Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-01
WANTED TO FIGHT
Mr.. Breckinridge Aims Blow at
Mr.. Heard.
GREAT EXCITEMENT IN THE HOUSE
Both Members Arrested by the
Sergeant-at-Arms.
APOLOGY AND EXPLANATION

reseutatives today when Repre- entative w.
G.. f. Breckinridge of Kentucky attempted
personal assault upon Representative
Heard of Missouri. The member from
Kentucky was with the greatest difficulty
prevented from striking Mr.. Heard, and il
required the efforts of several bystanders
to keep Mr. Breckenridge from doing Mr.
Heard bodily harm as he tuS3ed and strug-
gled in his rage to get at him. The officials
of the House were unable to control him.
and had II not been for Mr.. Dockery, who
is very muscular. and for Mr.. Pence of
Colorado, there is no telling what the re-
suit would have been.
Or. Heard ContepdinE for the Dis
trict-
The day had been set apart for the con-
sderation of District business, ard Mr.
Heard was waiting for the morning busi-
ness to be cleared away. In the meantime
: Mr.. Hitt of Illinois got The floor with
privileged resolution upon Hawaiian mat
ters which precipitated debate that seemed
likely to continue for sCme time. MIR.
Heard waited patiently until nearly
O'Clock and then being recognized by the
Speaker. moved the previous question on
the resolution so as TO shut off debate.
This action vexed the republicans, " Who
murmured al it, and Mr.. Heard hotly ex-
claimed that he did rot propose to have the
District business sacrificed In order that
stme gentlemen might make a monkey
show upon the Hawaiian matter.
Col. Breckinridge Excited.
At this point Representative Breckin-
ridge of Kentucky. who had been anxious
to obtain an opportunity to speak upon the
resolution. rusl ed up the main aisle. and
was seen to be engaged in an alteration
with Mr. Heard His language could not be
. heard, but he was very red i'll the face,
axd was shaking his finger anSrlly IN MI.
Heards face.
Breckinridge Made LunEe.
Suddenly Mr.. Breckinridge made a lunge
across one of the desks to strike Mir. Heard.
Although Mr.. Heard is a slender man.
probably not one-third Mr.. Breckinridge's
weight he did not firch, but stood his
ground AS Mr.. Breokinridse made his
pass a couple of members grabbed him.
He shook them off with violent gesture
and made another rush for Mr. Heard. by
this time half a dozen members were Sdr-
rounding the two. and three or lour OF
them were trying to restrain Mr. Breckin-
ridge. He seemed a match Tor them all,
= however. and in his violent anger appear
ed determined to reach Mr. Heard
Paid No Attention to the Mace.
"The sergeant-at-arms will arrest these
gentlemen" shouted the Speaker, pounding
vigorously with his gavel Sergeant-at-
Arms Hill went up the main aisle bearing
the silver mace, which is the official en-
blem of the authoTty of the House, and
which, up to this time. has never failed to
restore order when invoked. The oresen-
tation of the mace had no effect upon Mr..
Breckinridge, however, and might as well
has been a toy. He was still wrestling
with those who were trying TO restrain
him. his face fiery red with anger and his
white hair diSheveled. The byStanderS
seemed unable to control him. and several
b. times he had almost reached MIR. Heard
again, when young Lafe Pence of Colorado
,1.Rr- Of K
lucky and although his slender frame
would not seem to denote such strength,
held on to him like bulldog and kept him
away from the man he was trying TO ds-
sault.
The House was in the utmost confusion.
Members were rushing to the scene from
all sides and the center aisle was d mass
of confused. struggling members, anxious
to see the fray or to put stop to 1T. The
Speakers vigorous demands for order were
totally ignored and his shouts could EOt
be heard above the angry .exclamations Of
the members around the belligerentS.
At the Bar of the House.
Finally the sergeants-at-arms. with the
. assistance of members, were enabled to
control Mr. Breckenridge, and Sergeaat-at-
Arms Hill led him down the aisle and pre-
sented him at the bar of the House, while
another sergeant alarms followed with
Mr. Heard and the two stood facing the
Speaker.
Even then Mr. Breckenridge did not seem
Inclined to let the matter drop, but made
a motion as If to approach Mr. Heard
again. Several members interpoSed be
tween them, however. and in a determined
Mariner gave Mr.. Breckenridge to under
stand that they would not permit any fur
ther violence to occur between them.
Mr. Breckinridge's Apology.
Mr. Breckinridgs in his apology to the
House said: when 1 thought I was. with
gentleman from Missouri. and when 1 went
10 him and said that he could not do any
business under that form of transacting it.
he got up and made a rude and what I
thought was an insulting public statement,
and I said to him that it was rude and IN
soent."
Mr. Heard here corrected Mr. Breckin-
ridge stating that Mr.. Brcckinridge had
called him impertir ent scoundrel.
II did not" replied Mr.. Breckinridge.
Mr. Heard: Il so understood YOU"
Mr. Breckinridge. "The gentleman said
that I was a liar. I ought not to have re-
seuted IL here and now. but even as gray
as / am, Mr.. Speaker. / cannot get over
the feeling that the Mississippi judge de-
clared on the bench that the lie is the first
assault, and / therefore attempted to strike
rim / apologize to the House for allow
ing the traditions of so many years to over
come me. i apologize 10 the Speaker that
i made a scene on the floor of the House.
To the gentleman. can say that that word
cannot remain as between him and me.
AT this point few members of the
House applauded him.
Mr. Henrd's Explanation.
Mr. Heard then took the floor and said:
mo man can regret more than 1 that he
should become em5rciled upon the hoor
: of the House or involved In anything disa-
grceable / feel, however, that the remark
I made was justified by the remark made
by the gentleman from Kentucky. l had
asked for the previous question and before
doing so / had said to the gentleman from
Illinois. Mr. Hit, who had the right under
ordinary usage to move the question. that
this day had been set apart for the use
of the District committee. / felt 1t my
duty to take possession of the floor II /
could get IL. as 1 was apprise1 that other
gentlemen, how many 1 did not know. de-
sired TO speak upon this question. and that
II would consume probably most Of the
day. The gentleman from Kentucky, Mr..
Breckenridge, stated to one of my col
leagues and to myself, You will do no
District business today. You may under
stand that. I mean 1t. You will do no
District business here today Under that