cwilleford.cockfighter-第36部分

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ng　rubs　a　lot　of　high…strung　cockfighters　the　wrong　way；　especially　when　they　are　on　the　receiving　end　of　his　sarcasm。　But　his　reporting　is　conscientious　when　it　es　to　accuracy。　It　takes　a　damned　good　eye　to　catch　fast　action　in　the　pit。　The　following　is　a　tear　sheet　of　his　article　from　The　American　Gamefowl　Quarterly：
　　
　　Red　Heels　At　Plant　City！
　　by　Tex　Higdon
　　
　　Plant　City　Florida；　November　31…If　you're　looking　for　the　results　of　the　Southern　Conference　Plant　City　Derby；　held　November　30th；　you'd　better　look　elsewhere　in　these　pages。　This　Texan　is　reporting　the　Main　between　the　two　master　cockers；　Jack　Burke　and　silent　Frank　Mansfield。　By　the　way；　folks；　Frank　has　gone　out　and　got　himself　a　partner　after　all　these　years；　a　New　York　country　boy　with　the　worst　looking　black　beard　your　reporter　has　seen　in　a　month　of　Sundays。　It's　a　good　thing　Frank　don't　talk　anymore。　His　new　sidekick；　Omar　Baradinsky；　does　enough　talking　for　three　cockfighters！
　　The　Main　was　a　real　old…fashioned…type　event；　well　worth　staying　over　for　in　Plant　City　another　day。　I　wish　we　had　more　mains　like　this　one；　or　at　least　more　mains。　This　is　an　old　cockpit；　but　there's　plenty　of　room　for　three　hundred　people。　The　main　pit　is　below　ground；　the　way　they　ought　to　be；　there　are　plenty　of　cockhouses；　and　clean　latrines　for　visitors；　plus　a　drag　pit　that's　better　than　most　regular　pits　I've　seen　at　supposedly　high…class　game　clubs。　Pit　operator…referee　Tom　Doyle　sells　toasted　cheese　sandwiches　for　a　dollar　apiece；　and　that's　an　outrage；　but　as　long　as　people　buy　them；　he'll　probably　keep　the　same　price。　Next　time　I　visit　Plant　City；　this　Texas　boy　will　bring　his　own　lunch！
　　Referee　Tom　Doyle　announced　right　off：　〃If　you　people　violate　our　rules；　have　yourself　a　few　too　many　drinks　and　get　tough；　you're　just　right　for　me　to　handle！〃　Tom　Doyle　is　big　enough　for　the　crowd　to　believe　him。　They　were　downright　cowed；　and　hip　pints　were　well　hidden。
　　There　were　three　checkweights；　5：00；　6：05；　and　shake；　as　set　up　by　Jack　Burke。　Frank　won　the　toss　and　decided　to　fight　from　bottom　weights　up。　Twenty…six　cocks　were　shown　by　both　cockers　and　thirteen　fell　in。
　　No。　One。　Both　show　5：00　cocks；　Burke　a　Brady　Roundhead；　Mansfield　an　Allen　Roundhead。　Frank　broke　through　early　and　then　slowed　up　about　the　12th　pitting。　He　was　blinded　in　the　20th　right　after　they　went　to　breast　on　the　time　call。　The　Brady　was　a　hardhead　that　kept　trying；　took　plenty　of　punishment；　and　broke　counts　as　fast　as　the　Allen　Roundhead　took　them。　In　the　48th　pitting　Jack　Burke　won　with　a　down　cock　that　got　the　count　and　kept　it　while　his　opponent　breathed　gently　down　his　neck　but　quit　pecking。
　　No。　Two。　Burke　a　5：01　Claret　cross；　Mansfield　a　5：02　Mellhorn　Black。　This　was　a　bang…up　1st　pitting；　followed　by　a　dozen　dirty　buckles　in　the　2nd。　Frank　had　the　best　cutter；　and　in　the　18th　Jack　stayed　put　on　his　score。　When　they　went　to　breast　in　the　25th　the　Mellhorn　Black　kicked　like　a　taxpayer　and　won　in　the　30th　when　Burke　carried　his　bird　out。
　　No。　Three。　Burke　showed　an　Alabama　Pumpkin　（if　I　ever　saw　one）　bred　by　his　brother　Freddy　in　Vero　Beach。　5：08。　Mansfield　a　Middleton　Gray；　5：06。　Frank　had　a　great　shuffler　that　wasn't　even　touched。　He　was　over　the　Burke　chicken　in　the　1st　pitting　like　a　short…circuited　electric　blanket；　uncoupled　him　in　the　2nd；　and　won　in　the　5th　when　Burke　carried　out　a　dead　one。　This　made　the　Gray　a　five…time　winner；　according　to　Mr。　Baradinsky…who　made　a　special　trip　to　the　press　box　to　relieve　me　of　fifty　dollars…　and　I　could　very　well　believe　it。
　　No。　Four。　Burke　showed　a　5：08　Blackwell　Roundhead；　Mansfield　a　5：07　Claret。　This　was　the　most　even　and　best　match　so　far。　The　two　cocks　mixed　like　sand　and　cement　every　time　they　met　until　the　10th　when　Burke　got　tired。　The　Roundhead　was　down　on　his　score　in　the　18th；　and　taken　out　in　the　19th　unable　to　face。
　　No。　Five。　Burke　a　Blue…Spangle　cross；　Mansfield　a　green…legged　Allen　Roundhead　with　the　widest　wingspread　I've　seen　outside　of　Texas。　Both　scaled　5：09。　Two　ring…wise　roosters　met　in　this　battle　and　it　was　truly　the　best　fight　of　the　whole　Main。　Mansfield　rattled　in　the　6th　and　then　came　back　strong　after　I　don't　know　how　many　changed　bets。　Burke　was　killed　in　the　19th　after　the　Rouudhead　regained　vigor　and　shuffled　all　over　the　Cross　a　dozen　times。　Folks；　there　was　money　lost　on　this　fight！
　　No。　Six。　Both　showed　5：10　cocks。　Burke　a　Tulsa　Red　and　Mansfield　a　Claret　cross。　The　light…footed　Tulsa　Red　was　truly　a　great　cutter　that　uncoupled　the　Claret　in　the　2nd　pitting。　Frank　carried　him　out　in　the　3rd。
　　No。　Seven。　Both　showed　5：12　cocks。　Burke　an　O'Neal　Red；　Mansfield　a　low…stationed　Melihorn　Black。　Jack　was　rattled　in　the　3rd　and　down　on　his　score　in　the　14th。　The　Mellhorn　Black　who　spiked　the　steel　with　unerring　accuracy　in　every　pitting　won　for　Frank　in　the　20th。
　　No。　Eight。　Both　showed　5：13　cocks。　Burke　a　Butcher　Boy　and　Frank　an　Allen　Roundhead。　The　steel　was　tossed　from　every　angle　in　the　1st　and　2nd　pittings　as　sudden　squalls　hit　Middle　Florida。　The　Butcher　Boy　weakened　in　the　3rd　but　grew　stronger　in　the　7th　and　hurt　the　Roundhead　in　the　next　two　pittings。　In　the　9th　the　Roundhead　slowed　and　the　Butcher　Boy　put　him　out　of　the　running。　Frank　carried　him　out　after　the　10th。
　　No。　Nine。　Both　showed　5：14　cocks。　Burke　a　battlewise　Whitehackle；　Mansfield　a　fine…colored　Claret。　Frank　was　smiling　all　over　the　place　up　to　the　8th　pitting　when　the　Whitehackle　got　down　to　business　and　changed　his　smile　to　a　frown。　His　Claret　was　counted　out　in　the　12th。
　　No。　Ten。　Both　showed　six…pounders。　Mansfield　a　side…stepping　Mellhorn　Black　that　skipped　constantly　to　the　right；　and　Burke　a　black…and…white　Spangle。　The　Black　broke　the　Spangle's　leg　in　the　3rd　and　Burke　carried　his　cock　out。　Frank　had　a　real　Ace　here；　and　his　way　of　fighting　bewildered　the　Spangle。　This　was　the　sidestepper's　fourth　win　this　season。
　　No。　Eleven。　Two　more　six…pound　cocks；　Burke　with　an　Ace　Kansas　Cutter；　and　Mansfield　with　a　three…year…old　Alabama…walked　Claret。　The　Kansas　chicken　hung　every　time　he　got　close　to　the　Claret；　and　Frank　had　to　take　him　out　in　the　9th。
　　No。　Twelve。　Burke　showed　a　6：02　Sawyers　Roundhead　and　Mansfield　gave　hint　two　ounces　with　the　Claret　he　showed。　These　cocks　came　out　with　plenty　of　gas；　and　buckled　hard　for　the　first　five　pittings。　An　even　match；　one　in　and　then　the　other。　Mansfield　was　cut　down　on　his　score　in　the　13th。　A　few　fast　shuffles　by　the　Sawyers　Roundhead　and　the　bloodsodden　Claret　was　carried　out　helpless。
　　The　score　was　tied　six　to　six！
　　Odd　fight。　Shakes。　No　weights　were　given；　of　course。　Burke　looked　determined　to　win　the　odd　fight　when　he　showed　an　enormous　Shawlneck。　My　educated　guess　gave　the　Shawlneck　at　least　ten　ounces　over　Mansfield's　oversized　Roundhead。　But　Jack　needed　more　than　weight。　In　Frank's　hands　the　Roundhead　showed　a　furious　style　of　fighting　that　befuddled　the　heavier　bird。　Burke　was　down　in　the　18th　with　a　broken　leg　and　Frank　won　in　the　23rd。
　　But　there　was　an　even　better　fight　to　e！
　　As　Jack　Burke；　great　sportsman　that　he　is；　was　counting　out　the　greenbacks　into　Frank's　eager　hand；　Mrs。　Dody　Burke；　Jack's　beauteous　young　bride；　decided　to　put　on　a　hack　of　her　own！　Weighing　approximately　125　pounds；　and　armed　with　red　shoes　（with　three…inch　heels）；　she　flew　across　the　pit　and　gaffed　silent　Frank　in　the　shins。　She　also　tried　a　right…cross　to　Frank's　jaw　with　a　free…swinging　red　leather　purse；　but　was　blocked　by　her　handler；　Jack　Burke；　and　carried　out　of　the　pit　screaming。　A　fine　ending　to　a　fine　main！　We　wonder　what　kind　of　conditioning　Mr。　Burke　is　giving　his　new　bride？
　　
　　
　　
　　14
　　
　　When　the　pressure's　on；　a　promoter's　got　to　do　the　best　he　can；〃　Fred　Reed　said　petulantly　for　the　fourth　time　during　his　sales　talk。　He　ought　to　make　a　recording；　I　thought　to　myself。
　　Fred　Reed　had　done　the　best　he　could　all　right；　but　I　didn't　like　the　setup；　not　any　part　of　it。　Including　Mr。　Reed；　there　were　nine　of　us　sitting　around　in　the　plush　pink…andwhite　bridal　suite　of　the　new　Southerner　Hotel　in　Chattanooga。　Johnny　Norris；　Roy　Whipple；　Omar　and　myself　were　all　Southern　Conference　regulars；　but　the　other　entries　were　not；　although　they　had　paid　their　fees　for　the　Chattanooga　derby。
　　Except　for　promoter　Fred　Reed；　who　wore　a　suit　and　necktie；　the　rest　of　us　were　either　in　sports　clothes　or　blue　jeans；　and　we　looked　as　out　of　place　in　the　mid…Victorian　decor　of　the　bridal　suite　as　a　honeymoon　couple　would　have　looked　bedded　down　in　a　cockpit。　My　picturesque　partner；　with　his　wild　beard　and　bib　overalls；　sat　uneasily　on　a　fragile　gilded　chair　by　the　door　to　the　bathroom。　I　was　sharing　a　blue　velvet　love　seat　with　Old　Man　Whipple；　a　gray…stubbled　cockfighter　from　North　Carolina　whose　odor　would　have　been　improved　by　a　couple　of　quick　runs　through　a　sheep…dip。
　　Mr。　Reed　wiped　his　sweaty　brow　with　a　white　linen　handkerchief　and　continued：　〃Boys；　when　the　S。P。C。A。　really　puts　their　foot　down；　the　sheriff　has　to　go　along　with　'em；　that's　all　there　is　to　it！
　　〃Elections　are　ing　up；　and　I　just　couldn't　pay　nobody　off。　But　I　did　get　to　the　city　officials　and　we　can　stage　the　derby　right　here　in　this　suite　without　interference。　I　know　you　men　have　all　fought　cocks　in　hotel　rooms　before；　but　you've　never　had　a　better　one　than　this！　Just　take　a　look　at　this　wonderful　floor。〃　Mr。　Reed　bent　down　with　a　broad　smile　on　his　face　and　rubbed　the　blue　nylon　carpet　with　his　fingers。　〃Why；　a　carpet　like　this　makes　a　perfect　pit　flooring　for　chickens！　And　don't　worry　about　damages。　The　manager　has　been　tipped　plenty；　and　I　promised　him　I'd　pay　any　cleaning　charges　on　the　carpets。　You've　all　got　reserved　rooms　on　this　floor；　and　we've　got　the　exclusive　use　of　the　service　elevator　to　bring　the　cocks　straight　up　from　the　basement　garage。
　　〃Frankly；　boys；　I　think　the　Chattanooga　derby　is　better　off　here　than　it　is　at　my　pit　outside　of　town。　There　won't　be　as　many　spectators　because　of　the　space　limitations；　but　I've　invited　some　big　money　men；　and　you'll　be　able　to　place　bets　as　high　as　you　want　to　on　your　birds。〃
　　Old　Roy　Whipple；　sitting　beside　me　on　the　love　seat；　spat　a　stream　of　black　tobacco　juice　onto　the　n