Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1829-09-11
YD1o W
TUE VIRGINIA GAME COCK,
Nm n. RaLiimnre Minerya and Emerald.


I, was ia the year IS, that | was bound
. ,be Havana, in the brig Evening Star,
'.o ~ we had lost sight Of the capes, large
,Io N mon our yard arm. The sailors
,o0r him. let him remain until after dark,
.r,on one orthe men, taking a large bag with
inn went out upon the yard and succeeded
(, eioging it over him, so as to prevent his
INC, and tying the bag at ore end, secured
hin, until the following morning, when he was
,,ker from the bag. and his wings clipped,
Oh trimmed in such manner, as to prevent
his e,cape. He was always fed by the men
(, the lorecastle, and at last became quite do
,rc,,ieated, and was great favorite of the
,,,tain. He played great many tricks TO
me great annoyance of the pigs on board, Tor
ny thing in the pigs mess he would have if
10 took a liking to It he was the terror OF
Ri, brist!y companions to such degree, that
. p;g showed his snout on the quarter deck,
he MS sure 10 go the whole hog on him.
The day after we arrived at Havana, the
,,Dtain, with several more Americans, visit
: cockpit, to have some sport. The
CAPTAIN bet several times, but invariably lost !;
aieagth he offered 10 bet five hundred dollars,
mat he had Virginia game cock on board
ia, would kill any cock on the Island. Of
,ogrse he was soon taken up, and the day
pitched for the fight, which was to be three
aays after Accordingly, on leaving the pit,
he Ict his companions into the secret, and pro-
7oscd to them, to 90 snackS, and throw in, to
make up the bet. The captain also went "a
round to tn American captains in the port,
aud toId them Of the hoax, advising them to
be, on the Virginia game cock, if they want
ed to win stake or two. The captain then
returned on board, and had the eagle trim
med as cocks generally are for fig hit; all his
feathers about tho neck, which are called the
.Ow,icathcrs on 4 chicken, in consequence of
their letting them fall when they are beaten,
Or as is termed, cowcd. lie then had little
more trimmed off his wings, and in fine dis
figured him in such 4 manner that very few
could have told II was an, aaGle, Ha
then cooped aud put upon short allowance, so
as to whct his appetite for the coming bat
lie.
When the day of battle came, the eagle was
conveyed to the scene OF action IN the same
bag III which he was caught. The time Of
pltung the cocks arrived, and two men step
ped out. who were selected to pit the cocks,
loI neither party were permitted to pit their
own chickens; the man on the opposite side
produced one ofthe large Spanish breed, and
liked the heels on him. The man who was
10 pl; the captains cock, was about preparing
alarge pair of heels when the captain told
him not to trouble himself, for he fought his
cock without gafs. The captains bird was
'lken from the sack, and was received with
surprise by the beholders, but the Spaniard
said ms cock would gaff him the first fly.
ine Spanish cock made a fly at the eagle and
prlcked him with his heels pretty smartly,
which raised his ferocity, which was very
Agh before for want of food-he cast look
o. dlsdaIn on his adversary, and the next fly
ine game Spaniard made at him, he seised
nm with his talons, by the breast and wing,
and IN an instant tore him to pieces. The
,ane OF the Virginia game cock was raised SO
@Sn, that the captain, before he left the place,
sod a'm for an amount Of money equal to the
le'