Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-03
DISTRICT BIRDS
BEAT MARYLAND
Local Game Cocks Win Three
Matches Out of
Four.

Several hundred enthusiastic admirers
Of the cock-fighting game attended fine
battle between Maryland and District of
Columbia birds New Year night at a Sc
cluded spot not many miles from the
Capital city. OF course. the regulars"
were at the pit. but there were also others
present who had never before seen con-
test between the game ones and who
seemed to enjoy every moment Of the
sport. Several were men prominent in the
medical and legal profession and were
enthusiastic rooters for their favorite
birds.
The principal main began about s
o'clock. was prosecuted in an expeditions
and orderly manner and was over shortly
after midnight. Five stays were shown
by each side, three victories being necss-
sary to win the main, and side bet of
800 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 tine
general result. and each bird in the sew
eral bouts had many admirers who were
not at all modest in backing them to win
Inc District people presented a much
stronger lot of birds than the Maryland
men and they were in better condition for
tne tray The superior form of the city
Dlrds was, however, somewhat counter
balanced by the fine manner in which the
Maryland fighters were handled
First Win for District.
In the first bout Maryland showed a
white hackle and the District a black
and red. The weights were even and
most of the betting was on tine MARYLAND
stag. The latter was outciassed, and on
the third fly received a wry neck that put
him out of business. 1t was a furious
pattie while 1t lasted. and but for what
looked IKE chance blow the Maryland
cock would have had look-in
For the second scrap MARYLAND pitted
another white hackle. while the District
people offered pretty black and red.
The birds started the battle in whirlwind
1ashion. and on the second fly the Dis
trIct COCK broke his antagonists wing
Despite this great handicap the MARYLAND
stag Stuck TO his task like the game
chicken lie was. and for several pittinss
eEened matters up. The marvellous % uck
OF the Maryland chick won the plaudits
OF the bunch. but the cock could rot make
an eHective fly with his broken wing and
was finally beaten down and was finished
with blow that broke his neck
Inc third encounter furnished some rare
sport the Washington people presenting a
Woltny-looklng white haCkle and Mary
lana splendid brown and red. Both
cocks started the bout in fast and fu-
rlcus manner, but the pace told on both
and they soon got down to business. fur
nlshing a battle royal.
Only Win for Maryland.
The Maryland bird was practically ont
at one stage of the game but under fine
handling recuperated and soon had the
District cock In distress Although both
chickens were weak from severe punisb-
ment. the Maryland bird was in better
condition and had enough left to do some
telling work on the District cock, which
finally flew the pit and refused to face the
Maryland stag. The latter was, there
fore. declared the winner. amid the ap-
plause of the Maryland enthusiasts This
was the first bout that MARYLAND had
won, and served to arouse the homes nj
the sports from the commonwealth
For the fourth and last bout the District
people presented as the winner of the
main white hackle and MARYLAND placed
a dark brown in the pit The District
crowd bet the Maryland men to a stand
still. and after the battle many of then,
were figuring on the chances of getting
their mornings morning. and a bit TO
eat. In this contest the Maryland cock
was clearly outclassed, and on the fourth
flight the District bird swung on the neck
and it was all over.
This is the first time in many moons
that the MARYLAND cocks have suffered de-
feat and their owners attribute the fail
ure to land the main to the fact that the
BIRDS were not properly groomed for the
battle