The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-02-02


luton yesterday growing out of personal
difficulty between Mr.. Breckenridge, of
Kentucky, and Mr. Heard, of Missouri.
Mr.. Heard, who was in charge of District
of Columbia business, cut off Mr.. Breck
inridge, who was attempting to address
the house on the Hawaiian resolution by
demanding the previous question on the
adoption of the resolution.
Mr.. Breckenridge Immediately moved
around from the side aisle, in which he
was standing, to the tier of seats where
Mr.. Heard was located, and hot words fol
lowed. Mr.. Breckenridge protested against
what he called Mr.. Heard's rudeness. The
latter declared ne was only doing his duty.
AS the voices of the gentlemen rose mem
bers rushed thither.
"Impertinent puppy" shouted Mr..
Breckenridge
"Liar," hissed back Mr.. Heard. At the
word the white-haired Breckenridge put
his foot on the step on which the benches
are located and let drive a right hand blow
at Mr.. Heard
In another instant dozen hands were
extended to restrain the Kentuckian, and
the tide of members swept him twenty
feet up the main aisle. But he continued
to struggle and wrestle with his captors,
The house and galleries were in an up
roar. Bedlam had broken loose. Over it
all the cracks of the speakers gavel sound
ed as he attempted to quell the riot on the
floor.
In firm tones the speaker directed the
sergeant-at-arms to arrest the offenders.
Colonel Ike Hill, the deputy, and his as
sistant, Mr.. Robinson, grabbed the silver
mace, the emblem of the houses author
ity, and rushed up the aisle. When they
had elbowed their way to the scene of the
contest Mr.. Breckenridge was still strug-
Cling with those who held him. His an
| tagonist, Mr. Heard, stood calmly in his
place. Colonel Hill and his assistant
seized both Mr.. Breckenridge and Mr..
Heard.
"You are coward, and scoundrelp'
yelled the Kentuckian at Mr.. Heard, but
the stalwart Robinson roughly pulled Mr..
Breckenridge forward, and the two repre-
sentatives of the American congress were
hustled to the bar of the house.
"Take it back!' shouted Mr. Breckin-
ridge as he glared at Mr.. Heard.
''You called me an impertinent puppy,
answered Mr.. Heard. Meantime the
speaker in stentorian tones was driving
the excited and frantic members back with
heavy blows of the gavel. Mr.. Breczin-
ridge was appealing for recognition, but
| the speaker would not hear him. After
all the members were seated he ordered
both Mr.. Heard and Mr. Breckenridge
back to their seats and then recognized
the Kentuckian.
Mr. Breckinridge began his apology in
| humble terms. mo one" he began ''can
regret more than that any personal diff
Guilty should occur on this floor, but when
I thought had been taken off the floor
with great rudeness 1 went to Mr.. Heard
and said to him that he could not do bust
ness in that way. He replied that that
was an insolent statement, and that l was
| IAN impertinent scoundrel'"
He said L was scoundrel, " interpOsed
Mr.. Heard.
"He called me a liar" went on Mr..
Breckenridge, ignoring the interruption.
II ought not to have resented it, Mr.,
| Speaker" he continued turning to the
chair, "but as a Mississippi Judge once
said, the lie was the first assault, and in
spite of my white hairs I could not re-
strain myself apologize to the speaker
and to the house. To the gentleman l will
say" he added as he turned and looked
squarely at Mr., Heard, his voice rising to
one of defiance, II will say that that can
not remain between he and /"
A scattering burst of applause greeted
this.
| Mr. Heard arose. He appeared to be
| calm, but he was also evidently laboring
under great excitement. Not once in his
| long congressional career, ne begun, had
he been embroiled in a personal contro-
versy ON the floor of the house. He had
called for the previous question because he
believed it his duty to do so. Then Mr..
Breckinridge came to his chair and spoke
most Extensively, and he responded in
kind. He concluded:
81 stated that the gentleman lied Upon
his withdrawal of his offensive epithet l
will withdraw mine, but not before / be-
lieve, he concluded, "that 1 have done
nothing which 1t was not my duty and
right to dc"
Mr.. Heard was also applauded.
This ended the wordy combat, and in
the absence of a motion which might have
been made to reprimand the principals in
| the affair, the house proceeded with the
! question before it and the excitement soon
subsided.
For time it was thought that there
would be an "affair of honor" between the
/ two, as both are possessed of physical
courage but through intermediation of
friends of both parties an amicable adjust
ment of the difficulties was arranged.
just before o clock, when the house took
a recess, Mr.. Heard arose and read a type
written statement to the effect that care
| full examination of the words uttered made
1t evident, in the opinion of his friends,
that after Mr.. BreclIinridge disclaimed the
use of the language considered by him
| (Heard) offensiye he (Heard) should have
| Withdrawn what he had said. Mr.. Heard
said he thought he had done so, but his
friends said he had not. "Ioonsider it my
duty to do SO now, said Mr.. Heard, "and
now withdraw what said.
Mr.. Breckinridge then Immediately
arose and accepted the olive branch of
peace II ought not to have gone to the
desk of the gentleman" said he, "and
have made the statement l did 1t was
particularly unfortunate, considering the
past friendship existing between that gen
| tleman and myself. No matter what oe-
] o,,,rod I shouId non have resentad IL