The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-04-15

mcnts for what they called hack fighting" on
the following day " Hack" is professional
torn, apple To- individual cock lighting aside
from main In this way it was Thought that
The merits of the birds could be drtcrnined
despite the failure of the main. During the
night several chicken disputes were settled
in Tom Blnrk's corkpit. near the Central Hotel.
In Charlotte. IN old ncgro's chicken was
matchrd against one owned by u dr9nSlcal
lrishman. The Celtic bird won the hight ny
scratch" and itS master JUMPED INTO tne pi.'
md whooprd and ronrcd like wild man.
stag. or. young, cock less than twelve mouths gi+
old. fought tried veteran. but was taken from
the pit a corpse. Iic was n gallant little fellow.
and deserved better fate. The pit was kept
open until near daylight. and several battles
fought hut the cocks werc unknown. and but
Little money changed hands . ,,.,,,
The morning OF Wednesday came with
cloudy sky. hut II brought no fresh innuN oil
strangers. The failure Of tho main had been
telegraBhcd TO The principal cities. pnd became
sunns had been warmed 10y the scenes OF tho
preceding night. and they ilockcd TO the ialr
grounds laden with silver and grecnbacks.
regular satnrnaia was the result. Georgia and
North Carolina cocks were matched and fought
from TO-, on Wednesday morning to \. W on
Thursdny. The sun came out and dried the
bccn loosencd to the depth OF loot or
more more and rnd sanded s'"N"sd ,"osd ana ldoEpc5 roEpr5s
moro like prize nghter's ring. than cockpit.
Spectators occupied few benches outside tho
ropes. hut the majority were compelled To stand:
close board fence snrrouni,d the yard and
the lcafcd trees beyond were filled with singing
birds. Men on horseback and the tops of omni-
buses Witnesses til, fight from the outside. The
fee for admission WIS 2J cents. An imprOvscd
bnrroom and lunch counter within the main
building WIS well patronizrd. MOonshine
whiskcy appeared to be the f;,vorite beverage.
Corn and rock candy was on sale and OCCASION
ally ,kcg Of muddy lager was tapped.
Early in the morning the Georgia party built
M outdoor fire IN front of their wing oi the
building. Their hackers were grouped around
II until the embcrs died out in the hot sunlight
Very Jew persons were admitted To their rooms:
Many OF their chickens Were in fine trim nnd
had not been thrown OIL their feed. Each cock
had bccn twice taken from its coop, placed upon
n pile of fresh hay. and aggravated 10y n rooster
held In the hands Of the trainer. The pecking
and fluttcrhg brought every muscle In play,
and prepared the fowls for more serious work Of
the day. The Carolinians were not so shrcwd.
Their rooms were, crowded with profcssed
friends. who blew tobacco smoke in the faces Of
their cocks. and kept them in continual excite
ment. The grain feeding OF the previous day
had bad effect and II Is claimed. with some
show OF truth. that they were not in good condi-
tOn.
The matches were made by the various back
ers. Ten Georgians would put in $40 or $50
approached the North Carolinians, saying.
We have cock weighing so much.
HPa S1 T T gsTy @%ch him Ss tGs iSeC Th
weight as possible. and The match was made,
Both parties looked closely to the feet of the
matched birds. II is through the feet that the
professionals tell the breeding. The match
made the cocks are trimmed; In other words.
the feathers are closely cut from their necks
and legs. giving them free scope for action, and
making them look a. though stripped for a
race. After the trimming the birds are hceled.
This means that the gafls are placed upon
their legs. A good heeler II favorite with
sporting men, for much depends upon the man
ncr in which he does his work. The gan is n
round piece OF steel. from three u four inches
| long about the diameter OF n knitting needle.
1t is rs sharp as n needle. and is curved like a
| cmcter. Ii projects from steel eve. set in n
| triangular piece of leather. Half the
| spur Of the cock is cut away with
n fine steel saw. leaving Il stump
| with n smooth surface. Two strips cut
| from n soft Kid glove are transyerscly laid
across the stump OF the spur the eye OF the gan
| Is pressed over them. and then showed to the
| leg. the strips OF kid protecting the skin. The
| leather about the eye is then tied TO the leg
| with waXed shoemakers thread. and the cock
is ready for pitting that is. TO be placed in
| the pit TO fight.
| The ptters or seconds take their places and
| deliver their birds outside Of defined bounda-
| ries. explained as follows: