Rensselaer Republican, Volume 20, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 June 1888 — A LIVELY TIME. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

A LIVELY TIME.

■ Chicago, June 20.—Delegates this Biorning are greatly exercised or amus■d, according to their tastes, over the ■ght in the committee on credentials Kst night. It did not become generally ■sown here until this morning. But ac■unts say that dnri,mj the progress of ■e discussion, Wise said something in Kt undertone to Mahone. who instantly ■ok it up. The “lie” passed, and, from ■cal exhibitions, the difference instantdegenerated into a rough and tumble ■htjn which whatever piece of furni■re was most accessible was used en■usiaetically, though, as it transpires, ■nnlessly. This morning the princi■la refuse to talk and the immediate

cause of the difficulty is not known. A policeman was called, who succeeded in quieting the disturbers. It was given out with humorous earnestness last night that it was no fight, but that a man had fainted,the policeman being called to get some ice water. It is added, for some purpose, that “the man became unconscious while speaking.” The Tribune publishes a highly sensational account of the proceedings before the Committee on Credentials. It says: Sergeant-at-arms Smith opened the door and looked anxibusly around the hall. Half a dozen men were shouting at the top of their voices. “You ; rea liar,” “Give it to him,” was distinguished above the storm of invectives. The commotion swelled into an uproar. The door swung back and a negro rushed into the hall with terror written in every feature. '“My God, they are going to shoot.” he exclaimed. “Mahone and Wise is fightin’. Some one will be killed, jshuah.” The door suddenly opened and Ser-geant-at-arms Smith grabbed an officer and pulled him inside. As they passed in the reporter caught a momentary view of the exciting scene being enacted. A heavy chair was descending on the head of some unfortunate and another was poised in the air presumably for the same purpose. Almost on the threshold of the door two men were on the floor engaged in a desperate struggle. A man was reaching over to seperate them, when he was struck in * the face bv a man who was evidently not unschooled in the manly art of self-defense. “Kill him,” “hit him,” “look out for him, Jim.” The presence of the policeman had a wonderfully quieting effect and the tempest subsided as quickly as it star - ed. In about a minute, Sergeant-at-arms Smith appeared at the door like a rainbow after a thunder storm. His hair was disarranged, but he was smiling and warm. “Any one killed?” asked the reporter. “Killed? Ha, ha; that’s funny,” commenced Mr. Smith. “It is awful hot in there, and a man fainted away. Never saw such a hot room in my life; had to throw a pitcher of ice water on him. He’sall right now; come to all right. Ha, ha; well, well. Hot, isn’t it? Yes, sir; he just fell right down while making a speech. Officer, keep these men back from the door. We opened the door a moment to give him a little air.” Later it was learned that the Virginia row’ started between Wise and Mahone. Mahone delegate. Colonel Allen, was talking,and Wise frequently interrupted. Mahone and Wise w’ere sitting not more than five feet apart on the same side of the table. Wise said something in an undertone to Mahone, which no one caught, but the little Brigadier atf, once jumped up and reached for Wise. The latter let out for Mahone, but the members sitting between them prevented any damage. Both were talking excitedly, but attention was in a moment diverted from them by Congressman Libbey, one of the anti-Mahone men, w’ho struck Allen. Accounts differ, but most of the members seemed to think Allen was hit.: He was still on his feet, and Libbey shouted at him: “D n you, d n you!” The assaulted man launched back, and in a moment the wildest confusion prevailed. Several of the Mahone people went for Libbey and bore him down to the floor. All the colored men in the room took part, and the mass of arms and legs in motion was such that the peace-making members hardly dared approach. It was in fact the beginning of an old-fashioned Virginia fight. “Don’t you touch me!” roared one of the men in the midst of the melee. ExCongressman Brady, who is himself pugnacious, was one of the Wise following for whom the JMahone henchmen seemed to feel the greatest animosity. “Don’t let Brady get away!” yelled a voice that sounded like Mahone’s, and a rush was at once made for him. A pair of Western men at once closed m and saved Brady from much harm. The peacemakers finally succeeded in pulling most of the fighters apart, but it was not until the policeman

at the door who rushed in had cracked several colored heads with his club. One man, said to be named Mott, was especially ugly, and could not be quietea till Sergeant-at-Arms Smith seized him by the throat, exclaiming, “stop, stop,” and threw him half across the room. When the semblance of order was restored, two or three members were standing at the table, the policeman and the sergeant-at-arms had squads of belligerents under their care, while Chairman Hepburn was keeping a close eye on Mahone and Wise. Mr. Wise expressed his regret at the occurrence, explaining how T aspersions had been cast on him that were unbearable. Mahone said nothing. Mr. Libbey also spoke half apologetically, saying that in the heat of the moment he thought Allen was striking at Wise, but he did not think he himself had really hit A lien. The committee felt that something of this kind was necessary. Several members had proposed to expel Libbey, and if he had not made this explanation he would undoubtedly have been expelled. The desire to avoid publicity, however, was strong. It was agreed that the row should be kept a secret ;————

RUSK, OF WISCONSIN.