The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-09-24
COCK-FiGHTlNG.
How the Chicken Disputes OF Our Fore
fathers Were Conducted.

one man IN tnOuSanu cOuIu give q IOl-
erably accurate description of the cock
fights of his forefathers. How cock
fighting is conducted at present we do
not pretend to know but ancient
cooking hath its literature, and, be-
sides, the written word, there is consid-
cradle tradition concerning it. which
some of US are old enough to have re-
ceiyed from the very mouths OF our
parents.
The first and most important point in
cock-fghting was the weight of the
birds. In most agreements for a cock
fight" articles for a cock-match"-
was the technical phrase-it WAS stipu-
lated that no cock should weigh less
than three pounds six ounces, or more
than four pounds eight ounces. When
the cocks Of each side had been weighed,
tine next thing was to pair them. This
was done by matching all the cocks on
either side whose weights came within
one ounce Of each other. The Hghtest
pair of cocks were always made TO fight
first, and then those gradually
heavier. until the heaviest pal.
fought last This venerable rule had
been in use since the days of King
Charles II. Although the combs of the
birds were always cut. they had to
appear with fair hackle, not too near
shorn. or out, nor with anv other fraud.
Tie spurs were usually of silver. at least
in the great matches. 1t the time ap-
painted !Or the cock-fight to begin, the
'.masterS of the match" took their seats
opposite 10 each other. on either side OF
tAe cockpit, accompanied by two OIL
Gals termed the 'setterS-to." Then
the two feeders" appeared. each carry
inc cock. After due examination, the
birds were made over to the settlers to,
and they handed them to the masters
OF the match, who started the fun by
putting the cocks upon the mat on the
floor of the cockpit. The next part OF
the business the cocks managed for
themselves. The noble sport now
began in earnest, and sometimes two
GOOD birds would light until one cock
had killed the other or thrashed him to
helplessness. But not uncODlmonlv,
after sharp round, both cocks would
suspend hostiiitieS to gain breath, and,
Withdrawing TO little distance, each
would watcn the other in the hope OF
catching him in \ careless or lstiess
moment. For Il short time this rather
added to the excitement of the Spccta-
tors; but human patience soon became
exhausted when two cocks stood
solemnly cycling each other. Now the
limit of time for cocks to Ogle without
fighting was fixed ut the interval during
which an official called ''the teller of
the law" could count forty. When this
limit was passed, human science was
brought to the assistance of the birds
The setters-tO then caught them, and
carving them to the middle of the pit.
delivered them on their legs. beak to-
beak." If either of them had been
blinded in the previous battle. their
heads were to be made to- touch each
other. If one cock refused 10 fight, he
was tried ten times. and ho had to re-
fuse to fight Us many times before he
was considered beaten. 1t sometimes
happened that dhe cock who would
FIGHT, died from his wounds before his
adversary had refused ten times, and
in that case the craven bird was con-
sidered to- have Won the battle. The
law further provided rules in case both
cocks refused To fight, Is well as in
other cases which it is hardly necessary
that we should enumerate; but they
were nearly all based on the principle
that 1.-The teller of the law should
count forty, twenty or ten. according to
circumstances, between the intervals of
the fights, 1t will b. readily under
stood, from this description. thata great
part of cOck-fight was occupied by
the setters-to squatting opposite to, each
other in the middle of the pit and de
livering the cocks on their legs. beak to
beak.'
Cock-ighting was fashionable in
Greece at least five hundred years b. c.,
and it was probably very ancient
sport in China, where it is still highly
popular In India, again. cock-fight-
ing is an institution of very great an
tiGIlity. Mr.. DOYLE, in his book on
poultry, assumes that the Britons prac-
ticed cock-ighting before the landingof
Caesar, from the statement of that au-
reared their fowls for amusement.
Both Henry VIII. and James l.. were
fond of '.cocking;" Oliver Cromwell
legislated against it, but Charles Ii.
revived it. The Royal Cockpit at West
minister. which was the head quarters
of cOck-fghting, was established by
Henry VIII, and even in the present
century mains have been fought, in it.
Newmarket has been the scene of num-
berless cock-fights. Indeed, it may be
said that for a long time cock-tighting
went hand-in-hand with racing, and il
used to- be reported in the official racing
calendar, which was then called the
Sporting Calendar. Taking up the
Sporting Calendar of 1775,. We read
that at Newcastle-upOn-Tyne. during
the race meeting = the gentlemen
of Durham and Northumberland
fought main of cocks, ," consisting
Of thirty-eight battles,. and eading in, "a
drawn main" 1t is said that LGOO
game cocks have l,een killed in fights
during. one week at Newcastle. HE
gentlemen of the same counties fought
another main, at the Durham races OF
the same year. when Northumberland
won. after thirty-four battles had been
fought. Although the matches were
sometimes made between individuals, it
was more usual for the. mains at races
to be fought between cocks belonging
to the gentlemen of two adjoining
counties. Ten guineas each battle, and
one or two hundred on 1.-The odd, J"
seem to have been the usual stakes; but
there was an immense amount OF bet
ting, and the odds were calculated to a
great nicely. Hoyle gives a table of
odds which is quite appalling. For in
stance. he quotes one case in which the