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EXCITING EPISODE ON FRENCH TRACK. Paris. Franee. June 21. — An occurrence unprecedented in French turf history almost prevented the running of the lirand Steeplechase of Paris yesterday at the Auteuil course. The meeting was disorganized and a serious riot took place, in which several persons were injured and many arrests were made. Inspired and aided, it is stated, bv Pataud and other revolutionary labor leaders, forty militant uiemliers of the Stable Boys lnion. armed with tevolvers. ambushed the vans conveying the horses from Maisons-Laffltte. their training quarters, cut the traces and forced them back to the stables. Among thein were several American horses. A magistrate and a force of police set off in automobiles to the scene of the trouble and succeeded in putting the stable boys to flight and rescuing the racers. The first race was more than two hours after the scheduled time, and tlie crowds, already exasperated from waiting, became violent when a single horse presented itself for a walk -over. Jockey and horse were forced to beat a hasty retreat to the paddock. The second race was for army officers, riding their "Wn horses. For some reason or other the crowds became frenzied when several officers cantered out for the start. The officials were pelted with missiles of various kinds and two were severely injured. The barriers guarding the -ourse were broken down and hundreds of men crowded the track, several of them being ridden down and injured by the wildly excited horses. About the same time, the booths and hedges were set on fire, hut fortunately reinforcements of police, troops and firemen, who had been hastily summoned, arrived in time to clear the track and extinguish the Haines. The police made a large number of arrests, and the remainder of the program was carried out in comparative quiet. The trouble was the sequel of a meeting at which the stable boys voted to use all means. Including striking, to obtain satisfaction of their claims. The Stable Bovs 1nlon met again last night. One speaker declared that if the boys demands were not granted bv next Sunday, the Grand Prix might find itself transformed into an obstacle race. Most of the stable bovs are English and expulsion warrants are likely to flourish if the participants can be identified. The grand steeplechase, which was worth S.J00. was won by M. Veil Picards Saint Caradec, with !. G. Assiietcm-Smiths Jerry M. second and M. Champions Mademoiselle Boniface third. W. K. Vanderbilts Herkimer won the Prix dlssy. a hurdle race at one mile and three-quarters. It is estimated that the incident at the Auteuil course yesterday caused a loss of 00,000 to the betting machines.
