The Ravalli Republican., 1898-08-24
COCKFlGHTlNG IN SPAIN.
An Amusement Only Less Brutal Than the
Strengthening of Bulls.

An Amusement Only Less Brutal Than the
Strengthening of Bulls
A recent article on cockfghting,
writes a correspondent, brings back
to my memory some Of the fights l
hayc seen in Anlulusia. There the
cockpit is second fayorjte to the
bull ring, and on q Sunday morning
in the lower quarters OF the big
towns many contest may be seen.
No women are admitted to these
| fights, in which about IL pairs of
birds take part. Price OF admission
to the best seats is seldom more
than one peseta, and the chief sup
porters Of the pastime are third rate
toreros, vaqueros, ganaderos, SNUG
glers and gypsies. The birds are,
for the most part, Enslis They are
very carefully reared and prepared
for the fight by the removal Of all
soft feathers from head and neck
Only the primary feathers are left
on the wings and the combs are
closely cropped. ...."4
When the birds have been weigh
ed and put down in the pit. they
fence with outstletched necks. and
| when they close there is q big rat
tie from their quilts. They always
aim for the head. and il they can
reach the place where the comb
once was they take 4 big bite and
then jump up, tearing away the
flesh. AS might be expected, within
a very few minutes the blood
streams from each head, and getting
into the birds eyes makes sight
very uncertain. Then they stagger
about and Try to clear their eyes by
brushing them under the opponent S
wing ..=-.
To the casual spectator who does
not know the deeper tragedy Of the
bull ring these fights are at first
very trying, and the ferocity and
determination of the birds reS'|!! ;'
splashing the pit posts with Ia":|
Ultimately one gets home with
fatal blow; the other falls, and tn
victor standing over triumphantly
pecks his enemy to death oft,%3
succum bing from exhaustion wh ~
so engaged, for a hard fight iisy
the victor nearly as exhausted
the vanquished. In d Spanish cock
fight the interest Of the spectators
is. augmented by betting
So soon as the birds appear the
knowing ones make one Of them
favorite, laying very slight odds
When the rally comes, the betting
varies, as the bird that succeeds in
drawing first blood has the better
chance. The good judges keep per
fectly cool; the amateurs get wildly
excited and plunge. Consequently
in a few moments the old hands
stand to win without risk of loss by
little judicious hedging, while
their opponents are badly off. That
is the time to see the low class Span
4ftlll lll ll1E 11l1kol otiC |JCNG
HI scowls; he curses; sometimes his
hand Wanders to the sash that hides
a deadly navaja. If fortune smiles
and his fancy manages to turn the
tables, he is wild with excitement,
screaming and waving his hands
till the birds themselves are startled
by his vehelnence.
Whom the fight is over, there is a
volley OF oaths from losers, follow
ed by shower Of pesetas or douros
thrown from one part OF the circle
to another with unerrlng aim I'm
til the spectator who does not bet is
used to the Spanish cockpit there is
more excitement than amusement
in the rapid passage past his i';1tE
OF heavy silver dollars or IN the
fury Of some man to whom IS due
the silver that hits HIM and ru}.,
on to the sand The dortorlnS ct
wounded cocks who have won their
fight is very funny, but probably
most painful Wounds are dressed
with raw spirits of wine, and Il long
feather dipped in brandy is thrust
far down the throat If revival fol
: lows quickly, the bird is put away
, , for a long rest; it the wounds be
: very bad, a sharp knife puts period
to the victor's life. A Spanish cock.
fight is sight to be seen-at rare
intervals Sketch.