January 30, 1798

Posted on January 30, 2014 by Joel Byers

On This Date in TWISTED-HISTORY.com! in 1798 – The first fist-fight brawl in the U.S. House of Representatives took place. Congressmen Matthew  “The Fighting Lion” Lyon of Vermont and Roger “Two Hit” Griswold of Connecticut fought on the House floor to a ‘No Decision’. The fight occurred because two weeks early, Congressman Lyon had soaked Congressman Griswold with a stream of tobacco juice spit. Griswold demanded that Lyon be expelled from Congress for his actions and when he wasn’t, he took ‘Justice’ into his own hands, with ‘Justice’ being his wooden walking cane. Griswold was able to defended himself quite aptly with a pair of fire tongs. All the fight needed at point was some pans for helmets and pot lids for shields, and the men could have jousted to their hearts content as the rest of the Congressmen cheered on.

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About Joel Byers

Born in North Georgia and educated at some very fine public institutions. Real education started after graduating from college and then getting married and raising two boys. Has the ability to see the funny and absurd in most things and will always remark on it, even if it means getting the stink-eye from his victims.
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