New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-12
DEATH IN SPEEDWAY RACE.
TROTTER RAN AWAY IN A BRUSH AND
WAS THROWN TO AVOID COLLISION.
THB ANIMALS NECK BROKEN AND ITS DRIVER.
JAMES M'DONALD. CARRIED TO A HOS
PITAL IN A DYING CONDITION
LIVED ONLY 4 FEW HOURS.

JAMES M'DONALD CARRIED TO A HOS
PITAL IN DYING CONDITION
LIVED ONLY A FEW HOURS
Cheered by thousands. with the speed OF the
wind, first one leading by neck. then the other.
two speedy horses gave exhibition on the
Speedway yesterday afternoon that the multi
tude OF spectators hope never to repeated.
When at first 1t seemed that It merely a
question of speed the test Of endurance between
the two animals and Of skill between their mas
ters. the valley Of the Harlem resounded with
the plaudits Of the throng. and every man voted
Il one OF the best brushes Of the afternoon
Then It was seen away down the line that
something was wrong. 1t plain that horses
could make no such speed in an ordinary race
and then the thought flashed upon the cheering
crowds that one OF the horses was running
away. The fact that only few blocks further
on the Speedway was blocked. and that perhaps
death might in consequence have hand in the
contest. changed the cheers to dull murmurs
as the end was awaited with almost breathless
silence Then one Of the horses seen to rear
and plunge forward The light runabout was
tossed several feet ahead as II it were feather.
The driver was thrown into the air. and dashed,
unconscious and bleeding. on the rough gravel
The race was over The winning horse lay dead.
with n broken neck. and it's master, James Nc
Donald Of No 500 West Thirty -second-st., well
known to most Of the horsemen In New-fork,
had fractured skull and was dying He hVed
only few hours after reaching the hospital.
Mcdonald appeared on the Speedway at Z
O'Clock in the afternoon, and drove until nearly
+ o'clock beating some of the best horses then
on the course He passing One hundred
and seventy -hfth-st on his way home when
friend with n new horse came along and chal-
lerged him to a brush. AS a sportsman, he ac-
ccpted Of course and wheeling his horse he
was soon away at full speed his friend abreast
The drive was crowded uncomfortaoy, ana
was even dangerously filled with every imagin-
able sort of vehicle and all kinds or horses
from the hlooded trotter 10 the numbering oe-
livery horse. out for the day with a small gro
cerymans family
Along the promenades and high up on the
overhanging cliffs hundreds Of persons watched
the sport applauding frequently as some leader
flashed along.
Nv One-hundred- and eighty seventh-st. NC
Donald and his opponent raced AT -.'V
gait At One-hundred- and ninety -fourth-st. NC
Donald was behind by half length. ana po'h
boreae vere straining every muscle to gain the
SUPREMACY Then with mighty burst or speed
ca oreat &C 70 make the other animal appear 70
stand almost still. McDonald's horse took 'ne
,it and with defiant toss Of his head, Jumped
forward. The crowd yelled its approval ana
Mcdonald. not appearing to realize that any
thing was wrong smiled grimly as he looked
ovcr his shoulder at his defeated friend
Al One-hundred- and ninety y-sixth-st. Police
man Austin saw that the horse was running
ovav. and yelled to Mcdonald. who just tnen
seemed to realize mis- predicament S'anuns
bsff ,inripht he sawed HIS reins in a vain en-
deavor to stop his horse but a sinall boy
effort would have been as eHectiVe folc a.
Austin gave chase on foot, put was m uii"po ,,,o ~
get within reach Of the runaway. Two piocAs
ahead we're two four-seated rigs, In which iour
persons each were riding, their horses Jossine t
along at slow trot. Coming at lull sieeu @ It".1
the other direction were tWo trotters III e
On thar the road was blocked for its entire WIDTH
The drivers coming from the other olrecIlun ,'..,n
did all they could 10 stop but tnat WAS n..',
enough Neither Of the heavier ven,c'ss n,il,
able TO move and Mcdonald evidently uhwlli
inc 70 ieonardIZe more lives than his own, chose
the only expedient known TO drivers IN such ai
extremity. and that was 10 throw MS IIi I,,
Dropping one rein he stood up In ms rullapuu1
and grasping the other with both hands, he
gave a mighty jerk. The leather thong parIed
like piece Of string but inc stroke 'o,u. ida
borse's head was pulled away over 10 one siue'
and the animal was thrown forward In heap
his neck broken. The wagon flew upward anu
the driver was thrown many feet peyonu
Several policemen were on the scene instantly
and Dr Heller. Of Manhattan Hospital. respond
ed To several calls for an ambulance Inc m
iurod man was taken there in dying conui,
lion His wife and daughter were summoned
by telegraph and were at his bedside in Few
hours He lived only few minutes AFTER thelr
arrival. 700 . ,,,,. -
Mcdonald lived at No. 800 West Thirty-sec-
ond-st having occupied that house for the last
seventeen years. He had a wife and SIX chll-
dren Two years ago Mcdonald was the ram
MANY candidate for Alderman in the NNth AS
scmhlv District He was defeated. lie had peeh
prominent in Tammany Hall for years tie
owned a horseshOeing shop at No. 81 Ientn-
aya where many OF the best horses In the city
are shod The animal he was driving az the
time Of the accident one he secured only
two days ago.
CEPU1N OCCUPATION OF SAMOA.