Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-03-21
COCK FIGHTING.

The District Of CoIspsbSa Con7sers Naryf4nd-
Each Battle for 500, and tAe Odd Fisht for
$1,000.
Al correspondent of the New York Herald
writing from Funkstown, Md, on the nth. saws
The match for the series Of battles which to-day
In part will decide so much for the men of the
District Of Columbia and this State had long
bsen on the taps; but not until the oath of Feb.
ruary last did matters assume basis of pleasant
progression toward the looked-for end. At that
time "Lum" +. Eslin, of Washington, member
OF family OF great cock fighters in that city.
met Friz kanode and =. Stanhope, of Hagers-
town, and without difficnlty concluded upon the
Prelminaries for the contest. The neighbor-
nnod, the State, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and
TN Carolinas knew OF it in a singuiarly brief
period. The contracting parties agreed that
each should produce twcnty-one cocks, weigh
IN from four pounds twelve ounces to six
pounds two ounces, and to fight all that fell in,
odd fight, or victory, for 81 0oO They further
agreed to fight two days, with one and half
inch gals, the Phiiadelphia rule cover ming
them In every particular.
TRe cocks TO-DAY will compare with, il not
snrpass, any that ever entered pit, being large
cI size, possessing symmetry of form. brilliancy
OF plumage and courage to the death. Those
from Washington, fought by Eslin, are called
the ''Red Horse" and 'Shanghac" strains The
former were produced BY an old but small black
cock obtained from Boston over fifty years since
snofr WIN ros famous Sergeant hem There was
ling Jacket stock, a bird black red across the
back and saddle, but having a magnificent coal
black breast These birds have been in their
houses TWO weeks and in constant training
They we're sent to their battle ground ten days
ago The Maryland cocks are of the "stone
fence and .. counterfeiters,' IS Georgia domi-
mckers' and the scoop" strains the latter beiay
black red with black muffs-and uncommon and
rare fowl. The lot were obtained for this CON
test from jefferson. Berkeley and Richmond,
va, and are OF all colors. Dick Harris. long
with the Eslins, has been feeding, putting into
condition and training the birds from Washing
ton. John Dickson, a professional of no mean
ability. Of Philadelphia, has been seconded by
"Lum" Eslin to heel the birds from the capital
The match was soon finished, when it was an
nounced that there would be sixteen battles
enough to satisfy the most inveterate lover of
the pastime. Amid an interest and excitement
never before witnessed by me in a cockpit, at
ii O'Clock the birds for the first fight were pro-
duced DIR. +. l.. Rutler, Of Hagerstown was
agreed upon as judge. 1t had been determined
tO fight seven matches to-day and nine to-mor-
row; but the length of some of the fights with
attendant circumstances caused the PRINCIPALS
TO stop this evening after the fifth battle Every
bird pitted was dead game. The Maryland cocks
were IN little better condition than those
shown by their opponents; but the latter, on the
whole, were the best cutters and more ready
mouthers. The fighting ceased for the day
with four victories scored for the District of CO.
lumbia against one for the Marylanders.
, A subsequent letter gives the particulars of
the battle on the 18th. The writer saws: With
the same stanch backbone that characterized
them on Thursday the MARYLAND men entered
the pit and Invested their greenbacks After
seven hours OF the best contested fighting ever
witnessed the District OF Columbia achieved
decisive victory, winning ten out of the sixteen
battles agreed upon, thus giving them the MAIN
but, to accomplish that they had to whip some
OF the finest birds ever heeled and handled
Several thousand dollars changed hands, find
ing its way into the pockets of those on the Dis
trict side, and at night the many Southerners
who had gone their last dollar on the losing
chickens felt greatly disheartened Not single
wrangle was heard during the two days' fight
ing; and while the cocks died game, SO did the
losing Marylanders.