Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-01-06
THE DEADLY PIT.
Cooking Main in Springfield.
A Globe Republic Reporter Tum-
bles Into 1t.
How the Springfield Sports and
Springfield BIOOds Illustrate
Civilization.
Names Of Distinguished Young Men
Filed for History.

of the rain and darkness, his steps led him
down towards the rushing waters of Buck
Greek. While pacing up and down the banks
of that mighty stream, deeply buried in sb-
stract meditation upon the poor quality of
pool cigars, his attention was attracted by the
appearance of two well-known citizens, who
passed him by unuoticed, as he stood in the
shadow of tree. Turning sharply to the
right, they made their way up the bank OF
the creek towards a large building which
stood in darkness and solitude by the side of
the waters.
Greatly wondering what could bring them
to that unfrequented place at that hour of the
night the CIR. man sat himself down to
await developments. In the course of half an
hour at least thirty persons had passed in the
same direction, struggling along in groups of
three and four. Finally professional man
of the city appeared, who, spying the scribe
holding his lonely vigil, opened the following
conversation:
waiting for the fun, are your"
Yes"
"What are you waiting out here in the
rain forr Why don't you go inside?"
Cant find the way. Don't see what in
thunder they wanted to make US come down
in this darned place for, anyhow"
"Why, man, this is just the place. The
cops will never get on to US down here.
Come with me, I'll show you the way"
With curiosity highly excited, the reporter
followed only too willingly, and was led by
roundabout path along the bank of the
creek, into the aforementioned building,
where he found from thirty to forty men as
sembled. Shortly after his arrival, they
land he) all adjourned to the cellar, where
they prepared for business. A gasoline lamp
and several lanterns were lighted, and
a bagful of sawdust scattered over the floor.
Then several white sacks were brought forth
and, for the first time, it dawned upon the
mind OF the G. r. man that he was about to
witness a cooking main.
The owners brought up their birds to be
weighed, and the scribe kindly volunteered to
take down the weight thereof, together with
theowners' names, for convenience in arrang-
ing the fights that were to follow. About
ten o'clock everything was ready, and the
sport began.
The first battle was between two y pound
cocks, belonging to well, We will say, Peter
Petersen and Ole Oleson. The fight was a
short one, Peters bird doing the other one
up without much trouble.
The next combat was between a young
bird belonging to the aforesaid Peter Peter
and one owned by James Jameson. The lat
ter was at least a pound the heavier; and, al
though the other was game to the backbone,
the odds were too great. At the end OF ten
minutes Peter sadly gathered up his chicken
and carried it to a corner Of the cellar for
interment in the coal-pile. The little fellow
bad no idea OF giving up the ghost 50 easily,
however, and, before the evening was over,
stood up as "peart" as ever.
Considerable alarm was occasioned about
this time by certain new arrivals stumbling
over some iron on the floor aDove. After the
confusion resulting from this had subslded,
the third, last and most interesting battle of
the evening came of, between a red and a
gray cock, belonging to Tom Thompson and
Will Wilson, respectively; the red was half
a pound the lighter. The fighting at first
was brisk, and, to those who admire this kind
of sport, doubtless interesting In the extreme.
As the birds grew weary, however, the "fun"
became disgusting, and many OF those present
voted to separate the combatsnts and call the
fight a draw. But those who had money up
on the result and some of the more
brutal of the spectators would
not hear to this suggestion, and
declared il must continue to a finish. The
handler OF the gray, endesvored, time after
time, to count his antagonist out, but was al
ways defeated by the little red showing fight
during the counting of the last ten. The
battle continued in this way over an hour,
at the last minute. Finally the required
number was counted and the fight declared
in favor of the gray.
After this the meeting adjourned, and the
scribe departed for home, pondering, as he
made his way through the darkness, how
much civilization tends to improve mankind.
The County Commissioners held the Janu-
ary session yesterday, Rawlings, Kitchen and
Sterrett present About the only business
transacted was the passage of big batch Of
first of January bills, including salaries of
officials, etc. The bonds of John C.
Miller, Probate Judge; Thomas Brassheld,
Deputy Sheriff, and J. H. Rabbits, County
Clerk, were presented and approved. A Pc
tition was presented from r. c. Biggs and
seyenty-one other citizens of New Carlisle and
Bethel tow nship, for release from Jail of Frank
Lucas. held Tor bastardy. Several claims for
sheep killed or injured by dogs were filed.
lola Division No. &c, U. R. knights of
Pythias. are holding bazar and festival in
their ball at Dayton, and sometime since in
vited the Springfield Divisions to visit them.
Champion City Division No a has chartered
A special cor and will accept the hospitalitles
,f No. 26 tomorrow evening. The knights
will be in uniform and will be accompanied !
oy the Cadet Band, OF this city; also by
aides, making company Of sixty or seventy
persons. The knights promise themselves
zig time.