The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-04-20
SENSATIONAL INCIDENT.

as this was agreed to, retorted Mr.
Richardson.
SENSATIONAL INCIDENT.
At this jnncture occurred the sen.
sational climax of the day and Que OF
the most exciting incidents 10 the his
tory the House. Members al about
sereiD state Of frenzied excitement
Partisan passion was running high.
It required only the application of a
match to explode the magazine, and
when the explosion csme pandemonium
reigaed
Mr. Bartlett. (T'em.. Ga }, of to the
right Of the chair. was supporting the
protest Of the Democrats agaiost the
|iacn.ing words which were coming from
the other side.
Suddenly 10 his rear. in the next
tier Of seats, camc in sten.orian toDee
from Mr. Brumtn Rep Pa.) tauD,
addressed generally to the Democratic
side
s'You got just what you did not
want = heshouted.
.That Is not Grne, (" cried Mr.. Bart
lett, who It was explained subsequent
y vas addressing bis remarks to Re-
publican on the ether side
II say /. is." retorted Mr.. Brumm,
hotly.
ut is not" fsred back Mr.. Bartlett.
turning and facing Mr.. Brumm.
..You ere liar!'' responded Mr..
Brumm.
A DlSGRACEFUL SCENE.
Instantly Mr. Bartlett reached for g
large bound copy Of the Copgressiou-
al Record, in the desk before him, and
raising it aloft, hurled it at his adver.
sary. It fell short aud then the two
antagonists rushed for each other
The House Immediately vas in 40
uproar. Some Of the ladies in the gai-
leries screamed hysterically. Members
crowded toward the combatants from
all quarters. They ran across the area
in front of the Speakers deak aud
crowded up the adjoining aisles,
olinching. sugging, hauling at each
other like mao men. 1t was like a
free fight in the street. Shouts of an
ger and indignation were heard on
every hand. Members 10 the crush
espoused the cause Of the two original
combatants and there were several
exciting collisions but no blows were
struck Meantime Mr.. Bartlett aud
Mr. Brumm were trying to get at each
other over the benches, but they were
borne back by frieods Mr.. Bar,le..,
vhc is q sligbt man. was carried of
bis feet. and Mir. Miers. Of Indiana. q
stalwars, broad shouidered Hoosier,
blocked the path of Mr.. Brumm. who
is h,maelf evidently man Of great
physical vigor- 10 his efforts to stop
Mr.. Bsumm. Mr. Miers became In
volved with Mr.. Pierce. of Missouri,
aud they almost came to blows.
All this time the gavel of the Speak.
er was heard above the awful din and
his voice was commanding the SER
geant-at.arms to restore order. Armed
With The great silver mace, the en-
blem of the authority Of the House,
Colonel Russell. the sergeat alarms.
repeatedly charged the thick mass of
struggling members, but was as often
swept aside Ooe Of the other em-
ployes. Griffin Halssead, son of Mu-
rat Halstead. while attempting TO
pacify MIR Brumm. was fslled by G
blow on the jaw.
ORDER RESTORED.
At last, by the efforts of dozen
muscular members, the belligerents
were separated, the angry Legislators
retired to their seats, and semblance
of order was restored 1t was one of
the most disgracefol scenes witness
ed in the house in many years.
The effort to get the resolution be-
fore the House having failed, the
committee on rules retired and for
mulated a special rule. 1t provided
for the immediate consideration of
the resolutions presented by the for
e;c.,, ro},+;oro nonr;ffoo Tho Qouca