Evening journal., 1893-08-11
SUNDAY AMUSEMENT.
IN MEXICO A PRIEST SENDS HIS BIRDS
TO A COCK FIGHT.

One sunday sport.
'sit was in a 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 TO tho door of the convent and OBJ
served 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 hammocks,
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 alright 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 safe distance from
his valiant compeers. Who could have
dared to utilize for such a purpose the
shade afforded by the wall Of the sacred
edihce? Another instant and we should
have voiced this thought. 1t is general
ly a 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, lxnowl / have not
studied the creatures 40years for nothingp
Sol They were his own propertyl Yes,
another five minutes talk made it plain
that the pet hobby Of this holy man was
cock fghtingi We wifi call him Father
+. because it is not necessary to give
the name Of our kind host. Fairly
launched on his favorite topic, he talked
away for a 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, and which he loved to see fighting
| in the ring. But you must come with
me tomorrow afternoon, said he; the
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 sacerdotal robes after celebrating
high mass, piloted us to the scene Of ac-
ton. The pit was in the interior court
yard Of a private house. A circular
fence of slender sticks surrounded the
carefully leveled ground dedicated to
the carnage. Chairs surrounded it, and
a shed, thatched with palm leaves, shell
tered the spot from the scorching rays
of the sun. In gay attire the most re-
spected matrons and maidens Of the
place were there, the performance being
countenanced and partly provided by
the priest. A lively conversation was
kept up, all present being acquainted
The roosters had been shOrn of theil
feathers, save those of the wings anC
tail. Each bird was weighed; ther
curved steel spurs were secured to tn,
stumps of those provided by nature, bui
which had been cut Off Quite suddenly
conversation ceases. Two birds are il
the ring. The struggle commences
Heads lowered, eyes glaring, quiverini
! with rage, the heroes hyat each other.
Calculating that his opponent ha
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
p ing to deal his adversary mortal blow
! | One is stabbed-he staggers. Profitin
3 by this weakness, his adversary follow
. up the attack, but the wounded ON
/ l. ,,41
ing ready for him lodges, regains hi
position and inflicts a wound. Both noN
have difficulty in keeping on their feet
though neither will yield. More wound
d are dealt. Both fall exhausted. On
e RECEIVERS, sees his foe PROSTATE, so do,
T not attack, but shakes his lowered hea
e and claws the ground in his fury. In
y patiently he thirsts for the life of h
: opponent, who, no less savage, regaiI
s his feet, and with glaring eyes watch'
- every move of his adversary.
ii ''The enthusiasm of their owners an
a hackers increases as the wounds becon
t. more numerous-the excitement is il
sr tense, and bets run high. The creature
lie engaged in deadly strife keep cooler tha
T, the audience A moment arrives whs
lt all the hackers talk at once. Five dc
G lars more on the whiter Ten on Il
.. canelo' cinnamon color. The stakes
is not exceed $50. At last one warri
@ falls. Dead silence follows, so great
the suspense. VIII he rise once MOI
id Victor examines victim very distrui
re fully, makes sure heis dead, then mour
ing on the prostrate form draws hims'
o up with an exultant cry of victory, ju
like some gladiator of olden times.
yl- "All through the long summer aft
r. noon one battle succeeded another I
ID. birds that survived were taken home
he be cafefully tended until restored enou
Tn TO fight again. Even those that had K
n one or both eyes would fight if an opp'
al tunity was given to them, for these biz
are so ferociously brave that uni,
. wanted 10 fight they have to be kept q
Of each others reach
"At the o'clock dinner in the c,
vent our reverend host talked Of nothi
but his triumphant roosters and cal
ON us 70 bear witness that the very G
he had pointed ont had proved itself Il
L. Il