Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1850-08-14
Cub:s Cocks aud Yankee Cocks.
FROM TRAVELLING MEMoRANpuMs. nv J. N. WESTON.
From the St. Louis Reviiee

From the St. Louis Reviiee.
II tisw well known that the Spaniards are greatly
addicted 10 cock hghiing-in short, deprive them
Of their cock pit, and their Plaza del Toros.'
dull riDgD and they would be much more like
ly to revolt than at any oppression OF the gov.
April last, WAS told Of IL very ludicrous scene
that occurred in the ckpit in that city. II
should be underst,o that cock fighting IS very
popular and fashionable amusement, and that
gambling, on the result Of a fight. is carried to
a extraord mary height. Their 'birds' are very
small, aud being deprived Of all their feathers,
! except those on the wings. and two or three
straight ones in the tail. they present very di-
minutivs and naked appearance. They never
ore allowed to fight with .gatr,.' but use their
natural spurs, which are sharpened to a ncety.
and they fight with a coolness and care that iu-
dicates how c<wefuIv they have been trained.
An Anne rican captain Of a vessel. looking at
a fight that had been sometime prolonged, at
length burst out with
"Get out with such birds as them; they an't
bigger than tona-tit, and amt worth curse.
any how! Them are some poor miserable Cuba
cocks, | reckon! I've got on board Of my ship
a genuine Yankee bird, that'll lick any three or
four of your mise rable cocks before you could
say beans-and III be, high on it. too"'
A bet Of fifty 'ounces' (S550) was instantly
offered on the Captains proposition. who, not
wi,hstandng the remonstrances of his friends,
put up the money, and said hs 'woud be thar
sure, and give all such small-fry cocks at hand.
particular thunder" Now, be it understood the
captain had old grey eagie' on board his ship,
and his first order was not to give it any thing
! to eat for tho next tive nty -four hours He also
stripped the eagle Of all its pumage, causing the
old fellow to feel decidedly ashamed OF himself
The day Of trial arrived; the cock pit was crowd
ed to see the great trial Of one bird against three.
! The captain arrived in time with his bird under
his arm.
"Who pits your cock, captain7" was asked
"Who! we'll, rather think III attend TO that
4 s..Nxs
the ring. The old eagle seemed ashamed Of the
company he was in. and did not look very cour-
ageous; and as they exam ned the Yankee cock.
many were the winks, side glances, and nods
exchanged among the Spaniards, for. excepting
only his size, there was not any thing very en-.
coursging in the old eagles appearance. lie
was wre,chedly poor. aud they also discovered
that he had no spurs!
"Why. captain, said they, "your bird has
no spurs
"No, the first spur" said he. "but he's worse
than a wild cat where he scratches or bites; SO
90 ead.'
Three noble looking game chickens were now
brought in. and the betting commenced. Eve
rything otfsred by the captain or his friends was
eagerly taken up by the Dons. The captain, il
observed, took a II bets that he could, and
when quiet was restored he gently paftsd the
old eagle, and. as he put il into the ring where
+ the game cocks were struttng ana Growing ne
said
"Now 20 it. old fellow, for the honor Of your
country. Gve'm blazes.' The eagle stood
still in the centre Of the ring, cooked its head
side, and seemed to be eyeing the little gamo
fellows that were advancing towards him, but
he stirred not. AT length the chicken made
dash at him, and doubtless gave hiin sharp
blow for wth kind Of wild scream, the old
bird started took one glance at tho chicken.
pounc-d upon it, aud with its claws aud hooked
bill fore n 10 pieces and, to the horror and as
tonishmeDt OF the sPaniards, began to eat IL
The second cock shared the fate Of the first, and
SO W ouId the third, had il not been Withdrawn by
the enrsg-d and mortified Spaniard. who had al
re lady lost two valuable birds by very summa-
/ ~ process. As soon the captain was declAr-
f ed winner he snatched up his bird, collected his
bets, and strobe towards the door, where hs
turned and addressed the bewilde red crowd.
i Look here, Dons." said he. 'its my opinion
that the ne 1t time YOU fight Yankee cock. you II
know that he's a bird that afrrays Heks. aud,
Stamping his well filled pockets, the captain and
hi. friends Withdrew, leaving the Cuoa COCK
). fighter. 10 pleasing state Of wondermeDt.
/ J. q. ~.