Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1903-11-11
AS Che Irishman approached the

AS the Irishman approached tn,
officer of the day shouted: "Cleal
the way and let Mr.. O'Ryan pass
Come this way, Mr.. O'Ryan; here i,
the place." Mike did not seem t
The two men faced each other OF
the clean plot of land encircled b,
the ropes. Col. Sneed held Jake ane
rubbed him down. Mike put hi
sack on the ground, caught the bot
tom and made ready to empty on,
his fighter. The judges counted
three and said: "Let them co.
That was the signal for the main tt
begin.
The spectators surged against th'
rope and Grained their necks to Sc,
Mikes bird come out. When the
word was given Jerry dropped int
the arena. He was big Muscov,
drake, web footed and clumsy, will
red and white head and black body
The mob laughed and cheered. The
friends of Mike were silent an6
those of Col. Sneed hissed. Th,
whole thing seemed to be grand
farce to the crowd, but Jake and
Jerry took it seriously. They were
sparring at each other. Mike was ir
earnest. He knew his champion
He said: He's all roight. All Hill
can't thrip him" For a moment
Jake was puzzled, but as soon as he
took in the situation he began to dc
his best. He had never seen drake
before. He had fought turkeys
guineas and peafowls, but not ducks
1t was evident from the very star,
Jerry knew what he was doing. He
lodged beau, lily and let Jake pass
over his head. o chickens spurs
would come together above the
ducks back every time, but the fight
ing was not dull. Those who
watched it felt that there were some
surprises in store for the rooster.
Jerry was laying for him and the
right opportunity came by and by
After knocking off the wire edge
Jake began to go slower. That was
just what Jerry hoped for; then he
became more active and aggressive.
He sailed about a little and caught
Jake by the neck. Jake pulled
back, but Jerry did not turn loose
until he had kicked him in the breast
and beat him over the head with his
heavy wings. That made the game
fellow mad. He flew at his antago-
mist with more vim than ever and
that time the aim was accurate, he
landed on the top of the brakes
back. 1t was Jerry's turn to be
angry. He dropped back step OF
two and prepared to meet Jake. The
chicken came with rush, half run.
ming and half flying, and as he rose
to strike the duck fastened him
brought him down and pounded him
severely. 1t was at this stage of the
game that the drake did wonderful
stunt. He took good hold on
Jake's neck, rose and flew away as 8
hawk would have done with a bit oi
:, bird. 1t was all so quick that the
engrossed onlookers did not realize
for a second what bad happened
The big duck was going toward the
creek. The crowd wheeled about
and hurried after him. The voice
Of Mike was heard above the tumult
He said: "And it's all over now
That's one of Jerry's tricks. Hell
drown old Jake in the creek" AnG
he did. When the boys got to the
creek Jerry was catching tadpoles
He had sunk the body of his recent
enemy.
Long after Mike left the commu
nifty his secret came out. He had
inn rorted jerry from Ireland for thai
fight. The drake was a noted
scrapper.
Col. Sneed never recovered from
that defeat. The suddenness and
strangeness of it all was too much
for him. II there be any who dc
not believe this yarn let them lead
the tales of Baron Munchausen.