St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-02-23
The Minnesota Chickens Win
Three Fights and Wiscon-
sin Chickens Two.
Gilmore and Needham Likely
to Meet in Min 1eSOta for
$500 a Side.
Killen Expresses His Wiling
ness to Meet Mccartney
or Ashton.

seven miles north OF the city, IN q small
country settlement near Bass lake. A
typical cooking main, after the old
fashions and aged preeedents, for blood
and money, was witnessed by a select
body of twenty-five breeders of game
cocks aud sportsmen of keen interest
for such encounters. As early as $3.50
o'clock yesterday morning, notwith-
standing the severe weather. several
left a prominent Office on
jackson street and were hurriedly
driven along Mississippi street to the
exciting scene to be enacted. Mime
sofa cocks were pitted against fine wary
games from Wisconsin, and short time
after the arrivals of the principals and
their fowls a cockpit 8XS was Temporal
rily erected on the second floor Of a
large, cold barn. Sawdust was spread
upon the floor within the ring, and all
being in readiness, the gallinaceous con-
testants were shown to the judge and
trim. One and one-quarter inch steel
gaffs were scientifically attached to the
LIMBS OF THE BIRDS
and time being called, the handlers
beaked them. to arouse them to appro-
pirate turbulence, and the pair went at
each other SO that nothing but a cloud
of feathers could be seen. Minnesota's
cock was Cahfornia-bred Japanese.
and Wisconsin had an active and wicked
fighting blue and red Pyle. After fif-
teen minutes of hard fighting. in which
both birds lost considerable blood, one
having had his wing broken in the sec
ond round, and during which time,
upon the counts of their handlers, they
were carried to their corners, washed,
sucked that is, sucking the blood from
the bill of the bird-and dressed for the
next meeting, it was discovered that
both birds had frozen feet, due to the
severe cold and the damp saWdust
which had been spread in the pit. Both
We're game as game cocks could posi-
bly, be. and while they looked as though
they had been digested Oh several
former occasions, they were all there,
and struggled to fight. The barn was
uncomfortable frigid, and the sports
and would-be sports stood around the
canvas shIvering like telephone bells.
Again the birds were sent at each
other, and as desperate a cock fight as
was ever fought in this state followed.
For thirty-three minutes they p5cked
and gaffed at each other, until
the blood streamed from the enc and
poured from the other. The last two
minutes of tie battles was interesting
for the wonderful demonstration Ivy the
Minnesota bird of his enduring qualities
and the Wisconsin cock of his game
blood. Hardly able to sit npon the pit
floor and be pecked and spurred most
cruelty, he would come to the scTatc
and submit to his fate Again and again
the long steel spur was thrust into the
Wisconsin cock and the blood spurted
from dozen wounds. The Minnesota
bird, much stronger and lasting better,
savageiy attacked his opponent, and
was only
TAKEN FROM THE PIT
after he had pinned the other to the
fioor, killing him with prong through
the head.
A large chestnut-broWn demijohn,
loaded with cheap ''moonshine" juice,
had been deposited back of the stove in
the farm house, and after MinnesOta's
first victory it was decided, since the
climate was so persistent to Illustrate
all efforts for a good cock fight, to re-
turn to the house and get on the out
side of some Of the refreshinent. AS
soon as the august body became slightly
Indifferent to the pains the hostess had
taken to keep her house neat and tidy,
they resolved to bring in the saw dust
and frozen blood drops and spread it
out on the parlor floor, remove the stove
and anything else necessary to offend
the ''scrappers" heel room. So Mrs.
Wildwrath's pariOr was transferred into
an arena, and the show went on. The
first thing in order was to settle up and
adjust several disputes over bets, rang
ing from 81 to s.. Betting was an ever
present element to tile occasion, and
was no more INDUCED in than 10y sew
eral auld members of the Barney
realm, who were as enthusiastic as the
sport and alcoholic stimulant could
make them.
The second battle was fought between
California Jap for Minnesota, and blue
red for Wisconsin. This was an excit-
ing round, and lasted twelve minutes.
gaff1les were darted with skill and
training, and was probably the best sci
enced fight of the five. The birds went
peli nell over each other until the Min
neSotian, with
A wEIL-DIRECTED BLOW.
caught his antagonist in the throat,
killing him Instantly.
The Third setto went to the Wiscon-
sin bird. This was between ''stags"
fought in seven minutes. Both birds
were Just doing good and interesting
work. when the CATTLE of the Wisconsin
cock pierced the lung of the home bird.
His owner sucked the blood out Of
his gaping mouth. but to no avail. He
dropped his head and died.
The fourth fight. which promised to be
a fine one, as the birds were game,
active and savage. lasted but minute
and went to Wisconsin. The home bird
extremely anxious to Stay the foreigner,
breasted him in magnificent style when
he slipped in an effort to gaff and was
caught in the side by his opponent. He
bled to death few moments after
wards.
The Wisconsin cock which had fought
the above round, was then pitted
against heavy MINES otian of the
Dominique species. He was dispatched
in about nine minutes. being picked to
pieces. 1t was bloody fight and won
upon weight, the home bird weighing
a pound more than the small but wiry
neighbor. The latter was pitted with
but one eye, and soon after lost the
other. the socket and mouth filling up
with blood and sawdust, until nothing
but mangled, bleeding and blind
bunch of feathers was fighting for life.
Out of the five fights, Minnesota won
three and Wisconsin two. The prizes
were $50 bird, and fully $500 changed
hands on the individual results of each
encounter. About five O'Clock in the
evening. all had been fought, and the
gratified party packed up their remain
ing cocks and drove to the city. The
California Japanese which fought in
the first round, is the first game cock
of that breed that has ever been pitted
in this state. He is fine specimen, aud
spurs against all corners.
PUGI.ISTIC CUFF.
Gilxaac.ua 81