Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1900-05-14
DOCK.FIGHTING is the ma

md bull lighting in Spain; it is in
dulged in by high and low, in hand
somely fitted out pits and on the
sandy stretch in front of the native
nut. No true Filipino is too rich and
game-cocks, of long pedigree and mar
yellous capacity for fighting and en-
durance, and none is too poor to own
one Tor at least a share) of more or
less claim to a fighting strain. In
the Filipino heart, the order of his
affections is thus: first, his game
cock, next, money, then his wife and
family, and in close order general
desire for rest and taste of the fiery
liquor distilled from the spent storks
of the sugar cane on the plantations.
As much care aud money, compare
lively, is spent in the Filipiuos yearly
| on the maintenance of game fowls
and fighting them as is spent here on
| blooded horses aud race meetings,
and far more is lost in the cockpit,
by these, able and unable to afford it,
than on all the horse racing in the
United States for whole season.
A native will bet everything he
! possesses on favcrite bird, even to
the clothes on his back, and if he has
nothing to bet, he will steal it from
the most convenient source; were
they q race who took their troubles to
heart, the list of suicides every year
would be appalling; as it is they
simply shrug the shoulders and abide
their time until chance comes their
way, when they have been stripped of
everything in the ups and downs of
cock fighting. Cock fights are held
in the largest cities as regularly as
theatres; Sunday is the day usually
chosen for the mains between birds of
pedigree, though fight is on some
where every day, and if the cocks ad-
vertised for that day are of any note,
the seats around the pit are usually
| full, and when there is match be-
tween birds representing two cities or
provinces, the capacity of the build
| ing is taxed to the uttermost, all
| classes and conditions of men and
women attend. the dissipation being
only limited by their purses. The
with 6audy pictorial representations
OF the cocks, just as we advertise the
coming of some great actor or prima
donna, and fol- days before and after u
big fight the conduct of the birds are
The sole topics of conversation high
and low.
The game cocks are raised and at
a1 |, thn 81
attention is lavished upon them, and
they are the motive for about the
hardest work Filipino ever does;
the pedlgrees of full-blooded birds is
registered as carefully we register
that OF horse or dog; en association
of breeders attends to this matter and
arbitrates all disputes. To belong TO
this association is the highest honor
to which Filipino can aspire, as the
men are usually wealthy and it gives
high social standing.
AS soon as they are able to walk
around, the cocks are kept separate
from one another, lest they receive
injury by fighting among themselves; );
their diet is regulated with the ut
most care, being one calculated to de-
velop Gs little fat as possible and as
much muscle as can be gained. Red
peppers, opium and raw rum is given
from time to time to make the birds
savage, aud they are tantalized with
the sight of other cocks behind a
screen and are taught not to be afraid
of anything. Further instruction is
given by the patient trainers in strik-
ing with the gaffs and these are put
on every day to accustom the birds of
the feeling of them. Once in while,
cock is allowed to fight with low
bred fowl, to make it more fierce by
the sight of blood and confident from
the easy victory obi tained.
y AS consequence of all this, when
bird is fit and ready to go in the pit,
it is savage in feathers, afraid of
nothing, and will fight as long as a
spark of life is in its body, and seems
to rejoice to see the blood squirt from
the body of its foe from the cruel
blows of the gatf
The cocks are always kept in con-
dition save in the breeding season; as
a matter of precaution, the comb is
clipped close to the head, the legs are
plucked and shaven and the neck and
wings are trimmed as close as posi-
BILE; all this is to make them less lia.
bic to being fouled in an encounter
and makes them lighter and more ac-
tive, and gives little hold for the beak
Or gait of an antagonist. The breast
feathers are allowed and are trained
10 grow as thick as possible, for on
ihe breast most OF the blows are re-
,eived, the birds being trained to OPP
pose this thick cushion to the blows
Of foe.
From long selection and breeding,
There is low race of game fowls in
the Philippines which combines all
these points in remarkable manner,
and next after courage shown on the
the field of battle, a bird is valued by
It adherence TO the standard. If a
bird shows cowardice in its first
fight, its neck is very promptly wrung
as a punishment for its behavior and
ns n prevention to the nernntuatinp of