The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1885-08-12
CHICKEN FIGHTS IN MEXICO.
Pho FRvcrite Amusement In the NeIshbor.
ing Republic.


rho FavOrite Amusement In the NeIehbor
ing Republic.
Nearly every town of any size has III
cockpit, and mains are fought in some
places every day. But Sunday is the great
day, when the finest birds are brought out,
when money clinks the loudest, and the
most molly crowds gather around the pit.
Then the men of business, who could not
find time for the fights on secular days, are
ON hand with their money and their birds.
Perhaps the priest, who has swung the cen.
ser in the morning, seeks his mental rest in
The excitement there afforded, or the Judge
relaxes his overstrained mind and feels no
loss of dignity as he buys chicken to
match the favorite bird of the doctor, who
has postponed call upon patient to Mt
tend to this important business.
The cockpit is generally ring twenty
five or thirty feet in diameter, enclosed with
fence some thirty inches high, outside of
which seats are variously arranged for spec
tators. Inside the ring some thirty or forty
game cocks are tethered by one leg to pegs
IN the ground, just far enough apart to
prevent their pecking each other Magnif-
cent specimens of birds may here be seen
combining every element of beauty that
shape and color can produce. Most of the
birds are 1.-the and trim, while others are
solidly built, yet with no sacrifice of shape.
A deep red back with black breast are the
prevailing colors, though there are many
elegant birds of golden back and neck who's,
lustre outshines even the red ones. Man,
seen IN the pit are there to sell to gentle
men of quality, like the Judge or doctor
who do not always raise their own chickens,
but depend upon buying q likely looking
FOWL Others are brought there to be fought
by the owners.
The master of the ceremonies, who is
generally some one who has grown old in
the business and knows nothing else orders
the ring cleared for the first fight. Each
owner takes his rooster under his arm and
retires to the outside of tho ring, and as
soon as the two chickens that remain to
| tight can be seen the outside betting begins.
The bets between the owners have already
been made. But this principal bet, though
perhaps the largest in amount, is nothing
compared with the outside bets. A cock
light is nothing without betting, and every
one who attends feels bound upon principle
to stake something. Special pains are taken
to match red cock against q golden one.
to facilitate the ready making and settle
ment of bets.
After careful scrutiny of the edges, to
see IT they are sharp enough, and n slight
touching up perhaps with pocket whe.-
stone, the gaffs are bound upon the birds.
one upon leg of each bird. These are not
like the natural spurs, but are perfect razors,
sickle shaped, sharp as possible on both
edges and point, and about two and n hall
inches long. After being adjusted they arc
covered with sheath of heavy leather. A
line is then drawn in the centre of the pit
and each man, standing ON one side, SHAKER
his bird Mt the other bird. Both of them
crow, try to peck each other, and struggle
to get loose When sufficiently excited &c
insure their rushing ut one another eacI
man takes his bird back about six feet from
the line, pulls off the leather sheath from
the knife and puts II over his ear, like 4
pen The Judge confidently pats his bird
while the other twitches feather from tb,
neck of his to make him mad, and then
perhaps, chews up and swallows the feather
for good luck.
At the word, both chickens are released
and, with heads down and neck feathers
erect, they meet with O rush almost over the
line. High in dir they both bound from the
shock, with dull rattle of feet against
feathers. To the ground they come, the red
cock underneath, while the yellow one, let
Ting 90 of the red ones head, which he had
caught with his beak, springs over him with
rapid stroke of both feet as he passes and
half tumblers with exertion on the other
side. Quickly he wheels and faces the red,
but, too much out of breath to resume the
attack at once, he waits for him to come.
The red, too, rises, and would rush upon
the other; but his legs fail him his head
suddenly droops he totters and falls dead.
The loud murmur of suspended voices
again arises the clink of coin Is heard as
the money is paid over to the various win.
ners, and the ring is again filled with chick.
Ems and their owners.
1t is but o few moments before another
match is made. Again two birds rush to the
line and glance upward with rapid beat of
feet against each other. Down they come
again and roll over each other in an alter
nate struggle--frst one ON top, then the
other. In o moment they are standing apart,
pecking at the ground and backing away
from each other, yet with neck feathers all
erect md looking very defiant Suddenly
one.begins 10 weaken and fall the other
one runs up to strike him, but he, too,
stands tottering. He turns livid about the
gills and his eye begins to look CLASSY,
while the other droops his head over side.
wise dead. The owner of the victor RUM
in aud snatches him up before he can fall,
and claims the stakes. Even as he makos
his claim, the proud head droops in hi,
arms. and before he can get out of the ring
the victor also Is ready for the spit. The
clamor of voices now runs high, but there
is no quarrelling. The bets are all squared
up, and the ring again filled with new
match makers.
And SO the day goes on until twenty-five
Or thirty or even more pairs Of birds have
been fought every fight resulting in the
death of one and very often of both of the
combatents. Often bird is struck dead
at the very first onset, but sometimes the
struggle lasts minute or SO before either
bird is scratched.