The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-04-09
COCK FIGHTERS LOSE HEAVILY
Augusta Sports Sweep the Pot in
Two Days Main.

Augusta Sports Sweep the Pot in a
Two Days Main.
Savannah sports were in deep sorrow last
night because they had dropped about
! 81, 600 TO Augusta sporting men in the two
days cooking main which ended yesterday
afternoon. Savannah lovers Of the pit not
| only mourned the loss of their money, but
as a result of the two days battle some Of
the chickens they priced the most were car
ried out of the pit dead, dying and mangled
beyond hope Of recovery.
] Nine mains were fought in the two days
struggle, and Augusta won every main,
and rounded up the overwhelming defeat
by winning the ''shake-bagn fight, on which
Savannah sports put up all they had and
/ could borrow to get even, and lost, as the
big dominique, which won for Savannah
last winter was carried out Of the pit as
dead as March herring.
The main was gotten no by Charleston
| chicken fancier named Levy, who backed
the Savannah ROSTERS. The Augusta dele
cation, numbering about fifteen, headed by
man named Hicks, said to be the best
| judge Of a fighting cock and the best heller
in the south, brought down thirty-two
chickens. principally South Carolina and
Augusta cocks, aud a champion fighter
from Athens
The sport began Sundaysbya stag fight in
the old fort in which Hicks took no interest,
and kept out Of the pit. The Savannah
birds won with hands down, which tended
10 nak7 the Savannah sports enthusiastic
and confident, and some of the Augusta
sports began to get weak kneed, and talked
about backing the Savannah chickens in
Mondays main. Hicfs told them that while
Savanna might possibly win main OF two
on Monday his chickens would be in better
condition on Tuesday, and would win every
thing in sight
Fearing that the officers would swoop
down upon them, there was an air Of
secrecy about the place where the two days
main would be fought, but the initiated
were well posted, and when it was known
that the party was all right he was told to
take Whitaker street car 20 the City and
suburban depot and walk out the White
Bluff road. and when he would hear the
chickens growing he couldn't miss the pit.
Arriving at the place an admission fee of
y cents was charged, and that man coulu
ind his way TO the scene of the battle was
considered sufficient credential.
On Monday, in the first two mains it was
draw for each side. In one the Augusta
chicken ran like a whitehead and in the
other the Savannah chicken thought discre-
ton was the better part of valor and he
jumped the pit and made good time in get
ting away. In the next four mains the
Yesterday there we're five mains fought
and every one was won by the Augusta
chickens, which were in the best order. and
had been trained down to the best fighinp
condition.
In the shake bagn fight. when Savannah
entered its big dominique which won last
winter, there was big money up, $500, and
heavy side betting. Some of the Augusta
ans overheard the owner of the dominioue
4f aoly 3 lao
even, and that tended to
discourage some, who declined TO
come 10, rs they had heard of the domi.
nlque1' previous work, but others laughed
at the warning, and accommodated the
the dominlqueIs hackers for all they could
raise, and won heavily. as the Savannah
bird never got out of the pit, although he
was game to the last. Hicks heeled both
days, and his chickens did fearful execu-
ton.
Augusta won heavily. One of the visitors
displayed 81 400 and another $3.50 as their
winnings before leaving the city last night.
Hicks and all of bis party but two left
last night for Atlanta, where there is to be
two days main. At the conclusion of
yesterdays fight Hicks said he would enter
his chickens for another main at any time
for 5000 side, and offered to put up $500
forfeit, but Levy, who had arranged the
| main, was not inclined TO take him
| up. Some of the Savannah crowd didn't
have money enough left for car fare after
| the 'shake-bagn fight was decided Other
locals, seeing that Augusta presented the
| best chickens, backed the out Of town birds
yesterday trying to. evea up on what they
lost on Monday, and they helped the dead
broke portion back to town
| One Augusta sport said that Hicks birds
| will win at Atlanta with hands down, as
| Shawlnecks are being depended on in At
lanta, and while tie Shawlnecks go into a
| fight at a rafting pace, they are not good
stayers, and to win they will have to win
with rush, and few mains are won by
that sort Of fighting.