The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-02-02
SOUTH CAROLINA GAxEC0CkS.

The breeding of bleeded- eamecorks
| for the Mexican market mainly is an
| established industry in South Caioiinl
OF recent years the South Carolina
! gamecocks have become celebrated and
there are more orders standing now
than can be filled from the present
stock. The orders have 10 lie over until
the young chickens are grown. and they
always command the top prices when
shipped beyond the border.
II requires years of close study TO
breed the finest gamecocks and then
pick the cream of the stock for the pits.
A well-known breeder i'm Barnwell
county has won national reputation
on his Mugwumps and his War Horses.
These galnecocks have left string OF
victories in some OF the richest mains
fought in South Carolina, and many
hundreds OF dollars Lave been won ON
their prowess. Other breeds OF fighting
chickens are raised by men who never
night them, and some of the most prom
inent breeders have never wagered a
dollar on any of their birds They raise
the champions for the profits to be de-
rived from sales.
Cockhghting now Is not so common i'm
v. "A
10 the laws OF South Carolina a main
cannot be conducted within four miles
OF church or "a schoolhouse Ten Mile
nil, way station on the Southern rail-
way above Charleston. has been the
cockfghting headquarters for years
Recently a large pit was built. with
rows of seats ranging above IT, and
crowds OF sporting people have been
drawn to this place when champion
IN Mt, 1.If ra.
and Georgia are fought. The law does
not interfere with the mains. Soon af-
ter the pit at Ten Mile was opened
sporting man from Charleston got up
main at $1,000 side. and the love
cockfghtng for miles around gathered
for the sport Books were made on the
hacks, and this gave many plunging
chances 20 people so inclined After the
main WITS fought two expert breeders
arranged a match. There was a house
filled with'rne birds which had not been
sent 10 the front and the two pitters
had the privilege OF picking their chick
ems They always figured ror the best
birds In sight ana their appearance at
the ring was the signal for the betting
to start. The bookmaker did not alwavs
find IL profitable hut he did not kick. on
one fight a business man from Charles
ton who was rscogrized as the highest
came back with fine Mugwump
chicken The other man had War
Horse The recognized authority hee ed
the birds himself The gamblers watch
ed him closely wand the betting was At a
standstill until fhe birds had been pre-
pared FOR the battle Aftcr getting the
cafs securely fastened the business
man went 10 the bookmaker and placed
$500 on his Mugwump. This was the
opening az rush of men who placed
big money in the same wav. and the
boukmaker was almost I'm tears when
he saw shat one lone man placed n
small be' on the War Horse cock More
than Sl200 vas bet on the Mugvump
p~i probably $40 on the War Horsc
Thor was a rnomcut of intense excite
nlent wher the birds were pitted Bo.h
showed hght. They were NOT made ~
fhe stuT ~ pm away Hud they came
together With 2 crash The War Horse
rot nasnihcent oponine and drove
FOR &C. with ono good clean drive he
lande1 fal~ on the head ~ he MUG
wumn end shot the rafs through tho
others hood at iha 1rst fop " wae ono
~ he ouiclrast hattlos fn tho histo~v
~ the Ten-Nile pit and tho result made
tho hookmg ker happy H. was one or
the thipwe too. that 500 to
show thaf fhoro ia corfain
gumnt ~ luck m every aalH and that
che on'nion n 'he cvpert could not al
WAYS hc arrpnted as sure thing