The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-25
KNIVES AND FISTS
Session of the Reichsrath at
Vienna Last Night
Rivals the Famous DOnny brook
Fair.
FREE FOR ALL FIGHT.
Missiles of All Kinds Hurled
About the Room.
Many Members Bruised, Cut
and Bleeding.
SESSION is CLOSED
While the Disgraceful Row is
at it's Height
Members Will Take Rev divers
Next Time.
While the DisgracefuI Row is
at it's Height
Members Will Take Rev divers
Next Time.

Vienna. Nov. .25-The members of the
lower house of the Reichsrath last night
excelled themselves in producing the
most disgracefuI scene Yet witnessed
in that branch of parliament The tur-
bulence resulted from motion that
only one OF number of similar petit
tions against the ordinance making the
Czechs language coordinate with the
German in Bohemia should be read
and printed. This order of the govern
ment has been the basis of many up
roarious scenes, during a number of
weeks past although the question of re-
newing the compact between Austria
and Hungary, Professionally at least,
has been mixed up in all the bitter feel
ing manifested by the German and
anUi-Cferman elements.
The members of the Left party pro-
tested uproariously against the motion
referred TO, SugmatIzlng II as "OppfeS-
sive and Illegal Finally, the members
of the lower house became SO disOrderly
that the president of that body, Or.
AbrahamOVics, was once more cOmpell-
ed to suspend the sitting, and he soon
afterward left the house. The depar-
ture of the president was the signal for
a scene of the widest disorder. Dr.
Wolff the German nationalist leader,
clambeTed up into the presidents tT1-
bune, seized a heavy bell and swung it
to and fro. materially increasing the
disorder prevailing. The bell, however,
was almost Immediately wrenched from
DR.. Wolff's hand by Deputy POler
While this incident was in progress,
CHALLENGES to fight dueIs. and showers of
biIlingSgate and other insults We're ex-
changed on ali 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 presidents s tribune
and attempted to tear DR.. Wolff down
from the position which he occupied,
and they in turn were attacked by
number OF Leftists, and disgTaceful
SCTimmage was the result. This was
only the beginning of the fighting. Dur
ing the preliminary scufIiing some of the
young Czechs struck DR.. " Off, and this
caused such an uprOar that a regular
pitched battle with fists followed, last
ang for about a. quarter of an hour.
Herr Schaenerer, the leader of a sec
ticn OF the German opposition caught
hold of and branished over his head
one of the minister's arm chairs and
was evidently about to hurl it at the
heads of his Immediate opponents, when
he was seized and disarmed by Herr
HagenhOfer.
BY this time the disorder was of
such a nature that even the public in
the galleries cried shame on the fight
ing, swearing and insult-exchanging
deputies.
A Polish member. Herr PoIacz. rush
ed upon another member, Herr Pferche
and was nearly strangling him when
Herr Pferche, on the impulse of the
moment, drew a pen knife from his
pocket and opened it, but he was dis
armed by a colleague before any furth-
er hafm was done Herr Pferche was
by that time so exhausted by the
choking he had received at the hands of
Herr Polacz and SO overcome with ex-
Citement that he tainted, still further
adding to the sensation.
Al this moment President Abrahamo-
vtcs returned to the house, but after re-
peated and vain efforts to quell the dis
order prevailing he closed the sitting of
the house In so doing, the president
said:
have occurred in the house I consider
1t my duty to close this sitting. Win
those members who are willing to give
me the names of the violent members
please come to my Office?'
Several members of the house accept
ed the invitation of the president and
as a result it is believed that Herren
Schoenerer, Wolff and Pferche will be
arrested upon the charge of fighting in
public
President Abrahamovics was greeted
with cries of'Polish Scoundrel - 'Swind-
ler,' 'Blackguard.' One deputy was
stabbed in the hand, another had his
collar bone broken, and third received
q severe scalp wound.
Count Badeni the premier. with a
sneer on his face, watched the combat
throughout. Herr Wolff declared that
sitting
London. Nov. 25.-The correspondent
Of London paper, describing the scene
IN the reichsrath last night says:
Herr Wolff received the worst treat
ment He was struck on the head a
dozen times. Blows rained upon his
face; the bell was thrown at him; his
clothes We're torn. AS often as he got
up ne was knocked off his feet.
suddenly during the melee, a fierce
shrek was heard. and a knife was seen
1y1ng toward the Leftists 1t fell upon
Ut 6esSoann, whose hand was wound
ed It was wrested from Herr Pferche
by Herr Lemische who threw it across
the heads of the deputies
another scream rang through the
house Herr Pferche had been seized
by the throat, Count Won DerIfIie
empted glasses Of water over the com
batants with view of separatfngthe
The police commission viii z 80, -
summoned by the president appeared
just as the president was closing the
sitting