find
an appropriate subject for his ven
geance, aud all over the hall every
body was excited for the time.
Fortunately it did not last long aud
no weapons were openly displayed.
When order was restored several gen
tlemen were found to present an cx-
ces>ively tumbled and disordered APP
pearance, but there remained little
else to recall the excitement Gen
tlemen of opposite parties crossed over
to each other to explain their pacific
disposition and that they got into a
fight where their only purpose was to
prevent a fight. Mutual explanations
and hearty laugh at the ludicrous
points of the drama were followed by
quiet and return to busincss.-Bcn
Perley PORES Recollections.