The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-07-22
The Punishment of a ..welsher.'
CHARACTERISTIC SCENE ON AN ENGLISH RAGE
COURSE.

CHARACTERISTIC sdENE ON AN ENGLISH RAoE
COURSE.
James Greenwood reports for the London
Star the following incident which occurred at
the Alexandra races s'Welsher," it may be
promised for the benefit Of our readers who are
not 'horsey," being man who, In some ds-
honorable or shabby way, evades the payment
Of his debts:
Anropos of cheats and cheating, it is with
main and horror at the bare recollection that
beg to call public attention to very revolving
and f1ispraceful scene, witnessed on wednesday
| sfternoon. in the neighborhood OF the betting
ring at Alexandra Park. 1t was understood
that the Prince and Princess would be present;
the accident that kept them away Was lucky
one, for they we're thus spared a spectacle too
from the excellently conducted races, to eftace
from their memory. will relate the unpleas,
ant story .as briefly as possible. It seems that
although the Law oountenances the practice OF
betting, and will even 20 the length OF lending
the assistance Of it's police towards keeping
such order that q multitude may indulge IN lts
gambling propensiGes comfortably, it will not
recognize as q just debt money owing between
two wagerers. II is merely "debt OF honor, :
and the law has no machinery that will apply
thereto.
The consequence is, that amongst the bet
ting fraternity, when o man shows himself dis
honorable, he is punished by the mob that at
the time Of the discovery Of his defalcauon
may happen to surround him, and with de-
gree Of severity according to the yind1ctlvensss
and brutality Of the said mob. On Wednesday
afternoon, just as the race for the Grand Prize
was decided, looking down from the gallery Of
the stand, observed sudden .oommotion
amongst the perspiring, bawlng, leather
lunged gentry who seek whom they may de-
your, in the betting ring below, and presently
there arose the magical cry Of "Welsherl"
have heard the sudden cry OF "hreP' raised IN
the night, and watched its thrilling, rousng
effect on the sleeping population; but that was
as nothing compared with it.
Instantly and as though moved by one
deadly hate and thirst for vengeance, rush
was made for man in black wide-awake cap
and with the betting mans pouch slung at his
side, and who was hurTying towards the gate OF
the enclosure. 'sWelsher Welsherl "cTied the
furious mob Of the ring, making at the poor
wretch, and in an instant dozen fists were
directed at his head and face, and he was
struck down. But he was biggish man and
strong, and he<wes quickly on his legs, to be
struck down and kicked and stamped on. He
was up again, however, without his hat, and
with his face q hideous patch of crimson, and
uuSG6Q gOWdIUb Lu0 gaze, p1tuSa6 AlnO " AAAo>A
man to escape the fury of his pursuer5.
But the policemen blocked the way, and they
caught him again, and some punched at his
face, while others tore off his clothes. One
rufisn@I cannot otherwise describe him
plucked at the poor devils shirt at the breast,
and tore away tattered handful OF 1t, which
he fung over to the great Yelling crowd now
assembled without the rails; another tore away
bis coat sleeves and tossed them aloft, and in
the same Yey he lost his wsistcoat and one OF
his boots. It seemed ss hougn, H they do
tanned him another moment, the man must be
murdered, and so the policemen made way for
him to escape.
From the trying pan into the fire. "Welsh:
eri Welsher 70 the air rang with the hateful
once matohed at by the foremost men Of the
mouthing, yelling mob outside, who flung
him down and punched and beat him. Fight
ing for his Life, he struggled and broke away,
and ran for the bank, at the top Of which the
betting blacklegs before alluded to have their
standing; but his company was not good
enough for even such ss these. A betting
man Hung his tall stool at him, and brought
him to ea tn again, for the twentieth time, and
again the punching and kicking process WAS re-
s1med. How he escaped from these was mir
scle; but escape he did, snd with the despera-
ton Of rat pursued by dogs, divsd into an
empty hansome cab, and there lay crouched
while dfty coward nanQ6 were 6Gretcn6u lOr-
ward to drag him out, OF, failing in that, TO
probe and poke at him with wslkin sticks and
umbrellas. At last mounted policeman
spurred his horse forward and came to the
rescue, keeping his steed before the place Of
refuge. Then the furious mob, that was not
to be denied, turned on the policeman, and
only his great courage and determination
saYed him from being unhorsed and in-treated.
Then other police came up, and the poor tat
tered wretch, ghsstly white, and streaming
with blood, was hauled out, and dragged away
With bis head hanging and his legs trailing in
the dust, amid the howing and horrible exc
,rations Of five Thousand Enghshmen.
Let it be distinctly understood that in men
sioning this little tragedy in connection with
The shortcomings Of the Alexandra Race Com
osny, by no means intend. to saddle them
NTH the responsibility. Lynch law is prac-
ise6 against "welshersn at all race meetings
md though, thank Heaven, such en- exhibition
,f ssYsgery az that Witnessed On Wednesday is
are. it illustrates the monstrous and inhu-
nan length TO which the practice may be car
led and il by this shocking narrative the
attention. Of those high in authority is directed
o the grievance with view to its remedy,
9hy, so much the better for Alexandra and all
other races yet TO come. ta