The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-01-03
CAPITAL BIRDS WIN
Red-hOt Battle Of GamecOcks
on New Years.
REAL MONEY CHANGES HANDS
Two of the Bouts Last More Than
Half an Hour and Furnish Rare
observation-disclosures Those Present
Were Some of Our Leading and
Most Respected Citizens.

Several hundred enthusiastic admirers
Of the cock fighting game attended a
fine battle between Maryland and Dis
trict OF Columbia birds New Years night
at a secluded spot not many miles from
the Capital City OF course, ths ~regu-
lars" were at the pit, but there were
also others present who had never be-
fore seen a contest between the game
/ ones. and who seemed to enjoy every
moment Of the sport Several were men
/ prominent in the medical and legal pro
I fsssion. and were enthusiastic rooters for
their favo-ite birds
The principal main began about g
O'Clock. was. prosecuted IL an expeditions
and orderly manner. and was over shortly
after midnight Five stays were shown
/ by each side, three victories being necss-
sary 70 win the main and side bet o.
500 on the general result
The District Of Columbia cocks Won
the main, but two OF the bouts lasted
nearly half an hour. and furnished rare
entertainment Considerable coin changed
hands on the general result. and each
bird in the several bouts had many a5-
Hirers who were not at all modest IN
backing them 70 win The District pe0-
( PIE presented q much stronger lot a
cocks than the Maryland men. and
they were IN better condition for ths
fray The superior form Of the city
( birds was however. somewhat counter
+ balanced by the fine manner in which tie
Maryland fighters were handled
white hackle. and the District a black
and red The weights were even. and
most IF the betting was on the lTar-Iand
stag The latter was cutclasse5, and on
[ the third is received q WY neck that pr1
/ him out Of business II vas a furious
battle while II lasted ana bur sor what
7 looked Ike 6 chance blow. the Maryland
I cock would have had a Iock-in.
( For the second scrap Maryland pitte5
1 another white hacSie. while the District
/ people offered a pretty black red. The
I birds started the battle in wrirlri1d
I fashion and on the second dy TIE Dis
+ trict cock broke his ANTAGONISTS wing
/ Despite tnis great handicap. tire EIary-
[ land stag stuck 20 his task Ike the
/ game chicken he was. and for several
/ pittinEs evened matters ~ TIE marvel
Gus pluck Of the Maryland chick Won the
plaudits OF the bunch, but the cock could
not make an effective IL with his broken
wing and was finally beaten down and
was finished with a blow that broke his
neck
The th5-d encounter furnished some
rare sport, The washington people pre-
/ senting a worthy looking white hac5ls
and Maryland q splendid brown red Both
/ cocks started the bout IN q fast and
furious manner. bat the PACE tod on
/ both and they soon got down % bust
ness. and Il was q battle royal me
Maryland bird was practically out ar one
stage Of the game. but under fine hand
! Ing recUperatsd and soon had the Dis
/ trIct cock n distress Although both
/ chickens were weak from severe punish
ment. the Maryland bird was IN better
condition. and had enough left 20 90 some
/ telling work on the District cock, who
finally few the Dit and refused 10 face
the Maryland stag. The latter was.
/ therefore, declared the winner. amid the
/ applause o. The Maryland enthusiasts
This was The first bout that Maryland
/ lad won. and served 70 arouse the hopes
Of the sports from the CommonweaIth-
For the fourth and last bout. the Dis
/ trict people presented rs the winner Of;
the main g white hackle. ard Maryland
placed a dark brown in the pit The
District crowd bet the A[aryian5 men 20
a standstiH. and after the battle many
OF them were fEuriHg on the chances OF
( getting their mornings morning" and a
bit 10 eat In this contest the Maryland
/ cock was clearly outcIassed, and on the
fourth fight the District bird swung on
the neck and il was al over.
/ This IS the first time IN many moons
that the Maryland cocks have suffered
I defeat. and their owners attribute the
failure TO land the main 20 the fact that
the birds were not properly groomed for
the battle