The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1824-07-29

FOOT RACE.-A foot race for $500 took
nlace on Tuesday last at the village OF Hobo
ken. opposite the city of New York. The
following account of it is given in the New
York American g.
A vast crowd had collected on the course,
and although the proprietors had taken the
precaution to extend ropes for SO yards or
more on each side ofthe judges stand, great
difficulty was experienced to clear the
course sufficiently to admit Of the mems start
ing. This being however accomplished, the
competitors Lawrance and Warren, the lat
ter Frenchman, appeared and prepared
for action. On stripping, the Frenchman
showed most muscle and appearance OF
strength, Lawrence was more light and slen-
der. Both seemed confident. At the word
they started, Warren taking and keeping the
lead all round, till within $50 yards of the
goal, when I.awrancc made push andpass-
cd him, not without effort, and gained the
heat by about yards. The victor, how
ever, showed more signs Of distress than
Warren, who in ten minutes after the heat
was as fresh as at starting. A heavy rain
now slpervcnted, but the crowd stood itwith-
out dispensing. Fifteen minutes having G.
lapscd, the bugle sounded and Warren was
Immediately ON the ground. AS the minutes
stole away, and the interval, which it seem
cd 10 be understood was of 20 minutes, had
nearly expired, considerable soliritudc was
expressed for the appearance Of Iawrance,
who had been taken down to n ncighbouring
house. The hackers of Warren insisted ON
his being started at the precise time, whether
his competitor appeared on not. The judges
being asked how many minutes were yet I'M
expired, answered, two and a half At the
expiration thereof, and Of a minute more,
I.awrance rot appearing; the word go WAS
given by the St0yle,, and Warren went of
alone, amidst the contradictory shouts OF stop
so on, &c. &c. He, however, continued his
course, but (and We are mortified to be oh
lgcd to relate it) on his coming ni Il parcel
of rutiians, Who were probabiy betting OH
the other man, and who at any rate, seemed
to act in concert, set upon him, cndeavour-
cd to prevent his running through, tore the
shirt from his back, got him down, and but
for the intcA cnton of some of Warren's
friends, would probably have injured him Sc
riously. AS it was, he escaped nnhurt, and
was conducted in safety, and nothing daunt
ed or distressed to the tavern.
A great dispute then arose on the course
as to the result. Lawrence and his friends,
il itappcarcd, had understood that the inter-
val should be 80 minutes at the aspiration
whereof Lawrence appeared Oh the ground.
They therefore insisted that the Frcnchman
shCuld run ovcr again. On his behalf, how
ever, it was insisted that Lc had come up to
The stand at the time called by the judges :;
that he had been started by them, and that
he was therefore fairly the winner. After a
good deal oi " slang whangng, pro aud con,
Il was at last, KS We understood, determined
BY tho Judges, that, as there Yves some mis-.
apprehension as 10 the time, between the
friends Of the parties, and some difference OF
opinion among the Judges, the whole race
Was null and OF no effect; and that it must
either be run over again or the stakes must
be drawn. This decision rs was to be eA-
prctcd, satisfied nobody. The friends OF
Warren ut once said, that after the infamous
and dastardly treatment to which he had
been subjected by a mob, he should never
rln again. We have pleasure i'll adding,
that several gentlemen on the ground enter
cd into q subscription to be presented to
Warren, in tho shape OF q piece of plate, as
some sort cl an atoncmcnt tor the wrong
donc to a stranger, who, = our knowledge,
is a man Of education and rcspcctabiiity, and
who only entered for the race at the suggcs-
ton of his friends to make sport, and from y
taste for manly athletic exercises. His In
tcrest in the bet was very little indeed.
Notwithstanding many high words, and
general disappointment, we did not learn
that any injury was sustained by any body.
1t is but proper to add, that Lawrence and
his friends acted upon the honest impression
that the interval between the RACES was to
be so minutes, which impression we have
since ascertamcd, by the admission of the
parties who made up the purse on behalf OF
Warren, to have been we'll founded. BY
some strange oversight, however, the time
agreed on was nN communicated to the
Judges hence all the difficulty.
The lovers Of sport may, however, have
another opportunity to morrow afternoon oi
witnessing trial Of speed, for the purse OF
5l25 given BY the propiictors. 1t is hoped
that Lawrence and Newton, who have been
the Winners Of one or two races Oh the same
ground, will be competitors.