The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1845-06-07
COLUMBIA DEMOCRAT,
JUNE I, ls45,
Prom tho Public Ledger
THE RACE YGSTERDAY

'Peytors, yesterday, upon the oam'eo
Course, was attended by thousands OF
nesons {. ON Phlade'?hIs and The sur
.rouoding country. Every kind of Ve'
hicle was in rcquisilion, and the whole
wsy TO the Course could be traced 'or q
mile or two by the clouds OF dust
Hundreds Of pedestrians footed It along
the road, unable 10 procure carriage
of any kind, for love or money. Inc
scene al The ground was an animated aud
exciting one. Among The crowd the
o.ua number Of gamblers, with then
apparatus, were The most conspicuous =,
The building in front OF The Judges
sland, erected for the accommodaho"
of soeclalors, was crowded IN every
parl; in the room below persons engag
ed 10 drluking aud gaming, above sou
unon the roof hundreds of individuals
looking on at the preparatory move
meuts Of the horses.
Alta quarter past one the bug e'ouoo,
ed for the racers, and they were orougnl
vpon the track. The appearance OF
,hsse fine animals excited much cur'os'-
~, and ia a minute The persons on Inc
hpildlng above alluded 10 rushed TO me
sides 10 get fair view Of them Inc
old building, which has been standing
in The weather for some years, snd LOOK
ed os il 1t was ready 10 tumble to pieces
. with the first hard blow, shook aud
trembled with the load Of humanity up
on its top. A sudden crash was heard
and then cry OF horror rose from Inc
assembled crowd, as lhey saw the sides
cS ;he building pat from The rool' TAI
outward, and in less 'han minute Inc
whole centre Of the building fell ln'c
ruins, burying under the wreck all the
per,ons who had not fine 10 jump 10
some place Of safety, afer the first l"''
ma,ion Of danger.
TIE buildings s range OF Two pi''
form., one above the other aud IS aoou
SO or 60 feet long. The par, which
fell was about thirty feet in the centre
aud about or 10 feet in the middle o
the South part or wing.
yhe scene was one Of awful excite
uent for few minutes; the Grove
rushed to The spot, and Instantly co.."
menced removing The lAl'en 'moe'S
snd drssios GU, The wounded. l. va
believed, at the tine, iha,slme 90 or o.
nsuous had been killed and indeed
seemed Providenlial circumstance ina
,hsre were not Fortunately, howeVe
portion OF the back part was sus'S'"
ed by a tree, which prevented IL iron
falling. A part Of the roof fell aga'n'
,hi, psr,, and remained Standing IN a
inclined position, the persons who we"
down with ii escaping with slight my
,y. We have ssceTlained The name
Of sixteeu persons more or less lnJure
who were dragged oul of The ruins an
laid upon The grass, or taken up"
bosrls and doors 10 the tavern. Man
however, who had received no serlo-
iniury, hastsned Immediately of tn
ground and some seriously wounde
were taken away 10 cabs.
Some five or rix persons appeared
be in dying condition, Mr. O'DIni
aud NJ. Torbert especially. Fortunar
ly no person was killed, aud it SCENE
matter Of general surprise how an a.
elent Of that kind could occur wilhol
ihe loss Of number Of lives. We nj
iced Dr. Mcclellan upon the field, ren'
s,rg every assistance in his power
the sufferers. Also, D.. SwArrz an
D.. Shoemaker, Of Whilemarsh, an
other physicians. Everything was dor
for tie uolorlunsle persons that human
y and sy mpalhy could suggest.
This dcpIorable accident for tin
put an sud to the race. As soon, hov
ever, as il was sscettaincd that 90 pc
sons were killed, disposition was mat
ilested to proceed with The spor'.
The owners Of The orsrs aud tt
club refused 10 allow the race 10 60 U
uotiI they had received report lio'
Dr.. McC,liani and it was not until Ih
Dr.. had reported for the secood TN
that he had seen all the Injured, an
rendered rtem every assistance tn
could be sGytded them, that they wouI
BIIow The horses 10 rUn.
With l.ckicFsnes which seemed q
most 10 icvi;e accident and death, pc
sou, crowded upon The remaining par
Of the bU.diug, and even upon The shacI
Ing wall, which still hung leaning
Tho cir. IrtecG we never saw any g
g.deui 40 spps!ing, the impressions {
which sstmed 60 soon to die away frol
indiTIdusl,' minds in The eXcIlealent
Me f.se