The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-04-17
From WIMs's first impression Of Em
rope" .
RRJy1VAI ANIJICEMEN NTc

day in Paris. ] had observed for some
time among the a6fches upon the walls
an advertisement of an exhibition of
fighting animals" at the Ba,rierc du
Cambat. / am disposed to see almost
any sight once, particularly where il is,
like this, regular establishment, and, OF
course, an exponent Of the popular taste,
The place ofthe Combats des Animour, is
IN one of the most obscure suburbs, out
side the walls, and found it with some
difficulty. After walking about in drly
lanes for an hour or two, ipquiring for il
IN vain, the cries of the animals directed
me to walled place, separated from the
other houses Of the suburb, at the gate,
of which man was blowing q trumpet.
l purchased ticket of an old woman
who sat shivering In the porter's lodge +;
and finding was an hour too early for
the fights, ! made interests with savage
lookingfellow, who was carrying in faint
ed meat for the animals, 20 see the inte-
rior of the establishment. followed
him through a side gate, aud we passed
into narrow alley, lined with stone ken
nels, to each Of which was confined a
powerful dog, with just length of chain
enough to prevent him from reaching the
tennant of the opposite bole. There
were several Of these alleys, containing
| should think, two hundred dogs in all,
They were Of every breed of strength a.
ferocity, and all of them perfectly fran
tic with rage or hunger. with the except
ion of pair of noble looking black dogs
who stood calmly at the mouths of their
kennel they struggled and howled in
cessantly. straining every muscle to reach
US, and resuming their 6erceness toward
each other when we had passed by. They
all bore more or less, the marks of Sc
we're battles one or two with their noses
split open. and still unhealed; several
with their necks bleeding and raw. and
CALLED constantly with the iron collar, and
many with broken legs, but allapparent-
ly so excited as to be insensible TO suffer-
ing. After following my guide very un-
willingly through the several alleys, deaf.
ened with the barking and howling of the
savage occupants was taken to the de.
partment Of wild animals. Here were
all the tenants ofthe menagerie, kept in
dens, opening the iron doors upon tn,
ipis, in which they fought. Like the dogs
they were terribly wounded one Of the
bears especially. whose mouth was tori
off from his jaws, having his teeth per.
fectly exposed, and red with the contin.
ually exuding blood. In one of the dens
lay beautiful deer, with one Of his
launches severely mangled, who, the man
told me, had been hunted round the pit
by the dogs, but day or two before
He looked up at us, with his large soft
eye, as we passed and lying on the damp
stone floor, with his undressed wounds
fostering in the chilly atmosphere of mid
water ;his appearance made me asham-
ed TO the soul Of my idle curiosity.
The spectators began to collect and
the pit was cleared. Two thirds ofthose
in the amphth eatre were Englishmen,
most of whom were amateurs, who had
brought dogs Of their own into the pit,
against the regular mastiffs of the estab-
lishment. These were despatched first.
A strange dog was brought in by the col
lar, and loosed in the arena and train
cd dog let IN upon him. 1t was cruel
business. The sleek, well-fed, good ma
tured animal, was nO match for the ex-
asperated hungry savage he was compell-
ed to encounter. One minute, in ali tho
JOY of a release from his chain, bounding
about the pit, and fawning upon his mas
ter, and the next attacked by furious
mastiff, who was taught to fasten on him
at the first onset, in "A way that deprived
him at once of his strength; it was a
murderous exhibition Of cruelty. The
combats between two of the trained dogs
however were more equal. These sue.
ceeded to tho private contests, and were
much more severe and bloody. There
was small terrier among them, who
disabled several dogs successively by
catching at their foro-legs. and breaking
them instantly with powerful jerk OF
his body. | was very much interested
in one ofthe private dogs, large yellow
animal, Of noble expression Of counte-
nance. who fought several times very
unwillingly, but always gallantly and
victoriously. There was majesty about
him, which seemed to awe his antago-
nists. He was carried offin his masters
arms, bleeding and exhausted. after Sc
verely Furnishing the best dogs in the es-
tablishment.
The batting Of the wild animals sue
eeeded the canine combats. Several
dogs Irish, l was told) Of a size and fe-
rocity such as never before had seen,
were brought in, and held in the leash
opposite the den Of the bear whose head
was so dreadfuIIy mangled.
The door was then opened, by the
keeper, but poor bruin skunk from the
contest. The dogs became un,nanagea-
ble at the sight ofbim. however. and fas-