Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-03-11
THE POULTRY SHOW
BIGGEST AND BET COOKING MAIN FOR
TEARS
Scenes ard Incidents in The Pit at Eigingions Lane
Last Night-Ths Contest Up TO
3 O'clock 4. N.


Tho various saloons about town wore
a deserted air last night, as all the sports
who make such places their headquar-
ters, were absent from town. All the
trains coming into the city yesterday
brought delegations from the neigh
boring towns IN Ohio, Pennsylvania,
and West Virginia, TO see
what promised TO De one OF the most
exciting cooking mains ever witnessed
Ia this vicinity. About sixty sports
came down from PittSburg, while Chilli
cothe, Circleville, Athens and towns in
the immediate vicinity sent delegations
which augmented the large crowd of
local sports The strangers made
prominent Market street saloon their
rendezvous during the afternoon.
Early in the evening the visitors made
preparations TO leave FOR the SCene OF
battle, at Edginston's Lane, about three
miles cast Of the city. The { and 5
o'clock motor cars were crowded, while
the Four Hundred OF the sporting fra
ternity went in carriages
The pit is located in an old barn
about one hundred yards from the
motor track. at EdgintUnS. When the
REGISTER reporter arrived on the scene,
about O'Clock, dozen carriages stood
in the road, and a lantern hanging on
the gate guided the sports TO the pit.
In the kitchen of the dwelling house
coffee and sandwiches were dispensed,
and the enterprising vendor was doing
rushing business, despite the fact
his prices were twice the ordinary
amount.
Arriving at the barn, two stalwart
fellows at the door demanded the pass
word, and round "Samolien,' and the
visitor was uShered into room which
had seen service as a stable, and was IN
o dilapidated condition. In one corner
was "A screen behind which the owners
Of the birds were matching them, and
preparing for the contests. The rest
of the space was occupied by "chuck-a-
luck" "SpinddleS" and various other
gambling devices, while the enterpriS-
lug manipulatorS of the machines were
telling how to become rich at their ef-
penSe.
4 small door opened into the pit,
which was I'm a room about twenty-iUur
feet square, which had been added to
the main building, for the purpose for
which II was being used. In the center
Of the room was the pit, about 12xl2
/ feet, and on the outside were three tiers
Of seats, arranged In the form OF an
lampilheatre, and reaching to the roof.
Into this small space was crowded a
mass OF crOwding, Suili0cating human
/ ity. numbering about 300 souls. Ii was
the largest crowd which ever assembled
at cock fight in this vicinity, and
more money than ever before changed
hands upon the results OF the several
contests. There were 300 sports and
500 TASKS Of whiSkey, but good order
was maintained throughout the fights,
land the crowd waSra good natured one.
The space inside the room was 50 badly
crowded, that an entCrpriSlng sport
whit desired TO bet upon his favorite
birds. cut "A hole In the wall from thu
outside through which he would pass
bis money. At the end Of each tight
the crowd would surge, and give, until
the nit was crowded, and il would have
20 be cleared before each fresh contest.
The arrangements made were Tor
eleven contests for a purse OF 500 on
each fight and $3.50 To the winner Of the
odd fight. The birds in each case were
IOught by their owners. and one OF the
most prominent game fancierS in the
country, from Circlevillc. o., 0ftcisted
as time-keeper. II was a quarter to 10
o'clock before the fighting commenced,
the spectators i'm the meantime giving
vent to their impatience in oathS and
remarks the reverse OF complimentary
10 the owners OF the cocks.
The first fight was between birds from
Chilicothe and Wheeling. Both chick
ems weighed Z pounds and - ounces and
appeared to be evenly matched. Bet
ting was in favor Of the Wheeling bird,
and odds OF ; TO : were offered. Both
sides backed their fowls literally, and
between $500 and 500 changed hands
on the result. The spectators manifest
ed an intense interest when the fighting
commenced, and all strained their neckS
10 see TO good advantage. The first
fight was live one and ended I'm favor
of the Ohio bird. The chickens wore
three-inch spurs. Time, about six min
uteS.
The second contest was between
birds from Circleville and Wheeling.
The Wheeling bird was owned by a
prominent South Side game fancier,
who has taken part In all cooking mains
I'm late wears. Betting was lively, and
was in favor Of the Wheeling bird, with
odds OF : to 4. Fully $3.50 changed
hands on this pitting, The chickens
were matched at pounds, ounces.
The Wheeling bird had the best OF the
fight from the start, and was an easy
winner in about six minutes.
The third contest was between Cir
cleville bird, and one owned by the
proprietor of the pit. Betting was even
snd cautious. therefore not so heavy as
on the previous fights. The birds
tipped the beam at five pounds eight
ounces. The Wheeling bird had the
best OF the contest from the start. The
Ohio bird was badly wounded at the
first hitting. Both were weary, and
fought cautiously. The Ohio bird
was weak from loss OF blood, and In the
final pitting made no defense, and was
killed by a blow in the head, inflicted
by the local fewl. The contest now
stood two to one, in favor OF Wheeling,
Time. about eight minutes. Al the
conclusion of this fight, a quarrel was
started about bet, but was settled
peaceably.
Chillicothe and Wheeling birds were
/ pitted for the fourth contest, matching
| at five pounds This was the longest
and best fight. Betting was even and
lively. Between $500 and $3.50 changed
hands on the result. The contest opened
with some sharp Sparring, in which
neither bird secured an advantage. This
was continued for some time, until both
chickens became weary, and were on
the defense. At the next pitting the
Wheeling bird had its leg broken. but
fought gamely, Notwithstanding the
fact that il was plainly whipped. The
Ohio bird was too weak to iuflict severe
punishment, aud the contest continued
about l. minutes, being finally decided
by blow on the head, which killed the
Wheeling bird. HonorS were now even.
Ii was now midnight, and the reporter
left for home. Seven contests yet re-
NAMED to be fought, and the main will
probably not be decided until daylight.
The air in the room was SufOcating,
and many OF the spectators left for their
homes, but the majority will return on
the first motor this morning. or the
Oh W., hundred spcrfatOrs the majority
were strangers.