The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-04-13

The Portchestcr IN. Y.) Journal,
saws that Bergh and his humane society
have driven cock-fghts almost of this
island and out OF the surrounding coun-
ties Of this State, and that the town Of
Greenwich Comm has become the
headquarters Of regiment Of the rails
crs, fanciers, betters and fighters OF
game cocks. The Journals invisible
reporter has ascertained the particulars
OF n dozen recent fights, which II gives,
with the names Of the prominent abet-
tors. II then tells its readers something
about the s'manly art" Of Strengthening
these poor birds. IL says
II the cock is over weight, he Is by
medicine rapidly reduced 70 the requir-
ed point. Is shut up all day in barrel
without feed, and at night brought out
and fed in room, with light kept
burning all night, to accustom him TO
the light, and exercised in lighting other
fowls nightly, to give him the proper
training, and after about ten days and
nights Of such "moral and intellectual
culture" and "home training" he is
ready for the pit TO "battle to the
death, TO be killed himself or kill his
fellow. The time AID place being
agreed upon, and all the prelimlnaries
arranged, the greatest secrecy Is OBJ
served to battle the officers of the La.
The fowls are carried in bags, often for
miles by their owners. and by railroad
for n distance Of fifty miles in some
cases. Arriving upon the ground or
building nj about midnight, a rough in
closure OF boards Is made about ten
feet square and nearly two feet in
height. The cocks are then taken by
the heelers who cut oil their "spurs"
down 70 about half an inch Of their
legs, and while smarting and bleeding
they are burnt with "A red hot iron to
stop the flow Of blood. A piece Of
chamois skin is then bound on and long.
steel gals from two 10 three inches
long with point as sharp as
needle are bound firmly on with wax
ed ends over the stump. The birds are
then by the "heeleIs clipped Of their
hackle, saddle, breast and tail feathers,
and thus shorn Of their beauty, are put
in the pit by the heelers who are their
seconds, bottle holders,'' spongers
and managers throughout the fight,
until the death of their +" champion"
or his fellow relieves him from the
charge. Death generally takes place in
about five or ten minutes At farthest.
As soon as the fowls are put in the pit
and catch a glimpse Of their antago-
mist they make for each other and the
battle commences amid the shouts and
cheers and laughter Of the mongrel
crowd Of well dressed, wealthy, seem
TO be respectable, native and foreign
element, with cloice sprinkling Of
niggers, gin-mill loafers and politicians,
dead-beats and bummers Of the sur
rounding towns for miles around and
hangers-on Of prize-fghts," Dead
Rabbits, Five Pointers, Water Street
sharks and dock rats Of New York City.
Imagine such mixed throng as this
crowding around to see the dying strug-
giles Of these noble birds-shoulde to
shoulder, and cheek to cheek in loving,
brotherly embrace, straining their eyes
and ears, mounted on each Others
shoulders, oftentimes breathing an at
mosphere Of smoke, stencil, bad whisky,
old pipes, butts of old cigars, foul
breaths, and fouler oaths and words
and obscene jests, and you only need
the smell and contact of birthstone TO
make this picture Of q cock-fght one Of
the "Devil's own" The long, sharp
steel gaifs worn by these birds soon
wound each other and cover them with
blood, until, smarting with pain, they
madly rush and make desperate lunges
at each Others heads and eyes with
these swords Of death, until they are
driven through to the hits, and
death cnsues in moment. A fight
rarely lasts over eight or ten minutes,
in many cases scarcely a minute, the
FIRST thrust Of the gals killing In some
cases. As many AS twenty or thirty
noble birds, images Of which for years
have been mounted upon many church
spire throughout this Christian land,
are cruelty killed by each other, and
their torn and bleeding carcasses thrown
out TO the dogs almost before life Is En-
tinct and their own murderous gals are
cut of Of the dying gladiator and fast
ened in turn upon a "fresh fowl, J" 70
murder his fellow in turn, to gloat the
appetite and satisfy the fiendish love Of
torture and put the coveted greenbacks
in the pockets Of the angelic throng
Hundreds Of dollars thus change hands
nightly, money in many cases taker
from working men and those whose
families need every dollar to live II
these trying times. One Of the mos
noted cock fights Of the season took
place at Mamaroneck while ago, in :
farmhouse owned by one Of the par
ties, in the day time. There were
gathered mostly the wealthy sports o
New York and vicinity with good rep
reservation from Greenwich. To guars
against surprise from Mr.. Bergh ant
his officers, about twenty guards will
muskets were hired as sentincls.
Tho fiUhfinU was continued all da'