Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-08-18
"A Chinese CockrOach Tournament.

"A Chinese COcIkrOach Tournament.
Chinese sporting circles in Chicago have
been greatly excited over the outcome of q
cock oach tournament which has been going
on in the basement Of downtown laundry
and Chinese club house for the last three
nights. 1t is the first big tournament ever
held cast of the Pacific coast. 1t has been
engineered and conducted by party of Chi
nese sports, who left San Francisco three
weeks ago with nearly GhJ J0rained fighting
cockroaches. Sunday night it was reported
that the San Francisco party had left tor
New York, having won several thousand
dollars from the local Chinese betting men.
The San Francisco Cinnamon who went to
Chicago were informed before they started
that there were large number of their
countrymen who could enjoy and literally
patronize a tournament. In Chinatown, ut
San Francisco, an old Chinaman has long
conducted a Chinese shoe shop, and in odd
hours maintained large number OF lighting
&C ccckroaches. He was ordered to prepare
fifty of his ablest fighters, which he at once
did, delivering them in a wicker basket
made especially for the purpose. Iu this
basket were nearly hundred cells, in which
each roach was kept separate from his COM
pauions. The Celestial sports arrived with
heir bugs without mishap Monday. In
two hours it was known to every Chnnman
in Chicago that the tournament would begin
Wednesday night. About eleven O'Clock
the tournament was opened, a feather weight
fighter being matched against n middle
weight cockroach Before the insects we're
pitted against each other they were handled
by Quong, a Chinaman, who had had some
experience in this line in China. With a
minute pair Of scissors he clipped their
wings, and then, Just before facing them,
creased their bodies with salve. This is
done to prevent tho insects catching one
another, as they will not touch the
creased portions Of each others bodies. At
signal two champions were dropped into
the pit. This was large urn, shaped like
n punch-howl, and greasped on the edges.
The first was one of the best Of the whole
tournament. No sooner were the two
lighting reaches dropped into the bowl than
they sprang at each other with the fierceness
of bull dogs breasting. Just IL minutes af-
ter the fight began, the big roach was dead.
Ia the last struggle, and despite the pain
caused by the etlurt, he turned in such q
manner that hi1 left fore-lcg was pulled
from its socket, but in so doing he caught
his adversary by the throat. The next in
slant he died, covered with wounds, while
the little victor staggered off with terri
BILE cut in his throat. Eight battles were
fought the first night, it being two o'clock
before the last battle was finished. The
betting was heavy and many of the local
men were winners. The next night only
four battles were got through with, but they
were all desperate contests and lasted an
hour each. On the third night there were
eleven battles, and when the tournament
concluded the San Francisco Cinnamon had
| nearly all tho money of the local sports. 1t
was reported that tho Chinaman Quong,
who handled the fighting reaches, bad play
ed into the hands of the visitors and drug
ged some Of the bugs.