Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1845-06-05
DREADFUL ACCIDENT AT THE CAM.
DEN RACE COURSE.

Yesterday beng ihe day set apart for
the race between Fashion and peyiona.
on the Camden Race Course, thousands
OF persons wendell their way thiiher from
early dawn 10 MONDAY. Every posi-
Bile mode of conveyance was called into
requisition for the special occasion, and q
very great number were obliged to walk
from the steam boat landings 10 the ground
a distance of about three niles. The
building erected to accommodate the spec.
tstors--those who wished an elevated po-
sIiion TO command view of the entire
course, was about two hundred feet long,
thirty feet wide, and thirty feet in height.
II was composed Of hemlock scan,ling,
the lower part being enclosed with wea-
Their boarding, and the upper was open on
all sides to command an unobstrucseeh
view. This building capable Of holding.
abou: 5000 people, was filled at an early.
hour with anxious spectators, who were
not as well able 10 perceive their perilous
situation as those upon the ield--many
of whom expressed their doubts OF its
strength to sustain tie mass congregated.
upon it.
AT one O'Clock the horn was sounded, :.
asa signal Of preparation. aud many ofthe
spectators on the rear par. Of the stand
naturally pressed forward and the build
ing was observed 10 move 20 and fro, and
10 moment after crash was heard. All.
eyes were now turned 10 that direction,
and many heart beat quick with dread.
Ere the lapse Of another moment the mid.
die ofthe upper floor gave way, precipits.
ting those upon it down on :he heads OF
those below. The additional weigh. was
too much for the first floor, and that par.
ted and fell with an awful crash, buryinc.
many under it, and some OF those who,
were upon the upper floor beneath the.
mass Of falling tirnbers. 1t is impossible
TO describe the CONSERVATION at this pre-
else point Of time, among those on the
field. Hundreds are killed" was tho
Proclamation on all sides. A rush was
instantly made 10 rescue those beneath
the ruins, and in short time great
number were got out. some OF whom were
found to BIO seriously, and others but
slightly injured. This accident as mat.
ter Of course postponed the race. and it
was generally supposed that it would not
come off. nay it was given out from the
Judges stand, that it would not take
place. For about an hour and half af-
ter the accident, the scene on the field
partook somewhat Of the ludicrous. A
large number were running about with
garments IN the greatest kind of disorder, ;,
IN search eftheir hats, which were lost in.
the confusion, many were not able to 70.
cover them, and they had 10 return home.
bare-headed. After il was discovered
that no person was killed, and none sup.
posed to be MORALLY wounded, il was
unanimously decided that the race should
60 on. The horses were then brought TO
the stand, and Fashion. the Northern
horse, proved the winner.
| First heat: Fashion took the lead and
kept il; time, 7.4s.
Second heat: Even, as If they had been
a pair of Siamese twins, until they enter
ed the frs. quarter of the fourth mile.-
Here Peytona (he iavorite at the start
$500 to Sl20) ielr back INFO the wake Of
her unfaiIIng competitor. She answering
to the motions Of her rider, looked back
with her big eyes at her rival, and, seeing
she had it all her own way, led her i'm
several lengths ahead, and passing the
Judges Stand under pull back, 1857.
The Philadelphia Times says tina, after
the race, another match between Fashion
and Peytona was Immediately proposed,
it is said to be run over the Canton Course
near Baltimore, for $4,000 aside, to-
fairly determine the championship. IL
will come off very soon-