Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1829-09-11

rested this day might be deemed ominous :" Int
pointing to the rising sun; :: the augury is
donbtinl-at least, the prayer of the Grecian
hero will be accorded; we shall perish in light
From the Baltimore Minerva and Emerald
THE VIRGINIA GAME COCK
1t was in the year Is, that l was bound
Tor the Havana, in the brig Evening Star, when
we had lost sight of the capes. that large ca
gle Int upon our yard-arm. The sailors secinr
HIM let him remain until after dark, when one
OF the men, taking large bag with him, went
out upon the yard, and succeeded in flinring
it over him, so as to prevent his biting. and
tying the bag ut one end secured him until
the following morning, when he was taken
from the bag, and his wings clipped, and trim.
med III SUCH manner, as to prevent his escape
lie was always fed we'll by the men in the fore.
castle, and at last became qsite domcsticat.d
and was great hvorite of the captain. He
played great 'manytricks to the great ANNOYANCE
OF the pigs on bonrd, for any thing in the pigs
mess he would have if he took Ekinp to il.
he was the terror of his bristly companions to
such degree, that if pig showed his snout
ON the quarter deck, he was sure to 90" the
whole hog" on him-this very much pleased
tho captain, for when pigs are let loose on board
ship, they are very troublesome
The day after we arrived at Hav.nna tho
captain, with several moro Americans, visited a
cockpit, to have some sport. The captain bet
several times, but invariably lost at length he
offered to bet five hundred dollars, that he had
Virginia game cock on board that would kill any
cock on the lsland.--Of course he was soon TAX
en- up, and they pitched for tho fight, which was
to be three days after Accordingly, on leaving
the pit, he led his companions into the secret,
and proposed to them, to go snacks, and throw
IN, to make up the bet The captain also went
round to the American captains in the port, and
tcld them of the hoax, advising them to bet on
the Virginia game cock, if they wanted to win
stake or two. The captain then returned on
board, and had the eagle trimmed as cocks gen
orally are for fight; all his feathers about the
neck; which called the cow-feathers on a
chicken, in consequence of their letting them
tall when they are beaten, or as is termed, cowed
lie then had little more trimmed off his wings
and in fine, disfigured him in such manner that
very few could have told it was an eagle lie
was then cooped and put upon short allowance,
so as to whet his appetite for the coming battle
The news spread all over the Havana, and
many fockeG to see the fight between the Virgil
MIA and Spanish cocks, and bets were made to
considerable amount. When the day of battle
came, the eagle was conveyed to the scene of
action in the same bag in which he was caught
The time of ptting the cocks arrived, and two
men stepped oLt, who were selected to pit the
cocks, for neither party were permitted to pit
their own chickens the man on the opposite
side produced one of the large Spanish breed,
| and fixed the heels ou him. The man who was
to pit the captains cock, was about preparing a
large pair ofheels, when the captain told him not
to trouble himself, for he fought his cock with
out gafs. The captains bird was taken from
the sack, and was received with surprise by the
beholders, but the Spaniard said his cock would
gaff him the first fly. The Spanish cock made
fly at the eagle and prcked him with his heels
pretty smartly, which raised his ferocity, which
| was very high before for want of food-he cast a
look of disdain his adversary, and the next fly
| the game Spaniard made at him, he seized him
with his talons, by the breast and wing, and in
| an instant tore him to pieces. The fame of the
| Virginia game cock was raised so high, that the
captain, before he left the place, sold him for an
amount of money equal to the bet.
SPUN YARN,