Mexico weekly ledger., 1895-02-07
Breckinridse Assaults Heard.
THE KENTUCKIAN CALLS THE
MIsS0URIAN NAMES AND
STRIKES AT HIM.
The Widest Excitement Caused by the
Scene-Mr. Pence Chokes the
Southsrner er-Apologies
Came Later.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-Mr Heard of
Missouri, who was in charge of the
District OF Columbia business in the
House to-day cut off Mr.. Breckenridge
of Kentucky, who was attempting to
address the House on the Hawaiian
resolution, by demanding the previous
question On the adoption of the resolu-
ton, shortly after noon
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
followed, Mr.. Breckenridge protesting
against what he called Mr.. Heas,d's
rudeness, and the latter declaring that
he was only doing his duty.
Suddenly the two voices of the men
rose and Mr.. Breckenridge shouted:
"Impertinent puppy" while Mr.. Heard
shouted back s'Liar."
At the word the white haired Breck-
inridge, who is heavily built, stoclsy
man, put his foot on the step on which
the benches are located and let drive a
right handed blow at Mr.. Heard.
Mr.. Heard, who is slight and ap-
parently not strong, but rather tall
man, with a brown beard streaked
with gray, lodged and the blow spent
its force on the empty air.
In an instant q dozen hands were
extended to restrain the Kentuckisn,
and the tide of members swept him
twenty feet up the main aisle. But he
continued to struggle and wrestled
with his captors, Messrs. Pence and
Cultivate, the former of whom had
seized him by the throat.
The House and galleries were in an
uproar, but over it all the cracks of the
Speakers gavel sounded as he at
tempted to quell the riot on the floor.
In firm tone the Speaker directed
the sergeant at arms to arrest the Of
tenders, and Colonel Ike Hill, the
deputy, and his assistant, Mr.. Robin
son, seized the silver mace, the en-
blem of authority, and rushed up the
aisle, which was crowded with ex-
cited members.
When the officers had elbowed their
way to the scene of combat Mr.. .Breck-
inridge was still struggling with those
who held him, while his antagonist,
Mr.. Heard, stood calmly in his place.
Misunderstanding Mr.. Pence's at
tempt to quiet Mr.. Breckenridge, who
was trembling like an aspen with over
wrought excitement, Colonel Hill and
his assistant seHeu potn Mr.. DrecKrn-'
ridge and Mr.. Pence.
ssNot Pence;" shouted dozen mem
bers, "arrest Heard.'
Mr.. Heard was pushed into the arms
of the deputy sergeant at arms.
AS the two men came together, Mr..
Breckenridge made desperate effort
to free himself as he cried to Mr..
Heard: "You're coward and a
scoundrel."
The stalwart Robinson roughly
pulled Mr.. Breckenridge forward and
the two Representatives Of the Ameri-
can Congress were hustled rather than
escorted to the bar of the House.
The Speaker ordered ali to take their
seats, but many of the members did
SO reluctantly.
s'Take it back!" shouted Mr.. Breck-
inridge as he gIared at Mr.. Heard, who
stood, like himself, in custody before
the House.
"You called me an impertinent pup
py," said Mr.. Heard.
The Speaker endeavored to quiet
the excited members with heavy blows
of the gavel, while Mr.. Breckenridge
was appealing for recognition, but the
Speaker would not hear him.
After all the members were seated
the Speaker ordered both Heard and
Breckenridge back to their seats and
| recognized the Kentuckian.
With his frame trembling with ex-
| citement, his silver hair tumbling back
from his head, Mr.. Breekinridge rose.
attempting to contain himself, and be-
| gan his apology in humble tones. ''No
| one," he began, "can regret more than
l that any personal difficulty should
occur on this floor, but when thought
had been taken Of the floor with
great rudeness i went TO Mr.. Heard
and said to him that he could not dc
| business in that way. He replied that
that was an insolent statement and
| that / was an 'impertinent scoun.
drel.'"
| "He called me a scoundrel" inter
| posed Mr.. Heard.
ale called me q liar" went on Mr.
Breckenridge, ignoring the interruption
81 ought not to have resented it, Mr.
Speaker, but as a Mississippi judge
once said, the lie was the first assault
and in spite of my white hairs
couldn't restrain myself. l apologize
to the Speaker of the House. To tn,
gentleman will say,'' he added, as b,
turned and looked squarely at Mr.
Heard, his voice rising to one Of de
fiance, 81 will say that that cannno
remain between he and -
| A scattering burst of applause greet
ed this. Mr.. Breckenridge took hi
seat. The House gasped at this las
statement and sat breathlessly await
ing for the reply.
Mr.. Heard attempted to be calm
but he was also evidently laborirti
under great excitement. Not once b
his long congressional career, he be
gan, had he been embroiled in q per
sonal controversy on the floor of tn
House. He then explained the situa
ton. To-day, he said, had been sc
apart for District OF Columbia bushes
and he had felt IT his duty when tn
opposing leaders on the Hawaii reso
luton had finished their statements +
demand the previous question Tn
gentleman from Kentucky had the
hurried over to him and had state
in tone which he regarded as an in
suit that the House would do no bust
ness to-day. He had thereupon de
manded the yeas and nays as h
deemed it his duty to do, whereupo
the gentleman from Kentucky, 1
what he regarded as most offeusiv