The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-03-02
THE DOG FIGHT.
A LONG AND BLOODY BATTLE, AND
BOsTON WINS ON THE FlRsT DAY.

For some days past, in pathetic plants, the
police have been urged to make crusade
against one Jennings of New York, and
Thornton, OF Boston, because of their pecu-
liar fancy for fighting bull dogs In pursu-
ance OF the "Old Lady's" petition. as will be
seen by the report in another column, the two
men were arrested and released on a writ OF
Aesteas corpus yesterday.
In the morning papers had been published
an advertisement that the dog fight would
take place at Murphy's cock pit, corner OF
Toledano and Water streets In the upper
portion Of our city.
The entries for the fight, for there was to be
but one each night, were: Harry jennings
yellow and white bull terrier Croppy, of
Brooklyn, weighing 81 pounds. and Thos.
ThorntOn'e, Of Boston, bfindle and white bull
terrier Pete, weighing 2s pounds.
The dogs had evidently both been trained
down exceedingly fine, and looked in perfect
form. Bostons brindle and white had
broad, dangerous looking head, whilst Crop
by, Of New York, was neater In build, but
less heavy In the head
Murphy's pit, the scene Of the battlo, Ia
building fronting on Water street of about so
centre OF an amphitheatre Of seats was a pit
OF about % feet In diameter. with rim rising
about three feet from the ground to keep the
dogs away from the spectators. 1t was half
past O'Clock before both dogs put In an
appearance. A crowd of some $50 had clam
bered over one another and awaited the battle
with whetted appetltes.
There were 'longshoremen ready to bet
their Saturday nights pay, there were sport
ing men willing to lay odds on most aDV-
thing, there were shoulder hitters who came
for the love OF the sport, and gentlemen who
wanted to see how the thing" went. 1t
was sort OF Ola p0drida of society, from
the small boy whu sells his morning papers,
sitting on the upper seats, to the connois-
seurs OF the sport, on the more favorable ones
below.
When o'clock neared, jennings, an Eng
lishman OF about fifty years, with side
whiskers and travelling cap, entered the
ring, and was soon followed by Thornton,
with q similar cap, but sdlls the side
whiskers. Both had marked faces, and
looked not unlike the gypsy type Of old
|. The first process, after the selection of
referee, was the tasting of the dogs. Each
sponged of his opponents dog with water,
tasting the sponge now and then to see that
no poisonous powder was hidden In the hair
OF his adversary's canine. On both sides the
EXTREMIST care was taken, and after some
delay, at Q o'clock exactly, Pete. of Boston,
and Croppy, OF New York, were confronted In
the pit. In the betting, before scratching,
Boston led, but the odds were slight, and
soon fell off to even wagers.
THE FIGHT.
As soon as they were loosened, with howl OF
delight they rushed at one another as IL en-
joyiDg the prospect of sharp tussle as much
as hearty meal; Croppy. got In at the first
lump throat hold on Pete, and held If for
ha
dog on his back. Here Croppy changed his
grip to the jaw, and for some minutes both
dogs were eavorting around the ring under q
fusila5e OF cheers from the spectators.
1t was evident at once to the observer that
the new York dog was the stronger of the
two, and the best wrestler, but the grip of
Boston was the stronger. Time after time
Jennings dog threw Pete heavily, getting In
some punishment on the face and jaws. After
half an hours fighting the effects OF the teeth
OF both began to show marks of their handi.
work. From the mouth Of the Boston dog
was hanging long string OF clotted blood,
and his neck and sides were covered with
bloody stains, showing the work OF Croppy'g
bieepS. Croppy had a cut on the flank and
his throat threw out now and then little
splashes OF gore. Without diminishing In the
least In their ardour, they kept at 1t, and
when the first hour had turned, both were
covered with dust, and had on them more
than q hundred wounds.
Boston, who had been getting the worst OF
OF it all along before, began to show now his
terrible game qualities Croppy had after a
severe struggle gotten him under, and was
choking him, it was thought to death, with A
strong throat hold. His eyes were closed.
his tail had dropped, and he laid In the pit,
legs upward, apparently dead. Croppy was
munchiDg away at his throat, doing. how
ever, but little execution. Cries of 1910 to
SO 80 on Jennings" rent the air. with but few
takers.
Croppy, however, had counted without his
10 er1fNar affF Fnf,. b..
oil Boston, soon passed off, and with deep
grOwl he went to work again. Now taking a
savage hold of Croppy''s fore leg, then going
for an eye he produced CONSERVATION In the
Jennings begged Thornton, whose Pete had
just been throttled by Croppy, to cave the
dog for breeding and not have him killed,
but the crowd wanted 1t to be "kill or
nothing" and laughed at Jennings offer.
Pete, after the second hour had passed, took
firm hold on the lower jaw OF Croppy, and
held him. Taking his time, he would, every
little while, close his jaws and one could
hear the crushing of the New York's bones.
Pete kept up this until the Jennings dog
yelled with pain and howled to get away.
It was now evident Boston had won the
battle, for Croppy was covered with blood
and his jaw was useless. FROM exhaustion
they CEASED to fight, when they were taken to
their respective corners TO be scratched. Both
were painting and covered with mud and a
bloody froth A question was raised as to
which dog should walk over to his oppo-
nent's corner and Scratch" or make the
first advance. There was some confusion,
and the referee ordered both to be put In the
centre of the pit, head to head, to see which
could make bite. Jennings refused to put
his dog down, and the referee pronounced
the first fight of the series in favor OF Boston.
II is probable both dogs will not survive. The
fight CON uned hours II minutes.
This afternoon, after the cock fighting AT,
the pit, corner OF Louisiana Avenue and
Water street, another battle will take place
between two OF the crackest dogs Of both
kennels.