The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-02-04
COCK FIGHTING IS
STILL POPULAR.
Favorite Game of the Cubans and the
FiIipinOs.
A BIG MAIN HERE LAST NIGHT.
Two Hundred Local Sports Enjoy
Themselves and Are Not Molestcd
by the Officers of the Law or
the y. l.. L. a.

Tho slush, mud, fog and rain that mix
ed themselves together In this locahty
and particularly In the vicinity OF an oio
barn-like house just 70 the west OF INC
old Reservoir last night. did not de'er
"a party OF about 20 local sports from
enjoying the possibilities that hahs
around a cock fight.
The tin had been given quietly early
in the week, and every sport In the cry
knew tho various signals, countersisns
and other things, together with the price
of admission and the exact location, that
90 as the preliminaries to real DOWN
right, genuine cooking main
WALTER" AND MIKE
Two expert handlers of the birds.
known by the cOgnOmens OF walter
and Mike" handled the victims, and
man named Harry" collected the fares
and each man as he entered the door
deposited fifty cents with Harry. be
sides paying this fee he had the privi-
lege Of losing his money by betting, and
there was plenty of soft and hard drinks
10 be had between the fights.
In order 10 reach the pit II became
necessary TO take the Main street ears
TO the Beverly street curve. and then
a walk due southeast for half mile
put you there; or a cab would carry you
10 the entrance.
The admirers Of the sport didn't mind
the mud and slush, and bravely trudged
through II all in order to enjoy the full
measure Of their nights outing
ALL WE'RE STRANGERS.
Not two men I'm the entire party seem
cd To- know each other. They were all
strangers, and 10 was surprising TO hear
that 90 many Of them were named
Smith. Jones and Brown. They were not
backward. however. I'm putting up their
silver and long green's" nor did they
have 20 beg for takers. Some Of them
would bet any way 20 suit takers, ana
quite a large sum changed hands.
Although the crowd began TO gather as
early as s O'Clock. the first fFht did not
start until Q O'Clock, when Walter and
Mike" entered the pit with two lively
looking game birds under their arms.
Betting begun at once. and odds were
offered and taken on Mikes bird,
blue fellow, trim and tit. The blue birds
antagonist was a red rooster. and In the
first getaway. the latter seemed TO have
the call Time told on him. however, and
I'm ten minutes, after having all but won
the fight walter" threw up the sponge,
and Charley" the time-keeper declared
the blue-neck the winner
THE BETTERS HEDGED.
The second fight was the most inter-
esting. for % was nip and tuck with the
birds. and there WAS d good amount Of
gam-stabbing by both. The betters tried
to hedge and those who had put up their
money on the red wanted 10 put up a
like amount on the black, and It is safe
TO state that nearly every sport came
out even on that fight. As In the first
hght. Walter" cried enough" and the
decision was in Mike s. favor, while
rff fssrr Irsa
on their good luck in hedging.
A hzzle resulted from the third fight,
because "Walters' dominica wouldn't
fight after the first getaway. preferring
TO jump the pit and mix-up with the
spectators Another Of Mikes" pets
in red. with black neck, was the victor
i'm this alleged fight, and II was easy
money for those who had implicit faith
I'm the ability Of any bird that Mike"
chose 20 place before them.
At this point the smoke from the many
cigars had filed the room so thickly that
a recess to the open air was taken and
the sports discussed the merits and de-
merits of the respective fights, and the
great ability of Mike" as a handler OF
game birds was exploited. while those
VINO had lost on walter" were still con-
fident that he would produce something
for their money.
walters" turn came next. He pro-
duced large bird with 4 red neck and
white spots on its wings. while Mixes"
fourth revelation looked over fat and
awkward The red-necked bird went I'm
b win, and IL looked so one-sided from
the start that little money showed It's
color After two get-togethers, the crowd
became warmed up and some chances APP
peared I'm the horoscope OF "Mike's' bird,
for II appeared 20 grow stronger after
each turn about, and the other one look
ed weaker.
WALTER" WINS A FIGHT.
But this hope was short-lived and after
n plucky fight Mikes" bird bit the dust,
and the crowd. after giving three SUBJ
dued cheers for Mike" and walter
and their birds. and after warming"
themselves up from various bottles that
were produced from various coat pockets
dispersed. Some Of them walked back 10
tho city, and others rode in carriages.
for tho street cars had stopped running
long since.
All during the night sentries had been
on the lookout from various posts as
signed them, and no man who ala not
know the countersgn could pass them
And the county officers and the Society
FOR the Prevention OF Cruelty 10 Animals
had been outwitted