Description of a celebrated Sporting-house in New York (1853)

An Advert from 1853 and a description of a celebrated Sporting-house in New York, and some doings inside - 1853 from The New York Clipper the pre runner to the National Police Gazette.

"The front room is fitted up with a bar, about a dozen of arm chairs, and on the walls were hung engravings of fighting dogs, pigs etc, with a written description under each, of their individual celebrities. There are two dogs stuffed, and enclosed in glass cases, and one of the papers giving an account of them, contains the following: "The Brindle dog N.Y. Crib, who after a contest of 1 hour 47 min. killed his opponent, Canada Prince, and won the stakes of $250. Crib died after the battle." The other dog is "Canada P." and also a glowing description appended to him, giving an account of 6 battles that he had won, and winds up by saying, "and was finally killed by N.Y. Crib, after a gallant struggle of 1 h. 47 min. He died game". There is also a splendid picture of a white dog hanging over the bar, said to have cost $30. On a ticket inserted between the frame and canvas, it reads: "Mr. Brown's dog Jack. Will be matched against any dog of 19lbs. weight, in 6 weeks from matching, for from $100 to $500."

After having purchased a ticket, I followed the crowd, through a long, dark alley way, issuing from the back part of the room, and soon found myself in a large barn-like apartment, fitted up with rough seats. These seats extend around the room, and surround the pit, which is in the form of an Octagon, the sides being about 30 inches in height from the floor.
The spectators, having got seated, the sports of the evening commenced, by the proprietor bringing in a long box, say 7 feet long, by 15 inches square. This box has a hole cut in one end, large enough to admit a dog, and on the top near the other end is a trap door to take the animal out, in case of necessity. At the farther end, with grinning teeth and flashing eyes, crouches the badger which they intend to bait. As the trap is raised you can see him and hear his low but savage growls, as he sits on his haunches prepared for the attack. But here comes the dog, wriggling, and yelling; in his master's arms, to get loose. His owner slips a choke rope over his head and then lets him go. The animal, trained to "badger baiting", runs immediately for the hole in the box, enters it, and seizes the occupant thereof. Then begins the excitement.

The owner of the dog follows him to the box, where he urges his "race horse" on, using all kinds of maniacal gesture and noises, the crowd shouting at the same time: presently, if the dog is a match for the badger, he brings him out, when after being choked off, the badger seeks refuge in his coop again. This sport continues till all have tried their dogs, when something else is introduced, generally the bear, a large brown female, which has been in this place over 5 years. Indeed one could easily believe it upon seeing her head. The lower lip is completely torn of, showing a most formidable looking set of "canines" and "incisors," she has no ears, they being literally dragged out some time ago by two powerful Indian Mastiffs, and her head is one mess of scars; indeed, she has so many wounds, and has borne them so well, that they call her "the Old Veteran." When this "star" is needed, an immense chain is fastened to her neck and attached to a staple in the centre of the pit, when the dogs are loosed upon her, two being considered a match in most instances. She receives them in a sitting posture, with her forearms extended, as if boxing; she most always hits one dog with the right paw knocking it across the pit, and then takes the other dog in the left paw, and hugs him, till she is forced to let him loose, by the other opponent, who by this time has recovered, and is making attacks in some other parts of the body. After a tussle of 5 or 10 min. they draw the dogs, and introduce fresh ones, if there are any on hand. I forgot to mention, that nearly all the dogs brough here, are those of persons wishing to "try them", only a few being owned by the proprietor.

These sights are most always finished by "dog fights". Two dogs of about the same weight are loosed upon one another and made to fight, until one runs away, or gets worsted. That is if upon being separated, one does not show willingness to "go in" or "scratch" he is declared the loser of the battle. It is wonderful to see what hatred is exhibited by a dog to his antagonist, and with what fury they will tear each other; and last though not least the science with which one will protect his legs from his opponents grasp. Shifting them first one side then the other, and if necessary turning over to elude the bite. When a dog endeavours to run away, it is called turning, and both dogs are lifter by their "handlers", and carried to opposite corners of the pit, and the one that "turned" must be loosed, and if he refuses to "scratch," (as I said before) he loses the battle. Dogs have been known to crawl on their bellies to reach their antagonist. In a match all these rules are observed more particularly; the dogs are tasted, to see whether there is anything poisonous on them; they must not be over the stipulated weight, etc; but there are regular articles drawn out and signed by the parties making a match which incurs a forfeit, before agreed upon, if the rules are departed from.

The sports for the evening wound up by a match for $10 a side between Mr._______dog Spring and Mr. C____s dog Rattler, to kill 25 rats against time. Mr. C__s dog won in 1 min. and 55 sec. and beating Mr._____dog 15 seconds.

GREENHORN.