The New York herald., 1871-03-23
BLOOD, BRAINS And FEATHERS.
Am Evening in "a Jersey
Cockpit.
The Return Fight 30 wssn the Gamecocks Of
Albany and New York-Excitement in the
Pit aovoltins Scenes OF Cruelty-A
Brutal Exhibition by Brutal Men
Sketches Ct the Spectators and
Description CT the Fights


alive and klckin'. Chickens and you reporter !
by Ha, har'
While the ruiian who thus replied to civil gues-
ton, very civllly put, was extrcating himself nom
imminent danger OF apoplexy, which his bubbling
and humorous blasphemy provoked, the belittled
representative or the HERALD had an opportunity
OF looking about him.
1t was sanoy-covered floor, on witch he
In company win about twenty persons Of
brutal aspect. Stool awaiting the pleasure
OF the barkeeper, who, it was understood,
would sell tickets of admission into the
den inside. The Ing was low the scanty rurni
ture dirty In the extreme, and the glasses on the
bar counter were damned with the fiery breathing
OF the customers OF the vile concern. On the half
papered walls were three picturcs OF that character
which one ls ever sure TO find in
THE uAUNTs THE DEPRAvED EvERywHERB,
not that they were Indecent by any means, but In
dcatiye OF brutal instincts In their purchasers. A
woman stood at the head Of the counter inside, en-
gagged In eager discussion OF the chances or victory
for the party OF sports with whom s.ier man, was
Identified. occasionally pouring out glass OF ale
q measure or Jersey lightning as either was de-
manded by the ioungers on the floor
Ftve dollars to so In, an ye ken get II back Ii We
know hsw to bet,h said the man behind the counter
with grin ana wink, as the reporter expressed
his desire to enter the inner room, at the door OF
which two men Stood IN the double capacity OF
TICKET TAKERS AND sENrINEI.s.
mentioning Of names. Yell give The main, but ye
mustn't say word about awning else" sala the
fellow. win an expression wnca hlnted at latent
1erocity.
Without promising to obey his orders, the reporter
walked in with the crowd, winch by his tlnie tnali-
aud elbowed his way through narrow passage,
and having delivered up his ticket to the more re.
takers iound himself III the Jersey cockpit.
The, The first thing he saw was a., series Of seaIs
-
contact with the crowd by being above
them, inlmediaely cllmoed up and took his
seat next an OLD man VINO was desperately cndeav-
orng ID engage half dozen persons III mis- neigh.
borhood in conversation. Tho view from the TOP
have been selected All the people in the pit, now
numbering at least 100, were in full view, and the
e se % open 10 e IaelS pes
poor; men Of Importance In the political world,
and men unknown outside Of the vicious circles IN
Bat whether well or addressed. nashy or mean IN
appearance educated or ignorant.
THE EXPRESSION On THEIR FACES
was the same. Coarse brutal, without Particle Of
refinement, MI. - Walter from the Ieiahboraocd
81 the oiy Nall whose s sairt eosom spsrkled vita
With the well filed purse, bur odorolls clotes were
alike III facial characteristics. And there We're those
III politics; who are aiwaFs ready with their ''pen
to bet wnerever there is Chance TO discount the
death OF creature; Soddcn-eyed, square, jawed
human bulldogs, VINO smile at scenes OF blood
and laugh at torture OF the dumb. The little child,
held from falling by ITS elder brother leaning: cut Of
the corner window overlooking the PIT, saw an
awful sight; its father was giving il lessons in
cruelty and cnrsing the Almighty for not having
given him better luck OH the previous day. Bat the
chd did not see much its little throat became filed
with tobacco smoke, and il uttered an untimey cry.
In second
STORM OF BLAsPHEMoUs IMPREcAT1oNs
went up from The PIT ana the child was Withdrawn.
u was no time Tor inantle Interruptions: The pre-
cous crowd were betting on the result OF the mai u.
ana such babel OF VOICES and such expressions as
may not be reported!
crtoI I,,riu n, or IN n ,yooIl,a a.
he strobe across the pit 10 the opposite benches
SAY III take or give three four OF Eve hundred
"Fivc hundred. even" yelled another, with an
imprccaticn which startled the respectfully dressed
persons. And so the betting proceeded amid tnmult
ana disorder, Tor halt an noul. An Old man. VINO
lamented that for forty years he could only
enjoy his avoritc sport OF cockhghting through the
means OF one eye, and that not good one, re-
marked in whisper, that inere was going 10 be
great lun; the COCKS We're the finest he evef saw and
noth.n'. It's the return match. Albany agln New
York. Albany won last time, but see now! (! Wen,
eacn party shows nineteen tirds q sde-jest listen
10 the ROSTERS CROWN inside and the rOosters bet
TN III here.
ISN'T IT BEAUTIFULLY
Weighin ron four pounds ounces to six pounds.
They have TO fight II out, these bras. Won't there
be tearn' and scratchn and clawin' and which
stakes is $4,000 side and 5000 On each fight.
Listen to the ncggars, how they crow Look here,
III give or take hundred ON the first Hght-you
The reporter declined, and remarked, by way OF
covering his retreat, tiat there seemed to be great
deal OF decay il getting the lighting fowls ready
"rney're heein' 'cn,' said the Old man. and his
eye sparhed. .'sec, they're getfn' ready the pit"
scoundrels knelt down ana chalkcd or the dis
tances for the. ieatlered gladIators. These were
the doomed fowl TO hack and gnaw each other
PREPARATORY TO TIE FIGHT.
The Growing became louder and shrilier, and at
length il was announced IRON both sides OF the Dit
to the jndgca fellow selected by the owners OF The
contesiing fowls-that all was ready. Then the
.IA r1y
blrd which he took care 10 boast loudly would
'oust the other rooster, sare.n The audience
rub their ninGs ana boards and betrGy other EVIL
dences OF eXcitcmant us the "haadlersr and the
oiras approached each other. II was the beginning
Tue reporter never saw a cock-1ght before, AMI
WI, VIII never see another 4 ne can possibly avoid il,
sang or appreciate the enthusiasm OF the aban-
doned wretches BY whom he was surrounded.
These were his ohserveIons:-Thc lanolers, with
the birds held fast by the bodies In their hands,
advanced tosyard each other; the audience
APTLAunED AND CHCCKLlD ALOUD.
The bird in the hands Of the fellow right OF
where the reporter sat was brown: the other, his
opponent, red and white each weighed SIX pounds
exactly, and there was percepiible aillerence in
their SIZE. Up went the arms oi the handlers
now face to face and tho bilis Of the poor birds
Knocked together little piece OF fesh Il couple
OF feathers dropping on the ground showed the de.
lighted audience tlat war TO the knife between the
forward Of the spirited bros; more feathers falling
to the ground, and hltlc more blood dripping
gaping mouths 0. the brutes on the benches. a
tnird elolt OF Tie 'hanQlers'' brought shower of
feathers, the COCKS crowed deianuy, and were mad
with passi1n. 1llea on the carpeted moor Of the
enclosure, which - properly called the .pIIr there
were instantly seen tie gladiat0rs two stretched
necks two angcy crcss pom ed and swelled within
few inches o. each othc,. As if accommodating the
enetny's position, each cred the o,her knowingly
and watcnul against sudden surprise. An indica-
ton by the brown-clad rooster that he intended
execnie flank movement called his antagonist
into action. Will passing slap win his steel
clad heels az the red and white the brown
JUMPED CLEAN OVER HIN.
lie changed front with amazing quckness, and
before MS enemy could recover from the shock
struck home quick and fast Up and dowl, right
anu ieu, lhey struck and scratched gna wed and
ptie1 While the feathers flew end red spots marked
tie course Of the conflict. At length q lucky lett
legged streke by the red sent The white and rcd
loG rolling to the ground perfectly dead. 1t was
pierced through the heart.
quarter OF an hoar passed before the next pair
were introduced, tho audience In the meanllme
commenting On The
BAD TASTE or THE LAST coMBATASTs
IN getlng through SO soon. But the next light and