Cockney Charlie Lloyd’s “Pilot” VS Krieger’s “Crib”

Cockney Charlie Lloyd’s “Pilot” VS Krieger’s “Crib”



Modern day dog fighting in America may be said to date from the great battle in 1881 between Cockney Charlie’s “Pilot” and Krieger’s Crib, though plenty of dogs were fought in this country before that, and we find that Cockney Charlie had been importing dogs since as early as 1854.



In 1881 Krieger send out a challenge saying that he had a 28 pound dog that he would match against any dog in the world for $1,000.00 a side. This challenge was send out through the columns of the Police Gazette, and it was immediately taken up by Cockney Charlie Lloyd for his dog “Pilot”. Krieger was to allow Cockney Charlie $100.00 expense money to come from New York to Louisville, Kentucky where the fight was to be held.



It was agreed that the Police Gazette would be the stakeholder and that Richard K. Fox, the owner and publisher of the Gazette, would select the referee. Forfeits of $500.00 each were posted with the Police Gazette on October 12, 1881, and Mr. Fox notified both Lloyd and Krieger that he had selected William E. Hadding, sporting editor of the Gazette to act as referee.



Arriving in Louisville the day before the battle, all arrangements were gone over carefully, and the stage was set for the battle the next day.



At 5:00am. The following morning, October 19, 1881, the road leading to Garr’s farm was lined with vehicles, people on horseback and some walking.



At 7:15am. The dogs were weighed in, “Crib” weighing 27 ½ and “Pilot” weighing 27 ¾ . The dogs were washed and rinsed off in warm milk. Frank Stephenson was the judge for “Pilot” and John McDermott was watcher for “Crib”.



The dogs were released from their handlers hands at 9:20am, and as they came together, “Crib” caught “Pilot” by the nose, “Pilot” shook him off and then both took leg holds, “Pilot” turning loose his leg hold to go for the throat, but “Crib” took “Pilot” by the ear and threw him hard. While down, “Pilot” secured a breast hold, then exchanged back to a leg hold, and bit down hard. This seemed only to make “Crib” fight harder and some account say that “Crib” threw “Pilot” as many as 5 times in quick succession, right after that, finally securing another leg hold. “Crib” began to look like a sure winner, and plenty of money was offered on him. Cockney Charlie advised his backers to take these bets, and it seems that all were taken up. “Pilot”, after this, got another leg hold and set in to punish “Crib” severely. For 42 minutes it was a nip and tuck battle, with both dogs still gong strong and both on their feet. Soon “Crib” was seen to hover one foot and “Pilot” downed him, but “Crib” got up and again threw “Pilot” hard. “Crib” seemed to have all the best of the wrestling, but evidently, he could not bite as hard as “Pilot”. The going got steadily worse for “Crib” because whether “Pilot” was up or down seemed to make little difference. He took his hold no matter what position he was in. “Pilot” now seemed to be stronger and threw “Crib” twice in quick succession. When “Crib” stood up the last time he wasn’t so anxious to return to the war and made a quick turn to the side of the pit, but “Pilot” was on him so hard that no handle could be made, and “Pilot” himself dragged him back to the field of the battle. The next time “Crib” turned, he tried to make sure that the fight would end and jumped clear right out of the pit, but “Pilot” jumped out right behind him and caught him by the nose again. Both dogs had to be picked up and returned to the pit.



“Pilot” was on top from now on and held “Crib” down and began to shake him. At 1 hour and 25 minutes “Pilot” was declared the winner, and the stakeholder paid over the money.



“Pilot” was acclaimed the best dog in the world, and many breeders bred their bitches to him. The foundation stock of most bloodlines in America today trace back to this great little dog who was imported from England, as was “Crib”.



The claims about “Pilot” being unbeatable, like Mark Twains death, must have been highly exaggerated……………………………………