The New York herald., 1870-12-27
RoWDY BOOSTERS.
UNRULY BIRD FIGHTS I'M JERSEY
Sport for the Chicken Fancy-An Array for
Two Hundred Dollars and Other Bat
ties for Less Sums-Dstermined
and Ferocious Fighting:
With eyes and feathers right,
And with heels sharp and prime,
In condition for the fight.
And sure to come to time
IL

And sure to come to time
As q clock.
The year 1870 Is drawing to a close, and with IL
are accommodating 1.-The festivities OF the season.
Christmas has already been celebrated, and thou
sands OF hearts have been cheered and decaylDg
friendships have been vivi1ed around the social
board by the observance OF this Christian,
honored custom that would otherwise have
sumbered in eternal coldness. The shape
or our rejoicings have been unlimited, our social
gatherings have been many ana strange; we have
made our hearts glad with wine-lf we could afford
il--wnie others have killed the "fatted caf' In
the shape of corpulent turkeys, monstrous
chickens oleaginOus pigs, cat drank and
were merry-blessed institutions of forget
ulncss. These in a measure have been fruit
less of startling events but Of the eplsodes Is
a little gentlemanly cock 6ghting-feathery con-
tests--that took place last evening, and OF which we
want to treat as mile in the reolcings Of the
season.
Flanders used to be called the cockpit" OF
Europe, for there the English, French Germans and
Spaniards fought their battles. The cockpit In
which New Jersey fight their battles is not neccs-
sary mention, but it has been recently erected Is
egibly located and presided over by ''Green-
horn" who Is a master OF his business and clever
fellow generally.
The battles were matches, all comers having
game birds being accommodated. Ten couples, aller
OF the trouble at all times experienced In
preparing these with their weapons OF battle ana the
delay in selecting Jndges, IL was past nine O'CLOCK
before the handlers cae 10 the scratch with their
birds
FIRST Match.-1he weights were SIX pounds, sloo
n side; New Jersey blue brass-back, pretty anu
game looking; New York a bluered. savage and VII
famous, OF whom his owner had not "a very exalted
opinion. II was long fight. Twenty to sixteen
on Jersey. lie was u strong ana fast hghter,
and the second or third 1y coupled" his opponent;
but the blue-red was good one, and alter acting
a while recovered and went to
tai STYLE and finally got in stroke that cooked the
brasspack q I'd he was sent home 10 his mother
second atch.-Uncle John Ludlow, from Union
Hill, handed In Dlack-red, lbs. oz while an
fought for $50 a side. Ten 10 seven on Uncle John,
VINO told the boys TO be wary, he knew but little
about him. and m he got licked he would run away"
turned tan and, by turning some OF the right angles
old DR.. Weldon speaks Of showed ne belonged TO the
travellers Club" Time 10 whip this duner. 35.
Third A.Qtch.-BrcOklyn against Union llill-$50
sde--another trial for Uncle john The former handed
in a black.red with light nackie, I'VE pounds fonr
gray one ounce heavier. 10 was chance for the
subject OF many misfortanes, but both were
ineffective fighters, hardly able 10 knock
q hole through a coDweb. The betting was
even. the first few buckles the black
his sickly foe might have won second rate battle;
but he didn't, and after getting prcked few times
gave tokens OF going the way Of Uncle Johns black
red, and at last new the pit amid the cries OF "What
q loafer ?, Time, s:20
Fourth MatCh.-Brooklyn against New York, $75
side. The former passed over u lemon pyle. four
pounds one ounce; the latter red pyle, four pounds
Two ounces They were beautiful birds and raspers.
1t was one Of the best and most furious fights ever
seen IN q cockpit They met high IN the air,
nap for nap, like the shaking Of
tOpsall In str breeze. IL was hit for hit with the
utmost rapidity and determination as fast "a they
could rise. Soon each was cut IN forty places and
their feathers were dyed In each others blood.
After lighting for fifteen minutes Brooklyn's
pet was down, and it was thought
he had gone the way that all game birds must go.
The betting had been even until now but after the
lemon got an eye Knocked out it was ten to tour
against him. lie OF the ruest ever
neeled and struggling To his legs, for while turned
the tide OF battle, and his admirers shouted
vehementy, a. they thought he would win the 1Kllt
clean OUT Of the fire. But the red had the best
stroke and being in little better condition, began TO
get the better OF 1t the second tme ana although he
was met ny for ny, hit for hit. dogged
perseverance and determined ferocity finally got
the best OF 1t. The other bird won almost like
honors, and the general verdict was that they were
both real stayers. IL was one OF the best battles
ever witnessed. Time, 4l:20
Ii was now past midnight, and the sport went on
until daybreak. but the above Is sufficient 10 snow
now some portions OF New York and New JERSEYS
citizens passed the holiday
Many may not iuy comprehend tins character Of
amusement but 1t claims It's passionate admrer5 by
the tens OF thousands.