The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1893-08-03
SUNDAY AMUSEMENT.
IN MEXICO A PRIEST SENDS HIS BIRDS
TO A COCK FIGHT.

Entertains His Congregation With Rare
Contests Between Belligerent Cocks.
One sundays sport.
1T was in Mexican village, said the
explorer. Great had been our surprise
the evening before when "A little after 5
o'clock we rode into the public square
up 10 the door of the convent and OBJ
served Il long line Of game cocks guard
ing one side of the great church. Well,
that was our first impression. Closer
inspection made things palmer. In the
convent. residence Of only the priest and
his relations, we hung our hammoeks,
rested awhile, refreshed the inner man
with tortillas and black beans then went
| forth to investigate the feathered regi-
ment. The large church was built out
into the square, so that its rear wall was
ON line with the convent and other
structures forming that side of the
square.
Along the wall that stood at right an
giles with the front of the convent small
wooden stakes had been driven in the
ground. To each a plumed warrior was
securely attached at Il safe distance from
his valiant compeers Who could have
dared to utilize for such Il purpose the
shade afforded by the wall of the sacred
edifice? Another instant and we should
have voiced this thought 1t is general
" II mistake to speak in a hurry. The
good old priest had followed us and was
now at our side. Pointing lean brown
finger at very proud looking rooster,
he said: That is the prince of this lot,
though they will all prove themselves
splendid fighters, | know! ! have not
studied thecreatures 40yea rsfornothing'
So, They We're his own property. Yes,
another five minutes talk made it plain
that the pet hobby of this holy man was
cock fighting. We will call him Father
F. because it is not necessary to give
the name of our kind host. Fairly
launched ON his fayorite topic, he talked
away for Il full hour and was ut
terlY amazed, not to say somewhat in
credulous, when informed that we had
never seen professional tussle between
those birds so dear to his heart and
purse, aud which he loved to see fighting
III the ring. But YOU must come with
me tomorrow afternoon, said he; tho
people here all like it, and we enjoy the
harmless sport every Sunday afternoon.
He intended no sarcasm.
"Nolens volens, when Sunday after
noon came, our host, having laid aside
his saccrdotal robes after celebrating
high mass, piloted us to the scene Of ac.
ton. The nit was in the interior court.
yard of II private house. y circular
fence of slender sticks surrounded the
the carnage. Chairs surrounded it, and
shed, matched with palm leaves, shell.
tered the spot from the scorching rays
of the sun, In gay attire the most re-
spectcd matrous and maidens of til,
place were there. the performance being
countenanced and partly provided by
the priest, a lively conversation was
kept up, all present being acquainted
The ROSTERS had been shorn of theil
feathers, save those of the wings anG
tail. Each bird was weighed; the'
curved steel spurs Were secured to tn,
stunps Of those provided by nature but
which had been cut off. Quite suddenly
conversation ceases. Two birds are ii
the ring. The struggle commences
Heads lowered, eyes glaring, quiyerinl
with rage, the heroes fly at each other.
Calculating that his opponent has
jumped too high, the other one crouches
avoids the blow and turns upon his foe
who stands firm. Both rise in the air
breast striking against breast, each striv
ing to deal his adversary mortal blow
One is stabbed-he staggerS. Profitinl
by this weakness, his adversary follow.
up the attack, but the wounded one
keeps an eye on his enemy and not be
ing ready for him lodges, regains hi
position and ;nfiicts wound. Both nov
have difficulty in keeping on their feet
though neither will yield. More wound
are dealt. Both fall exhausted. On,
receivers, sees his foe PROSTATE, SO doe,
not attack, but shakes his lowered hea(
and claws the ground i'll his fury. I'm
patiently he thirsts for the life of hi'
opponent, who, no less savage, regain>
his feet, and with glazing eyes watches
every move of his adversary
i The enthusiasm of their owners and
hackers increases as the wounds become
more numerous-the excitement is in.
tense. and bets run high. The creatures
engaged in deadly strife keep cooler than
the audience. A moment arrives when
all the hackers talk at once Five dol
lars more ON the whitcr Ten ON the
canelo cinnamon color. The stakes dc
not exceed $50 AT last one warrior
falls. Dead silence follows, so great is
the suspense. VIII he rise once more:
! Victor examines victim very distrust-
fully, makes sure he is dead, then mount.
Ing on the PROSTATE form draws himself
mp with an exultant cry of victory, Just
like some gladiator of olden times
All through the long summer after
noon one battle succeeded another. The
birds that survived We're taken home to
I be carefully tended until restored enough
to fight again. Even those that had lost
one or both eyes would fight if AN oppor-
tunity was given To them for these birds
are SO ferociously brave that unless
wanted to fight they have to be kept ont
of each others reach.
AT the o'clock dinner i'll the con-
vent our reverend host talked of nothing
but his triumphant ROSTERS and called
on us to bear witness that the very one
he had pointed out had proved itself that
day the greatest hero of them all. New
| York Tribune.