T H E S I N S O F N E W Y O R K
As "Exposed" by the Police Gazette
By: Edward Van Emery
P A R T I I
THE RICHARD K. FOX GAZETTE (1876)
Chapter 6
Crib Dies Like A Dog
How Pilot, the New York Brindle, Won the American Championship
DOG-FIGHTING: A SPORT
If only to point the refining influences of the years, it seems worth while
that we should take note of how the now almost extinct pastime of the
sporting gentleman, dog-fighting, was elevated in 1881 over the rude days
when Kit Burns had his rat and dog-fighting pit doing a flourishing business
at 273 Water Street, where his house of prostitution was merely incidental
to an evening's entertainment. It was here through the Sixties and Seventies
that the rough characters who made up the denizens of the streets along the
lower East River water-front took their diversion in watching rats the size
of well-grown kittens, which had been captured from the nearby wharfs, in
revolting contests with terrier dogs, and on special occasions, could wager
on their favorite when the terriers had been pitted. There were many such
places through the city of New York, and we merely mention Sportsmen's Hall
(or Bandbox, as it was sometimes called), of which Kit Burns was the
proprietor, because it happened to be the most noted.
Of course, the gentleman sport had his fighting dogs and his fighting cocks
well back in the last century and even earlier in this country but as a rule
dog-fighting was rated an entertainment for the more debased element. Such
contests are still being waged occasionally on the quiet in the vicinity of
Greater New York. As a sports editor of a prominent metropolitan daily I
have refused in recent years more than one special invitation to attend such
matches. But in 1881, when the white brindle, Pilot, worried Crib, until
there was no more life to shake out of his canine foe's body, thereby
winning the American championship, this was an interstate contest for a
stake of $2,000. which had an international tinge, was conducted with an
extreme of ethics in its way, and was an occasion graced by not a few of the
most prominent and respected among sporting personages. This was nothing
short of dog-fighting deluxe. The challenge was officially filed through
the National Police Gazette; its proprietor, Richard K. Fox, whose paper
gave attention to both blue-ribbon and fighting dogs, proudly accepted the
office of stakeholder; and he specially delegated his editor of sports,
William E. Harding, to the important post of referee.
Louis Kreiger, of Louisville, had challenged the world on behalf of Crib, an
imported dog, to what was described as a "fair-scratch-in-turn" match for
$1,000 a side. "Cockney Charley" Lloyd, of New York, took up the challenge
published in the Gazette and backed his fighting dog, Pilot, an American
animal. The preliminaries of the contest were quickly consummated, but it
took some time before Pittsburg, Kentucky, was finally announced as the
battle site. It was in this state, Kentucky, that professional fistic
contests were long outlawed, and from Louisville that a certain well-known
New York journalist brought a once very popular story when he returned from
one of the very first bare-knuckle fights privately staged there, which
non-parlor story is worth setting down for its significance in driving home
the contrast in viewpoints.
It seems that, after the prize fight in question, this gentleman of the
press was one of a New York delegation who proceeded to round out the
evening by getting intoxicated and visiting the sporting houses of the city.
At the final stop the newspaper representative got himself quite interested
in one of the inmates and in the course of conversation his companion wanted
to know what he was doing in her town. He volunteered the information that
he had come on for the prize fight.
"Do you know," she answered, regretfully, "that I was fair crazy to see that
fight. But my man, my man he says, that a prize fight ain't no place for a
lady."
For the dog-fighting match between Pilot and Crib, some of the best-known
sporting lights from New York, Chicago, St. Louis, Cincinnati, New Orleans
and many other leading cities journeyed to Louisville, which was in close
proximity to the scene of contest. Considerable sums of money were wagered
on the outcome all over the country. The Ohio and Mississippi Railroad
issued special excursion tickets to the fight, and the sporting delegation
was met at the Louisville Hotel by Alderman Gifford, president of the
Louisville Board of Aldermen, and by Chief of Police Adam Bly and other
notables of the city.
ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN DOG OWNERS
Police Gazette Office
New York, Sept. 1, 1881
Articles of Agreement entered into this first day of September, A.D. 1881,
between Louis Kreiger, of Louisville, Ky., and Charles Lloyd, of New York:
The said Charles Lloyd, of New York, hereby agrees to fight his brindle and
white dog Pilot, ears cut and tail on, against Louis Kreiger's, of
Louisville, white dog Crib, ears cut and tail on, at 28 pounds weight for
one thousand dollars ($1,000) a side: The said fight to take place on the
19th day of October, A.D. 1881, at or within a point of seven miles of
Pittsburg, Ky. The stakeholder or the referee to name the place of fighting.
The dogs to be weighed at 7 o'clock a.m. on the day of fighting, and to
fight between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., Richard K. Fox to be final stakeholder and
to select the referee. The deposits to be made with Richard K. Fox, of the
Police Gazette, the final stakeholder, viz: The first deposit of five
hundred dollars ($500) a side on September 5, 1881, and the final deposit of
five hundred dollars ($500) a side to be posted with Richard K. Fox, or his
representative, on the 19th day of October, 1881, and on the day and place
of fighting, Louis Kreiger to deposit five hundred dollars ($500) to Charles
Lloyd's four hundred dollars ($400), there being an allowance of one hundred
dollars ($100) for Lloyd's expenses to and from Pittsburg, Ky.' thus Louis
Kreiger wagers one thousand ($1,000) to Charles Lloyd's nine hundred
dollars ($900).
The said Charles Lloyd and the said Louis Krieger do hereby agree that
should the authorities in any way interfere or try to stop or prevent the
said battle, that the referee shall have full power to name the next time
and place of fighting. It is also agreed that the referee shall insist on
the dogs being again weighed, and the said weighing shall be within thirty
minutes before the time named by the referee for the fight to be decided.
Should there be any after interference the dogs shall again be weighed day
after day, and neither will be allowed to exceed 28 pounds in weight.
It is further agreed that the handlers shall each taste the other's dog and
sponge them with wet sponge. The sponge used shall then be squeezed into
each other's dog's mouth in order to prove there is no poison or pernicious
drugs placed on them. After the dogs have been tasted neither of the sponges
must be changed.
In pursuance of this agreement the said Charles Lloyd and the said Louis
Kreiger do hereby agree to comply with the rules embodied in this agreement
or forfeit the money now deposited with the stakeholder. It is also agreed
that the battle shall be fought according tot he Police Gazette's revised
rules of dog-fighting.
MANY COME TO WATCH THE DOG-FIGHT
Five a.m. on the morning of the contest, the roads leading to the
battle-ground were crowded with vehicles of every description. Kreiger had
Crib in a buggy, and Pilot was conveyed in a closed carriage. At 6:30 the
party arrived at Garr's farm, six miles from Louisville, Six miles out of
this pike was a rough-looking old barn, which the writer tells us "was as
illy fitted up for a dog-fight as it would have been for a high-toned
wedding." A pit thirteen by sixteen feet was erected in one end of the barn,
and in this dilapidated old building the crowd was quickly wedged. Harding,
the referee, however, was not satisfied with the conditions of the building
interior, and every one was forced to outside while the barn was cleaned up.
Whether it would have then been fit for a "high-toned wedding" is not known,
but Mr. Harding finally adjudged it suitable for the dog-fight. Before the
would-be spectators were allowed to return "Cockney Charley,' who didn't
propose to lose a cent," said that everybody would have to pay a dollar to
get in and see the fight. Some did, but not a few climbed in through holes
in the sides of the building.
It was around 7:15 when the dogs were weighed in. Pilot scaled twenty-seven
and three-quarters pounds, being one-quarter of a pound heavier than Crib.
Betting was "pretty lively even up" as the referee tossed up a silver, or
what the report describes as a trade dollar, for choice of corners and
washing. Kreiger won the toss and decided Pilot should be washed first. In
Garr's farmhouse everything was ready for the washing. In the kitchen, in
which were Mrs. Garr's two daughters and a baby, the washing was done in the
presence of the referee. Pilot was placed in a tub of warm water and washed
thoroughly, he was then washed in warm milk, and Kreiger tasted him to see
if there had been any red pepper placed upon him. Pilot was then dried with
towels which had been examined by the referee and then put in blankets.
Crib was then "put through the same course of sprouts." And now the dogs
were brought to the pit, which, we are given to understand, was surrounded
by some of the most important men of Louisville.
CROWD EXCITEMENT AND THE FIGHT BEGINS
Intense excitement prevailed when the dogs were placed in the pit. Chief of
the Louisville Fire Department Hughes announced the desire of the referee
that both handlers be searched. The handlers searched each other's clothes
thoroughly, being solicitous that nothing was concealed that might cause
injury to the opposing dog. When this ceremony was gone through with, the
word was given at 9:20 to let go the dogs. Their blankets and muzzles were
speedily removed and the dogs set at liberty. But let Mr. Harding tell the
story in the words he reported in the paper of which he was the sports
editor:
Both uttered low growls, and then, with one savage bound, Crib sprang to
Pilot's corner and attacked his antagonist. He caught Pilot by the nose, but
the brindle dog shook him off and grasped him by the right leg. Pilot
loosened his hold upon Crib's leg to get a better one upon his throat. Crib
succeeded in freeing himself, and once more caught Pilot by the nose, only
to loosen it almost instantly and seize Pilot by the back of the neck and
ear, throwing him down. While down Pilot got Crib by the breast and had a
terrible hold, but being unable to retain his hold to any good advantage,
let go and grasped Crib by the left ear. Then in turn Pilot loosened the
ear-hold and got Crib's left front leg between his molars. As he pressed his
jaws together the bones in Crib's leg fairly cracked. This terrible
punishment seemed only to enrage the Louisville dog the more, for with one
great effort he threw Pilot five times in succession with the ear hold. Crib
again seized Pilot by the nose, which, by the way, seemed to be his favorite
hold, and once more downed the New York dog. As quick as a flash he let go
Pilot's nose and went to chewing Pilot's front leg. With the fighting that
Crib was now doing the Louisville people thought him a sure winner of the
fight.
But it now came Pilot's turn to do some fighting, and the manner in which he
viciously chewed Crib's left leg was terrible to behold. Crib, with a growl,
broke loose only to be caught again in the same way. With another effort
Crib once more gained his freedom, and for fully five minutes the dogs
fought with ear-holds, until finally Pilot downed Crib and while holding him
by the ear, bumped his head on the floor of the pit. Crib secured a hold on
Pilot's throat, and although only fighting on three legs, succeeded in
throwing his antagonist. This seemed to incense Pilot, for he threw Crib
with a throat-hold and again with a hind-leg-hold. Crib returned with a
leg-hold on Pilot, and then a bet of $100 was made that Crib would win the
fight. The bet was promptly taken by "Cockney Charley," the owner of Pilot.
CRIB IS DOWN, PILOT THE CONQUEROR
The fight had now lasted forty-two minutes. Crib succeeded in getting from
under his adversary, but the poor critter's gameness was gone. He turned to
the side of the pit and was in the act of leaping out when he was grabbed by
the brindle dog and dragged back into the field of battle. Crib was a
whipped dog at this moment, but Pilot, not content with the victory already
achieved, determined to kill his antagonist while the opportunity of so
doing was at his command. Crib once more turned to the side of the pit, and
this time succeeded in getting outside, followed by Pilot, who seized the
Louisville pet by the under jaw and, clinging on to him, refused to loosen
his hold, necessitating the picking up of the dogs together and placing them
again in the pit. Pilot threw Crib in the corner with an ear-hold and held
him there. Kreiger fanned Crib vigorously with his hat, but did the dog no
good, for he was fast failing. From this time on Pilot did nothing but
endeavor to shake the little life out of Crib that still remained.
The fight lasted exactly one hour and twenty-five minutes.
Just as the winning party reached the depot to make their departure for New
York, up dashed Kreiger and said to "Cockney Charley" Lloyd:
"I told you I would stand treat if I lost, and I'm here to keep my word."
And he kept his word. No getting away from it, the Louisville gentleman was
a thorough sport. He amply proved this when he permitted his nearly dead dog
to be dragged back into the pit by the conquering Pilot.
Sins of New York
As "Exposed" by the Police Gazette
By Edward Van Every
Publisher: Frederick A. Stokes Company--New York
Copyright: 1930 3 Printings October 15, October 23 and October 30.
Prepared and Transcribed Exclusively for the Brooklyn Pages, by Miriam Medina
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