Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1900-03-24
A COCK=FIGHT IN ILOILO.
BY FREDERICK T. GORDON.
&: e /:
IOCK.FIGHTING is the ma
&;onol annrt of tho FilipinOa


somely fitted out pits and on tho
sandy stretch in front OF the native
hut. No true Filipino is too rich and
proud to own choice assortment of
game-cocks, OF long pedigree and mar
vellous capacity for fighting and en-
DURANGO, and none is too poor to own
one Tor at least share) OF more or
less claim to 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 and money, compare
lively, is spent in the Filipinos 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 cock pit,
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 favorite 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 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.fghts 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 somo-
where every day, and if the cocks adj.
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 tho uttermost, all
classes and conditions Of men and
women attend. the dissipation being
only limited by their purses. The
are advertised on the streets
with gaudy pictorial representations
of the cocks, just as we advertise the
coming OF some great actor or prima
donna, and for days before and after
big fight the conduct of the birds are
the sole topics of conversation high
and low.
The game cocks are raised and at
tended with the greatest of care; every
is lavished upon them, and
they are the motive for about the
hardest work a Filipino over does;
the pedigrees of full.blooded birds is
registered as carefully we register
that OF horse or dog; an 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 aud it gives
high social standing.
AS soou rs 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 Gle.
velop rs little fat as possible aud as
much muscle as can be gained. Red
peppers, opium and raw rum is given
from time to time to make tho birds
savage, and they arc tantalized with
the sight Of other cocks behind
screen and are taught not to be afraid
of anything. Further instruction is
given by the patient trainers in strik-
ng with the gaffs ana these are put
IN every day to accustom the birds of
The feeling of them. Once in while,
, cook is allowed to fight with a low
bred fowl, to make it more fierce by
tho sight OF blood and confident from
he easy victory obtained.
B As q consequence of all this, when
, bird is fit aud ready to go in the pit,
Il is savage in feathers, afraid of
nothing, and will fight as long as
spark OF life is in its body, and seems
TO rejoice to see the blood squirt from
lhe body OF its foe from the cruel
blows OF the gan.
The cocks are always kept in con-
1ition save in the breeding season; as
\ matter of precaution, the comb is
slipped close to the head, the legs are
plucked and shaven and the neck and
wings ore trimmed as close as posi-
Die; all this is to make them less liza.
,le to being fouled in an encounter
md makes them lighter and more &C.
i've, and gives little hold for the beak
u gait Of an antagonist. The breast
Gathers are allowed and are trained
% grow as thick as possible, for on
he breast most of the blows are re-
,eived, the birds being trained to op-
,ose this thick cushion to the blows
II q foe.
From long selection and breeding,
here is now race of game fowls in
he Philippines which combines all
hese points in remarkable manner,
md next after courage shown on the
he field OF battle, bird is valued by
t adherence to the standard. If a
bird shows cowardice in its first
light, its neck is very promptly wrung
IS q punishment for its behavior and
IS a prevention to the perpetuating OF
he strain in breeding.
All fights are to the death Of one or
10Th of the combatants, unless one
uns away, and then it is killed by the
umpire. Every means possible for
making the cocks fight and keeping
hem alive is allowable and is prac.
iced; drugs and rum are given, the
owls are warmed in the breast of the
'wner or trainer, air is forced down
heir throats by Tubes and nowadays
wen hypodermic injections of power
al stimulants are in use. A more
rucl, bloody and degrading spectacle
han cock fight would be hard to
ind.
Some years ago, when Iloilo was in
Is balmy days aud instructions of
lie natives had not begun to trouble
ho easy going life of the Spaniards. I |
vas there on visit, and among other
lights of the city attended cock.
q