St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-05-08
CoCKF1GHTING IN COLOMBIA

Laws for Making the Sport De-
corous as Becomes a Sabbath
Event.
The first pageof the Gaceta Mumci-
pal Of Carthagena, under date of Dec.
81, contains the rules and regulations
relating to cockfghtS, etc., and is GU
rioStty to people who are not up in that
exciting sport, says the Panama Star
and Herald. These are published in
what is styled the Legislative section,"
and are preceded by the usual official
formula, thus: Resolution No. 90
Regulating the cockpits of the district.
The municipal council of Carthagena.
in the use OF its legal faculties, re-
solves" etc. And from articles to %
we have all the law and gospel relating
to this eleyating amusement, which is
still further consecrated to the work of
| the education of the masses by being
held usually Sabbath afternoon.
"Article of this unique code provides
that the persons who assist at the cock
| pit shall observe the rules of good edu-
cation and obedience to the judge of the
| cock pit who presides at the fights"
| Then follow minute directions as to
weighing the birds, inequality in weight
being bar to further negotiations; un-
less by consent bantam cannot tackle
a middleweight or go in for mill
with the 'cock of the walk"
Particular care is taken that no
| bird shall be creased (doped
is the word, we believe) or carry on his
| sparse plumage any nOXioUs substance
by which his antagonist may be poisoned
and his fighting power thus diminished.
Fines are imposed for any such oifenses
as these, and are vigorously collected by
the proper officer. Owners of birds
must also notify the judge whether the
fight is 10 be with natural or artificial
spurs, much as in the prize ring bare
knuckles or gloves of any sort enter
into serious consideration.
In the prize ring, when a combatant
has had enough of the sport and sees no
chance of victory, his seconds can throw
up the'sponge and that is the end of it.
Not so with the cocks in this legally
constituted amphitheater, as witness
the following from the concluding
paragraph of article Z: "When the
cocks require exciting to the fight those
handling them may, with the consent of
the judge, use a long feather for the
purpose" The method by which the
game creatures are urged to further
effort is not stated. but is no doubt ia
miliar to the habitueS of such places.
The element of excitement is sought
to be carefully suppressed in these sapi
ent rules, for the spectators must not
talk to the man at the wheel;" that is,
give directions to the artists who handle
the birds. Nor must they clap their
hands nor extend their arms toward the
center of strife. Particularly they must
not give rude blows on the barriers
which surround the pit, because these
acts give proof eff mala educaciou which
should not be tolerated"
Strict compliance with the Cartha-
gena rules would infuse into the at
mosphere of a cock pit, although in the
excitement of hot and doubtful combat,
something of the sOemnity and somno-
lence which claim possession of Scotch
Presbyterian congregation on a hot
Sunday afternoon.
The legislative acumen necessary for
the successful codifcaton of rules so
detailed and precise must evidently
have been sharpened by considerable
experience in the noble and everlasting
pastime of cockhghting on the part of
the city fathers. But their labOrs are
not entirely in vain, when it Is born in
mind that the Gallera is contributor
to the municipal funds of The magnif-
cent sum Of 81, 800 per annum.