The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-03-26
GAMBLING IN PORTO RICO.
PLENTY OF 1T, T. 1T rs LESS OPEN
THAN FORMERLY.

NAN'o "NiiS W tho NT Ut "uyuKueEs
The men and boys OF Porto Rico are born
gamblers. AMI they have not given up their
.avorite pastlme since the introduction OF
American rule. Now they carry on their
games OF chance less publicly than in the days
OF Captain-tienera Macias. and so they scarce
ly.attract the attention of the Yankee traveller.
In order to sec them ha must neck into tho
back room OF the rum shop. hunt among tho
hogsheads at the wharf. watch the counter OF
the mountain roadhouse and also hire a negro
lad for n copper to point out the cockpit.
Contributing Is the principal island Sport
From November until April. which Is the sea-
son. these contests take place every Sunday
and holiday. and always rack the spectators
benches. For an arena every village. however
small or far up in .he mountains, has a dirt pit,
covered by a wooden roof to keen out the sun
In the dry and the rain in the wet season. On
the rough board seats the spectators make
their bets. and incidentally yell themselves
hoarse. Often thew make so much noise that
oven the birds get frightened. In betting tho
men never deposit their money. All wagers
are settled at the close OF the afternoon fights.
II a man wants to back the smaller bird for .
peso. by way OF illustration. he merely adds to
the general confusion by calling at the top OF
his voice. "A peso on the baby" His ears OF
eyes then must catch un answer TO his cry.
San Juan. the capital. Ia so crowded a city
that no room Is left within the walls for .
cockpit. S%portsmen there must pay 10 cop
pers for a ride in a small native sailboat across
the harbor to Catana. where an American flag
waves above TIE nit. In Ponce. on the other
hand. the cockpit Is in Castillo street. not half
a block from the headquarters OF Lieut.. Col.
Hold. In the centre Of tho town. jose Nebo.
owner and manager Of the birds and pit. Is O
wealthy old Spaniard. Behind the rIckety
board fence he keeps more than a hundred
game birds. worth from 81 to 5000 each. For
his best rooster. which he Is willing to match
against all corners. he hae. In fact. refused
500. Half a dozen negroes take care OF his
game stock. clip their back feathers. polish the
natural spurs. and keep the string by which
all birds are fastened adjusted properly on the
leg. Frequently Nebo fights his birds two
days in the week. SUNDAYS and Mondays. He
charges an admission fee OF 25 cents. five
more than the San Juan price. Ponce. which
Is something OF a sporting town has still an
other pit at the bay settlement.
In the smaller villages and towns.:where 40
cordlng to tho native sportsmen. some OF tho
best fights take place, the pit and birds are
not always owned bv the came man. At Aqua.
dilla. a town Of 10000 population on tho west
coast. for example. Ramon Molinary Is owner
OF the nit. and his brothers. sisters. nephews
and.nieces have the ROSTERS. mall. the family
nus ~ ollus' "hose 'o'ai 'alue is more IMAM
$4,000. AT iauco. too. in the back yard OF the
hote. "2Jth OF July" named in honor Of .he
day the American troops landed a few miles
south at Guanica. the landlord has a pit for
the sole benefit OF guests. Sunday visitors
there. accordingly. need only look out oil their
back window in order to witness an afternoon
OF sport. Along the western coast. the natives
often hold fights between the birds OF two
towns for a purse perhaps of 500. SIS or 500.
I-l
month nsmnilv hara nv onrnnoaa n,nI
month usuni.y nave an advanced admission
Further north. in the picturesque mountain
yiIlaee Of rtuaao .ven the town nrisoners -
til stopped by Gen. Henry. had cocknGhts for
their amusement in the Jail.
Although cockhshtine is the great island
sport. the natives also have other pastlmes.
When the Americans first came. in October.
every day matching eoppers in the street; But
som. nuiot snot s,oh ~, tha sh,,m uSes
some qulet spot such as the shadow OF a span
| back room Of the rum shons monte IA q nonn'
lar card game. AT Ponce ,po,her,videIv rI,ved
ZANE q a is styled d by the Americans k { 81;
ttha the tor Of dfI an inclined ny edr Jane sf ike I,9r a %s Ea1i LUaf bi 10
lard table surface: ana then rsturnIns Knock.
sai1tHGenr n " No %ae to . ~ nn m1sk rlm ms layers peS
ei,n the o" odd 'n ns e eTsa, nun um bsr t kn fS vac a9T 10 III
s ~ nrom ndin nent 81 fdn ra, be- inc ne Wtde open feature
;" b nrem.nem9 i az hrS Ser mas now NAL uisabp s -
~ ~ encea,,'on. nuinaps' may pc maue 70
n uaS man namad AN 4,u pIihoer ana
ne"Spi,er hlah ha.leu aiahningi VINO traS-
rt,eu ,m All /, ,me mountain a'otticIs IN rep
ff o-, 1ha rIvaSu ar I'M M hn,eH Ebu more COM
" IL nn ''e roau az nisn. otah n tne not sun OF
hmi, nuiu Gne saurteSs miGn'' tneIeiote: IGund
Nm ANY, II .te an9uIth.hs: On tne outskirts
H. inn'a,s"o az Lux ~ WIS su[priseH 70
t he aI Fn1a IN 5d TX n ronntr py t net r0 %ora bon f Ino
nv h.oIE an IL Sountrs, noi more man oo1
re- "a utsr4neTtu tWo more Ipnse horses ana
n:so" hckHeIiWns stsnn IN tne mdaule Oh tne nien-
wv, hn GU meIiern Ill'inE Sdlnp prospector.
t v cnveI, fnr he had hein wsrp nn5 a aeainsf r DIS
10 co'GI. ~ e mau peSn whraen agalnst roo'
neTs;, ne soon n toqn n not the blaze 81 a BRIG
seated ' in the nl r3;ad dWr a d c,rSiIe in sEs 'e5n in
sane ,1ab mohf hv 40 u ga a iao.e sney nag a nav
S,oneb emte oy uwo cahuies' NOr; al hls np-
nroacn' ga 'ne game Stop; lie hed an INVITA-
H Hens 80 t jeft t e nah ah tb Hat: wiaa onan tne rorto
At Msyaenez. a pretty town on the west
ff n .on, "a p and si Ramontrs reap q naFvese
"a c1nuSn anu s'irer every Tin,er at tne feste
me me r tlett ,yfinhh ;s b ~ , me t hna a WEEK me
tnarket. wIich Is Dy lar ane Dest on me Island.
IN ONeTTun WIN lnlmDlt games. roulette wneela.