The semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1882-1886, 1885-02-21
BELLICOSE CONGRESSMAN.
A Memorable Scene in the House Near
1y Thirty Years Aga.

"A ~AAosAOFaDle scene lii The House Near
ly Thirty Years Ago.
The scrimmage IN the House Of
Representatives early OH Saturday
morning, February 8, 1858, was an
exciting affair as sen from the re-
porter's gallery. 1t was inaugurated
by Keitt Of South Carolina, who
rushed belligerently at Grow of
pennsylvania, when he received
not from Grow, hovever-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 MIR. Pot
ter OF Wisconsin,, a very athletic,
compact man, who bounded into the
center OF the excited group, striking
right and left with tremendous viaor.
Washburne of Illinois, and his
brother OF Wisconsin, also were
prominent, and for d minute Or two
1t seemed IS though We were to have
a hlikenny fight on a magnificent
scale. Barksdale 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 Washburne who struck
him, dropped Grow and struck out
at the gentleman from Illinois. Cad
wailader Washburne, perceiving the
attack upon his bother, also made n
dash at Mr.. BarksdaIe nd seized him
by the hair, apparently for the pur-
pose Of drawing him "into chancervn
and pummel,ng HIM to greater salls-
!actlcn. Horrible to relate, Mr..
Barksdale's wig came of in Cadwai-
lader's left baud, and his right fist
expended itself with tremendous
force against the unresistiny ar.
This ludicrous incid ant unuuestiona-
bly, did much towards restoring good
nature subst quently and its effect
was heightened not a little by the
tact that in the excitement OF the &C.
cas;on Barksdale restored his wig
wrong side foremost.
The speaker yelled and raped for
order, without effect. The sergeant
staiked 10 the soene of battle.
mace III hand, but bis American
eagle had no more effect than the
speaker S gavel. Owen L,vtioy, and
Lamar of Mississippi, were paving
each other at n point-each proba-
by trying TO persuade the other to
be still. Mr.. Mott, the g%ray-haired
Quaker representative from Onio,
was seen going here and there in the
crowd. Davis Of Mississippi ct
a severe but accidental blow
from MI. Grow, aud various gentle
men sustained slight bruises and
A Virginia representative,
who thought Montgomery, of Penn
sA lvabia, Was about to "pitch it,"
laid his hand upon his arm to res
train him, and was pefenptorily
ordered to desist or be Knocked down.
Covode, Of Pennsylvania, caught
up a heavy stoneware spittoon with
which to brain" whoever might
seem to deserve it, nut fortunately
did not get lar enough into the ex-
clted crowd tn find Ar appropriate
subject fer his vengeance, and all
over the hall every body was excited
for the time.
Fortunately it did not last long.
no weapons were openly dis
played. When order was restored
several gentlement were found to pre-
sent n excessively tumhled and dis
ordered appearance, but there re-
manned little else to recall the excite
ment. Gentlemen of opposite parties
crossed over to each otller to explain
their pacific dispositions and that
they got intoa fight where their only
purpose was to prevent q fight. Mu-
tual explanations and d hearty laugh
at the ludicrous points Of the drama
We're followed by quiet and q return
to business. Ben Pslley PORES Rec