Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1882-12-03
BLOODY COCKS,
Ma South Side coekpit-HOw Wheeling
Sports Enjoy Themselves Chicken
Fighting on Saturday
Night.

Any one with an eye keen 70 sporting
matters, would have seen ct glance, last
night, that something unusual was in the
air. There wm Q commotion among the
Fancy that could only be accounted for by
some occurrence out Of the common and to
ascertain what it might be a SUSDAY REGIS
TER reporter sought out a well-known
sporting man aud questioned him. Said
he:
'It you will promise not TO give ausy
the place and the names, will steer you
into something good.
The reporter gave the required promises
and the next moment the pair were gliding
southwark. The creek was crossed and
then the promise went into effect. A short
time afterwaTd saloon was entered and
the reporter found himself il the midst OF
4 crowd of men and half-grown boys, q
very motley gathering, made OF workmen,
sports, gentlemen Of elegant leisure and
professional or two.
Where are We going queried the man
Of news.
COCK FIGHT"
was the sententious answer. Then the
steersr led the way back and ascended
fight Of stars. A man stationed at the
top looked suspicieusly at the bright and
innocent face of the reporter and held 8
whispered cOlloquy with the guide. 1t
ended in the reporters paying two quar-
tiers, the admission for both, and the twain
passed in the arena, the scene
OF the bloody gaffing match
soon to take place. A room about twenty
five feet square had been transformed into
a cockpit. in q very primitive style.
small space, scarcely six feet square had
been laid or for the pit and about II clus-
tered roomiul Of men, whose faces were
but dimly seen through the halo OF
smoke proceeding from the assortment
of stogies, cigars and cigarettes, which
were keing vigorously pulled. Attic Same
time the repOrtorial ears were aSsailed by =
iargon Of slang and betting, all carried on
in = semi-tone.
rHE COCKS,
the guide explained, we're from Wheeling,
Steubeuyillu and Pitts5urg, and this fight
had been postponed from this night a week
ago As nearly rs could be seen, there
were twelve cocks, all game and sandy,
around the room some OF them armed and
equipped, some undergoing the operation,
and a few still unprepared, thrusting their
heads through the air holes OF the SACKS
and baskets which confined them:
Bring on that red Teller, hight QUICK
now" said a voice and . man, With hl5
sleeves rolled To his elbows, as he graSped
a bronze rooster and stepped into the
arena. And fifteen dollars this little BIRD
gets away with him
I'm go you twelve to fifteen, this once,
said q prominent sport, as he hHed INTO
his vest pocket.
Long odds. but here you are" respond
cd the first named. rs he produced his roll.
Various bets were made about the room,
while the red teller was being prepared.
This operation was curiOusly watched oy
the reporter. one man held the
bird while another carefully pastel
-" "r' the s,umps OF his trimmed
spurs, strips of court plaster, forming =
cushion for the ring OF the ''gatf. These
are steel spurs, slightly curved, about three
inches in length and sharp as needles.
These were carefully fastened on and he
bird Vas ready.
THE FIGHTS
Each man grasped his bird by the body
and holding them together, allowed them
to peck at each other, to get their mettle
M, Then they were placed on tho ground
and immediately rushed At each other, IN
the most approved style. The CALLS
Clapped together, the feathers flew
and the crowd crauei their necks toward
lie birds, eagerly watching the fight.
Presently a pair OF gals got fastened and
time was called while the trainer separated
them. lie damned his finger down the
birds throat, TO clear ont the blood, while
the other man put his birds heak into his
mouth and actually sucked out the blood.
shifting il upon the loOr. Then the birds
rushed at it again with redOuEled fury, and
presently the bronze cock received the
point of 4 ga directly m the eye AMI was
soon tat on his back.
Another fight followed soon after aud
then another Unt;l six cocks had bitten the
dust. The fights were all alike with slight
variations. The betting was generally even
and no little money changed h.ads on the
various results. And that crowd sat about
and lCunged around, glOating over the
sickeuing SpPCtaCleS. Joking AMI smoking
and swearing and betting and enjoying
then selves generally until about II o'clock,
No LAW.
The city has no law against cock Eight
ing. Several times the Council has an
deavoyed to pass one, but each time with.
out success. Consequently, if the police
were aware OF this main. they we're power
less 20 arrest il, uHless disorder acCOmpa'
MED IT, y, to the latter. there was none
Of it, and as no city law was broken, there
CUu.d be no arrests.