The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-05-29
Philadelphia.
[Correspondence of the Herald.l


PHILADELPHIA, May 2s-5 NJ
.4tguI Catasrophe at the Race CourseThe Killed and
Wounded.
most awful catastrophe has occurred the Race
Course the fatal consequence of which is impossible,
present, to estimate. The pavilion frame building
of three stories in height, having been occupied by
larger number than it adequate to support say 1900
20oo yielded to the immense weight and fell to the
earth. The accident occurred at the moment Fashion
and Peytona brought on the ground, about half
past one. The immense assemblage present, ten
thousand was Immediately thrown into the utmost hor
ror, disorder and alarm. Nothing yet be ascer
tanned of the extent Of injury sustained.
The roof of the building shook by the efforts Of those
upon it to get glimpse of the races, was the first to
give way, aud sunk upon the lower loft crushing large
number of those beneath, and pitching still greater
number from its surface to the EARTH distance of fifty
feet-a large number Of those also manned and
mangled in a most awful After interval of
about half minute, the SIDES Of the building ien out,
hundreds in its fall Had there not been few seconds
allowed those the first and second floors escape
thousands would have been nsantaneously crushed to
deatas is fear that several will hardly survive,
and hundreds have without wounded in such
a way to disable them for life.
Rumor has magnied the number Of the killed to
era hundredthis is unnecessary and cruel exagge
ration and will no doubt capital by the Cor
respondents of the New York press severel Of whom
we on the ground and one Of whom we know to be
base enough to take advantage Of any accident howev
ton the friends of those present-there were large
number of New Workers on the ground-to disregard
those vile scribblers and to rest assured, that though
very large number terribly mutilaed and manged,
not more than two or three are fatally wounded.
No language dozens of letters, could depict the
horrible scene presented by the vast assembage after
the Of the catastrophe The shrieks Of the
wounded the Of those buried under the fallen
roof and tmbers and their cries for relief the terror
sympathy and anxiety Of those having friends and rela
ves in the building combined to fill the heart with
guish and horror Will it be believed that in the midst
Of frghtfu and affecting not few of the gam
blers and pickpockets who always oongregate such
occasions rushed upon the ground where the unfortu
nate victims lay stunned and sensees and made every
effort to rob them OF such property az they might have
upon their persons Such, however, is race course
let every that values character and safety avoid
them.
Greaprase is due to the promptness and asmduity Of
the medical present whose humanity ana attention
to the wounded and suffering demand our utmost praise
and highest commentator. To Dr. Parish especially,
the public indebted for an example oil promp
ness tenderness and skill, which words are inadequate
to No sooner the report Of the accident
carried to the city than this excellent ana worthy Pny
brought to the city, and rendered them gratis ms AID ana
attention. ,..,n,. so.
Fashion was struck by of the fallen raers upon the
head This know to be false, having witnessed the
whole melancholy occurrence, and seen no such acc
dent. -, -,
The mail being about to close, obliged to post
pone further particulars till Tomorrow mail when we
shall give the ascertaned number OF the killed ana
wounded.
PHILADELPHIA, May %, lSl5
u,.nr,pu,A Bptr Soctrry--The Seventh Ami
vcrsary Of this Society celebrated last evening N
the First Presbyterian Church Washington Square
Iamcs Rav.rd Esq the President took the Chair, when
the meeting was opened with prayer by the Rev Albert
Barnes The annual report was read by the Rev VIM.
GE Arncw from which appears, that in the course
Of the past year there has been distributed 1886 Bibles
and ITO Testaments- yso soumes-
The balance in the treasurya u the last nsesi