The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-10-15
RIOT ON FRENCH RACEYRACK.
CROWD BURNS BETTING BOOTHS
AFTER BAD START.
Attempt 10 set Grand stand on Fire
Take Ous From the o Sellers
--FaVOrIte LEFT nj the Post and q IA TO
shot Wal Declared the winner.

WV WIZ
Special Cable Despatch TO THE SUN.
PARIS, Oct. 1A-One Of the most extraor-
binary scenes probably ever witnessed
on a raoetrack occurred at Longchamps
in the Bots de Boulogne this afternoon.
A riot Of wild proportions turned the race
course into a pandemonium, and violence
reigned unrestrained for over an hour and
a half. Men and women were assaulted
and injured, shots were fired, and the mob
in the excess Of its fury resorted to incendi-
arism, joyfully burning the betting booths
and twice attempting TO set fire to the
grand stand.
The cause Of the rioting was the crowds
belief that there had been a false start.
when this belief spread, which it did like an
electric shock, the people seemed to &c
mad, but with a clear and definite purpose,
namely. to wreak vengeance on the man.
ayers Of the races and the operators of the
betting system, the pari mutueL
The trouble started at 3 o'clock, when the
third race was called. There were probably
100 900 persons present. Only three horses
got away. Those left at the post included
the fsvorite. The start was so patiently
false in public estimation that the people
supposed the horses would be recalled,
but this was not done, and as soon az the
spectators realized that there was to be no
recall those in the grand stand became
extremely excited, and those in the immense
field seemed to go wild. A. one man the
crowd cried Catch the robber!"
Those in the field made a rush for the
many betting booths, which form practically
one building in the field, demanding their
money. They contented themselves with
demanding only .~momentarily. Then they
stormed the booths, set them on fire and
assaulted their occupants. Men and women
we're knocked down and tumbled over
each other. The men about the booths
were seemingly crazy drunk and waved
over their heads great rolls Of bank notes,
which had been taken from the cashiers.
The sight made the crowd madden than
ever. They overpowered the booth keepers,
both tally men and cashiers. Bills and
gold and silver pieces flew in all directions.
The crowd fought and scrambled for the
money, and many were injured, Mean
while the fire was spreading.
Those in the grand stand were also fren-
zied but were somewhat less violent. They
demanded their money at their booths and
denounced the Soci6te encouragement
which controls all sport in France, threaten
ing legal proceedings.
Twice flames started in the cheaper part
of the grand stand, newspapers being used
10 encourage the flames, but the stand
was not burned. When the'lremen reached
the scene the Infatuated mob would not ct
them reach the burning booths. The mob
cut the harness of the horses attached to the
fire engines and the animals, which were
at high tension and. frightened by the
screams, galloped across the course. They
rushed uncontrolled into the dense crowd
bearing down many persons.
The police and gendarmes were power
less. They were treated by the crow
almost the same as the bet takers, and
several Of them were injured before rpen-
forcements arrived.
The police authorities ordered the races
stopped for the day, bu t the crowd refused
to go home. In the meantime aid was sum
moned from the city, NJ. Lepine, project
Of police, arrived and the crowd cheered
him, but even from him they demanded
that he refund their money. NJ. Lepine
restored order. His reenforcements slowly
and with difficulty forced the crowd from
the field, but not before the iron chairs had
been hurled even at the policemen.
Storm was The ~favorite in the bet ting.
Monsieur Perichon won. The mutuels
had begun TO pay bets at Il to l on Monsieur
Perichon when the rioters got the upper
hand.
The fire had destroyed every one Of the
seventy-lve booths and the tall tower
where the races are bulletined before it was
got under control. The damage amounts
to SO 900.
The pool sellers say that only $1,000 was
stolen by the rioters, but report places
the money thus lost as high as 100000.
1t was the worst outbreak hat ever
occurred on this the greatest racecourse
in France. There was a similar one at
Colombes sixteen years ago and one since
at Vincennes.