The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1900-03-23

ring and putting their favorite's an
tagonist out OF the fight by means faii
or foul. At each end OF the fence were
gates, through which the umpires and
a trainer for each bird were permitted
TO enter; no others than these were
allowed in the pit during a battle.
Outside the pit was q space devoted
to the owners Of cocks, few selected
friends and the birds themselves.
The cocks were kept in small bam-
boo cages on little benches which ex-
tended around the space, from which
point of vantage they filed the air
with their shrill crows of defiance. For
the exhibition of the more noted fowls
elevated stands were provided, on
which they were exposed to the gaze
OF an admiring multitude before the
fight in cages, gilt and carved with all
the skill at the disposal OF the owner.
This space was also lounging place
for these who made books" on the
fights; this latter class OF gentry was
composed OF Chinese, most numerous,
a few Spaniards and one solitary Fill
pino, the Chinese being in the major
ity on account Of the fact that il re-
quired some capital TO conduct sue
cessiul book, and this most OF the ma
tives sadly lack. All bets were taken
by the "bookies" with impartialty,
either for or against n cock, on the
number OF rounds, the probable dam
age to the victor or any other Of the
many ways in which tho gentle Fill.
pino wastes his cash in betting.
Back Of this place began the seats,
arranged III tiers similar TO our ar
rangement OF opera seats; they were
divided into classes Of which the
price differed according to location
and comfort. The seats reserved for
the officials and those able TO pay for
them were cushioned, the next c!ass
had mating on them aud the third
and lowest price, the top rows, were
bare. These were mostly filed with
poor natives, the better class OF
natives, clerks and lesser lights
among the Spaniards and the well.to-
do Chinese being divided among the
first two divisions. One side of this
pit was without seats; this was set
aside for the natives too poor TO pay
for seat. Admission was paid in
coin equaling two cents in our money.
The building was filed to its utmost
limits with a wildly excited crowd of
poorly clad people of both sexes,
eagerly betting everything they owned
among one another, being too poor
to bet with the bookmakers.
The fight was heralded by an an
nouncemeht from native, whose
bosom was swelling with the pride OF
his duties and a starched shirt, the
tails OF which hung conspicuously
outside his trousers, Of the wonderful
achievements of the two fowls in
words Of many syllables. The de-
livery Of this oration (for il was moth
ing less) was the sign for long and
loud cheering on the part of the spec
tators, who were inpatient for the
fighting to begin, and as soon as it
was over nearly every one rushed up
to the bookmakers to place their bets.
Before tho fight began, each cock
was inspected by the umpires to see
that it had on the regulation gaffs and
was not otherwise rigged up with for
hidden devices. The gatls were of
the finest steel, scimetar shaped, with
the concave edge down; this edge is as
sharp as razor, and severe blow
from gaif has been known to com
pletely decapitate fowl; they are
about two inches in length and come
to a sharp point. The upper edge is
blunted.
The spurs furnished by nature to a
fowl are not considered deadly enough
by the savage tastes of the Filipinos,
so those spurs are out off at length
Of an inch or so and the hollow part of
the gaif fits over the stump. Clasps
around the leg keep them from falling
off or slipping. II is comical sight
to see lordly cock stepping along
the sand OF the pit wearing pair of
these huge spurs, which are so long
aud so awkward that the cock trips
over them at almost every step; but in
the combat OF the pit, all is different,
a trained fowl uses his spurs with all
the skill of fencing master with
rapier, all the awkwardness is gone.
BY way OF note, sometimes the
cocks are allowed to fight with their
natural stumps of spurs. This is, how
ever, only for match of skill be-
tween two fowls whose owners do not
care to risk their slaughter, or be-
tween an old and young fowl, to
train the younger in tho ways of
using his spurs in real fight. So
we'll are the game birds trained that
often skillful one can kill it's less
able adversary without hurt to itself.
With cheer froin the multitude,
the umpires each took up one of the
fowls and placed them on the sand
some four or five feet apart, holding
the struggling cocks fast until the
word was given; at the signal each
released his hold and the two cocks,
infuriated by the sight OF one an.
other, rushed together with the mo.
mentum OF miniature cyclone.
Though apparently fierce and uncal-
culated, this meeting was totally
unlike the rushes Of unskilled fowls;
each cock was on his guard, and while
going at his enemy with great fury,
was nevertheless very careful to avoid
blows aud picks. At first nothing
was visible but "A revolving mass OF
feathers, so close were the two; in
the quiet OF the intensely ex-
cited spectators, the thud, thud of
blows striking on tho thick coating Of
feathers on the breast could be plainly
heard; even the painful paintings aud
gaspings OF the two fighters were dis.