Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-03-09
Sam Domingo Amuse-.e..ts.


General 81. v. Boynton, in his last let
ter from San Domingo city to the Cincin-
natl Gazette, gives an idea Of the mental
and moral condition of the people. We
quote from his letter !: @
The commission has not as yet pro-
gressed very far in this branch Of the sab
ject. But the grand cock fight Of the
Sunday after their interview with BaezI
threw little light on the question. From
Wednesday TO Saturday night every one
in the party had met almost at every turn
|" en- and boys engaged in trimming tns
leads, necks, wings, tails, and breasts
game chickens. In the open spaces before
churches, under the shadow of ruins, and
in the courts Of many 'palaces, these
birds with tbir combs cut short and their
necks picked clean down to the body. were
tied to stakes driven ont in the Gun, in
order the white necka might burn red.
and gradually harden in the heat. In the
square before one church at least forty
were thus anchored. inst out Of reach Of
each other. On Saturday tho whole CITY
resounded with growing. From anv
height il was like the loud murmur OF q
camp of men, and rolled over the civ
from the first streakings of morning till
dark.
OF course, we went to ace The cock fight.
How better could the morals Of "a people
he studied than tn nee who attended such
public place on Sundav2 It began at
9 O'clock and lasted till dusk.
In one of the courts wes round. thafch-
ed roof. that covered ring Of fiftean feet
Ia diameter, surrounded nv successive cir
Giles of seats, where from fonr to five hum
bred could be accommodated.
1t WAS noon when a party of 'us looked
IN. Matters had become exciting. end
betting ran high. A fight had Just endAa
as we entered, and so we saw the method
os managing while arrangements were
making for the next. The birds are
brought in, put into small bags and weigh
cd. The spurs are then measured, and
10Th weight of bird and length of spur are
made known and recorded in beck. The
birds then have their spurs sharpened. and
.ra next rut down in the ring, for exhi-
hitinp. hut kept apart.
Betting then begins, and the scene
comes a little uearer pandemonium in ifa
aspects than the Gold Room in New York
IN DAYS Of panic-nearer. because OF the
mixture which the crowd presents. AN
coIors and races, and all grades OF intellI-
ganee. from the most savage and british
to The highest officers of the government.
join in the yells and shouts by which they
make their bets known. The scene was
disgusting beyond measure. And vet u
was valuable, az shedding food of light
upon the really savage character OF this
people. II the lower orders alone had
been there il would have been less si0ni-
ficant. bnt here before us. IN, the pit, help
ma at the aoetohiag and the measuring Of
spurs. aoas one of the three Cabinet Minis
tiers, tie Minister of Finance and of tie
Interior. aoho a feao days before Ind. soihs
Bne2. formally receioed orr Commission.
With him, engaged in sharpening spure
and in general superintendence OF the
fighting, was the Governor OF the Pro
vince, and near them, and as intent as
any, was the Military Governor Of this
CITY. -. ..---,-.--s-.
The high and the low, both in civil
military and official life. were there, and
for the time looked, acted and talked like
savsees. Since we have learned, beyond
doubt, that all of the Cabinet, as well AZ
the principal officials of every grade
habitually attend these disgusting specta
cles. Not only was the common febtinf
of the birds brutal, but if one. wher
whipped. attempted to get ont of the pit
he was beaten back and on one occasion
there was fierce cries of disspproval from
all sides. because q chicken that had
Knocked its exhausted opponent over. wa
not allowed TO continue the pleasing srec
tacIe of picking his eyes ont over fvf
minutes. And these scenes, of which the
above picture il no exaggeration, occur
Sunday after Sunday.