The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-01-06
A COOKING MAIN.
A Lively Encounter of Birds in Decring.

On Friday night last knot of fast young
sports got up cooking main in DeeriDg not
far from the Portland line. TIE place selected
was cellar of ordinary dimensions which had
been fitted up 10 good style for the occasion.
An arena, or pit, had been formed, of fair size,
we'll laid down in saw-dust, and seats arranged
about in circus fashion. Some four rows were
thus afforded notwithstanding the low studding
of the apartment.
About II p. NJ, those who had been provided
with tickets, some 100 in number, gathered to
see the fun. II appears that for some time
past there has been dispute as to the relative
merits OF two ROSTERS belonging, the one a
f0lack and red game fowl, to a Portland man,
and the other, bird almost entirely red, to a
resident of Deering. 1t is said that $3.50 was
put up IN this main.
Error to the principal event of the evening
TWO birds were placed in the ring, apparently of
common breed, yet evidently possessed of a
strain of blood that made them very game,
As soon as they were let at each other the
leaner OF the two planted vicious kick 10 the
side of his adversarys head that made the poor
creature go staggering about the arena before
he knew what had hurt him. Bat he rallied
very quickly and the two had IL hot and heavy
for few moments when the leaner fellow
again got in clip that laid out the other roos-
ter as dead as door-nail. Daring the contest
the spectators would sing out 1910 on tas
black? "$5 on the red!' and, in their excite.
ment leaned forward so forcibly they nearly
brought down the seats on which they we're
sitting. The scene was most picturesque and
long to be remembered. The old cellar illumi-
mated by locomotive headlight and some
lanters, whose rays were concentrated on the
ring, the neat colors and glossy plunage of the
birds with their quick movements brought out
In bold relief and the eager, excited faces peer
ing out from the gloom in the background
seemed hardly appropriate to this quiet vicini-
ty.
The chief event Of the evening then came on.
The owners of the birds placed them carefully
in the ring aud let them 60 For few min
utes they lowered around each other like two
prize-fghters studying each others movements
Finally they drew nearer together until, all at
once, the black AMI red caught blow in the
side of the neck that made the blood squirt
lively. But the injured bird was not backward
and got in clip that apparently broke wing
of the other for the red sided off in lop-sided
manner as if half paralyzed. But he came
to the scratch With lots of pluck and dealt the
black and red plunging stroke that sent him
over only to spring up aud deal the red saw.
age cut very near where that bird had planted
his first blow. Then the two birds got at each
other again in groggy sort of way as if it
didn't matter much to either which whipped
but suddenly the black and red launched out
blow that struck the red in the eye and pene-
trated the brain. Portland was victorious, but
the victor looked pretty ragged.
The main was over and lots of money
changed hands. 1t was delightful to emerge
from the close confined cellar with its fetid air,
its close heat penetrated with the chill damp
ness that is inseparable from such place, and
the bright glare of the arena, into the still,
pure, cold atmosphere outdoors, free from the
odor of stale tobacco. the betting and the oaths,
and turn the horses head for home. The city
was lying quiet and peaceful in the distance,
wrapped in her snowy mantle, and the question
would involuntarily arise, can it be fun for
grown msn 60 give up their sleep and health
and steal out at midnight like criminals to see
poor fowls excited to kill each other? Is it not
q relic of the old barb Arian days?