The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-03-21

"NJOui III IL III
riot Monday night, in which almost every
member participated. Revolvcrs were
drawn and many persons were seriously
injured, Adams of Park County perhaps
fatally. For fully twenty minutes the
state House was filled with a bowling,
surging mob. Men who had been friends
and sat side by side during the session be-
came deadly enemies and made every eff
fort to injure each other. Myron King,
Governor Matthews private secretary,
was locked in the elevator, and a big,
burly maj guarded the 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 tho
House at 11:15 he found it locked. He
had an important message from the Gov
ernor, and Il great deal depended upon its
delivery to the speaker of the House be-
fore II O'Clock. He pounded on the door,
but was denied admission. He cried that
the door was locked and requested that it
be opened, as he had a message from the
Governor. HIS voice was heard by Il nunl-
Der of Democrats who were in the CORR
doris, and they ran to his assistance. An
attempt was made to force open the
doors, but the crowd of Republicans who
were Keeping the Governors secretary
and his message out resisted with all the
force they could command. The doors
were unable to stand the pressure brought
to bear upon them, INT they were finally
forced open. King, who was in front,
was forced right into the crowd of Repub.
leans, who were bent Oh keeping him
from reaching the speakers desk. With
one accord the men began striking at each
other and the secretary was in great dan.
ger of being killed.
Wanted to Kill the Secretary.
"Kill him. Kill him." cried a hun
dred voices. The women who were in
the galleries yelled and one or two faint
ed. All 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 Governors veto, and the Repub.
licans were determined to hold him back
until - o'clock, at which time the House
would adjourn sine die. Inch by inch
the Democrats gained ground. Many
persons were knocked down and trampled
under foot. Revolvers were 1ourished in
the air, but as fast as one was drawn the
man holding it was knocked down. The
heavy chairs were torn from the 1OOr by
the mob. and the desks were broken to
pieces. Doors leading to other rooms
were shattered by persons in the CORR.
doris trying to effect an entrance to the
chamber. The police were powerless to
check the mob, which seemed bent on de.
stroying everything in the room.
At 11:11 the excitement was intense.
Men were fighting in every part of the
room, and several of them were bleeding
from numerous wounds. The Democrats
were gradually forcing King toward the
speakers desk, and the Republicans were
growing weaker on account of many of
their number being injured. A few sec
onds 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 Gov
errors veto in his hand. but it never
reached the speaker. Just as King was
about to place it in his hands Speaker
Adams kicked and beat back the crowd,
and in Il voice that could be heard above
Tie horrible din. cried:
Declared the House Adjourned.
"Thc House has adjourned. The House
has adjourned" This raised Il great cry
from the crowd. and everybody made Il
rush toward the speaker. The veto was
torn from Kings hands by Il man who
dashed out of the crowd with it and made
good his escape. This practically ended
the riot. Several small fights occurred,
but the police and others finally succeeded
in driving the men from the chamber.
No less than two dozen persons were
hurt. No arrests were made.
The trouble originated over the bill to
supplant Custodian Griffin, Il Democrat,
with Il Republican. The Governor has
three days in which to consider all meas
urcs. The bill was delivered to the Gov
crnor two nights before Adjournment.
1t was his idea to hold it until the last
minute and then the Legislature could
not pass it over his veto, as adjournment
would take place at II o'clock. The Gov
ernor's secretary started with the bill
with ten minutes time. The Republicans
attempted by force 10 prevent his reach
ing the Legislative hail with the bill in
time. Adams. who was injured, is the rep
rescntative of Park County. lie was
kicked in the pit Of the stomach and had
% be carried from the hall.