Evening star., 1901-03-09
COCK FiGHTSi IN MEXICO
SPORT HOLDS HIGH FAVOR IN THAT
COUNTRY.
Interesting Routine in Training and
Handling the BirtfB-FOrtunes Won
and Lost on Battles.

From the Chicago Inter Ocean.
In Mexico cock fights are commonly
termed los gallos, just as bull fights are
called los toros; and at all the popular
fiestas they are only second in favor to the
latter. good game cock often costs as
much as horse, but this is not saying
much, as fair saddle pony is frequently
sold for SIS. or even less; while a game
COCK may bring $50 and occasionally 500.
The usual price paid, however, is from s12
to go, according to weight, breed and past
record of the strain as fighters. The best
cocks come from the United States, and
hundreds are shipped into Mexico during
the year, being in constant demand during
the hestas, which are, always in progress in
one part or another. There are also many
cocks bred here, the hens being largely
japanese. The cocks are cared for by
trainers, who feed, clean and exercise them
as regularly as a jockey does running
horse. Their house is in reality stable,
each cock having his own stall, with his
name above it, as Ell Garrean {The Spar
urer), Moreno (Brune), Tirante (TyranD,
Cato (CaO and so on. A champion is
called "El Mauser." In these little stalls
the cocks eat, drink and sleep, being fas-
tened by a cord to a ring in the floor.
Every morning they are taken out for
run, one at time. and each has half an
hour in the dirt box, to roll and dust him
self.
day, about sundown, when they have all the
wet corn they can eat, in individual pans.
set In the stalls. They are then watered,
and the inner rooster being satisfied, each
cuddles down in his stall and goes to sleep.
Their spurs have been cut for their own
comfort IN sleeping, and to prevent their
hurting themselves.
Queer Diet for Roosters.
In trimming the combs a curious custom
prevails. The piece cut off is sliced Into
bits with jack-knife, and fed to Its
former owner, who, with the blood dripping
from its newly shorn crest. devours 1t with
avidity, frequently clucking cordial invi-
tation to the hens to come and join him
This Is surely game" Every Well-ar-
various bird diseases, and the cocks are
carefully attended when sick.
On the eve of fight the warriors are
fed on tortillas soaked In milk, and raw
meat with sherry. Very little water is
given, the Idea prevailing that they bleed
less if wounded. The cocks are seldom
fought before they are two years old. Many
never live to fight a second time, yet they
enter the arena jauntiy, with heads up,
plumes waving, and Growing Justify. There
Is something admirable in the general de-
pertinent Of the fighting cock, and he sell
dom knows when he Is licked. Some
cocks go through five and six battles their
wounds being clean-cut and easily healed
on this account.
Los gallos are usually held in small
plaza, surrounded by seats, like a miniature
bull ring. An orchestra dispenses lively
music, while peon stands in the ring and
shouts at the top of his lungs, announcing
the next event, and urging the spectators
to place their bets-fn any amount from
25 cents to 500, or even more. Heavy play
ers stake as high as $1,000 on a single fight
a Sfrp he irdc ora
weighed, being suspended from the scales
by means of little surcingles. Each trainer
has a small box, filled with knives, and
from this he now selects one slender sharp
as a razor. and curved like tiny machete
The length ranges from three to four
inches, according to the weight of the bird
The trainer tries the knife on his palm,
coolly lifting the skin with its point, and
finding one to his liking, fastens 1t to the
birds right foot. which has first been
wrapped with piece of soft leather at the
another, adorn the trainers hat, tucked
back of the band, and sometimes, during a
hot contest, he grabs his. hat eXcitedly, and
cut himself
Encouraging Birds to Fight.
The knives in place, the cocks are patted
on the back, pinched and poked at each
other, or allowed to peck once or twice at
some outsider, to make them mad. Some
from mysterious motives. spit on
their heads. Meantime, a square has been
drawn on the ground and quartered. The
birds are put down at corners, diagonally
opposite, and let go. They fly at each
other, and not infrequently one drops at
the first shock. The battle seldom lasts
over one to two minutes. The proof Of a |
birds being unable to go on is his inability
to stand. If both fall they are held up face
to face, and if each continues to show signs
Of combativeness it is called a draw. The
rooster who turns tail and runs away" Is
the of the crowd who
claim their prerogative and kill him with
sticks. There is invariably a dispute at the |
end of a fight. but the judge gives his opin-
ion, and the combatants subside.
A singular feature of los gallos is the fre-
quent introductions Of what is called a
meaning a rooster-hen. 1t is |
a rooster with the comb and plumage of a
ben; and 1t has unfailing advantage over |
its opponent, who mistakes his adversary |
until too late to defend himself.
1t is not infrequent to see women Of the |
pueblo at cock fight, stalking their money |
with the rest. 1t is curious sight. The |
orchestra plays merrily, the people eat, |
smoke, gossip and make their bets in the |
interim. while fight follows fight in rapid
more roosters, tied at intervals Growing |
defiantly as they wait their turn
Many men make cock fighting q business. !
When the fiesta is over in one town the |
birds are tucked away in their little basket |
like receptacle and shipped on to the next. |
The poor peon, with but one bird, frequent |
ly smuggles him through in the third-cass |
car, tucked away beneath his blanket. The |
birds get tame from constant handling and |
lie still as mice.
Among the men who follow the ROSTERS |
are some who have lost fortunes at the |
sport, but who refuse to abandon IT. The
gringo attending los gallos for the first |
time is impressed by the sight of so MANY |
dead roosters, and in his eminently practi- |
cal spirit inquiries Of his neighbor: ''What |
do they do with them all?' The answer Ia |
quick a and to the point. LOS comen. senior"
''They eat them"