The Pen and the Fist: A Political Brawl
A physical confrontation between two local political figures in Tacoma ends with a heated, yet unresolved, public exchange.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Mr. Joab was seen in his office this morning surrounded by friends congratulating him on his bravery, and offering their assistance in case Mr. Bennett desired to continue the combat. He showed no marks of the conflict, and after corroborating the facts as to its origin, said that the blow was unexpected, but he saw it in time to dodge his head, which threw his hat off. He further said that it was well that Mr. Bushnell had led him away or it might have resulted seriously to Mr. Bennett. His friends wanted him to have Bennett arrested for assault, but he would not do so, as he was fully able to defend himself at all times. Mr. Bennett was seen in his private office. He differed with Mr. Joab as to the blow, as he said that he struck him on the side of the head and knocked him from under his hat. In closing the interview, he said that he was sorry that it was poor little Joab and not a half a dozen of the other political heelers.
“He was sorry that it was poor little Joab and not a half a dozen of the other political heelers.”
Local political spats are a fixture of any era, though they rarely escalate to fisticuffs in the office today. This incident mirrors the high-stakes, hyper-partisan environment of 1890s Washington, where party loyalty often bled into personal reputation.
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