The New York herald., 1870-03-31
GREAT COOKING MAIN.
The Pet Birds Of Schenectady and Troy in the
Pit-Elsvsn Battles for 5000 aud tbs Main
sl,ooo-Ths Fighting Ground" and
the Crowd -Kselsrs Handlers
and Feeders = Schenectady
an Honored Victor.
scusNRorApy. March %. 1870.

SCHENECTADY, March %, 1870.
There Is great gathering OF sporting men to-day
In this pleasant city. They embrace all classes ana
all shades Of character. even as they represent all
sections OF the State. New York city furnishes her
quota, and while many OF them are in manner ana
appearance quite respectable the leading spirits
among them are as precious set OF rascals as ever
invaded quiet community. Buffalo and
Rochester, Albany and Troy and many in-
land towns and hamlets send their unre-
generated ana unredeemed, all TO witness
the last great cock fight OF the season between
the cities OF Troy and Schenectady. These places,
or rather their exponents OF this pastime have
sriven for years TO master each other In the cock
pit, and their mains OF game birds have been
creditably conducted.
The community hereabouts rather like the sport,
and many OF It's members who reside on largo
estates, and country families, breed the game
cock valuing him for his inveterate pug-
naclsy. and do not think his symmetry OF
form and beauty of plumage an evil, but
q great desderatum. For this reason and ts
pit have n0urshed In this and contiguous rural dis
ircts without the Drawing and ngnting, the foul
tricks or filthy su5teruge5 that have been witpessed
IN c0ckplts at Pamrepau ana Union Hill, N. J.
THk PRINCIPALS.
The present main was agreed upon about month
ago. and the parties recognized as the principals
James Scullen OF Troy, and Colonel Campbell, OF
SCntnecta0y. not tue HfSt Time they nave met
under similar circumstances. The terms ON which
they engage their champions are 'up and up"
which ID the pest arrangement for fairness and
honesty. Neither OF these men Is engaged In
active business pursuits, their time being spent IN
the to them, pleasant sport OF bringing to periec-
tion their favOrite breeds OF game fowls.
THE STAKES AND RULES.
II was arranged that each party should show nf-
teen cocks, from f0ur POUNDS tour ounces to nvo
pounds eight ounces, ana fight all that fell in for
$500 battle and 900 the main. The Albany rules
were selected 10 govern the hgntng the gars TO be
IN n a.afn
York-one and 0ne-quarer inches. These regua-
tions bound the fghtlng men closely thai
trckery or swndling could be, II intended, success
fully practised.
The Troy birds are the same that SCulen has
always shown and Of similar strain to those that
the Heathwoods whipped at Union Hil n. j., on the
I'D of February last They are OF an English aud
Irish stran mostly black reds, with few spangles.
They are determined lighters when once they get to
work, and II IN condition wismake Colonel Camp
bes stock look wild before they are beaten.
The Schenectady COCKS are OF all colors, but ut
this moment do not know OF what strain. They
have been bred on the Colonel's place. walked by
HIM. ana this morning are the favortes in the main
OF 100 to So which has been frequently accepted by
the Troy men.
The birds have been coOped for about twO weeks
and each party claim that they VIII show good con-
dlion and excellent training. The principals have
superintended the feeding OF their respective BIRDS
and wei tney might as much depends thereon.
WHINE the Old sport Bill Cacxer OF New York, who
has just returned from the South, Will heel for the
Trolans, and Scuien Will handle, as no always does.
extremely well.
THE PIT.
For obvious reasons the place OF lighting will be at
the little hamlet OF Rotterdam, one mile and half
distant from the city. The pit WIN be ln the pack
room OF an Old tavern, kept and owned by jovtat
sport named BaDcock. II man ever enjoyed himself
III the cockpit, thus same Babcock rs the Fellow.
't's attn aud drlnkiu' TO him. His stories VI the
0lden time sports around tue 1res OF the geniat
hostelrie are worth the visit here alone. Already
the season Is now iast approaching the time when
the buildings that have rung with the martial crow
OF many eager COCKS Will be silent, Several rasping
mains have here been fought and everything been
conducted in an honorable, quiet manner. In great
contrast TO some Of the mains tnat have been wit
messed in New Jersey, where 1t was arranged thas
fraud should be the ldea from beginning to end and
TO accomplish this end the leaders sacrinced friend
and Zoe alike.