National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-04-20
FIGHTING CHICKENS,
A sanguinary Battle which Took Place at
the Chain Bridge.

For some time past the lovers of cock
fighting in East and West Washington have enter
tanned their friends and acquaintance with con-
siderable loud talk to the supremacy of their
respective chickens and their confidence of win
ming if they were pitted against each other. This
sort of Drag, as it generally does, finally brought
about match, which settled down to an agree
ment to show eleven birds, the number to be fought
to be decided upon on the ground. The con-
test was for $50 a main and 500 for the
odd battle. In this contest Thomas Walsh rep
resented West Washington and 7. Evans East
Washington. The place agreed upon for the bat
tie ground was within close proximity to the
Chain Bridge, and the time yesterday between ten
a m. and two p. m. The word was quietly passed
around to the lovers of the sport, and they pre-
pared to make the voyage to the battle ground.
In order to accommodate the travel special
vehicles were run from the terminus of the Wash
ington and Georgetown Railroad in Georgetown
to the scene of the conflict. At nine o'clock
yesterday morning the travel began and it was
strange to notice how many prominent persons had
suddenly discovered that they had important and
urgent business in Georgetown to transact. At
half-past ten o'clock the designated spot for the
contest was pretty well populated, and the resi-
dents i'll the vicinity surprised at the sudden
influx of strangers and unable to account for their
presence. They not left in ignorance long, for
actions indicated the nature of the gathering
and, when found out the countrymen in the vicin-
ity were eager to become spectators their city
visitors. Soon all the preliminaries were
passed and actual work was looked
for. The crowd remarkably orderly,
and the best of good humOr prevailed. Each side
exhibited eleven birds, but it was concluded to
have but nine battles. Business soon began, and
each side had plenty of hackers. All of their birds
showed remarkable gameness, there being no
runaways but they stood in the ring, doing good
work until disabled and compelled to succumb,
when the victor would manage to find breath
sufficient left to crow over his fallen foe. The
chickens were matched at weights varying from
four to ten pounds, generally being pretty nearly
matched in that respect. The fight huctuated
considerably, and after the first battle it became
very uncertain as to the likelihood of the result.
West Washington successful in carrying off the
first battle. Then East Washington rallied and
took good lead by gaining the next three fights
This made prospects appear blue for the uptown
folks, and they would only take bets at long Odds
Here change came and showed its effect npon
the pockets of the hackers of the Navy Yard cocks
Walsh's birds, by judicious and careful pitting
won the fifth, SIXTH and seventh battles, thus
gaining them the odd fight up to that time. 1t
also revived the dropping spirits of the bdckers of
that side. Their gloomy faces became all smiles,
and they cracked many lively joke. The eighth
contest went to East Washington, and tied the
score. Then came the ninth and final battle. For
this the best and picked chickens on both sides
had been reserved. The spectators, not content
with looking at them, wished to handle and ex-
anime them for their own qualification, and many
were accorded this privilege. Afterward they
wagered their money upon their judgment to
which would prove the winner. The battle was a
good one, and holly contested. Upon its result
rested the laures of the day and the victory of the
main. After showing brave front, and making
noble effort to win the West chicken was laid low
and to East Washington was given the fight and
the battle money. From the talk in chicken
circles last night 1t is evident that this series of
battles will not settle the question of superiority,
and it is rumored that another contest will take
place in about two weeks.