The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1877-05-02
MISCELLANY
AMERICANS PLAY A JOKE UPON
SPANTARDS.

A practical joke was played nearly thirty
years ago at cooking main in Havana, by
some sailors belonging to an American man
of war. The sailors had been betting and
losing, day after day, at the cockpit, which
was the amusement they most affected, until
they were all left without cent. In that
plight the sailors were when the man Of war
uaB ordered off to San Francisco. A number
Of months afterward the vessel returned to
Havana and the Jack lars had fully riatured
scheme for vengeance. Drawing all Of their
pay and borrowing all the money they could
in addition, at tile first shore-leave they start
ed for the cockpit, carrying with them their
gold and bag, about which they preserved a
great deal of mystery. Some of the ships
officers surmsing that something was in the
wind, followed, but not even to them was the
sailors secret diyulged. Scarcely had they
reached the pit when an excited Spaniard
sprang into the little arena, where battle
had just ended. Under his left arm he carried
magnificent gamecock, in his right he
fourished bag of doubloons, and he yelled
forth challenge on behalf of his bird against
anything that wore feathers.
No other challenge could have been half so
welcome to the sailors, for during their former
unhappy experience he had been their bette
noir, raking in their gold pices almost as fast
as they could bet them. His verbose and
grandiloqutnt defiance was promptly accept
ed, the money was staked, and the Americans
shook their champion out Of the mysterious
bag. A nondescript creature it was, with
great, solid body, roughly covered with chick
en- feathers and tar, its wings and tail clipped,
its head broad and adorned with keen curved
beak, with long, sharp talons at the end of its
toes, instead Of gaffs upon its legs. Despite
its strange half disguise, the officers recognize
ed it at once as an American eagle. But the
Spaniards knew nothing about it, and the one
who had made the match was furious DEEM
ing himself insulted by the pitting of such a
miserable looking creature against his splendid
fowl. The alcalde ordered, however, that the
fight should take place, according to the
terms of the challenge, and the Senior tossed
his bird iufo the pit. 1t was ready to fight,
of course, for game-cock of good blood
would not hesitate to attack bird as big as
the tabled roo. So, the first notice the
" American grandchildren" as the sailors had
christened the bird, received Of the presence
of an enemy was fierce attack. He calmly
looked down upon the game-cock strutting
threateningly before him. The sailors were
not without anxiety lest the keen gaffs might
settle their eagle before he got warmed up to
his work, but fear was quickly dispelled. The
game-cock dashed forward again. In less
than second the Spaniards witnessed an as
founding sight The " American chicken .
placidly stretched out one great claw. seized
his antagonist by the head, drew him up
aud, applying the other claw to his body, tore
his head off with single pull. Then he pro-
ceeded to eat him. A storm of imprecations
and shouts CT establishment rent the air, but
the sailors were too well armed and too num-
erous for the Spaniards, and so they got their
money and returned aboard ship, laden with
more gold than they ever before had, and
carrying their champion in triumph.