The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1866-09-25
THE TRAGIC RACE AT CHICAGO.

~ Cooisv .nS Ms.- .,,.,s ~ ne ,ysr
Great Encissmsss A .song tho sporting
=" l.
oHfcAoo, sept 20 ls66:-Ihe race he
tween cooley and General Butler, which
came 10 80 sad an end on Saturday night, is
the ali-absorblng topic OF conversation to-day,
ooth IN ana out OF sporting circles. The de-
miiso t tne tuhr nave only now reached the
pubic, and render 1t almost certain that the
terrible ACCIDENT 10 tine driver and owner Of
Butler was the result OF. foul play upon the
part oil some OF Cooieys friends. ---..----
The attendance at the race was immense,
thousands OF people belng present: Very
lew bets were taken on the result 81 the race,
those Few, Tor the most part being in favor
o. oooiey. before the nrst heat Cooley was
tne iavorite, twenty-nve 70 ten oeing offered,
Az the close OF the second heat the betting
was as hlgh as a hundred 70 twenty-five in
ms iav0ri put the result Oh tne tnird heat, in
wmeh Butter was VICTORIOUS, entirely changed
'he current, ana the same odds were offered
on Butler; Inc bets on time ranged from
Z:zs to Z:3l; Both horses were In good con-
diuon, Cooley appearing on the track as
sieeS ana glossy as satin, while Bntier seemed
70 nc eguai,y iresn. .3r.
Inc prst neat was very closely contested.
~ ~
tne middle sretch. AT the half-mile post
Buter was hve lengths ahead,, but on the
iourtn turn they were even. On entering
the homestretch Butler slipped, and Cooley
went nose ahead' from that the horses
swept on togetner evenly othe middle OF the
sTetCn, wnen nutier again broke and ran to
the distance post, losing scarcely anything,
however. butier came on squarely then,
wheh oooley mace spurt and came IN I'M
ger tne WIRE neck ahead. lime, 2.3S IL.
IN Tue second neat butler was badly beaten,
owing 10 MS continually breaking, and Goo
icy came IN hiteen lengths ahead. Time,
20, ~. Az tne close Oh this neat the friends
u puuer were dissatisned with ms handling.
n cnahgeo OF drivers was demanded, and finally
ms owner TOOK the reins. The change was
an advantageous one and Butler came in on
1 u thira neat iuliy twenty lengths ahead:
lime, L.oI. ny TINS tline the excitement OF
INC crowu was growing intense, as IT became
apparent tnat tne fortunes OF the day were
changing In favor OF Butler under his new
driver. DIX taise starts were made, Butler
appearing 10 hang BACK every time.
Nearly hall an hour was consumed in
JocReying ana swearing, and an angry alterca-
ton sprung up between the two drivers, Nc
keever and Riley. Cheers and frequent
misses went through the crowd, and some ap-
prehensions we're felt that the race would
hzzle, the shades OF evening coming down so
last that 1t was difficult to distinguish be-
tween the drivers at any distance. AT last
the horses were OIL. When within two hun
dred yards Of the winning post, Butler made
sudden movement towards the inside track,
coming IN 'front.' OF Cooley, SO that the wheel
touched the horses nose. This gave Butler,
the advantage, and he came in about one
half length ahead. Time, 2:33 IL. A deaf.
ening tumult ensued, and for time there
was a1rospect OF great fight; but the track
was, cleared for the fifth and last heat.
u was now completely dark. Angry words
were heard between the drivers. The crowd
divided into parts, some being in favor of
postponlng the race, while others loudly de-
manded that 1t should go on. After much
delay and much noisy quarrelling, which
threatened at times to eliminate in gen.
eral disturbance, start was made, Butler
taking the lead by q length. Both horses
then seemed TO vanish into the darkness. 1t
was impossible to follow them around the
track, so the crowd waited at the winning
post with GREATNESS interest for the result.
~ was moment OF intense anxiety. AT
length a shout was raised and Cooley came
IN under the WIRE. CLOSELY behind him came
buuer, w'.nout ariVer, ana went coursing
round the track. The crowd gathered around
the stand IN wonder and establishment to
learn the cause. Again Butter came around
ana dashed away without pause. A third
tnns nc came swinging around the circle,
when blanket was thrown over him, and
ne passed INTO the stable. Qpiet, being re-
stored the iact was announced from the
Judges stand mat Mckeever was left dead
upon the oack'stretch, ana q scene OF wild
eXenement ensued. strange TO say, 1t did
NOV appear 10 DC caused ny tne intelligence
Vi we ur'er ueath, put Dy disappointment
az me unsatisfactory result Of the contest, A
aeelsioh was vocltero9siy demanded OF the
Judges ihey repeated That Mckeever was
killed, ana announced that the decision would
De postponed, which only ehcitcd loud calls
on Ihe part OF the crowd ior immediate de.
cision. fhally, az the bets were declared
on, ana the crowd began to separate.
u appears ,nat ,Mcheever was not Killed,
put mere is little nope OF MS recovery, as his
stated that he had run into the fence on the
back track, and that he had been struck by
.ne wnee' OF the suiky. lie was running
H'"S o''oie Soo'.y, "heh oic VI Tue Wneeis