The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-07
GAME CHICKEN FIGHTING.
REGARDED As THE NATIONAL
SPORT OF VENEZUELA.

NO Cats Are Used There-AII Ranks
Take Part in the sport and Fabu-
lous Prices Are Sometimes Paid
for single Birds.
From the Philadelphia Press.
Caracas. Venezuela, Jan. 30.-The ma
tional amusement Of the Venezuelans, II
amusement it can betcalled, is cock fight
ing. 1t is a passion that pervades all
classes, from the poor to the descendant Of
princes. Bull fighting is too costly. It's
environment Of great amphitheater; OF pic
adores, matadores and the host of minor
attendants, together with the lack Of op-
portunity for betting. will never make II
the popular amusement OF this country
Every hamlet in Venezuela has its cock
pit. Every Sunday witnesses a main in
these pits, ana no matter whether the at
tendance be large or small, the intensity
OF the excitement among those present,
as the fight GIBBS and flows, is not in the
least diminished. In Caracas on a Sunday
morning or afternoon, the streets are full
Of men and boys with ROSTERS under their
arms, from the leg Of each of which dan
giles piece OF rope.
Here in Venezuela the birds are fought
without gaffs, only the weapons which
nature has bestowed being EMPLOYED.
Blrus are trained especially for the cock
PIT, ana plucky, victorious one some
times commands an almost fabulous sum
IN the rear court yard of the hotel here in
caracas there is tied a cock that is val
utu by Its owner at 500 In many in
stances where one or these feathered light
ers mas won number OF battles and
nlleu MS owners pockets with gold as
huch as Sl,O0O IS demanded for him. Yes
terday afternoon there arrived at the no
tel hne-looking officer in the Venezuelan
army, with dazzling uniform and shining
sword, and no end of baggage Rut next
20 mas sword in value he carried under his
lett arm beautiful fighting cock, whose
plumage he softly stroked from time to
tlIne. II was subsequently learned that he
placed q. value of $3.50 on his pet
The afternoon of "A Sunday is the time
20 Visit a cooking main. The battles have
Deen going on since o'clock in the morn
ing, but the choicest birds and the most
money IN stakes and bets mark the after
noon events. There are half dozen
cock pits in Caracas. but the nearest one
70 the motel was selected. A flag COM
posed or two wide stripes of white and
blue hung above the wide entrance of "a
small house painted a vivid green. AS ii
turned out, II was not a house, but a
door to long, narrow brick-paved and
inclined passageway leading down to a
sInall amphitheater As l reached the
door carriage drove up, and a Young
dandy, dressed in the hight of fashion
Jumped out with bird in one hand and
a light rattan cane in the other and
hurried down the passage.
Half way down a small boy sat be-
hind a deal table, surrounded by three
other lads of his own age, all in need
of bath. This boy sold green tickets at
reals, or "a cents each, which were
surrendered to man at the end Of the
passage. The amphitheater is of very
primitive style, consisting of the pit in
me center, fifteen, feet in diameter, and
boarded up TO hight of thirty inches.
The seats rise in tiers, supported by
2XS studding. The roof is of bamboo.
oVerlaid with cement and tile Under
the seats are the open spaces in which
the birds are tied with string to one
leg while waiting their turn to enter
the ring. The first two circles of seats
around the pit are legless chairs, reserved
and sold at an advance on the price of
admission. AT one side of the pit i'm the
first row of chairs, sits a man who acts
as clerk of the ring. A small desk in
front of him holds the stakes a bell a
cloth to wipe the blood from the heads
of the birds and beer bottle filled with
water. Hanging on one of the posts be-
side ring Is a slate, and on a shelf above
it a clock. The slate registers this le-
gend: