Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-06-20


door he found it barred by the broad shout
ders of Major Edmund NJ Smith, sergeant at.
arms to the committee. At his right was
Senator Riddleberger, who was in something
of a hilarious mood, and on his left was
group of officers of the contrasting Wise
delegation. The General pushed mis- di
minutive frame between Smith and Riddle
berger and placed his hand on the knob OF
the door. Smith clutched it in q second.
"Your business. pleast2" he asked politely.
II want to go in" was Mahone's reply.
"This room is reserved for the committee
on credentials" responded Smith.
II am member of the committee" spoke
up the General.
mo you are mott ia not 30. shouted
voice in the rear.
General Malone looked quickly around.
There was fire in his eye, and it might have
gone hard with the man who bad given him
the lie could be have been identified. The
General shot glance at Riddleberger end
then at the crowd on the other side, and then
stood rehectively for a second. Then the
same voice in the rear shouted q second time.
"He amt delegate. Don't let him In !"
General Malone turned right about face.
"Who said that ?" be demanded, but there
was no Response.
"If you wrll give me your word that you
are entitled to admission" said Mr.. Smith,
Il will let you in.
81 give you my word as Virginian and q
gentleman" vas the Generals reply.
Thereupon the door was quickly opened
and he skipped in.
After the roll had been called General
chairman of the committee, and was
10 no NJ
tor Riddlebsrger could be heard through
the halfcIosed doors IF the committee
wants to hear from me | want to know it
quick, for l don't intend to stand here all
night"
In the committee 1t was decided to take
up the Virginia contest, and Brady opened
for the contestants. Delegates at-large s.
Brown Allen, John G. Watts, and A. w.
Harris followed in behalf OF the Malone
delegation.
While the latter was speaking one Of the
members of the committee, whose name
could not be ascertained was overcome by
the extreme heat and fell to the floor in
dead faint. Under the influence of several
pitchers of ice water, which were emptied
upon his bead the fainting delegate was
brought to consciousness.
When the committee had once more se.
tied down to business, Gen. Malone deliv
cred speech, denouncing both the political
and personal motives of his opponents At
times he worked himself into white heat.
All his power of invective was brought into
play, and it was several times feared that
Wise would be unable to maintain his SELF.
possession.
When Malone had concudef Wise re-
piled in behalf of the contestants, opening
I'D with a calm and dspassonate explans-
ton OF the situation.
The Chicago Tribune this morning pub
fishes a sensational account of the proceed
ings before the committee late last night,
in the Wise-Mahone contest. 1t says
while the Malone delegate, Col. Allen,
WAS talking, Brady and Wise frequently in-
terrupted. Malone and Wise were sitting
not more than FIVE feet apart on the same
side of the table. Wise said something in
an undertone to Malone which no one
caught, but the little brigader at once
jumped up and reached for Wise. The
latter let out for Malone, but the members
sitting between them prevented any dam
age. Both were talking exctedly but at
tention was in q moment diverted from them
by Congressman Li5bey, one of the anti.
Malone men, who struck at Allen. &C
counts differ, but most or the members
seemed to think Allen was hit He was
still on his feet, and Libbey shouted at him
'D-a you, d-n you
1.-The assailed man launched back and in a
moment the widest confusion prevailed.
Several of the Malone people went for Lib
hey and bore him down to the floor. All
the coored men in the room took part and
the mass of arms and legs in motion was
hot ha b har hor 1
ly dared approach. 1t was in fact the BE-
ginning of an old fashioned Virginia fight.
Don't you touch me- roared one of the
men in the midst of the melee. Con
gresham Brady, who is himself pugnacious,
was one of the Wise following for whom the
Malone henchmen seemed to feel the great
est animosity. Don't let Brady get away
yelled voice that sounded like Mahone's,
and rush was at once made for him. A
pair OF Western men at once closed in and
saved Brady from much harm. The peace
makers finally succeeded in pulling most of
the lighters apart, but it was not until the
policeman at the door, who rushed in, had
cracked several colored heads with his club.
One man, said to be named Mott, could not
be quoted till the Sergeant alarms seized
him by the throat exclaiming: Stop, stop
and threw him halfacross the ROOM When
the semblance of order was restored two or
three members were standing on the table,
the policeman and the Sergeant. at Arms
had squads Of bel5igerents under their care,
while Chairman Hepburn was keeping
close eye on Malone and Wise.
"Mr. Wise expressed his regret at the oc
currence, explaining how aspersions had
been cast on him that were unbearable.
Malone said nothing. Mr.. Libbey also
spoke half apologetically, saying in the heat
of the moment be thought Allen was strik.
ing at Wise, but be did not think he, him.
self, had really hit Allen. Several membe
had proposed to e4Se Libbey and if be had
not made this explanation, he would uu-
doubtedly have been expelled. The desire
10 avoid publicity, however, was strong. 1t
was agreed that the row should be kept