The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-06-21
FREE FIGHT IN THE COMMITTEE.
The Wiseites and Mahoneites Have u Regu
lar Rough and Tumble.


lar Rough and Tumble.
CHICAGO, June 90 The Tribune this
morning publishes a highly sensational
account of the proceedings before the
Committee on Credentials late last night
in the Wise Malone contest. 1t says:
Sergeant-at.arms Smith opened the
door and looked anxiOusly around the
hall. Half dozen men were shouting al
the top OF their voices You are a liar,
- =" "Give II TO him." was dis
| tingushed above the storm Of inveclives.
| The commotion swelled into an uproar.
The door was swung back and negro
rushed into the hall with terror written
on every feature
my God, they are going to shoot"
he exclaimed, Malone and Wise is fight
ing. Some one will be killed, shuah."
The door suddenly opened, Sergeant.
alarms Smith grabbed an officer and
pulled him inside As they passed in he
Tribune reporter caught a momentary
view of the exciting scene which was
being enacted.
SOME ONE HIT WITH A CHAIR.
A heavy chair was descending on the
head of some unfortunate and another
was poised in the air, presumably for the
same purpose. Almost at the threshold
Of the door two men were upon the floor
engaged In desperate struggle. y man
was reaching over to separate them, when
he was struck in the face by man who
evidently was not unschooled in the
manly art of self-defense. Kill him hit
him. Look out for him, Jim"
The presence of the policemen had a
wonderful quieting effect, and the tenn
pest subsidized as quickly MS it started. In
about minute Sergeant ri. arms Smith
appeared at the door like rainbow after
a thunder storm. His hair was d-ar-
ranged, but he was smiling and warm.
Anyone killed." asked the reporter.
"Killed. Hal hu! That's funny com
menled Mr.. Smith ut is awful hot in
there, and man tainted away. Never
saw such hot room ia my life. Had to
throw pitcher of Ice water on him. He's
all right now. Come TO, all right. Hal
hal Well, well; hot, isn't ii, Yes, sil;
he Just fell right down while making a
speech Officer, keep these men back
from the door We opened the door q
moment 10 give him little all"
| MALONE MAKES A Bnt * FOR WISE.
Later it was learned that the Virginia
row started between Wise AMI Mahone.
While the Malone delegate, Colonel
Allen, was talking, Brady and Wise fire.
quently interrupted. Malone and Wise
were sitting not more than five feet apart
on the same side Of the table. Wise said
something in an undertone II Malone
which no one caught, but the little briga-
dier at once jumped up and reached for
Wise. The latter let out for Malone, but
the members sitting between them pre-
vented any damage Both were talking
excitedly, but attention was in moment
diverted from them by Congressman Lib
hey, one of the anti-Mahon, men, who
struck at Allen. Accounts differ. but
most of the members seemed to think
Allen was hit. He was still on his feet,
and Libbey shouted at him "D-n you,
d-n YOU % The assailed man launched
back, and in q moment
THE Widest CONFUSION PREVAILED.
Several of the Malone people went for
Libbey and bore him down 10 the floor.
All the colored men in the room took
part, and the mass of arms and legs In
motion was such that the peacemaking
members hardly dared approach. 1t was
in fact, the beginning OF an old-fashioned
Virginia fight.
Don't you touch me- roared one Of
The men In the midst OF the melee. Ey
Congressman Brady, who Is himself pug
naciOus, was one of the Wise following
for whom the Malone henchmen seemed
to feel the greatest anlmosity.
Don't let Brady get away" yelled a
voice that sounded like Mahone's. and a
rush was at once made for him. A pair
of Western men at once closed in and
saved Brady from much harm. The
peacemakers finally succeeded in pulling
most of the fighters apart, but it was not
until the poll .eman at the door, who
rushed In, had
CRACKED SEVERAL cOLOREp HEADS
with his club. One man, said to be
named Mott, was especially ugly, and
could not be quleted till Sergeant-at-
arms Smith seized him by the throat, ex-
claiming, Stop, STOP" and threw him
half across the room. When the SEM
blance of order was restored. two or three
members were standing on the table the
policemen and the sergeant alarms had
squads of belligerents under their care,
while Chairman Hepburn was keeping a
close eye on Malone and WISE.
Mr.. Wise expressed bis regret at the
occurrence, explaining how aspersions
had been cast on him that were nnbear-
able. Malone said nothing. Mr.. Libbey
also spoke half apologetically, saying in
the heat OF the moment he thought Allen
was striking at Wise, but be did not
think he. himself, had really hit Allen
The committee felt that something Of
this kind was necessary. Several mem.
bers had proposed to expel Libtey, and if
he had not made this explanation he
would undoubtedly have been expelled.
The desire to avoid publicity, however,
was strong. 1t was agreed that the row
should be kept q secret.