The San Francisco call., 1898-07-25
JAMES WREN
 VAS MOBBED
 BY BETTORS Exciting Scenes at Union Park. FAVORITE'S CHANGES RUINED THE SLIPPER" IS BLAMED BY THE ANGRY SPECTATORS. He Stumbled at a Critical Point 4n the Final Course as the
 Dogs Were Being
 Released.
FAVORITE'S CHANGES RUINED
THE SLIPPER" IS BLAMED BY
 THE ANGRY SPECTATORS.

Owing to an unfortunate bungle In the slipping of the last brace of dogs left to run for the all-age stake at Union Cours- ing Park yesterday. the favorite. Vanity Fair, was never in the running. The bet tors. who were down heavily on Curtis & Sons fawn greyhound. mobbed James Wren, the slipper, as he left the field
 A murmur of disappointment ran through the big crowd as the dogs left the slips. They were released together. but John Kerrigan's Lady Blanche had opened a lead of some six lengths before Vanity Fair seemed to get started. The hare was not a strong one and the favor ite had hardly got under way before the course was over.
 Instead of starting at once for the train, as is their custom, the crowd gathered at the fence and awaited the return of the slipper from the field. As he approached the inarticulate murmur of the mob grew In intensity. Men and women jostled one another in an effort to gain a point of vantage near the field. Wren walked up stolidly to face the trouble.
 "Why didn't you hold her with a roper" was the first question fired at him by a spectator.
 This was the signal for a perfect tor rent of abuse heaped upon the man who
 
 walked down to the exit from the field the crowd followed him. One woman. in frenzy of excitement, shouted. "Kil him. the robber, the thief!' The cry of "robber" was taken up by the men and was mingled with hisses and groans. As Wren left the field and reached the bet ting ring the special police and his per sonal friends surrounded him and pushed back the mob.
 The women, more insistent than the sterner sex, still kept up their cry of kill him. The progress of the crowd was f1n- ally stopped by the bar. Wren's friends had succeeded in nuieting the mob for the time being and then gave three cheers for him. He was hurried to his room. to the train. They were in no amiable frame of mind and number of minor en- counters ensued before the grounds were cleared
 According to Wren's explanation the trouble was caused by an inopportune ac- cident. liable to occur at any time. It ment if it occurred in any except. the final rounds of the stake. When the hare was the customary distance ahead of the dogs Wren started with them, both being sighted on &heir game. Wren had barely left the bench. upon which he sits. when he stumbled losing his balance and unin- moment Lady Blanche was in the proper position for starting and as quick as a flash had settled down to her stride
 Not so with Vanity Fair. the favorite. Her front legs were inclined backward and when the pressure of the slips was taken from her neck she stumbled Before opened up commanding lead. The hare was not strong one and Vanity Fair was not fairly in the running before the red flag went up, signaling the victory of Lady Blanche.
 Curtis & Sons, owners of Vanity Fair had more than their share of misfortune played played in P the long odds book iv to win Ths ths stake. was thrown out in the fourth round. She was drawn against Lady Blanche the ultimate winner, and was