Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1902-03-20
TILlMAN AFFAIR NOT ALONE OF
ITS KIND.
THE RECORDS SHOW MANY
Sensational Episode of Years Ago
When Benton Dared Foote to
,Shoot-Wiseonsin Man, John :.
Potter, Plays Part in Scrap From
Which Duel Nearly Results.


in the senate was in 1850. AT the
conclusion of violent debate Sena-
tor Benton of Missouri barred his
breast to Senator Foote of Missis-
sippi and dared him to shoot The
exciting incident arose out OF the
bitter ante-bellum debates. Foote
had been remorselessly attacking the
motives and deeds OF the northern
senators In their policy toward the
south. This debate became very
heated in April On September /?
Senator Benton claimed that ce:-
tain newspaper article had been
supervised and approved by Senator
Foote. This article represented to
be a report OF the remarks INDUCED
in by the Mississippi senator per
sonal to the senator from Missouri.
In the midst of this debate Senator
Foote interrupted the senator from
Missouri, and for the time had the
floor. While he was making some
refernce to Benton, the latter walked
excitedly toward him The report of
the affair is very explicit in stating
that Senator Benton was unarmed.
He made no sign of being about to
make an assault. but his angry face
alarmed the senator from Mississippi.
Senator Foote started TO run away,
and Senator Benton increased his
speed. AS Benton came after him,
Foote hurried along and drew five
chambered revolver as he ran.
Benton was in full chase. He did not
see the weapon, but was apparently
very anxious to overtake Foote.
Senator Dodge of Wisconsin reached
Benton, and begged him for Gods
sake to do nothing which would com
promise him with the senate. Ben
ton was finally persuaded to turn and
retrace his steps. He looked over
his shoulder, and caught the first
sight of the senator from Mississippi
with the revolver in his hand. This
aroused him to a frenzy of despera-
ton. He broke away from Dodge
and rushed back at Foote Tearing
open his waistcoat and his shirt. he
barred his breast TO the Mississippi
senator who, was brandishing the re-
volver In his hand. He had cooked
the weapon as he turned, when he
saw he could run no farther
Benton stood within a few feet of
him, and with his naked bosom as a
target. dramatically cried to Foote:
81 am not armed.
81 have no pistol
Il disdain to carry firearms.
Stand out of the way and let the
assassin fire."
AS may be imagined, there was a
scene of the most intense excitement
in the old senate. now the chamber
of the hall of justice of the United
States supreme court. Covering at
the front of the presidents desk was
the thoroughly frightened Footo.
Towering over him was the gigantic
Benton. He was in a rage that
would have made the gods proud
Slowly Foote wilted He sank into a
chair. and finally Dickinson of New
York came and took the revolver
away from him.
A senate committee investigated
the matter and did not require the
helligerants to apologize. The gisl
of the report was that the senators
probably felt badly enough and an
Apology was not necessary. II was
urgently recommended that the prac
tice of carrying concealed weapons
in the senate be dispensed with.
Pryor-Potter Incident.
One of the most famous fights il
congress took place in the house il
1860 and nearly led to duel will
bowie knives between Roger A. Pryor
of Virginia and John +. Potter o
Wisconsin. Judge Pryor. since be
ecmo celebrated as leading lawye
in New York. during the years short
states rights partisan and bitter il
his denunciations of the north Porte
was a native of Maine. and had &C
CURED prominence as a lawyer II
Wisconsin when he was sent to con
gress TO represent the first distric
of Wisconsin. now represented b
Mr.. Cooper. chairman of the con
nittee on insular affairs.
The alteration between him IN
Judge Pryor occurred over speec
in the house by Owen Loyejoy cor
corning the assassination of hi
brother, Elijah p Lovejoy at Altol
ILL.,. for denouncing slavery in hi
newspaper. Lovejoy's speech wa
one of the strongest deliverie
against slavery ever heard in IN
house. and led TO a scene of exeit
ment and tumult in which Potter b,
came involved,
He struck Representative Bark
dale of Mississippi. who wore vii
something not suspected by any men
her of -e house and the hirsut
adonment went dying in one dire
ton while its owner went in anothe
AS result OF blows exchanged Judg
Pryor challenged Potter 20 a due
Duels were more common in thos
days than now. when an appeal TO III
code -uello is held in dvrisioi
Pryor was rated an expert pistg
shot, which Potter learned. and whe
the seconds OF the virginian oalle
upou the representative from wis