The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1881-01-27
How a Rooster Was Oonouered,

To illustrate what he meant by the
phrase ''garlicking a stock" q New
York broker told the following story:
1t was during the flush times 1850. I
was pretty sick man in San Francisco,
and the doctor ordered me up the
country for change of air. Tom
jenkins was then running q ranch
among the hills, and as he and were
old friends, 1 resolved to pay him q
visit Tom had a fine barn-yard of
fowls, and among them was 8 great
game cock. He was as big as an ostrich,
but game to the backbone. Well, there
wasn't rooster in the whole country
side that he hadn't tackled and got
away with Tom had tried all he knew
to keep him quiet. He had locked him
up in houses, and tethered him by the
leg, and half starved him, but it was of
no use; as soon as he heard another
rooster crow, that moment he was off
at full speed, and never stopped until
he had licked him. Well, when 1 ar
rived at Toms ranch he had built a big
cage, and inside sat the rooster, looking
very melancholy, while Tom told me
the whole story. He would gladly give
$1,000 to any one who would find q
cock that could lick his chicken, but at
the same time he did not believe that
there was a bird in all California that
could do it.
Now, I had heard from an old chicken
fighter that if a little garlic was rub
bed on the head and under the wings of
a game cock; no other rooster would
attack him; SO asked Tom what odds
he would lay me that did not get q
rooster next day which would defeat
his famous bird. Tom at once offered
to lay ten to one, and we put up con-
siderable sum on the event. 1 took
Toms buggy and drove down to the
town, where there was poultry mar
ket. There were lots of roosters of all
kinds and breeds, but nothing very gamy
looking. At last struck a sporting
looking poulterer, who said that he had
an aged game rooster whose father and
mother he had known, and who he was
sure would show fight He was old
and dilapidated-lookin but he was
the best l could find. so closed the
bargain for one dollar. Then bought
a Glove of garlic. and drove back with
my purchase to the ranch.
Next day Tom had asked all his
friends to see the fight, and Mrs, Jenkins
had filled the windows of the house with
the ladies of the neighborhood, all
anxious to see TOMS rooster get away
with the stranger. The amount wagered
by us was large, and the whole county,
then sparsely inhabited, turned out en-
masse, the majority knowing the supe-
rior fighting of Toms rooster, offering
immense odds on the fowl, and as usual,
finding some willing to accept. l fixed
my bird up as well as I could, and
I rubbed the garlic under his wings
,nI oil oy.o,Ini hi, hood Whoy,
appeared in the yard where the
fight was to take place there
stood the great game cock, looking
more like a Cochin China, and strut
ting round looking for something to
lick. kept my bird in bag until tho
last moment, and as soon us time was
called took him out blinking in the
strong sunlight. He look round for
moment, rubbed his bill once or twice
on Che ground as if sharpening it, rails
ed his wings to see if the joints were
stiff, and made ut once for his gigantic
opponent. Toms rooster took two or
three jumpsjn the air. poised his head
so as to take good aim, and flew right
ut the stranger; but the instant he
smelled the garlic that rooster turned
and fled like yellow dog with his tail
between his legs.
Mrs. jenkins almost tainted, and
there was good deal of profanity
the male spectators, who had
lost on the home bird. The last thing
l saw of that rooster was his tail, as he
crossed bluff near by, with Tom in
full chase after him with double-barre
ed shotgun, swearing that he would
never allow any thing to be beaten on
his ranch and escape alive