The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1906-1908, 1907-08-31
Sunday AMUSEMENT.
- NExco A PRIEST SENDS HIS ARDS
TO = COCK FIGHT.

~ "as N . he x1can village, said tia
explorer. "Great had been our surpris.
The evening before when q little after {
O'Clock we rode into the public aouar,
up to the door OF the convsa,t and 81
served long line Of game cocks guard.
ing one size of the great church. Wen
that was our first impression. ClonnS
inspection made things palmer. In -
convent, residence OF only the priest ani
his relations. we hung our hammOcka
rested awhile, refreshed the inner mar
with tortillas and black beans, tAeu wenl
forth to investigate the feathered regi.
ment. The large church was built ont
INTO the square, SO that its rear wall was
On line with the convent and othar
structures forming that aide of the
square.
Along the wall that stood at right an.
gias with the front of the convent small
wooden stakes had been .lriven in the
ground. To each plumed warrior was
securely attached at safe distaace from
n valiant compeers. Who could have
daRea to utilize for such a purpose the
seAde Afforded by the wall Of the sacred
etihcel Another instant and we shonli
have voiced this thought. Il is general
v mistake to speak in hurry. The
good old priest had followed us and was
now at our side. Pointing a lean brown
nnger at a very proud looking rooster.
he said: That is the prince of this lot
though they will all prove themselve,
splendid fighters, knowl | have NOT
studied the creatures 40yearsfornothingp
Sol They were his own property Yea
another five minutes talk made It plain
that the pet hobby of this holy man was
cock fighting! We will call him Father
9. because 1t Ia not necessary to give
the name of our kind host. FairIv
launched on his favorite topic. he talked
away for full hour and was M.
terry amazed, not to say somewhat IN.
credulous, when informed that we had
never seen q professional tussle between
those birds SO dear to his heart and
purse, and which he loved to see fighting
In shs ring. But you must come with
me tomorrow afternoon, said he: tina
people here all like it, and we enioy the
harmless sport every Sunday afternoon
40 AAbcAtteu no sarcasm.
"Nolens volens, when Sunday after.
noon came, our host, having laid asida
his sacerdotal robes after CELEBRATING
high mass, piloted US to the scene of nc.
non. The pit was In the interior court-
yard Of q private house. A cfrcular
LaAce OF slender sticks surrounded the
carefully leveled ground dedicated ia
tke carnage. Chairs surrounded It and |
Q Ahed, matched with palm leaves. shell.
kSQed the spot from the scorchipz ravs
O. She sun. In gay attire the most "a.
spected matrons and maidens of the
place were there, the performance being
oountenanced and partly provided by
she priest. A lively conversation wa,
Kept up, all present being acquainted,
The ROSTERS had been shorn of theiy
Feathers, save those Of the wings and
TAIL Each bird was weighed: then
curved steel spurs were secured 10 the
stumps or those provided by nature. but
which had been cut off. Quite suddenly
conversation ceases. Two birds are in
u ring. The struggle commences.
Heads lowered, eyes glaring, quiyerina
watn rage, the heroes fly at each other.
calculating that his opponent has
jumped too high, the other one crouahes.
avoids the blow and turns upon hSe foe'
who stands firm. Both rise in the air
breast striking against breast, each striy.
ng 70 deal his adversary mortal blow,
One - stabbed--he staggera Profitina
BY this weakness, his adversary follows
up the attack, but the wounded ona
Keeps an eye on his enemy, and not be-
ing ready for him lodges, reRat1s bis
position and infiicts wound. Both yn,w
AVE difficulty in keeping on their feet.
hough neither will yield. More wounds
ne dealt. Both fall exhausted. One
'ecovers, sees his foe PROSTATE, SO does
not attack, but shakes his lowered held
md claws the ground in his fury. I'm.
'atiently he thirsts for the life of hi
'pponent, who, no less savage, regains
us feet, and with glaring eyes watches
very move of his adversary.
The enthusiasm of their owners and
hackers increases as the wounds become
more nunerous-the excitement is in
ense, and bets run high. The creatures
ngaged In deadly strife keep cooler than
he audience. A moment arrives when
u the hackers talk at once. Five dol.
ars more on the whitep Ten on tn. {
aneIo' Cinnamon color. The stakes do
ot exceed $50. At last one warrior
ais. Dead silence follows, so great ia l
he suspense. Will he rise once more1 !
'ictor examines victim very distrust-
lilly, makes sure he is dead, then mount
lg on the PROSTATE form draws himself
P with an exultant cry of victory, Just t
Ike some gladiator of olden times.
"All through the long summer after
con one battle succeeded another. Tha '
irds that survived were Caken home 20 V
carefully tended until restored enough |;
light again. Even those that had lost
10 or both eyes would fight il an oppor- S
nifty was given to them, for these birda
70 90 Nfociously brave that unlesa
'anted to fight they have % be kept Qua I
each others reach. f
"At the o'clock dinner In the con. q
ant our reverend host talked OF NOTHING
nf his triumphant ROSTERS and called
D az to bear witness that the very ons a
bad pointed out had proved itself tha =
~ tho greatest hero Of them all. s-NeS +
ork Tribune.
SDs RM@unsmmw s~~~
OMa Of the humorouslv mrtraC6am I;