Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-25
DISGRACEFUL SCENE.
LOWER HOUSE OF REICHsRATH
MADE AN INFERNO.
DEPUTIES QUARREL AND FIGHT.
A Regular Pitched Battle, Indeed,
Lasting About a. Quarter of an
Hour-The sitting suspended-PrOb-
able Arrests.
able Arrests.

| or the lower house OF the Reichsrath
to-day excelled themselves in producing
the most disgraceful scene yet witnessed
in that branch OF Parliament. The tur-
buence resulted from n motion that only
one OF a number Of similar petitions
against the ordinance making the Czech
language coordinate with the German
in Bohemia should be read and printed.
This order of the government has been
the basis Of the many uproarious scenes
which have been described in these
dispatches for a number of weeks past,
although the question of renewing the
compact between Austria and Hungary,
| Professionally, at least, has been mixed
| up in all the bitter feeling manifested
| by the German and anti-German ele-
ments.
The members Of the Left party pro-
tested uproariously to-day against the
motion referred to, stigmatizing it as
Oppressive and Illegal" Finally, the
members Of the lower house became so
disorderly that the president of that
body, DR.. Abrahamovics, was once more
compelled to suspend the sitting, and he
soon afterward left the house.
The departure of President Abrahamo-
vics was the signal for a scene Of the
widest disorder. DR.. Wolff, the Ger
man Nationalist leader, clambered up
into the Presidents tribunal, seized a
heavy bell. and swung it to and fro,
materially increasing the disorder pre-
vailng. The bell, however, was almost
Immediately wrenched from DR.. Wolf's
hand by Deputy Pollock
SHOWERS OF BILLINGSGATE.
While this incident was in progress
challenges to fight duels and showers OF
billingsgate and other insults were ex-
changed on all sides, until the interior
of the house in every way resembled an
'inferno." A number Of young Czechs
and Poles made a rush for the Presi-
dents tribunal, and attempted to tear
DR.. Wolff down from the position Whlch
he occupied, and they in turn were at
tackled by number of Leftlsts, ana a
disgraceful scrimmage was the result.
This was only the beginning OF the nght-
ing.
During the preliminary scuffling some
of the Young Czechs struck DR.. Woln,
followed lasting for about quarter OF
an hour. Herr Schoenerer, the leader
of a section of the German opposition,
caught hold of and brandished over his
head one of the minister's arm-chairs,
and was evidently about TO hurl 1t at the
heads of his immediate opponents when
he was seized and disarmed by Herr
Hagenhofer.
Ry this time the disorder was Of such
q nature that even the public In the gal
leries cried, shame upon the fighting,
swearing, and MISUNDERSTANDING depu-
ties.
KNIFE DRAWN.
A Polish member, Herr Polacz, rushed
upon another member, Herr Pfereche, and
nearly strangled him, when Pfereche
on the impulse of the moment, drew a
penknife from his pocket and opened 1t,
but he was disarmed by a colleague before
any further harm was done. Herr
Pfereche was by that time so exhausted
by the choking he had received at the
hands of Herr Polacz, and was so over.
come with excitement, that he tainted,
still further adding to the sensation.
At this moment President Abrahamovics
returned to the house, but after repeated
and vain efforts to quell the disorder
prevailing he closed the sitting Of the
house. In so doing the president said:
I'm view Of the acts Of violence which
have occurred in the house to-day l con-
slider it my duty TO close this sitting.
VIII those members who are willing to
give me the names of the violent MEM
bers please come to my officer
Several members of the house accepted
the invitation of the president, and as
to hat
Schoenerer Wolff, and Pfereche will be
arrested, upon the charge OF fighting in
public.
The house will meet again tomorrow.
President Abrahamovics, when he en-
tered the House, was greeted with cries
of 'Polish scOundrel," "swindler," and
"blackguard."
One deputy was stabbed in the hand;
another had his collar-bone broken; a
third received a severe scalp-wound
Count Badini, the Premier, with a sneer
on his face, watched the combat through
out. Herr Wolff declared that he would
bring his revolver to the next sitting.
WOLFF GOT WORST OF 1T.
LONDON, November 25.-The corre- |
spondent OF a London paper. describing
the scene, says: Herr Wolff received the
worst treatment. He was struck in the
head a dozen times. Blows ralned upon
his face; the bell was thrown at him; his
clothes were torn. AS often as he got up
he was knocked off his feet.
Suddenly, during the melee, fierce
shrek was heard. and knife was seen
flying towards the Leftists. 1t fell upon
Or. Gessoann, whose hand was wounded.
II was wrested from Herr Pfereche ana
thrown across the heads of the deputies.
Another scream rang through the house.
Herr Pfereche had been seized by the
throat. Count Won der Lille emptied
glasses of water over the combatants,
with view to separating them.
''The Police commissioner. with 80 men,
by the President, appeared
lust as the President was closing the sit
ings."
DISSOLUTION PROBABLE.
VIENNA, November A.-Late tonight
he Cabinet Council is discussing the sit
Iation, and it is believed that dissoIu-
ion Is the only practicable outcome.
|