Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-01-17

"We drove out ABOUT TOUR miles Oe
vond the city limits TO prosperous
looking farm. The owner, an enthusi-
asst, had kindly loaned it for the day for
the improvement of the feathered race
in the art of self-defense. found there
a miscellaneous assemblage, but moth
ing but good feeling prevailing. No
wrangling or Squabbling, as you see at
some church meeting, but everywhere
q spirit of friendly rivalry, except
among the birds who were to do battle
for their respective owners. Outside the
gate was seated behind table pro-
fessional habitue. who invited every
body to play his game and make their
expenses Whether they did so or not
| did not ascertain, but from what saw
of his game should imagine they made
his expenses, not their own. His stock
i'm trade consisted Of piece OF oil cloth
marked with numbers and three dice,
and the game was played Gas under
stand it) by the players putting their
money down and the banker. picking 1t
up. As this began to be monotonous l
went inside to see the first fight.
THE cocks are pitted against each
other without regard TO age, color or
previous condition OF seryitude, the
only stipulation being that both fowls
are nearly alike in weight. The fowls,
being weighed and approved, are then
passed over to the "heelers," who at
tend to their toilets. This consists in
cutting off the spurs that nature gave
them and putting in their places two
long steel spurs, called gRffs. This
having been done, they are brought to
the pit aud are ready for the fray,
THE first two birds that fought,
was informed, were veterans at the
game, and they went at it as
if they had some personal ami
mostly against each other. After fight
ing some four or five minutes there was
mixture OF rOoSters in the middle OF
the pit, and when they were separated
l was informed that the black bird had
gained two points, though how he
gained them and what they consisted OF
] failed to sec, except they were the two
points Of his gaifS, which he generously
gave to his antagonist. The birds were
picked up by the heelers and nursed for
few minutes, and then brought into
the pit for the second round.
eff the bird who had the best OF round
one thought the fight was over, he made
a mistake, for the other one seemed to
wake up TO the fact that he had to do
something for his country and his back
ers, and he went for the black bird with
all the energy Of twelve months cred
itOr. When the bird OF Sombre hue
saw that his antagonist had only just
warmed up he suddenly recOlleC ted that
he had a note TO meet or else had an
important engagement at home.
Whatever the reason, he left the ring
in a tremendous hurry, or, in other
words, he ran away, much to the disgust
of his owner and money hackers; but
thought he showed excellent judgment.
considering he had no financial interest
IN the affair. Twice he was brought
back, and each time he started TO keep
his appointment. So according to the
rules, having run away three times, the
rooster lost the battle, his owner lost
his temper and half the audience lost
their money. l have heard it said OF
losing side that thep were in the SOUP
but the winning bird on this occasion
looked TO me in such delapidated con-
dition that I thought he was a fit sub
ject for chicken broth.
1.-The second fight was counterpart
of the Grst, only it was more uneven
one. One bird had MANAGED to get his
antagonist down, aud having done so
proceeded to walk all over him and
crow, actions which l have seen done
(figuratively) by men under similar cir