Year: 1879




Savage and Shameful Pastimes.
1t is a matter of current news that one
Mr.. Harry Jennings has lately set out
| from New York for New Orleans with
large but select company of fighting dogs
| which he intends shall rend and destroy
each other for the amusement of the
fancy" or sporting gentry Of the latter
city. We are reminded by this choice
piece of intelligence of another that
comes within like category and which
| warrants some especial attention. There
was gathered near Norwalk in Connecti-
cut few nights ago an assemblage con-
sisting entirely of men. 1t included
about one hundred persons, and some of
them were conspicuous figures not entire
ly unknown in this city. The object
of these persons was simply to torture a
number of innocent creatures to death;
| and having accomplished that object the
company merrily dispersed.


To make clear what we have said, and
what we mean afterward to say, we shall
place before the reader a single episode
of this brutal proceeding taken from the
Sun. 1t is not kind of reading we like
to print in the Evening Post; but the
purpose and the elucidation constitute a
fitting apology. What occurred on this
occasion may be described as an unusu-
ally brilliant and exciting cock fight. and
what follows is a report of the first battle:


Southport entered with his first cham
pion, red cock with handsome yellow
shawl. The betting was even on the bat
tle The two handlers held out their two
champions toward each other, and mu-
tual savage picking was at once begun.
Then they put them down on the carpet
one on each side of the middle chalk
line. Each weighed five pounds and two
ounces. They flew at each other with
violence that left nothing to be desired
by the excited spectators. Catching firm
hold of each others heads and necks,
they piled their spurs in almost continu-
GUS battle for nearly a minute. Then
there was a brief cessation. The white
shawl of the pyle (Norwalk's cock had
become Redeemed with blood from the
under side of his throat which was cut
and he bled steadily. The left side of
his antagonists head was Scared and
bloody, and his left eye was permanently
closed. At it they went again, the pyle
having an evident advantage. The red
had lost his first wind and could not get
his second. The pyle cut him again and
again on the meek and body but there
was no sign of yielding, His feathers
were wet in spots with blood. When the
pyle had exhausted himself for time on
his dogged enemy, and neither had
strength to use the spurs, they laid their
heads over each others necks, and push
ed and struggled like wrestlers. Their
beaks were filled with blood, and were
held open as they gasped for breath. At
length the red appeared to get dazed and
| fell into the habit of walking in any di-
rection in which his head might be set
| He walked until he came to the edge of
the pit, and then he moved slowly it, oc
casionally pecking up savagely at the
edge of the upright plank. If the match
had been fought under the rules Nor
walk might have counted ten ten times
while the red fowl was walking mlessly
about, and then he could have claimed
the battle. 1t was fought, however, ON
the merits, So at short intervals the
referee cried out, Breast your BIRDS and
the two handlers took up the cocks and
set them breast to breast at the middle
chalk line. At first when the red was
brought back from his wanderings the
two pecked revepgefully at each other,
and then theired resumed his wanderings
while the pyle laid wearily down. After
ward the betting was FIVE to three on the
pyle. By and by the red began to stand
still when he was breasted, while the
pyle went down gasping, without the
power to move. The two fowls were
taken up and set down again for about
half an hour, with no change in the de-
pertinent of either. The red would not
attack his enemy, which exhibited no
sign OF life as he lay except his loud and
painful painting. At length, just one
hour from the beginning of the battle,
at the chalk mark. the pyle raised his
head and made a feeble peck at
him. On that the referee declared the
battle draw. A short time after the
spurs were taken off the pyle. and he
died, having bled to death from the
wound in his throat. You'd better take
him out of the pit if you want to keep
him. somebody shouted in the latter
part of the fight. I've got the father OF
him. was Norwalk's proud answer, at
which the crowd applauded and jeered. "
There was plenty more of bloody work;
in fact, a glut of it before the night was
over; but we have quoted enough for the
end in view. and quite as much, we hope
as will be relished. No more of detail
need, therefore, be added than the fact
of which some are ignorant, namely, that
in these contests the natural spurs of the
$ game cocks are removed and their places
t supplied by deadly steel gaffs ground as
4 sharp as the edge of a razor. 1t will


scarcely be believed that many of those
= who assisted in this wretched business
are individuals who would ordinarily be


described as educated gentlemen of good
: social standing. The crowd was not al
' composed of the boxers, gamblers, rat-pi


men, billiard markers, stool pigeons,
: and miscellaneous thieves who might be
looked for at such festival A fair del
!. egation of these worshipiul gentry were


there, we may be sure. But there wer'


likewise men of wealth, character ant


position; and of these we take leave t.


say that their presence was a blot and


disgrace to themselves and to their fami


lies, and that, to all cognate intents ant
= purposes, it puts them squarely on a lev


ell with the lowest ruffians with whom


they consorted.


l. 1t is hard to hear of disgusting barbal
u ism like this without feeling OF sadnes


and announcement, If educated me-