The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1907-02-14
LOCAL BIRDS BEATEN,
Big Chicken Fight Pulled OFF De-
spite vigilant Officers.

the chicken fight, or cock maia"as
it is called, that was successfully pull.
ed of near Oskaloosa Friday. was
complete defeat for Rose aill and
was won by Abba birds.
over two hundred people went to
the Matt Thomas farm east OF the city
early Friday morning to see the sport.
The main was held in the large barn
on the Thomas farm and fee Of one
dollar per" was assessed. The
claim is made that about one thous-
and dollars changed hands on the re,
suit of the several fights.
The Rose Hill birds were outclassed
and bested at every point and their
defeat was general surprise 10 To-
cal chicken men. Rose Hill, 1t is
claimed, has won twenty-six out Of
twenty.seven battles, making the
present defeat all the more severe.
Several Oskaloosa people dropped a
roll of money in backing the local
birds. An Oskaloosa fowl, or rather
a bird from Beacon, of which much
has been said and claimed likely, was
given a chance in the pit and received
local support. He did not have a
chance with mis- adversary and was
quickly disposed Of
| The Abba birds were for the great
er part the property of English and
Welsh miners who have been careful
| " training them for this particular
match. Some have said that outside
fighting stock was secured by some
of the Abba crowd. Abba and Rose
Hill have been making effort to get
together for some time past ana the
event yesterday was heralded, in
quiet way, near and far. The Abba
crowd and their supporters had all
kinds of money and would have dou-
bled the amount stakei on the work
of their birds.
Not bird was killed In the 'maln,"
contrary to the usual results. The
Rose Hill birds, so it is said, "ffew
the pit" when thoroughly whipped and
escaped further punishment.
Officers Break Up Sport
Upon complaint Of numerous par
ties in the neighborhood where the
hight was to be held, warrant was
sworn out in Bacon's court against
Mr.. Thomas, whose property was the
scene of the gathering. The warrant
was served by Constable George An
drews and officer Will Donnelly OF
the city police force.
One fight had taken place wnea tho
officers put in their appearance at
the barn and CONSERVATION was ap-
parent on all sides. The crowd scat
tered, running in all directions out
into the corn fields and into the near
by rayines and woods. The ,officers
had no warrants for the individuals
at the place, but it was their inten-
ton to break up the main.
The main was opened again follow
ing the departure of the officers, and
the interrupted program proceeded as
if nothing had happened.
Fights Are Common Occurrences.
The claim is now made that numer-
GUS mains" have been held in this
city during the past several months.
They have been secret meetings, held
here and ,nere, and have been attend
ed by only select few. The main
has been arranged and the place
would be fixed to suit the convent
ence of the occasion. Great care has
been taken to avoid the officers OF
the law and thus far the principals
have been successful.
Other mains have been h >, at or
near Abba, Eddyville, Pekay, Lost
Creek, and other places, but the os-
kaloosa main of yesterday was the
largest meeting of game fowls that
has occurred in the state in years.
Eighteen or twenty birds Were
brought to the city for the maia and
the hack off" that was promised, and
they came from all directions and
many localities of the state.