New-York tribune., 1905-04-24
RIOT AT AUTO" RACE.
When Machines Fail to Appear
Crozcd Gets Mad.

Paterson, n. j.. April % tspecaD-Riot and in
cendiarsn took the place OF automobilng at the
Clifton racetrack this afternoon. The lawless
outbreak was caused by the failure Of the racing
machines to reach the ground. and before it was
suppressed many heads were broken and prop
erty worth several hundred dollars destroyed
The fire departments Of Paterson and Clifton
were called into play.
The International Automobile Association,
with headquarters at No. 10 West 34th-st.
New-YOrk leased the grounds for the day from
the Clifton Driving Association and advertised
a $1,000 challenge automobile speed contest be-
tween Marvellous Stone, OF New-York. and
"Mile-a-Minute' Johnson. Of Chicago. and
Charles Kreamer. Of Omaha. who was also
scheduled to run for the worlds record.
Although it had been announced that the Law
and Order League OF Clifton would interfere.
1.5OO persons were on the ground at 8 o'clock.
Half an hour passed and the racing automobiles
were not in evidence. The crowd continued to
increase. each person who passed through the
gates cheerfully paying twenty-five cents for
the privilege The crowd was interested for
a time in the speed contests among the owners
Of the TJaAasure automobiles. but finally, at the
end OF an hour it became impatient There was
a movement toward the front entrance. where
the frame building used office is situated
when does this show begin?" Of
the crowd asked. The stranger who collected
the tickets explained that the racing machines
had met with an accident and he expected they
would arrive soon. But the throng in front Of
the main entrance kept Increasing. and it be-
came evident that serious trouble was brewing
I'VE want money" came the demand from
the crowd In an instant there was an assault
on the box office Constables Coughlin. Kear-
ney. McCloud. Burke Feeney and Jowett made
an effort to drive the crowd back. but their ef-
tn L.
came a bowling mob. With the aid OF Consta-
bic CoughIn the treasurer made his escape, Un-
known to the mob.s The door Of the office
torn off by the angry youths who led the as
sault They found the Ofice empty, and 35
cents in the cash box.
Wen have revenge, anyhow" declared the
leaders. and they proceeded TO tear down the
frame building and large portion of the picket
fence surrounding the grounds. After the butli-
ing had been wrenched from it's foundation some
che came forward with arnful of hay placed
it in the uptUrned building and applied the torch.
The constables endeavored to eXtinguish the
flames but the crowd attacked them with pick
cts and stones.
The DANES were carried by the high wind. and
threatened To destroy the racetrack. hotel sheds
stables and storehouses. Edward Frazer. pro-
prietor of the hotel organized bucket brigade
partments of Clifton and Paterson.
While this excitement was in progress. Mile
a-Minute" Johnson started for Passaic The
crowd picked him out as one of the managers OF
the race and pursued him. He saved from
serious injury by the constables. and placed
aboard a trolley car for Paterson.
All of the high fence on the Main-st side was
torn down. and the stables adjoining the main
entrance were wrecked. AS a result of the riot
ing several complaints will be made by the con-
stables.