The Van Buren press., 1912-08-03

ment has oTer-hauled and re-deco-
rated the old hall OF the house Of rep
resentatives and will use that room
as an exhibit hall He is at work now,
through his agents, gathering an ex-
hibit Of agricultural products from
every county in the state and hopes
to have the exhibit complete by next
fall.
The state Museum Association, at
its own expense, has fitted up three
rooms, which are used as headquarters
for the association and for the various
CHAPTERS Of the United Daughters OF
the Confederacy and other organiza-
tions OF that character, These rooms
are occupied subject to the will OF the
next legislature.
The history of the old sta'ehouse is
closely interviewer with that of the
state since Arkansas was admitted TO
the union as a state in 1886. The con-
struction OF the capitol was begun
three years before that time, during
the administration of Gov, Pope, the
last territorial governor. The site
chosen for the statehouse was declar-
ed at that time by Gov. Pope TO be one
OF the most attractive that could be
found on the banks of the Arkansas
river. The grounds, upon which the
capitol stands. now worth many thous-
ands of dollars, were secured by GOV.
Pope in 1888 at a nominal cost. A por'
ton Of the site was donated by Col.
Chester Ashley, Joseph Anderson, r.
C. Byrd, William Z. Woodruff and A.
II. Sewer and the remainder was pur-
chased bg Gov. Pope for $500.
The plans for the capitol were pre-
pared by Gideon Shyrock Of Lexing-
ton, Ky, who had drawn the plans for
the Kentucky state capitol, The archi-
tect followed closely the lines adopt
ed in the plans for the Kentucky
structure. When the plans were re-
ceived they were found to call for a
building much more costly than the
territory of Arkansas could afford and
it was neces sary to revise the plans
to bring the cost of the building With
in the amount that was available.
Work on the building was begun in
1888 and continued until 1886, when
the exterior was finished but it was
not until 1910 that the building was
entirely completed.
During the session Of the first legis-
lature that convened after Arkansas
became a state, the new capitol, then
still in an uncompleted condition, re-
ceiyed a baptism of blood and on the
floor Of the room which has been used
in recent years as the senate chamber
there still remains a stain which, 1t
is declared, was made there by the
life.blood of J. J. Anthony, represen'
tatiye from Randolph county, when
he was slain in a knife duel by John
Wilson speaker of the house Of rep
resentatiyes, during an open session
of the house in 1887. During a debate
in the house on trivial matter, An
thony offered a resolution which was
construed as a thrust at Speaker Will
son. The speaker became enraged and
ordered Anthony to take his seat. An
thony refused to do so. This enraged
Wilson still more and leaving the
chair he advanced down the aisle to-
ward Anthony, drawing a knife as he
did so, Anthony stated he has acted
in Jest, but Wilson refused TO be
paCified. Anthony then also drew a
knife and stepped from behind his
desk go await Wilson's onslaught,
d, Royston, who sat nearby,
thrust chair between the combatants
but the latter struck at each other
over the obstacle. Suddenly Anthonys
knife was struck from his hand and
he was left defenseless, Wilson rails
ed the chair and plunged his knife
into Anthony's body Anthony expired
almost instantly
Speaker Wilson was Immediately
expelled from the house and Grandson
d. Royston was elected speaker in
his place. Wilson was indicted but
when tried in Saline county on
change Of venue, ne was acquitted on
the ground Of eXcusaEle homicide, Tho
killing and the subsequent acQuittal
OF Wilson, caused tremendous sen.
sation throughout the state The story
Of the blood.stain on tho floor Of tho
senate chamber is still told to visitors
to the statehouse.
Many other stirring scenes have
been enacted within the walls OF tho
old capitol During the Brooks.Bax.
ter war; especially, there were excit.
ing days about the old building. Tho
statehouse was tho fortress Of tho
Brooks forces, after Gov Baxter had
been elected from the executive off.
COS. A memento OF these strenuous
times still stands in the old state.
house grounds IN tho form OF the
Lady Baxter an old cannon which
was abandoned by the Confederate
forces IN Littlo Rock during the Ciyil
war and which was roSsurroctod by
tho Baxter forces. Tho Lady Baxter"
was one OF three cannon which wero
placed upon the river front and train.
ed upon the old state capital, whIlo
the Brooks men were entronchod
there Tho old gun was never fired,
MS plans for an attack upon tho old
capitol wore thwarted when the com.
Of the federal military post
at Little Rock, acting under orders
from Washington, threw Gordon OF
regulars between the opposing forcos,
This action prevented what might have
bcon bloody battle IN tho atatohouso