Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1888-06-27
Malone and Wise fight.
A ROW IN THE COMMITTEE ON cREDENT1AL

A ROW IN THE COMMITTEE ON CREDENTIALS
CHICAGO, June 20.-All the morning
papers have vivid accounts of the proceed
ings in the Credential Committee last night.
Perhaps the most highly seasoned is the re-
port which says that Sergeant-at-Arms
Smith opened the door and looked anxious
around the hall. Half dozen men were
shouting at the top of their voices. "You
are liar, "Give it to him." was
distinguished above the storm of invectives.
The commotion swelled into an uproar.
The door swung back and a negro rushed
into the hall with terror written on every
feature. my God; they are going to
shoot" he exclaimed. "Mahone and Wise
is fighting. Some one will be killed,
shuah." The door suddenly openea.
and pulled him inside. As they passed in
the reporter caught momentary view of
the scene which was being enacted. 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 a des-
perate struggle. A man was reaching
over to separate them when he was struck
IN the tace by man who evidently was not
unschooled in the manly art of self-defence.
Kill him; hit him; look out for him, JIM
The presence of a policeman had a wonder
fully quoting effect, and the tempest sub
sided as quickly as it started. In about a
minute Sergeant-at-Arms Smith appeared
at the door like araiubow after thunder
storm. His hair was disarranged, but he
was smiling and warm. ANY one killed?''
asked the reporter. "Killed? ha ha
stThat's funny" commented Mr.. Smith.
sic is awful hot in there and man tainted
away, Never saw such hot room in nv
life. Had to throw pitcher of ice water
on him. He's all right now. Come too.
all right. Ha! ha! WELL welll hat isn't iii
Yes, sir, he just fell right down while
making speech. Officer, keep these men
back from the door! We opened the door
moment to give him little air."
, Later it was learned that the Virginia
row started between Wise and Malone,
While the Malone delegate, Col. Allen,
was talking, Brady and Wise freuuently
) interrupted. Malone and Wise were sit
| ting not more than five feet apart on the
same side of the table. Wise said some-
/ thing in an undertone to Malone, which
no one caught, but the little brigadier at
l.. once jumped up and reached for Wise.
, The latter let out for Malone, but the mem
} bers sitting between them prevented any
/ damage. Both were talking excitedly, but
: attention was moment diverted from them
l by Congressman Libby, one of the anti
: Malone men, who struck at Allen. Ac-
, counts differ, but most of the members
S seemed to think Allen was hit. He was
0 still on his feet, and Libby shouted at him
'D-n you, d--n you'll The assaulted man
{ launched back, aud in moment the wild
i est excitement prevailed. Several of the
/ Malone people 'went for'' Libby and bore
: him down to the floor. All the colored
j men in the room took part, and the mass
= of arms and legs in motion was such that
D the peace making members hardly dared
5 approach. 1t was in fact the beginning Of
an old fashioned Virginia fight. "DOn't
} you touch mep' roared one of the men in
the melee.
| Elk Congressman Brady, who is himself
| pugnacious, was one of the Wise following,
for whom the Malone henchmen seemed
to feel the greatest animosity. "Don't let
, Brady get away" yelled a voice that
sounded like Mahone's, and rush was at
r once made for him. A pair of western men
D at oncs closed in and saved Brady from
| much harm. The peace makers finally
succeeded in pulling most of the fighters
, 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 Moss, was especially
, ugly, and could not be quieted till Sergeant
alarms Smith seized him By the throat,
exclaiming stop" and threw him half
across the room.
When the semblance of order was restor-
ed, two or three members were standing on
the table. The policeman and ssrgeant-at-
arms had squads Of belligerents under their
care, while Chairman Hepburn was Keep
ing close eye on Malone aud Wise. Mr..
Wise expressed his regret at the occurrence,
explaining how aspersions had been cast on
him that were unbsarable Malone said
nothing. Mr.. Libby also spoke, half
| apologizing, saying, in the heat Of the
moment he thought Allen was striking at
Wise, but he did not think he himself had
really hit Allen. The committee felt that
, something of this kind was necessary.
Several members had proposed to expel
, Libby, and if he had not made this ex-
PLANTATION he would undoubtedly have been
expelled. The desire to avoid publicity,
( however, was strong. 1t was agreed that
the row should DO kept a secret.