The Evening critic., 1883-04-24
oooK-RIonrlNo As A pAsrlME.


and Washington visited Wilson Station, in
Prince Georges County, on the Baltimore
g. Potomac Railroad, yesterday morning, in
hopes of witnessing a cocll-fght between
chickens from Georgetown and Washing
ton, which il was understood would come
of in the locality named. But the weather
and tho Maryland mud was too bad and
after consultation it was determined to
return to Washington, and have the fight
here even at the risk of police interference.
The fight took place yesterday afternoon
and the Baltimore american gives the fol-
lowing account of 1t
The American man, in pursuit of infor-
nation as to where the fight would take
place, visited the livery stable of Mr.. j. w.
Pumphrey, on G street northwest near
Sixth street. Mr.. Humphrey was reported
to be absent, but while the colored employe
was answering the inquiry the Growing of
several cocks, apparently overhead, aroused
the suspicious of the reporters friend, who
made known his name, and told the col
orcd man to inform Mr.. Humphrey of his
presence. The livery keeper disappeared in
n rear alley to "see if he could find Mr..
Pumphrey," and was followed by the in
quiTiDg reporter, who thus found his way
up pair of steep stairs to loft over the
stable.
Here, after great deal of whispering
through the key hole, the american man
and his guide gained admittauce through
door not much over four feet high into an
apartment about thirty feet square. Here
were found about thirty men, who
were talking in whispers and OCCASION
ally urging each other not to make any
noise. In the centre of the room was
regular cement.lined cockpit, all ready for
bn m fpnnht
was for 5000, fourteen chickens to be
matched. Only those who were known
personally to the managers and were identi-
fed through the keyhole were admitted,
and all calling of bets was expressly in
terdicted. All present, although, as rule
attired in remarkably shabby clothing, ap-
peared to have plenty Of cash, and the bet
| ting on the first battle was very heavy
In Favor of the GeOrgetOwn Cock.
When time was called, at / o'clock, the
| crowd gathered around the pit, those on the
inner side Of the arch sitting on the floor.
| The referee, gray-haired old patriarch
| from Georgetown, sat on n low stool near
| the border. The Washington cock, red,
was the first one pitted by John Evans, who
handled the chicken for the home side.
| Georgetown's pitter was Dick Lee, who
showed up very handsome yellow leg.
| Evans was in his shirt t-sleeves and through
|
headed. Lee wore woolen-llnit jacket
and an enormous slouch hat and at times
| showed much excitement. The cocks were
armed with
Onc.and.a-haIfL Inch steel GnlFs.
They were even weight, and after being
duly handled" and made ready for the
deadly contest they were finally pitted.
Like flash they went at each other; and,
both rising at the same moment they met
Al 1,l @I,a;, I,.1
| They never paused a moment, but clinchcd
again, when the two pit men rushed for
ward, their quick eyes having discovered
that the chickens were coupled" The
red Washington had buried its right spur
in the body of the yellow leg, Just over the
right wing, with such force that Evans
was compelled to draw the cleaning steel
from the quivering flesh, the cocks being
unable to separate. The wound was evil
IDENTIFY
Fatal TO the Georgetown Chicken,
but the fight was by no means considered
over, as there was yet chance that the
dying bird might place its opponent hOrs du
combat by a lucky blow. The unfortunate
yellow leg was accordingly rubbed in the
most approved scientific manner, the blood
and feathers wiped away from his bill and
eyes and placed opposite his still vigorous
antagonist. The red stalked up to its pros
trate foe. The latter leaped valiautly to
its last BATTLE delivered one Intellectual
blow, and then rolled over dead, with a
gaf through its brain. This victory for
Washington naturally led the betting in
favor of the home chickens and the George
town men succeeded in placing great deal
of money on the next fight, as well as the
result of the main. handsome
"black red was the second chicken put
forward by the Washingtonians to meet au
equally beautiful I" red horse from George
town.
This Fight Was Short ana Sharp
for the first round, when the red horse got
in gaff with cruel force through the lower
part Of its opponents neck. The black red
at once went groggy,' and after stagger
ing around little while, finally refused TO
fight, and attempted to fly out of the pit
greatly to the disgust of the Washington
boys. The referee counted it out, the bird
refusing to come to time before twenty had
been enumerated.
After this event the suspicion became
general among the older sports that the
Washiugtonans were outmatched aud that
an inferior bird had been put forward pur
posely by Georgetown in the first figh
with view to certain effects on the bet
ting. There were plenty, however, tt
back the Washington chicken, "blacl
red," when Evans appeared with it in tn,
| PIT. 1t was eViuCntIy Ol pure DlOOu, unN
showed an eagerness for the fray thai
gained it many friends. Georgetown pu
forward stately y-looking " brass-back red, ,
showing equal spirit and
The Fight That Ensued Was thu
Prettiest One Had.
At the first fly both birds received SOM
wounds, but fought without a pause 70
nearly eight minutes. At first the blacl
red forced the fighting with great fury
making the feathers and blood fly with EN-
phasis The noble bird had nearly an ounc
in weight against it, however, and it wa
not long before it was knocked PROSTATE
The other cock instantly rushed in an,
made n notably vicious lunge which buriet
the inch and a-half of steel full in TIL
) breast of its Washington foe. The latte
, staggered gamely to its feet and stood ol
5 the defensive without giving an inch, eH
cept as the infuriated brass back fOrce
him against the plank border Of the pit
, The Blood Was Streaming From tia
washington Birds Hreast,
but its spirit never weakened, and finally
its neck being broken, it tumbled owe
dead. The Washingtoniaus had put on
their best bird for this contest, and the.
lost heavily by the defeat. There was
. long intermission before the next fight
during which time everybody, as usua
crowded according to sympathies or curl
osity into the opposite corners of the roOr
occupied by the handlers of the rival bird
) and their assistants. After each cock wa
g Cnflpd H. would be critically felt an