The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-07-04
Observation-Disclosures AFFAIR.
Senator Faulkner Tells the Whole Story.
Chandeliers Ear Was Well Pulled.

| Senator Faulkner Tells the Whole Story.
Chandeliers Ear Was Well Pulled.
| WASHINGTON, June 26.-At last the
country has disinterested statement of
what took place last February in a SEN
ate COMMITTEE room between Mr.. Black
burn and Mr., Chandler.
Last week Mr.. Chandler made a state
ment, in which he denied that Blackburn
had laid hands upon him. To this Mr..
Faulkner, of West Virginia, who was pres
ent at the time, replies:
In this statement Mr.. Chandler fails to
repeat the offensive utterance made by
him which so angered Mr.. Blackburn. 1t
was this: 81 do not intend to be bulldozed
by any Kentucky negro driver"
When heard that expression from Mr.
Chandler turned to look at Mr.. Black
burn, who was on my left, to see its effect
upon him. His face manifested the most
intense excitement and uncomfortable
rage, and appreciated the fact at once
that the wordy controversy between these
two gentlemen WAS to be brought to
prompt conclusion.
Mr.. Blackburn, il a moment or two,
arose from his chair, at the same time in
timatIng his purpose to make a personal
assault upon Mr.. Chandler. He walked
around my chair to the head of the table,
where Mr.. Chandler continued to sit, with
out the change of muscle or the utter
ance of word.
Mr.. Chandler is mistaken when he saws
that at this point of the controversy Sena-
tor Cullom or myself interposed between
him and Mr.. Blackburn. Mr.. Blackburn
stood over Mr.. Ohandler's chair some mo-
ments, using language which would convey
to the mind of any one the doubt existing
in his own mind as to what course he
should pursue, inasmuch as Mr.. Chandler
still remained seated, and it was impossi-
BILE for Mr.. Blackburn to strike him, which
was manifestly his purpose, in that posi-
ton.
A moments reflection seemed to have
decided him, and to the best of my recol-
lection and belief he used the expression
Damn you, can't strike you while You
are sitting down, but l can show my CON
tempt for you by twisting your ear"
Accompanying that remark with the
action he caught him by the upper part of
the ear and gave it a contemptaous twist,
not apparently with a view to iniure Mr..
Chandler, but, as 1 supposed at the time,
to cast an indignity upon him. Seeing
that Mr.. Chandler made no resistance to
the action of Mr.. Blackburn, 1 rose
from my seat, passed Mr.. Black
burn and said: "Mr. Black
burn, as Mr.. Chandler has not seen fit
to resent what you have done to him, your
own honor and manhood demand that you
should not, either by word Or act, inter
fere further with him." Mr.. Blackburn
thereupon replied: Faulkner, you are
right; I'll go and take my seat"
Senator Cullom was at the same time
endeavoriug to quiet matters. Senator
at my req uest, agreed that he
would take no further part in the discus
sion of Mr.. Chandeliers report, leaving
that matter entirely to me. 1 am not
willing to state that Senator Platt saw the
transaction, because of the position he
in the rooms but, from the posi-
ton taken by Senator Cullom, am salts
fed that what l saw he must necessarily
have seen.