Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-11-25
VERY DISGUSTING.
Unprecedented Scene of Riot
ing in Austrian Reichsrath.
Members Quarrel and Fight Like a
Veritable Pack Of Schoolboys.
President Adjourns the Sitting and Rioisus
Members will Sc Arrested.

Vienna, Nov. 24.-The members Of
the lower house of the Reichsrathy to-
| day. excelled themselves in producing
the most disgraceful scene yet wit
messed in that branch of Parliament,
The turbulence resulted from a motion
that only one of a number of petitions
against the ordinance making the
Czech language co-optionate with the
German in Bohemia should be read
and printed. This order Of the gov
eminent has been the basis of the
many uproarious scenes which have
| been described in these dispatches for
number of weeks past, although the
| question of renewing the compact be-
tween Austria and Hungary, provis-
ionally, at least. has been mixed UP in
all the bitter feeling manifested by the
German and anti-German elements.
The members of the Left party, to-
day. protested uproariously 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 afterwards left the House.
The departure of the President was
the signal for scene Of the widest
disorder. DR.. Wolf, the German Ma
tionalist leader, clambored up into the
Presidents tribune, seized a heavy bell
and swung it to and fro. materially in
creasing the disorder prevailing. The
BELL however, was almost Immediately
wrenched from DR.. VOLTS hand by
Deputy Pollock.
While this incident was in progress
challenges to fight duels and showers
of billingsgate and other insults were
exchanged on both sides until the in
terror of the House in every way re-
sembled an inferno.
number of young Czeefls and Poles
made rush for the Presidents tribune
and attempted to tear DR.. Wolff down
from the position which he occupied,
but they in turn were attacked by a
number of Leftists and q disgraceful
scrimmage was the result. But this
was only the beginning of the fighting.
During the preliminary scuf1ling some
OF the young Czechs struck Dr. Wolff
and this caused such an uproar that a
pitched battle with fisticuffs followed,
lasting for about quarter Of an hour.
Herr Schoenerer, the leader of a sec
ton 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 it at the
head of his immediate opponents when
he was seized and disarmed by Herr
Hagenhofer.
By this time the disorder was of
such nature that even the public in
the galleries cried shame upon the
nghting. swearing and insult-exchang-
ing deputies. A Polish member, Herr
PolacZ, rushed upon another member,
Heir Pferoche and was nearly strang-
ling him when Pferoche, on the impulse
OF the moment, drew pen knife from
his pocket and opened it, but he was
disarmed by a colleague before any
lurther harm was done. Herr Pferoche
was by that time so exhausted by the
choking he had received at the hands
or Herr Polacz and was soon over
come with excitement that he tainted,
still further adding to the sensation.
AT this moment the President re-
turned 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:
In view of the acts of violence which
have occurred in the House. today, I
consider it my duty to close this sitting.
VIII those members who are willing to
give me the names of the violent menu
bers please come to my Office"
Several members accepted the invita-
ton and as result Herren Schoenerer,
Wolff and Pferoche, will be arrested
upon the charge of fighting in public.
The House will rnaaf AGAIN tor,or
row.