The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-01-30
CROWD WATCHES
COOKING MAIN
Feathered Fighters Meet in Pit on
Sunday.
SEVERAL CONTESTS HELD
TAKE PLACE ON HILL WITHIN
CITY LIMITS.

MI EITHER the police nor the city ia
~ theirs were invited to the series of
cock fights which were nuIIed Off
yesterday afternoon at what used 10 be
L4lndsay'S Gardens. on the north bench
but that did not prohibit the exhibition
from being one OF the Warnest chick
en- scraps which has been seen in the
city for some time. Considerable mon
ey changed hands. Only the most Sc
iect crowd was able to attend Tho
majority of those present had their
blrds with them encased in bags and
hidden from public view. Each of sew
eral men thought that he had the best
biooded fighter tucked away in his own
private sack and had the money with
MIN 10 back his assertions, and the re-
suit was that. by yesterdays exhibit
ton. a Spanish bull fight was thrown
in the shade.
The spots where the fights were wit
messed is . secluded little nook near
Ninth and NJ streets. No houses are
anywhere near the place and if one did
not know that something was going ON
ne could steal right on the place before
noticing the crowd The fights have
been going on there every Sunday a 1T
ernoon for some time past.
Crowd of Fifty Present.
A large proportion of the crowd of
fifty persons present yesterday was
made up of boys and young men. Scat
tered throughout. however. were a
number of older men A judge was
chosen and the fun began.
Every rooster was well armed with
steel spurs and had been especially
trained for the work in hand. When
IT was time TO begin. the ring was
formed the crowd moved back. and the
game started No yelling was allowed
for it might be possible for the ever
willy police or the citizens who live
near the spot to learn of the affair 50
the excitement was Of a suppressed
order There was excitement, too.
Here's Lively Go.
The particular fight which called
forth the most applause and aroused
the greatest excitement yesterday was
the third from the last on the pro-
gTamme. The respective owners of
these two birds had been waiting for
their time to come for about two hours
Finally it did come The money was
placed and everybody who had not
already staked his last cent and lost
on the previous goes was in.
Are you ready asked the Judge
we are. responded the men, holding
the fiery animals i'm cheek.
Let 'er go" said the judge, and it
was on.
The feathers which bristled on the
necSs of the two belIigerents would
have brought happiness to the heart of
any prize fighter. Eyeing his opponent
for moment. the slighter of. the two
roOsteFs made a pass and missed. This
was the chance for his antagonist.
Biff- The one who pushed the fight
got it over the eye The blow never
feased him.. however. He took if like
a man. He was game. He just WalJzed
around for another second or two. look
ing in the eye for moment the over
grown wretch who had taken adva1l-
Jage Of his dropping his guard. and then
landed him one just below the heart.
Betting on the lighter bird rose.
For about three rounds it was an
even break. and then il could easily be
seen from the ropes that the battle was
going in favor Of the bigger pUgilisr.
Suddenly. with a quick shift of posi-
ton which seemed to 'bewilder the 9th
er rooster somewhat, he Of the heavy
left sent one straight from the shout
der to the eye and il was all of.
Funeral on the Hill.
The fight was done. The bets were
paid and the man who had come with
his fighter in the bag had TO perform
with the help OF others the sad burial
rites. There, upon the lonely hillside,
away from all his kith and kin, the one
who had died that his reputation might
live was laid away. The day was fit
ting for the ceremony, It being Sun
day, but 10 minister was present to
say d prayer. Like the soldier that he
was. he was given back to the mother
earth who had borne him. And the
next fight was called
For some time the residents of that
portion of the town where the fight
took place have been noticing the men
coming down the hillside with their
bags slung across their backs. but hav-
ing heard the tales of the mighty hunt
erS who had slain so much game upon
the hilltops. they thought that it was
some of them returning from their
daily toll and paid no more attention
to the thing Yesterday however, the
truth was learned.