Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-31
COCK-FIGHT ON CARY STREET.
Interesting MiII Pulled on I'm Cary
street store Yesterday Afternoon.

Hardly since the organization of the
Society for the Prevention Of Cruelty to
Animals has livelier and more exciting
cock-fight taken place in Richmond than
that which passed into history yesterday
afternoon between and O'Clock from
the pit-that is. the street floor of one OF
the large business houses on Cary street
amid the shouts and enthusiastic plaudits
for the winner from the few dozen sports
who could count themselves fortunate
enough to witness the set-tO.
Bob-tailed Irish Red was the rooster
which crowed, and it was left to the
Italian brass-back to bow as gracefully
as he could I'm the face of his defeat.
Whether the owners of the chicken had
met by accident or not will never be
known, perhaps; but they were there,
somehow and so were "A number OF
sports, who enclosed In a circle the pit
where the combatants stood fairly aching
for the fun TO begin. Two minutes later
the command Hands OFF, was given. the
fowls had given each other a lusty crow
by way of greetings perhaps they had
met before, and were peckng away with
a degree of earnestness that would have
been OF great interest TO DR.. Jud. b.
Wood had he walked in at this time. 1t
and the son Of a prophet could not have
said with any certainty who was going
to crow last; any way, he would have
hesitated to put any money on either.
First Old North Carolina Red had his
antagonist by the head, leading him
around the circle, and another moment
he was lying on his back from a blow
red-hot from the beak Of the Irish Brass.
These names were too long, however.
for practical use and as one chicken had
in a previous contest lost his tail feathers
and the other had not, by common con-
sent they were afterwards dubbed Bob
TALL and Long Tail TOR mot bob taiPD.
While the mill was at It's height some
fellow yelled, Copper comingr' which
alarm was followed Immediately by a
precipitation on the part Of the owners
of the chickens for their property, and
on the part of the spectators for the cell
lar stairs. However, it was soon seen
that no bluecoat was in sight. and
moderate state of quiet and order was
restored, with a resumption of hostilities.
The entrance Of DR.. Wood was also an
nounced, but failed to bring the excite
ment and stampede that the first alarm
had caused.
Bob Tail fought slowly at first, and
stock in Long Tail ran high, but an old
fellow who looked like he had been there
several times before, said ne advised his
friends to consider the chances OF Bob
Tail as he was only holding back TO
save his wind for the finish. SO it turned
out to be. Presently Long Tail shielded
his head under the wing of Bob Tail, and
painted for wind. He took his bill out
after moments blow and went at it
again. From now on ii was close, and Bob
Tail needed all his pluck and wind for
Long Tail was the heavier of the two,
and would fairly knock down his antago-
mist and stamp him. They were almost
ready to give it up, both were so weak
they could scarcely stand. They had but
an eye between them, and their necks.
once ringed with glossy black, were now
dyed in crimson gore. The old stager who
had called attention TO the fighting quail
ties of Bob Tail at the offstart now
spoke up and said that he thought In the
interest of Long Tail Bob Tail had better
be taken away. This was done and no
sooner, that the victor gave a crow not
so lusty now, but triumphant, neverthe-
less. The old stager, when the final con-
ference had ended, looked Ike he was
satisfied,