Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-03-25
4 BIG EVENT
IN TEE CHICKEN FIGHTING LINE, LAST
EVENING.
It Came OF in a Barn Below Bsnwood Junction,
and Nearly $1,000 Changed Hands
on the Contests.

The series Of big chicken fights,
which has been sClyating South Side
and Benwood sports for the last month,
came of last night in barn below
Benwood junction.
Experts say that in all respects the
fights were the best ever held in this
locality.
Bellaire and Wheeling fowls figured,
there being twelve from this city and
fifteen from BeIlaire.
Ever since a fight in the same local
ity, over year ago, there has been
much rivalry between the owners OF
fine games of this city and Bellaire.
AS q result, the finest games Of the two
cities were seen at the pit side last
evening. The sports there were not
afraid TO bet, either, as in the
first fight over $3.50 changed
hands, aud in the entire main over $3.50
went into other wallets. The stake was
SD side for each fight, and 10 was
originally Intended to have nine pit
tings, with q "Sbake bag az the close;
but this number was Increased, and the
fights were so long and holly contested
thar they were not over until nearly
DAYLIGHT.
Early yesterday afternoon signs Of
activity for the main were seen in Bell
aire, this city and Benwood. All the
fowls had been under expert training
and were hauled to the scene in an eX-
press wagon little after dark.
A REGsTEE reporter gained the pit
side after no trihiug hardship 10 was
not IA easy matter 70 locate the barn in
the dark. The barn loft was just such a
place as sports would best like for big
main. A carefully arranged fifteen
foot pit had been placed, with seats
ranging around on all sides. A small
grain room al either side was admira-
bly, adapted for the games Of each city.
ON the seats ranged around Were
three hundred sports, each being a ia
vorite of the cocks of one Of the two
cities There were men there whom
one would not expect to see al cock
fight and would say when one entered
whom they knew, Keep this on the
dead" The crowd was on the whole a
most orderly one, as those who If they
had gained entrance would have caused
trouble, did not get a seat about the
pit, as they had not the 80 cents, the
price charged to each man who saw
the fight.
To was Just 1915 o'clock when the
pitters advanced from their rooms each
carrying fowl Of his city. These pit
tiers were experts, of experience, and
knew how to handle their
fowls admirably. A Ballaire
Young man was chosen as
time-keeper. The cocks, well gated,
crowed Justify when they faced each
other. Wheeling's game was dark
red. and that of BeIlaire vas red
muf. They were weighed, and 10 was
found that they came under the 4-pOund
6-ouucs class Betting began, and the
long green passed In an astonishing
manner. The betting was 3 10 in
favor of Wheeling. The persons there
pronounced Q the finest fight they ever
saw. This fight contained twenty-oue
rounds. and the Wheeling fowl was
game 20 the last The last five rounds
the Wheeling bird was not able 20 stand,
but resisted tho forced fighting of the
mutt. The Wheeling pitter then gave
over the fight. This fight was the best
of the lou, and lasted just an hour. In
this tight the Belaire pitter had his
hand most painfully gated, and the
wound bied proiusely.
In q half hour the second fight began.
Black reds OF each city were the
birds. This fight lasted twenty min
utes and the Wheeling chicken killed
the BeIairo fowl. The chickens
weighed about 4-l0.
The third fight lasted half hour.
Reds, Of each city, figured, Weighing
4-12. Bellaire's fowl gained the fight,
out not killing the Wheeling bird.
Ihe last regular tight was between
five IS OF the two cities. IL was not a
long fight, and the Wheeling chicken
won.
Fight succeeded fight until one
o'clock this morning when, instead Of
| ending the programme with shake
bag" as had been arranged, six new
/ fights we're arranged, aud at two o'clock
It was reported the contest would not
| be over before six o'clock this morning.