The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-09


The usual quiet attending New England Sunday
was rudely dispelled on Saturday night in Con-
necticut. About this city and In the neighboring
towns OF Middetown New Britain. Cromwell ana
New Berlin, there had been much excitement and
talk among old sports ana young men In relation TO
great cock light set down to come on at that time.
Rumor had 1t among many OF our citizens tnat the
lively lads OF Harvard and Yale Intended thus to
study natural history, and were consequently all
agog regarding the match. whether this was really
the 'intention" when the agreement was made to
bring together the game birds, or whether 1t was
only meant for "a blind" is known, nor is 1t OF
mucn consequence as the lighting took place and
progressed satisfactorily to the parties Interested
although the many difficulties encountered were
well nigh insurmountable. The match was MADE
between parties In
HARTFORD AND MIDDLETOwN
each side showing twentyOne birds, both stays and
cocks, and agreeing to fight all that weighed in for
$50 battle and 5000 the odd fight The police OF
this quiet place heard now It's sober citizens de-
sired to pass the last day Of the week and usner in
the Sabbath, and the principals were, therefore,
compelled at the last minute to change the loca-
ton Of fighting, and, not meaning 10 be frightened
the second time. went out into the Connecticut
valley, fully ten and half miles from here-a coun-
try of meandering streams, lovely landscapes ana
luscious orchards In the summer but now desolate
enough, In its broad deep mantle OF snow. The
interested OF Hartford early on saturday obtained
the information desired, ana as noon approached
several close coaches might have been espled BY
the police, II they really cared to interrupt
the combat, well Tiled with men and an
extra chicken or two. slowly leaving the city
for the locality determined upon. When the
church steeples were lost sight OF In the blind
Ing snow storm prevailing. the stout horses to the
arrtn That of no m n Ortn nd
four friends urged along to the utmost or their
speed consistent with safety. Farm house after
farm house. orchard after orchard, villa after villa
were passed. and still they journeyed on, until at
last Rocky Hill was reached, where, IN
DE RYER's COSBY HOTEL
IL had been arranged, unknown to the landlord,
there to meet all who desired to witness the fight
and proceed In body to the spot appointed It was
just such place as cocKfgnter would appoint for
q nesting OF TINS character Once an old New
Yorker the proprietor heartily entered into the sug.
Restion to accompany the boys, and the invitation
was more than once reciprocated in the imbiba.
ton of "a not Scotch" which the old
man knew how to make to perfec-
ton. Three O'Clock, and the principals from
Middetown not appearing, q start was made for the
fighting place, which at this time was given out as
being at Steene's Farm. still four or five miles away
Now the snow had become three inches deep, and
yet down 1t came in binding fury; but the lovers
OF the old pasttme cared not; they really exulted
that the had set in, and looked upon 1t pro-
vidential, as the "cops' of Hartford would never
pursue them at such time. At last the farm house
was reached, and half frozen. the men jumped from
the carriages and sought warmth and food In the
forlorn-looking building at hand. VAN hope
There was
DIRT AND DEsoLATION
on every side, and plenty Of it, But one fre could
be found and that In the kitchen, around which
twenty or thirty men and boys were hudded, en-
deavoring, without success, to thaw out their be.
numbed fingers and limbs. There was no covering
to the moor, and the faded paper on the side walls
was torn or in many places.
Come and see where we mean TO fight; 1t
isn't very good place, but you are not In the city
Really, il wasn't a Every good place." as the room
was the perfection of uncleanness and rlgidity IL
was directly on the kitchen, and would not have
1nas 80 maa co%d exist
barnyard refuse lay In each OF the corners and
the floor, while dlrt and grease cobwebs and cock.
be counted by the score. there hadn't been a fire
In the room for years, and, with the surroundings
inside and the rag ny storm outside, IL was the
TOUGHEST COCKPIT
your correspondent ever struck Shade OF cock
Ssang the pit S oar S four s aam
were compelled to night on the bare boards without
carpet or tan bark Mr. Bergh, this was really cruety
Night came on. ana when the opponents Of Hartford
were given up owing TO the wildness OF the storm,
they appeared IN sleighs, and but little time was
then lost before the lighting commenced. The old
fashioned steelyards were used TO weigh the birds,
and when the lists were compared fifteen matches
the in s OF
nifty or sixty men held them above their
heads while the battles progressed: The
audience. though not large, was certainly the
most appreciallve ] ever saw. There were no Yale
or Harvard students present. but Hartford furnished
evidently well pleased with the prospects OF lighting.
but sick OF the attending incidents. Among the
four merchants, several machinists and any mum.
Der OF young farmers, who are frequently the
PERFECTION OF scAPEGRACEs,
and these were not an exception. In all this dirt
and confusion there was one pleasant feature.
The keeper Of the farmhouse was latner OF three
age, and its blue eyes and cnerubic face were a
treat to look upon. SO long as she and her little
to turn from the betting crowd and pat their little
heads, but when In TIE excitement Of the fighting
they were allowed to minge with the profane coun-
irymen and witness the Dying efforts OF the birds
the thought occurred mat such sights were better
w eyes Snd TO enog
At S eight O'CLOCK the sport commenced All the
cocks were fought with long gais and the stays with
snort ones. John PlnKerton handled for Middle
town and an old New York cockfghter for Hartford.
First Ff0hL-The amusement began with two 4
ID. 8 or. chickens, both backreds, but Mddetown
having the advantage I'm IN size 5er and station WIN
handlers, "H0ld them candles DOWN. the birds
were faced. 1t was rattling match, but the Hart
ford bird gave his opponent slash In the neck
and. following 1t up with brain blow, got the best
OF the send-off and eventually cooked the goose
OF the Middetown chicken amid the nuzzas OF
the Hartford crowd. Time, lin. sos.
Second Fohl-Tne weights were lbs. IL OF. Mid.
dletown seemed full OF confidence and bet their
money n victory was certain. Hartford sent In
brown-red chicken and Middletown q black-red.
This was slow at frst but when the birds got &C
Customed to the sickly light 1t became very lively
the brownred got IN one or Two body blows,
but was repaid by Middetown sending the
gan through his head but that didn't kill
him, only serving to wake him up. Fly for nv,
buckle for buckle were then made, and the black
was becoming In 1ne trim for sausage meat, but
still he stuck to his work. and at last got clip In
the brain that made him drop dead as a stone.
Hartford waved their candles and shouted until
they were hoarse while the church Qoers from MID.
dletown muttered against their ''bad luckn Time,
GIN. 13s.
THIRD FfohL Two cocks OF S lbs q o. and both