Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-07-29
FIGHTS IN CONGRESS,
Debates That Have Been Enlivened
by Pugilistic Encounters.
NO SCENE LIKE THAT IN LONDON.
Exciting Incidents in the History
of the House.

OI IIl0 0OuS0.
IN THE DAYS OF DUELLING.
With all its reputation for confusion,
disorder and huriy buriy methods of do
ing business. there is no scene in the House
or Representatives within the recollection
OF the present generation which parallels
that which occurred in the House Of Com
mons this week. There Ii always more or
less disorder in the ordinary performance
| Of business in the House, II anything of
interest Is under consideration. Pro-
priety and decorum are often strained, and
occasionally members speak to each other
In language not approved in good society.
On rare occasions there have been personal
encounters. and frequently the uninitiated
looking down upon the floor from the gal
leries might imagine q riot about to occur.
But 1t Is seldom that blows have been
| struck. and there has never been anything
like the free hght which occurred In the
House OF Commons. During war times,
when sectional feeling was intense. and the
hot blood Of temper rushed feverishly
through the veins OF the men assembled
representing the antagonistic sections OF
the country. some wild scenes OF confusion
were enacted.
How . Wig Saved the Day.
Probably the greatest disorder that ever
occurred in the House and the nearest ap-
proach to a free fight was during the de-
bate in 81 over the sectional question.
which started about midnight with an
alteration between Keitt and Grow. and
which led to the exchange Of blows between
several members and threw the House for
a time into q riotous turmoil. The House
was practically divided into two sides then.
Washburne of Illinois and Potter Of Wis
consin on one side and Lamar and Barks-
dale leaders on the other. Two-thirds Of
the members were engaged in the tumult
and q numbr OF blows were struck. The
affair was one threatening most serious
consequences, but was brought to = oon-
ture Of the most serious collision in the
disorder. While the Speaker was clamor-
ing for order and the sergeant-at-arms
Barksdale received q blow or . shove which
sent him under desk. and at the same
time some one grabbed him by the hair.
not generally known. came of IN the hands
OF his trate antagonist. Mr.. Barksdaies
confusion was even greater than his anger:
and dismay Of the man holding his col
leagues scalp aloft SO appealed to the sense
OF the ridiculous as to cool down the tenn
per Of members which promised TO lead 10
very serious results.
When Party Spirit Ran High.
During the electoral count while Randall
as Speaker was trying to check nlibusterinG
a section of the House became DO incensed
there was a rush scene IKE that between
Members shook their hsts in each Others 5
from the back part OF the hall to the front
gerness to get to the front but in this there
par NJ, hipvro n.tr-
ing the Reed Congress such scenes Of dis
order were almost OF daily occurrence. but
lence was done. The anger of the minority
at the course followed by the Speaker found
expression in epithets. angry gesticuiation
made for the Speakers chair and the I'm
preston prevailed that there was a pur-
pose In the minds Of a number Of the MEM
bers to seize the Speaker and pull him
from the chair.
But II there was such an intention it was
nothing more than a noisy Demonstration in
front OF the desk. When Bynum was CEN
sured the democrats stood around him In
preston to their disapproval, but offered no
violence: The only time that blow was
struck during this most exciting Congress
trouble then was over almost before it was
realized by the House. It grew out of a
matter the House generally was not much
san Of New % jersey and Wilson ~ssn Of washns
ton and Wilson, quick as a flash struck
was not a very hard one and the men were
separated before the conflict went any fur
ther.
Blows Were Passed.
Before that Congress there had been a
number Of personal encounters. Blows
were passed between Parks and Weaver
when Mr.. Randall was speaker. and one
member excited by this encounter. drew a
knife and made as II to take part in the
before he could carry his purpose into
| effect Randall before hewas speaker once
struck q fellow member on the floor. and
sociates in Congress. Personal difficulties
have usually occurred outside Of the hall
as a result Of disagreement provoked in
| ninth Congress. there was a dispute be-
tween Laird Of Nebraska, and Cobb of
indiana on the floor and later in the day
struck Cobb in the face They were both
| very powerful and determined men, but
to V Separate at them them % at once. When John hrSeM. M
Glover Of Missouri. was in Congress, ami
Allen 0. Myers a representative Of a news
between them over something that had
been written by the latter, and Glover
pummeled the correspondent rather badly
| of the House. Myers with his face bruised
and bloody rushed into the House. though
not entitled to admission and began to
! the House who was supposed to be the
| instigator Of the trouble.
Fights In Caucus.
number Of conflicts more or less serious
| have occurred in caucus. At the caucus at
| the opening of the Fiftieth Congress blows
| were exchanged between Breckinridge of
Arkansas and Blount of Georgia During
the ffftieth Congress there came near bern z
a free fight on the moor growing out Of the
pension discussion. Turptn of Alabama
and johnson of Indiana were the principals
and large number of members were in
volved in the melee. The two principals
struck at each other several times over
other peoples shoulders, and several mem
! bers got scratched and jostled or hit dur
! Ing the disorder. but no one was hurt, and
1t is not believed that a direct blow was
| given to any one.
| ROWS IN OLD TIMES.
Mr.. Coyle's Recollections OF Some Excitin z
| Incidents.
The recent scrimmage In the house Of
| commons SO far eciipses any like display