The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1912-08-24

with money furnished by the govern
ment, has over-hauled and. re-deco
rated the old hall of the house Of rep
Fresentatives 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-
lions of that character. These rooms
are occupied subject to the will Of the
next legislature.
The history of the old statehouse is
closely interviewer with that Of the
state since Arkansas was admitted to
the union as 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 E. Woodruff and A.
H. Sewer and the remainder was pur-
chased by 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
building much more costly than the
territory of Arkansas could afford and
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 state, the new capitol, then
still in an uncompleted condition, re-
ceived 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, II
is declared, was made there by the
of ]. j. Anthony, represent
tative from Randolph county, when
he was slain in knife duel by John
Wilson, speaker OF the house Of rep
resentatives, during an open session
of the house in 1887. During debate
in, the house on a trivial matter, An
thony offered resolution, which was
construed as thrust at Speaker Will
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 60 await Wilson's onslaught.
Grandson d. Royston, who sat nearby
thrust a chair between the combatants |
but the latter struck at each other |
over the obstacle. Suddenly Anthony's |
knife was struck from his hand and |
ne 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
ais place. Wilson was indicted. but |
when tried in Saline county on a
change of venue, he was acquitted on
he ground of excusatle homicide. The
Killing and the subsequent acquittal
II Wilson, caused tremendous SEN
'ation throughout the state. The story
II the blood-stain on the floor of the
enate chamber is still told to visitors
o the statehouse.
Many other stirring scenes have
'een enacted within the walls Of the
I'D capitol. During the Brooks-Bax-
er war, especially, there were excit-
ng days about the old building. The
was the fortress of the
Brooks forces. after Gov. Baxter had
'een elected from the executive Off.
;es. A memento Of these strenuous
lines still stands in the old state
louse grounds in the form of the
Lady Baxter" an old cannon which