The New York herald., 1869-03-20
COCK FIGHTING IN NEW MEXICO.
Main Fought In santn Fes Between Americans
and Mexicanss for S600-The Americans
victorious-Scrub Fights.

and Mcxicans. for S600-The Americans
victorious-Scrub Fights.
SANTA FE. March s, 1869.
Cock lighting Is the most popular sport In New
Mexico, and the fondness shown by the natives Tor
this excitable pastlme would hardly be believed II
not Witnessed There is scarcely any privation that
they VIII not willingly endure to procure funds with
which TO back their iavorlte birds, and very often
they win even stake the coat Off their back "Gaf1s"
are seldom II ever used In this Territory but the
cocks are armed with iormidabIe-looking knives,
owing TO which tights are very seldom prolonged
ever three or four minutes.
In Santa Fe Sunday Is the day upon which the
most sport Is witnessed, and until lately the OLD
market place was the rendezvous OF COCK hgnters;
but few months ago Mr.. william Foster. well
known member OF the sporting fraternity, built
regular pitn capable OF acc commodating from three
TO four hundred persons and since the opening day
II has been crowded weekly by mixed concourse
o. ana ~ n WIN snrn. ao
king OF regular army officers and Mexican seno-
ritas. charge OF twenty-five cents Is made for
admission to the pit. and q band OF music Is
IN attendance, which PLAYS after eacn fight great
amount Of rivalry exists between the Americans and
Mexicans In the matter Of cock lighting. and every
light Is considered somewhat OF nalional struggle
on small scale.
on yesterday Sunday main was fought the best
two out Of three fights. $780, which resulted IN
favor OF Americans whose Dirds were handled IN
mastery manner by Mr.. VIM. Foster, who Is qulte
an adept In the business. The fights were as fol-
FIRST Fight.-Both parties showed dark reds, about
four pounds weight The birds went TO In good
style, but after lew dies the Mexican broke MS
knife and had to be reheeled; being again brought
TO the scratch they fought rather shyly Tor some
time, but eventually the American killed bis oppo.
nent which result was received with great cneers Dy
the Americans. Time, eight minutes
Second Fi0ht.-The Americans showed pue ana
brown and the hexcans dark red, each pird
weighing about four pounds. The Mexican was an
old fighter, having great many lights, ana
was by lar the iavorite. Having been brought 70
the scratch the dark red rushed forward with terrnc
velocity and his adversary down at the nrst n.y.
killing him instantly. Time, i've seconds. The Mex-
cans cheered Justify after this light aud their hopes
commenced to revive.
Third FIghl-lhe Americans came to time with
dark red and the Mexicans introduced blue anu
birds were very much admired and promised good
fight. At the trst fy the American gave his op-
ponent q very ugly cut IN the breast, Dut
The latter was game and did not seem
few more dies IL lell down quite dead. Time, one
and half minutes. The American bird was not az
all injured. The Americans were now JuOiiant anu
the Mexcans correspondingly depressed having lost
the main In about fifteen minutes.
The betting throughout was mostly even, ana
great amount OF money changed hands.
Alter the principal main several scrub lights look
place, the most noticeable OF which was for 500
The Americans showed u spotted white anu tne
Mexlcans dark red Both birds went to work in .
sank to the ground amidst great cheers from the
Mexicans but the cut bird was game. He crawled
q oug the ground until he came up TO his adversary,
whom he cut very badly and forced to make hasty
retreat The cheers were now on the other side or
the house, and the Mexicans appeared very crest
fallen.
1t understood that the parties will fight an
other main on March IA, for $1,000.