CRUEL SPORTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11771, 28 September 1901, Page 2 (Supplement)

CRUEL SPORTS.

The revelations contained in the following article are likely to prove so astounding to those who have not been behind the scenes of what may be termed the world of lowclass sport that it may be as well to remark at starting that every statement can be vouched for. Civilisation has made such progress that we are apt to pride ourselves that the amount of cruelty that takes place in our midst is very small indeed ; it is time, therefore, that we awoke to the fact that there is a class of person styling himself a sportsman who finds his chief delight when he doesn't happen to be in gaol —in subjecting animals to the most excruciating forms of torture imaginable." Chief among the secret illegal "sports" earned on in this country is dog-fighting. That few decentminded people are aware of this circumstance is not surprising, for the " sport" is conducted with the greatest secrecy, the ruffians who participate in it invariably proceeding to the spot appointed for the battle by different routes. This so-called pastime appeals, of course, only to men of the lowest type, yet it has a comparatively large following. There are wretches to-day who actually breed dogs for fighting purposes, the animals concerned being mastiffs, bulldogs, and bull-terriers, whose cars are cropped to render them more secure against attack.

The venue selected for a dog-duel, which is usually fought out to the death, is often a fourth-rate public-house, where a pit is made by removing a portion of the flooring of an attic. The pit is enclosed and the rivals are placed in if. At first they are amiable enough, but being egged on by their respective owners it is not long before the slaughter begins. A timekeeper, watch in hand, stands by and when the time allotted for each round has elapsed the bleeding animals are dragged apart. In the interval the principals try to revive their dogs by blowing on them, and the scoundrelly spectators make bets. Presently the signal is given for the commencement of the second round, and at each bite deafening cheers go up. Thus the fight continues until one of the combatants, charged off its legs, is unable to rise. Very frequently as much as £300 is at stake during one of these encounters, and the reason it is so difficult to put a stop to them is that the parties can seldom be caught red-handed. The rendezvous is surrounded by scouts who, on the approach of the police, pass the word from one to the other so quickly that by the time the authorities have arrived the entire company has dispersed. As a rule, the charge for admission to a dog-fight is sixpence. Another diabolical " sport" is badgerbaiting. A badger is put into a cage to which a large funnel is affixed. A dog -s then driven up the funnel, and if he succeeds in bringing the badger out of the funnel within a given length of time he captures the stakes. Hundreds of Hooligan "sportsmen" attend these badger-baiting contests, and, needless to say, plenty of I Won?!, & betted on the result.