The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-07-16
BIRDS SHOW
GREAT GRIT.
Many Gamscocks In Southern
Pits Die Fighting.
EXHIBITIONS or GREATCOURAGE
Description Of a Big Battle Recently
Witnessed In Alabama.
GAME ONCE ENJOYED BY GENTLEMEN.
6pert Nov Put 10 the Przs Fighting Class,
and The Steel Gaft Has Taken Away
Its Former Glory.
GAME ONCE ENJOYED BY GENTLEMEN.

NASHVILLE, lenn., July fV' N-
was when the breeding. raising and
fixnting of gamecocks was regarded as
sport Mt only for gentlemen in Tennessee
and other southern states. That was
long ago, before ne war, in fact, when
southern gentlemen found pleasure
BILE excitement In pastimes which would
have delighted the old Roman senator's.
In antebellum days courage was quail
ity that was more highly thought or than
Il Is today, and the men Of means and
leisure or that tine-Andrew jackson
was one of them-patronized the sport OF
chicken lighting on account OF the won
derfuI exhibitions of courage to be seen
in the cocHpit
OF late years the sport has been put
IN the class with prize lighting. and the
artificial steel gam has robbed IL or It's
olden glory. There are yet TO be found
great numbers of men who VIII slip
away quietly to a cockfght and the OPP
portunities occur often enough In the
south for the cockpit patrons to sausfy
themselves.
Ahere Is a circuit Judge In Tennessee
who will call upon brother lawyer TO
hold court for him while he enjoys
chicken fight in the suburbs. For years
Hon. Ernest l.. Bullock. of Jackson. a
very eminent lawyer. employed experts
WHO ItdIta ttaihSt WV ~~>@~N 49,
nually.
JACKSON LOVED THE SPORT.
General Bullock would keep the
choicest of them and ship the others 10
Louisiana. Missippi and Texas There
are scores OF walks" In various parts
NJ the state where hundreds of young
cocks are raised and shipped TO other
states They bring from IS TO $50 each.
In Nashville and Knoxville are two of
The most celebrated strains In the world.
and none of these birds are listed below
$50 each. Many a great cockhght was
held on Andrew Jackson's estate. the
Hermitage, and In those days great
crowds would travel to the meeting and
the mains would continue for three days.
In different sections of Memphis,
Knoxville. Chattanooga and Nashville,
generally In Easements, there ans well
appointed cockpits, where many matches
are brought of. On the night of the
1ght the birds are sent to the pits In
bags or boxes. Owners and handlers
and those who are "on' go singly and In
pairs TO the resort.
The chickens are matched by pounds
and ounces. the idea being. when there
are number OF fights to take place
TO match the birds up as closely as pos
nibie in weight. There is always stake
on each battle. and usually a good sum
goes up on the odd fight. The stakes to
begin with are usually small, but as
the night progresses the betting increases.
In fact as soon as the birds are dropped
IN the pit the spectators begin TO make
waRers as soon as they see the birds
squared or and as fortune favors one or
the other. the betting changes.
DUEL TO THE DEATH.
big main was held across the Ala
bama line recently, near Huntsville. One
OF the fighters was a celebrated Tennes-
see game from Fayetteville. and the Ala
bama bird had been brought from Bir-
mingham. The stake was $1,000. and, as Is
usual with mains in the country, the
fight was brought off on Sunday. About
1900 sports from Tennessee and Alabama.
Augmented by every farmer who could
get there. were present.
The announcer stepped into the cockpit
and read a series of numbers. which in
dicated the weight of the prize pair and
the various pairs of less celebrated birds
which were to fight. since. pair by pair,
one bird must not weigh more than an
other beyond a certain limit fixed by
the code OF southern mains.
Another man with two small boxes In
his arms came forward. He opened a
little gate in the iron railing, and at
tached the two boxes to the ends OF a
pair OF scales. Two witnesses assured
themselves tnut inc Wtibut WIS pretty
near the same on each side.
The judge took his post the scorer
cried: "Silcnce." the weigher and an
other attendant took each a box and
thrusting them I'm by two gates at the
railing opposite to one another. opened
them both at the same time. The birds
came out. the gates were closed again.
and the throng held its breath in anxious
expectancy.
A GLANCE AT THE CoMBATANTs
The cocks were tall slender, straight as
epindlcS. with long and very mobile necks.
completely stripped of feathers behind
and from the breast up; without crests.
with little heads and eyes that revealed
their combative nature. The spectators
watched them. and In those few instants
judged from their color. form and move
menfs which would be the victor. All at
once the silence was broken.
Fifty dollars on Tennesseer' shouts a
man.
1--WE got you says another. Twenty
on the Rray,'' "A hundred on the black,''
''1n 60 your "I'll take that" The bets
were noted on n hook. There was no
money put up. These bets are always
ION honor" and when n battle Is over
they ere quickly settled. During the bet
ting those interested shouted. beckoned "a
zach other with their canes. waved their
hands and intense eagerness was exhibit
~.
At frst the two birds did not notice
each other. Both turned In opposite d.
rectionse Both crowded. stretching out
their necks 10 the spectators as N ask
Ing: What do you want?' Little by lit
Tie. without giving n sign of having seen
each other they came closer together II
seemed az II both wished 20 take the
other by surprise.
CAME TOGETHER LIKE FLASH
Suddenly. like fash. they ieaped for
ward with oufstretched wings. came to-
Gether In the air and fell apart. scat
tering cloud Of feathers about them.
after the FIRST shock they stopped and
planted themseivcs In front Of each 9TH
~ with extended necks and beaks almost
youching. looking at each other nxediy.
oooosless' ~ II they wished tn I'm