The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-09-23
273 r- KIT BURN. --


Kit, when youUgster, used TO run around
bare headed aud bare-tooted at Yankee SHIli-
vans, and similar places OF resort, simply TO get
sight OF The young Quadtupeds that were kept
at such establishments, and pat them on the
head s. He was passionatey fond of dogs and
dogs were fond of him; and the mutual affection
between man and dogs fpally cropped out in
the establishment of Kits pit, which soon ex-
panded into the present Sportsman's Hail. No.
273 Wa er street. rI -rr f-a .I-t ,-ll7
Kit is a stout, portly. muscular man, with
face as quiet, plucky, and good -natured as that
of his 6est blooded bull dog. II is claimed by
certain scientists and philosophers that a man
grows INTO a resemblance of that TO which he
most deyotes' himself, and the theory holds true
The barlsoon of "sportmans Hail." which is
entered from the street. is in harmony with the
propretors individuality, especially as to its
decorations. These consist of pictures of hunt
ing scenes, and of parties Camping awhile in
the Wilderness of Autographs of prize-fghts,
including the famous Aeenan and Sayres
''mlln and of tbirty-six of the most noted prize.
fighters who have everlived. The prize fighters
are represented as strpt to their work and in
business attitudes-that is to say, in perfect
readiness TO punch any head or mash any 'mug"
that Providence might send within their reach.
To hear Kit talk, when mellowed by his
favoIite beverage to an oratorical mood about
these pictured prlze-fghters, is equal to any
treat that ever comes off in his bar room.
'.Ah!P he says, as he stands contempatyely
before one OF his iayorites, "he was man. You
couldn't count up his p'ints on your fingers.
And then he handled hisself so tidy. Nothing
fabby about him. And sicb claret tpperi
He arus sot the ruby flowing" - ra
From the bar-room you wind into the dog-pit,
through pass las easy of defense as that OF
Thermopyl@. One determined man could hold
this pass against host, unless he should be
shot down. This is to guard against surprise by
the police when dog-fght or ra.-killing is
in progress. But it would make sad work if the
building should take fire when the amphitheatre
was crowded from floor toroof with worshippers
at prayer meeting or ruffians at a dog-fght.
The greater portion Of the audience, whether
saints or sinners, would be almost certain to be
The dog pit or ratpit-for it is used both for
dog fights and rat-killng-is near the centre of
the room. II Is surrounded by a solid fence
about two feet higb and imperVious to rats. 1t
Is oval in form, aud about ten feet long and six
feet wide at the widest part. From this pit the
seats rise, in circular form, to the CELL
ing as the endurance OF those who occupy the
topmost row will permit The room will hold
two hundred and fifty decent people and four
hundred indecent ones, as iudecency can always
be packed closer than decency.
The rats are kept in a large wire cage in the
centre OF the pit. and most OF the dogs are
chained around beneath the seats, care being
to allow mem
teeth. The choicest dogs are kept in what
might be called canine boudoirs, up stairs,
where they are surrounded with all the comforts
of home, and supplied with all the delacles OF
the season in which the canine palate delights.
They are fed on the most nourishing vands. Kit
says his famous dog Beltcher has much better
food than he eats himself. Betcher has fought
twelve battles, killing seven dogs out of the
twelve, and. although now getting along in
years, is still good for his dog" dogs best
hghtibg days are between the age OF two and
The price of a rat at Kits is twenty cents,
which sum the etiquette of the place requires
visitors to hand him for every rat killed for
their delectation. What the rats cost Kit he
does not say: They are caught for him by q
young man who is reputed to have "gifto and
Emission" for the work. This unusual young
man is said to catch the rats with his hands, IN
the dark, or by daylight, with such tongs as are
above described. He goes to slaughter houses
for them, and to other places where rats most
do coDgregate, taking cage with HIM in which
to bring them home. The trick OF catching the
rats i I f Sage not TO-
it out n says Kit; ''but tain't no use. It'll alus
be asecret." The 'secret" probably is, that the
rat-catcher does not share that shrinking horror
which rats inspire in the common human breast,
but picks them up as unconcernedly as he would
pick up links of sausage.
One of the most astonishing things which the
curiosity seeker can see at Kit BUNS is his
daughter Kitty brsnd1shing her warclubs.
Kitty is small, fragile looking girl, seemingly
about sixteen years old, and yet She will take a
pair OF war.clubs, weighing sixteen pounds
EACH and handle them with an ease and
velocity which must be seen to be appreciated.
In spsrring match with friend, an ungal-
liant accident allowed the gentlemans 'Alelt' to
come down on Kitty's nose with force which
crushed the bone and spoiled the beauty of that
organ; bu:. when the girl becomes animated in
astonishment at her physical powers Tor the
time makes him forget her broken nose, and
when she finally sets Down the clubs, the mas
culne beholder finds himself involuntarily
thanking Heaven that the women of the land
have not hit upon them as means OF solving
the great question of "Woman's Rights" What
could husband do, cornered of morning
with his triumphant wife sanding before hin
gracefully poising in each hand l6.pound war
club, and af1ecionately suggesting to the trem
bling wretch his programme for the day
Kit says that MIR. Bergh, the, ,lrrepresslble Pre-
sident Of the Society for the Prevention o.
Cruelty to Animals, is doing much injury to the
4 sports of Water street. Mr.. Burn does no
charge Mr.. Bergh with any malice. He ascribei
his hostility to the recreations of the ratpit tc
ignorance. Mr.. Bergh," says Mr.. Burn, "calli
a rat an ANIMAL Now, everybody OF any sense
knows that rat is vermin. Bergh takes ul
for the rat aud won't let us kill rats because h'
thinks they're animals. Wouldn't he kill ra
If he found one In his cellar? Wouldn't he XII
rat If he found ore in his cupboard? OF course
he would. Bat would he kill horse If he foun(
he wouldn't Why? Because a horse Is an ami
NAL, but rat amt. I know rats l know they'r,
yermin, and they ought TO be killed; aud II VIZ
can get little sport out OF their killing, 81
much the better"
such is the Water street view of Mr.. Bergh
and of rats, and OF ratkillng.
The opening OF Kit Burns dog pit for noon
day prayer-meeting during the week, aad TO
preaching on the Sabbath, has caused deepe
sensation am ong the population of the Fourt
ward than either of the previous events In IN
same line at John Aliens or Tommy Hadden's
Kits g.pit was looked upon as the slronl
hold of the ''fancy," the one citadet OF 81
which could not be taken by tue hosts
Righteousness, either by force or persuasion; an
-. thot AZ has canitulated the conviction hG