The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-03-12
RIOTOUS LEGISLATORS,
Disgracefal Scene in the Indiana
State House.
ONE MEMBER DANGEROUSLY HURT.

His Injuries May Perhaps Prove FataI-A
Bloody Fight Preoipitated by tho Gov
ernor's Effort TO Get In q Veto Message
just Before Final Adjournment.
INDIANAPOLIS, March 1e.-The legisla-
ture broke up in wild riot at midnight, in
which almost every member participated.
Reyolyers were drawn and many persons
were seriously injured, Adams, Of Park
county, perhaps fatally.
For fully twenty minutes the state house
was filled with bowling, surging mob.
Men who had been friends and sat side by
side during the session became deadly en-
emies and made every effort to injure each
other. Myron King Governor Matthews
private secretary, was locked in the ele-
vator and a big burly man guarded tho
door and refused to allow him to leave.
The police finally drove the man away and
the secretary was released.
When he arrived at the door of the house
at HIS he found IL locked. lie had an
Important message from the governor,
and great deal depended upon its deliv.
cry to the speaker Of the house before 10
o'clock. He pounded on the door, but was
denied admission. He cried that the door
opened, as he had message from the gov.
ernor His voice was heard by IA number
OF Democrats, who were in tho corridors,
and they ran to his assistance An attempt
to force open the door was made, but the
crowd of Republicans resisted with all the
force they could command.
The doors were unable to stand the pres
sure brought to bear upon them, and they
were forced open, King, who was in front,
was forced right into the crowd of Repub.
licans, who were bent on keeping him
from reaching the speakers desk. With
one accord the mon began striking at each
other, and the secretary was in great dan.
ger of being killed.
XIII him!" XIII hint" cried hun
drcd voices The women who were In the
gallery screamed and one or two tainted.
AL was confusion and friends and enemies
alike were fighting The sole aim Of the
Democrats was to get King through the
crowd to the speakers desk with the gov
ernors veto, and the Republicans were de-
tcrmincd to hold him back until r. at
which time tho house would adjourn sine
die.
Inch by inch the Democrats gained
ground. Many persons were knocked
down and tralnpled under foot. Rcvolvers
one was drawn tho man holding 1t was
knocked down. The heavy chairs were
torn from the floor by the mob and tho
desks wore broken to pieces Doors lead.
ing TO other rooms were shattered by per.
sons in the corridors trying to effect an
entrance to the chamber. The police We're
powcrless to check the mob, which seemed
bent on destroying everything in the room.
At :51 the excitement was intense
Men were fighting in every part of tho
room, and several We're bleeding from
numerous wounds. The Democrats were
gradually forcing King to the speakers
desk ana the Republicans were growing
weaker on account of so many of their
number being injured. A few seconds
later King with his clothing torn from
his body and his face bleeding, was pushed
by main strength through the crowd and
thrown heavily against the speakers desk.
He still held the governors veto In his
hand, but 1t never reached the speaker.
just as King was about TO place it in
his hands Speaker Adams kicked and heat
back the crowd, and voice which could
be heard above the horrible din cried;
The house has adjourned The house
has adjourned"
This raised great cry from the crowd,
and everybody made n rush for the speaker
The veto was torn from Kings hand by
man, who dashed ont of the crowd with II
and made good his escape
This practically ended the riot. Several
small fights occurred, but the police ana
Others finally succeeded In driving them
from the chamber No less than two dozen
persons were hurt Noarrests were made.
The trouble originated over the bill to
supplant Custodian Griffin, Democrat,
with Republican. The governor has three
days in which to consider all measures.
The bill was delivered TO the governor two
nights ago 1t WAS his scheme to hold 1t
until the last minute, and then the legis.
lature could not pass 1t over his veto as
adjournment would take place ut IL
o'clock.
Representative Adams, who was in
jurcd, was kicked in the pit of the stom-
ach and had to be carried from the house.