1914-07-25tt

It was a secret gathering, and invitations to it went out as far as Buffalo.

The location was on Hamilton Mountain, where, in the summer of 1914, one did not have to go very far south of the edge of the escarpment to leave the residential district and be out in the country.

A reporter for the Hamilton Times got wind of the event and described it in such a colorful and humorous way that his column bears repeating in full:

“Private theatricals have become quite the thing on the mountain.

“On Saturday, a comedy affair was offered for approval by a select male cast of prominent men from Hamilton and Buffalo, the contingent from the Bson City arriving here on the 3:15 express.

“The comedy was good and the dramatic touches were intense and very realistic.

“The scene was laid just three miles back from the mountain brow, in a dark and lonely looking barn, situated far enough from the road to be hidden from the prying eyes of the curious.

“As the curtain ascended on the first act, the audience, had there been one, would have been impressed by the desolation of the scene, everything shrouded in darkness. Then with a terrible suddenness a distant clock chimed twelve times. Hardly had the last stroke died away on the breeze before the figure of a man was seen to slink from behind a tree, casting apprehensive glances over his shoulder.

“Rapping thirty-eight and a half times on the barn, many chains were unslung, and the seemingly desperate character allowed to enter, not, however, before he had given the password, “Mullhuchiekakl!.”

“Soon another figure appeared, followed in close succession by twenty others. Then all was quiet again.

“The scene then changed in this act: a glimpse was given into the barn. One wondered what sort of ritual these twenty-odd men were going through. Thoughts instantly turned to a suicide club – but thoughts are sometimes deceptive.

“Crates from which emanated eerie sounds, stood along the wall. Two had been broken open.

“The men had formed in a ring, and each was wildly shouting and waving on high handfuls of greenbacks. One would shout, “A hundred on the red!” and “I’ll take you!” would come back at once.

“During a lull, the circle parted, and the invisible audience had a glimpse of the center of the ring. Immediately they were filled with a wild longing to join the motley crowd.

“In full view, two splendid cocks were having a battle royal. Both birds were in perfect form, and spurs clashed with a resounding click. At times they sparred like prize boxers, making scientific passes that were wonderful to behold. Just as everything was at its height, the curtain descended, but only for a second, to go up again with the fight still on.

“The Pila was beginning to feel the weight and reeled from side to side, and the betting increased, when suddenly a loud pounding was heard on the door and a stentorian voice demanded that it be opened in the name of the law.

“Faces became pale in the yellow glare of the lanterns. The cocks were forgotten; self-preservation first. Some crawled under a heap of straw in the corner, other scaled a ladder to the mow above, while the rest fought and swore for the privilege of a high dive out of the window.

“But these could not flee very far, for the searchlight played on their flying legs, and a command from the darkness tersely ordered them to halt and put their hands up was quickly obeyed.

“Marched back to the barn, one was made to go in and open the door; then the others were ordered out and made to stand in a dejected group with their backs to their captors.

“ A sigh passed over the audience as the curtain descended. The play seemed to be over, and critics wondered where the comedy came in.

“Some refused to stay, but those who did were surprised when the curtain went up again to see a vast change.

“The scene was the same but the prisoners were shaking hands and laughing with their captors, giving the impression that the law had again been turned from its course.

However, it turned out that the law was not really there at all. The pseudo cops turned out to be a disgruntled number of Hamiltonians who had not received an invitation to join the company and had arranged to give their friends a little scare.

“In a few minutes eight kegs were triumphantly borne on high. Bungs were started, tin cups brought into requisition, then two other birds were set loose on the floor, the others having kept up the good work while mere man was in trouble, and both lay dead.

“Who was the conqueror almost caused a scrap, but the mellow influence of the kegged article got in its work and all went serene until the east took on a rosy hue, the audience and actors making a hasty retreat for the city.

“Unlike the stage money that was carelessly passed about in a recent production, “Ready Money,” the bills that changed hands on Saturday night amounted to over $6,000.”¹

¹“Here’s a Tip for the Police : Rare Old Cock Fight Staged Near Hamilton Saturday Night: Friends Pulled Off Alleged Raid; Then Joined the Fun.”

Hamilton Times.  July 25, 1914