The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1845-06-07
COLUMBIA DEMOCRAT.
JUNE I, 1915.
From the Public Ledger
TIE RACE YESTERDAY.

4
Peytona, yesterday, upon the Camden
Course, was attended by thousands OF
persons {. om Phhsdelohis and the sur
rounding county. Every kind OF ve'
hicle was ia rFqus,ion, and The who'e
way TO the Course could be traced :or
mile or two by the clouds OF dust
Hundreds Of pedestrians footed 1t along
the road, unable to procure carIlsge
of any kind, for love or money. Inc
scene at the ground was an animated ana
exciting one. Among the crowd the
usual number Of gamblers, with theI'
.apparalus, were the most conspicuous
. The building in front OF The judges
stand, erected for The sccommodsuo"
of spectators, was crowded IN every
mari; in the room below persons engag'
ed 10 drinking and gaming, above ana
upon the roof hundreds OF 'ndlvIdu'is
looking on at the preparatory move
ments of the horses.
Alta quarter past one the bug'esound-
ed for The racers, and they were brought
upon the track. The appearance ol
these fine animals excited much cur'os''
,v, and ia a minute The persons on ihe
building above alluded 10 rushed to the
sides TO get fair view of them. Inc
old building, which has been slandIog
in the weather for some yesrs, and look
ed 90 il It was ready TO tumble to pieces
with the first hard blow, shook aud
trembed with the load of humanity up
on its top. A sudden crash was heard,
end then cry of horror rose from the
assembled crowd, as lhey saw the sides
OF The building pat from the rooi, lall
outward, and iu less than minute lhe
whole centre Of the building fell into
ruins, burying under The wreck all the
persons who had not fine 10 jump TO
some place Of safety, after the hr'' in'''
mation Of danger.
TIE buildings is range of Two plat
forme, one above The other aud is about
50 or 60 feet long. The par, which
fell was about thirty feet in The centre,
and abou, or 10 feet in the middle oi
the South part or wing.
- The scene was one oil awful exet'e,
rushed to The spot, and Instantly con-
menced removing the fallen llmbeIs
and dragging out The wounded. 1t wa
believed, at the time, that SINE SO or 6t
persons had been killed aud indeed !
seemed Providenlls circumstance tina
there were not. Fortunately, however
portion of The back part was sustain
ed by q tree, which prevented it iron
falling. A part Of the roof fell sgalns
this part, aud remained Standing IN 81
inclined position, the persons who wen
down with il escaping with slight lnJu
nv. We have ascerianed the names
OF sixieen persons more or less injured
who were dragged out of The ruins, sn'
laid upon the grass, or taken upoI
boards and doors 10 the tavern. Man,
however, who had received no seriou
injury, fastened Immediately off III,
ground and some seriously wounded
were taken away in cabs.
Some FIVE or rx persons appeared It
be in dying condition, Mr. O'Danie
aud Mr.. Torbert especially. Fortunate
ly no person was killed, and it seemed
matter Of general surprise how an ac
ciden, Of that kind could occur withou
the loss Of number Of lives. We no
iiced Dir Mcclellan upon the field, rend
erng every assistance in his power II
The sufferers. Also, D.. Swar,z an,
Dr.. Shoemaker, Of Whiiemsrsh, AM
oIher physicians. Everything was dou
for The unfortunate persons that humani
ly and sympathy could suggest.
This deplorable accident for tim
put an end 10 The race. AS soon, how
ever, Sc it was sscertaoed that no pr
sons were killed. disposition man
ifesed 10 proceed with The sport.
The owners Of lhe orses and HI
Club refused 10 slow the race to 20 o,
until they had received report from
DR.. Nc Cslsn; and it was not until lhI
DR.. had reported for The second tim,
that he bad seen all the injured, ant
rendered them every assistance lhs
could he sEorded them, that they woul,
allow the horses 10 run.
With recklessnes, which seemed al
most 10 Invite accident and death, per
sons crowded Upon the remaining psri
of the building, and even upon HE shack
ling wall, which still hung lesning i,
the air. Iudeed we never saw any sc
edent so appalling, the impressions Q
IT A.