The St. Louis Republic., 1901-02-17
DOG FIGHTING, A PRESCRIBED
SPORT STILL LIVES IN ST. LOUIS.

of himself by maudlin offers to back the
brindle. He finally offered to bet to / on
his choice. A spectator pulled out $ and
offered to take his bet. The ward heeler
refused to bet ut the odds. claiming he
was joking when he made the offer He
wanted to bet even money, when he had
I'm the locality and friend of the keeper
OF the pit. But the latter parsonage QUIET
ly called him aside and said, Burke. when
you make, crack to bet here You must
make good when you are called. You Of
fered to bet IS to s. on the brindle This
gentleman called you and put up his
fellow either could not. or would not make
good his offer. He was quietly led to the
back Of the big cellar and bid sit down
for the following hour the spectators were
not molested by his drunken mouthings
FIGHT CONDUCTED
UNDER STRICT RULES.
The rules Of the house forbade any one
leaving the place from the time Of entry
until the fight was finished. and all bets
settled Several novices made a move to
leave, when 1t was plain that the brindle
tor courteously explained that 1t was
against the rules. 81 dare say you are all
right. gentlemen" he said; but there are
the police you know, and It Is a rule that
We cannot break. / know that you are all
right. but II let you out would have to
let those whom do not know out also. and
some one might bring the police around"
When it was all over the crowd made a
rush for the door "Just a minute. gentle
men," cried the burly proprietor, I'VE must
leave until bets are paid" For. be It
known. betting is mostly all on the mod"
no money being shown. There was shut
minutes. Are all bets satisfactorily set
tledT' cried the proprietor. There was not
protesting voice. is every one satisfied
that he got his money and saw good
fight" again cried the proprietor. a chorus
OF Yes. yes" came back and the door
been paid his money. How many gather
ings leaving swell clubs. where gentlemen
can say ., as sSs %geh ad sos went
his friends. From the time the tide Of bat
tie turned against his dog he had refrained
from looking at ahe o,nd sh IN, when n,sd ne r saw
and sat quietly waiting the time to go out.
hurting hui ing him. for he Is weil fixed with the
worlds goods. The wounded, torn. bleed
ing, painting dirt-daubed. dying brute. now
been but yesterday the loved playmate of
his babies. then peacefully sleeping In their
cosey cot uptown. While dressing her for
was explained to a group of friends on
her many fine qualities and telling how II
was but yesterday he found her on the floor
twisting her tail. "she would have, stood
that from no one on earth but that baby,
he cried proudly. she can lick tno peSt
dog In st. Louis, but that baby can pick
her eyes out. and she will not even show
her teeth"
Then the Injustice Of allowing palpably
beaten dog to continue fighting occurred to
the novices and they asked: why DID
you not throw up the sponge and save her
when she was outT -
I'VE don't throw up the sponge In this
business" said the old dog fighter. You
see money IS bet, and as loiig as q dog Is
in the ring the men who bet O.. him have
n chance for their coin. Ny friends bet on
my bitch. and ! was bound to see that they
got q run.
"T lost 500 on my own, but that does
| not count. I would not have had her killed
| for $500. for she was family pet. not
| fighting machine I was cajoled into fght-
| ing her. first for fun Then she killed
| dog belonging to the man whose Cog killed
her tonight. He was sore. and kept aIter
| me for another match. To give him return
/ I took a chance and lost my bitch
AS the dog fighters walked west wneree
| they ali came. the drunken nowls OF the
saloon loungers and ward heelers made dis-
That night four Of the dog fighters. in
| full evening dress. escorted their wives TO
Music Half to hear Patience" ! did not
sea q saloon lounger or ward heeier tnere'