Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-07-02
: FIGHT N IKE HOUSE.
How Wise and Stanley "Cussed" and
C!inchcd.

Messrs. Edward Otauly 81 NoAlh Soi"
gns and Henry A. Wise OF Virginia, says
Ron. Perley Poore, mad personal rencon-
,re in the House of Representative on
Sent. 9. 1871. The diplomatic approprla-
tion bill was under discussion, and Mr.
WISE complained OF some remarks by Mr..
stanly. as displaying little maleVo-
lance. putting a meaning and insulting
amnhasis upon the word little. Mr.. Stan
~ quick as a fash, retorted and hurled
hack the words ''little maleyolenoe" by
annlving them to Mr.. Wise for having
made the remark. Both members sat
DOWN. Mr.. Wise i'll bad temper,
MIR. stanly having none or dis
ntayiug none. In moment or
TWO the member from Virginia crossed
over TO the member from North Carolina,
and commenced conversation not very
friendly IN It's designs, and ending In
hard words and not harmless blows. For
s0me epithet or other used by Mr.. Wise
Mr.. Stanly gave him the lie. A blow fol-
lowed, MIR. Wise attempting to strike Mr..
Stanly. and MIR. Stanly either wardlDs OF
line blow or Mr.. Wise missing his aim. II
q bIow. as Mr.. Use said it was, 1t was
hIow for blow, and Mr.. Wise was struck
three times and had his face scratched in
the encounter The blow was the first
thing that attracted the attention of
members. There was a cry OF "order,"
"order." 'order," rnnning through the
hall, and general rush towards the
combatants. Each member deserted mis-
seat 10 restore order. but increased the
General confusion. Many We're standing
,lpOn the desks of the members looking
down upon the fight. and endeaVoring to
separate the cOmbataats, and those with
ont the bar rushed forward to restore
order. The chairman of the committee
of the whole in the meantime had lett his
chair and the Speaker had taken his place
Partial order was at length restored
Mr.. Wise was conducted to his seat upon
tine opposite side of the House, and Mr..
Stanly renamed upon the spot where he
had been invaded.
MIR. Wise rose and said: 81 rise, Mr..
Speaker, cool, perfectly cool, in the most
humble manner, to ask the pardon Of this
House for disturbing its harmony. | left
my seat and went to the seat of the men,
Der from North Carolina to demonstrate
with him. l wished TO warn MIN,
and in the course of conversation
the gentleman became excited, and
became excited also, and he uttered Ian
guage which | could not bear and tor
which struck him."
Mr.. Stanly now rose. He said: 81 shall
not ask the pardon OF the House for being
an offender against it's rules Cor words
like those). The honorable gentleman
from Virginia came to my seat, and UNI
dertOOk to demonstrate, to warn and to
dictate to me for the course | had pursued
upon the floor OF the House ] would not
hear him. He asked me to leave my place
and to 20 from the hall with him. NO,
sir said /, you may go your own way
tie then used language to me tor which |
called him liar in my place. He then
tried TO strike me, but failed in the at
tempt, and if the House had not inter-
fered / would have given him as severe a
whipping as a man ever had"
select committee was appointed to in
quire into the circumstances of the rem
C0ntre, and to report them TO the House.
But few days afterwards Messrs. Wise
and Stanly both attended the races, Just
out OF the city, on horseback. Mr.. StauIy
was mounted on horse hired from
livery stable in the city, which he had
never before rode. When the races were
ever Mr.. Stanly mounted his horse and
rode towards the course. He had not pro-
ceeded far before he encountered Mr.
Wise, who was riding in the same direc-
ton. The two rode on side by side, eX-
= =
angry glances at Stanly. Two gentlemen
who were riding some distance in the
rear, one of them a Mr.. Starke and the
other a Lieutenant in the army, whose
name has escaped me, observed the posi-
ton OF affairs, and one observing to the
other that "thOse gentlemen We're riding
too close together, and an encounter might
ensue," Mr.. StarSe pressed his morse for
ward ana riding between Mr.. Wise and Air.
Stanly accOsted the former and requested
him to ride on with MIN. MIR. Wise lid
so, and Mr.. Stanly was left alone. After
8 little while Mr.. Stanly pressed his horse
on, with view of passing Mr.. Wise and
his companion. lie came up to them at a
muddy place in the road outside of the
gate OF the race course. His horse SHE'D
a. Tue pond or mud puddle in the centre
Of the road, and in so doing brought him
IN contact with Mr.. Wise in such a man
ner that his own loot was dIsehgaged
IRON the stirrup, and Mr. Wise was dis
composed in his seat.
Mr Stanly was in the act OF wheeling
ms horse with view Of saying to Mr.
wise that the circumstance was acct
dental, When the latter struck him heavily
ON Inc head with what appeared to be-
TaVlan loaded at the end with lead. The
dow was so torcible as to break mis- hat,
ana u 1t had fallen on the temple, must
have taken Staniy's life. For moment
MI Stanly was stunned by the blow, but
recovering himself he turned TO Wise and
sad: You cOwardly scoundrel, you
Struck me from behind" Wise replied,
making reference to Staniy's riding
against hlm. Stanly replied that ne did 50
because he could nos help it," Wise
then said he (Wise) had already called
MN (Staniy) a coward, and he might put
Iua' ana the blow together and make the
lue matter would have gone further,
@',u n3,h were preparing to dlsmOunt,
"neh Ai' Starke observed: Gentlemen,
, SnlS j. no place to settle an affair OF this
Al9u' 10 THIS Mr.. StRniy assented, and
ioue on 1t was thought that duel was
tneYlISole' and the next day it was an
LLoulceo mat Mr., Wise had selected as
nts friends" or seconds, Messrs. Mallory
u Virginia and Gwynn OF ississippi,
~ ulle mr' Stany's friends" were Messrs.
nc rty and Washington OF North Caro-
, ,i' ar. wise was arrested. but he
peaueo MS privilege as a member of Con
go ana Dir. Stanly left the district.
- 0eal OF & rrCspOndeuce the affair
DO, nvnorably arranged without a
U'op VI blood being shed.