Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1903-11-11
A FAMOUS COCK rlsHr.
Mike 0'Bryan and His Great Fighter, Web
Footed Jerry.

Mike 0'Bryan and His Great Fighter, Web.
Footed Jerry.
[From the Charlotte, N. O., Observer.]
1t was in the good old days of long
ago that Col. Isaac Sneed, the far
famed fisticuff scrapper, made his
home in Providence Township.
Col. Sneed was one of the boys. He
liked lively time, and il he could not
have it one way he would another.
Dull days did not suit him. If it
was wrestling match, cock main,
horse race, a dog fight, or some-
thing of the sort, the colonel was an
energetic citizen. He never owned a
farm of his own, but always rented
good land and made good crops.
He knew how to till the soil and
manage negro laborers. If fellow
were out hunting trouble for him
self, his dog, his game rooster, or any
other sporting animal, Col. Sneed
could entertain him. All the mus.
cular athletes, the pugilistic bullies,
the owners of game cocks, fighting
dogs or running horses met at Col.
SDeed's on off days for big time.
In this story shall recall the
details of the famous contest
between Col. Sneed's game domi-
necker, Jake Kiilraip, and Mike
O'Ryan's "foightin bo-ird," Web
Footed Jerry.
MIKE O'RYAN HIMSELF.
Mike O'Ryan, the blooming Irish
man, was unique character. 1t is not
known until this day Low he got into
Providence Township, for he came
in the night and unattended. He
made friends from the very begin
ming and was affable and jolly at all
times. He was handy chap. If
farmer needed painter, a car
penter, brick-mason, shoemaker,
Mike was the man. 1t was Mike this
and Mike that. He was Dink at the
wheel. If the girls and boys had a
dance Mike played the fiddle, picked
the fiddle and sang Irish love ditties.
Good housewives of the neighbor.
hood liked Mike, for he was an expert
fruit cook, capable meat handler
and good kraut maker. He knew
how to do many things well. He
was an all around good fellow, and 80
long as he behaved himself the hospit-
able, trustful people of Providence
did not worry about his mysterious
past or the suddenness of his advent
into that community. They did not
care how often he had killed an
English King or any Irish Lord in the
old country.
COL. sNEED's GAME COCK.
Jake Killrain was the cock of the
walk at the Sneed place and the cham
pionship heavyweight bird of the
county. He just naturally courted
trouble all the time. He could crow
louder, longer and oftener than any
rooster in seven States. AT times,
when he felt real well, he would fly
to the roof of the Sneed home and
give clarion call. To the delight
of his owner he would challenge the
whole world of cocks. He would
declare at the top of his voice "I
can whip any rooster in the land"
Col. Sneed was proud of Jake. He
petted and groomed him. and if he
went into the yard and yelled :
"Jake, they say you will not fight"
the cock would come flying and
chattering to his shoulder, perch
himself there and proclaim "It is
not true"
A rooster of the game stock is the
proudest, gamest creature on earth.
He is fearless and daring. Courage
GUS men or plucky dogs will fight
when they come together, but tho
game chicken goes forth from his
own dung hill, all alone, TO meet and
defy some bantering enemy. / have
seen two cocks fight to finish with
their naked heels after going farfout
of their regular beats to meet each
other. There was no special reason
why they should meet. Honor was
not at stake. 1t was the bold, def
ant spirit of their blood that forced
them on. The one had heard the
threatening, challenging crow of the
other and started on the run to meet
him. His blood boiled and all that
he tarried for was to give an answer
and accept the challenge. If one
will watch two game roosters, all of
their own free will and accord, quit
their barn yards, where food and
drink are plentiful, and droyes of
pretty hens play and cackle, and
hurry towards each other, hating
now and then to utter defiant crows
and then do battle to the death, he
4. IL a.. - L