Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-05-04
A TORoxrO COOK-FI CHIT.
How They "DO These Things
in the Dominion.

From lHe IOrO1LO OtODt.l
At last the judges and reefree
took their seats, looking tremendously
wise, bat FOR q hazjness which hung
about the eyes the crowd gathered
closely round the pit, and pair Of game
cocks were brought into the circle by
two men in their shirt sleeves. We
noticed that the combs of the fowls were
cut clean all supslfiuous feathers were
removed and TO the lower part Of the
legs were affixed steel spurs, about an
inch and hall in length, slightly curved,
and as sharp as q needle. The COCKS
having been weighed and their spurs
measured, the men VINO carried them
took their position on opposite sides OF
the pit. They then stepped forward,
held, out the birds so al TO admit OF their
tearing st s6ch others heads, and when
they had done this long enough to be
fairly reused, they were set down on the
red sawdust-and the battle began.
After few lesps, both birds fell to tue
ground, and the cry was raised" It's
in it's in " We did not at first exactly
understand wSet was meant by this ex
preston, bus We were soon enlightened.
For the two men ran forward, lifted the
birds, and then we saw that the spur OF
one OF the fowls had gone right through
The leg of IFS fee, snapped the bone in
its course and remained il. 1t was at
once taken cut, and, seeing the poor
creature could not even stand, We CON-
cluded that the fight between these two I
over. But we we're mistaken, and little
knew the bru ,6lity of the cock pit The
fowls were jsid down opposite each
other at the circumference OF the circle.
One of the men counted tel" " three
times, bat, as neither Of the birds could
move at the expiration OF the counting,
they were lifted in the oenter Of the
pit, and then they began in their mad
rage to leap at eEch other, and again the
cry of I's in, it's in," was raised ; and
so it was, for the poor thing with
both spurs in - stomach. Again
they were removed "Ten" Was counted
three times, and again they were placed
in the center, and again sit was in"
This went on for half an hour. "Bst
you hundred dollars 1t doesn't rup,"
cried a rowdy. NJ, che poor little orea-
ture did not run, and that for two rea-
sons. First, it couldn't, and secoRd, it
had too much pluck. Again aud again
it was placsd ia the center of the circle,
until its body wEs riddled like q pepper
castor, ard the blood was flowing from il
in every direction, yet 1t tiinched EOt.
By the end Of half an hour the bird with
the broken leg could not hold up its
head, ard the other staggered like
dTunken man, and 10 resuscie ete them
two men breathed down their thTosts, as
il to impart little OF their own british
nature to the poor victims. Bot the end
came at last, and the end was worse
than the beginning. The bird with the
broken leg was ell but gone, its bill was
open, and the blood was streaming out
OF it; its eyes were closed the tension
of its neck gave way, and its head
dropped gradually, halt buryipg itself in
the saWdus', when it was once more
lifted into the center Of the pit, and it's
triumphant foe trampled its head into
the dust, aud wound up his victory by
sending ais spur right through the brain.
The thing was sickenipg in the extreme.
Thirteen times, with thirteen different
I airs OF birds, was this brutality enacted,
aud the enjoyment which it afforded the
On-loOkers was expressed in terms which
Il is quite impossible to describe In the
course of the days proceedings. one bird
alone showed anything like discretion.
SO soon as 1t felt the sting OF the sharp
spurs o. lis antagonists, iG turned right
round and ran for it. But there was no
possibility Of escape. II was instantly
seized and It's head twisted right of, by
one OF the infuriated crew, who had lost
500 by It's diTelietion.
Tne subjective effects OF such psstime
was vividly displayed by what took
place about O'Clock, The rowdies-one
Of whom was from Buffalo and the other
from Hamilt0n-fell ont in the Com nit
tee and went at it. They fought there
for q while, then the door was burst open
and they fought their way into the cock
pit. One of them tripped on the sawdust
and fell, the other failing on above him
and then began a most brutal scene; they
bit each other and tore each others hair.
The one above managed 10 turn himself
round and was bringing his boot down
10 way that had not bystander caught
IL, g murder would inevitably have been
esmmitted. According to all the rules
OF fair play, these men should have been
set oR their feet. But mr., and we are
/ sorry to have 1t to state that whilst the
! rowdies, as a rule, demanded that fair
4 pay should be allowed the two brutes,
more than one Toronto merchant, frantic
as the men on the ground, threatened
4 Instant punishment on the man who
should dare touch them. AID. Strachen
was standing in the distance plaoidly
smoking his pipe when be was seizsd by
the collar by An who desired TO have
the combat ended, dra yged into the me.
lee, and ordered as q "justice Of the
peaee,n &C an alderman and 50 mag
istrate y 10 interfere. The worthy AL