The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-12-18
A BIG COOKING MAIN.
Martins Ferry Whips Wheeling
In Five Big Events
FOR PURSE OF s20O-MUCH MONEY
Changes Hands on the Result on Side
Bets and the AnaIr Passes of Peace
fully aud without Molestation by
tho Authorities. although it was
well Known It was to Come on

Fully go men witnessed splendid
cooking main between Martins Ferry
and Wheeling birds last night. The
main was a very decided success and
the contests we're all good. 4 fair
sprinkling Of sistersville, steubenville
and other out.oi.town sports were pres
emit. Tho main was for 500 and 10
birds weighed in ranging in weight
from 5 pounds up to "shakes" Gl pounds
or above. The winner was TO get the
stake money aud three out oil five de-
cidad tho contest.
The tact that the main was to come
cd last night was very generally known,
but when ANYBODY expressed fear that
the authorities might interfere aud en-
force the law, there was a quiet assur-
anCe ready that there need he no lear
on that score. Indeed, ut one time the
assurance was not so verv quiet nut
that il was authorized the outcome
eeemed to demonstrate. There was no
attempt at interference.
The main was announced to take
place at $3.50, but from different causes
il was II o'clock before the iirst birds
were pitted. The largo crowd showed
great patience and waited without any
symptoms Of uneasiness.
The first fight was at @ pounds
ounces, Wheeling's bird being n DOM
iaiaue, while Martins Ferry was repre-
sented by a red top cock. The betting
was even at the start and both blrds had
a large backing, but later the odds were
five to four in favor OF Wheeling. After
the first set.o tho Wheeling bird seemed
10 have the best Of the fight, but Mar
tins Ferry GATED him IN tho neck ana
tho fight IVES over. 1t took some llttie
time to decide the winner, rs the red
cock was very badly used up.
The second contest was between two
black red cocks at pounds IA ounces:
The odds were ton to eight in favor oil
Martins Ferry at the start and some
bets were made at ten TO seven. The
Wheeling bird was game, but the Mar
tins Ferry cock won after some hard
fighting. The score then stood to 0
in favor of Martins Ferry, and the
Wheeling end was locking quite blue.
Some thought that Martins Ferry
would have q straight sweep.
Tho third fight was one oil the pref
test OF the evening and resulted in
victory for tho WhselinG contingent.
The birds wero again blncl; reds and
were weighed in at five poundsten. This
was the most exciting event OF the night
and it was some time before tho victory
was achieved. The bets started st even
money and got up to five to four In
favor OF Wheeling. This made the
Wheeling people take courage and the
fight made the score two to one in Mar
TINS Ferry's favor.
The fourth was between a large gray
cock that looked like turkey for
Wheeling and neat black and red
cock for the Martina Ferry's. The bet
ting was 10 to 6 in sWheeiing's favor,
and result showed that the odds were
well laid. The gray cock was too big
for its opponent, and soon decided it by
breaking its leg. The Martins Ferry
bird was game and fought after it was
down. This evened TIE score for the
night, and the next event was looked
to with interest.
The final contest was between five
pound cocks and was won by Martins
Ferry. This gave the victory to Mar
tins Ferry. The main was conducted
without any disorder and in a manner
which could not have been more
guarded. The out-of-town element
present all pronounced it a good main.
After the principal main several
fights were conducted between local
birds, but the outcome cannot be
known by the time the 1NTELLIsEScER
must 60 to press.