The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-18
COCK FIGHTING IN CUBA.
characteristics of the sport as Car
ried on There.

Fleu ON IneFes
Capt. w. E. Gonzales, in Columbia State.
Quemados de Marianao, Camp Column
bia. Cuba, Feb 9-News of the fighting at
Manila was received here with more than
ordinary interest both in army and native
circles. and various opinions and fears
were entertained. There were numerous
rumors going the rounds of the enlisted
men as to regiments being chosen from
the Seventh Army Corps TO sail for the
Philippines. OF course, we of the Second
South Carolina have no fears of being
forced to undertake that long and perilous
sea voyage. The regiment is sngularly
fortunate in having guardian angels here
and in Washington, who will see that we
take no chances Of getting either lead
poison or yellow fever, and will soon get
us out of the murderous clutches of Uncle
Sam, unscratched and unsung. We may
may fall on rosy couches, but we can
never again hope for such kindly consid-
era ton from the powers omnipotent. First,
last year when the rainy season was about
over i'm Cuba, the Spanish fleets at the bot
tom of the sea and hostilities had ceased,
the war department was besieged, assault
ed and captured, and the ransom price ex-
acted-permitting the gallant Second South
Carolina Volunteer Infantry to take the
field as an OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES paid Since
then we have been given several free ex-
cursions, the last to Cuba in the heat of
the healthy period. But the terrors of
10.
months long, and the guardians of the lit
tie BOYS in Blue" from Carolina will see
that whatever may become of the men
from Nebraska, Illinois, Iowa, Virginia,
North Carolina, Louisiana, and other
states, we will not get wet The latest
inspiring news from Washington is that
our senator's and representatives were
about TO appear in formidable array before
the President of the United States and de-
clare that we veterans must cease our toll
must return to our yearning state and let
our names be craven in brass along with
the other heroes of past wars; the other
heroes who won Carolina her martial Tepu-
tauon; the other heroes who last spring
some of us dreamed dreams of emulating.
Besides reciting that this regiment was
unfit for service because of small numbers.
and the men were hungering for freedom.
perhaps the delegation recited the strug
brave
attack on old man Cooper's watermelons
at Shandon, brushing flies and blowing
froth off beer in Jacksonville, killed
whisky in Savannah and sucking oranges
in Cuba
But, in spite Of all this, the dissatisfac-
ton among the men is discovered from
here much more wildly in the war CORE
spondence in Carolina papers and in al
legged statements of the delegation in
Washington than i'm camp. Officers and
men are ready 10 be mustered out In
May. but the sentiment of the line OIL
cers-eaptaius and lieutenants-was declar
ed at recent meeting, when the hope
was expressed that our regiment would
not be the first to be withdrawn from the
seventh Army Corps i'm Cuba, and that
we would not "squeal"
To change the subject. the Cuban game
cock is a fine bird l saw somewhere in
print recently that the chief amusement
of Cubans Were bull aud cock fighting
that exhibitions of both were attended
by ladies, and that the Cubans did little
else. Now that is very erroneous It
may be that Spanish ladies, who had at
tended such sports in Spain, might wit
ness a bull fight in Cuba, but certainly
The Cuban ladies would not ANYMORE
than the American ladies would be spec
tators at prize fight, although there are
many American women VINO would gladly
do so. Doubtless much Of the mlsconcep-
ton OF foreigners arises from the inaccu-
racy OF story writers, who, either purpose
~ or through ignorance. make no discrim-
nation in classes when recording ma
tional' customs. II is possible that in
some parts of Europe the South may be
described as noted chiefly for a peculiar
style of dance known as the cake wal. -
and lynching. the dance and man hunt
being participated in by the leaders of So
ciety.
There have been no bun fights here
abouts iately-they have gone with the
Spanish army. as was natural for bun
fighting is a Spanish moi a Cuban sport.
Cock lighting. however. is strictly Cuban
1t is legahzed and licen sed. In the town
Of Quemados- Narianao there is a cockpit
adjoining the theater both large buildings
and constructed on much the same plan
except that where the fights take place