Crowing Cocks in Suit Cases

Massachusetts, 1909

Game Birds at Union Station Sound Warning of Coming Battle at Some Secret Rendezvous

Evidently there is going to be a cock fight in the upper part of the state, tonight or tomorrow, as three of the game birds went through here, early this morning. In their passage through the city the three young men. in charge of the fighting cocks, threw a scare into the men in charge of the baggage room at the local station, and incidentally revealed the presence of the hidden birds.

It was shortly after 5:30 this morning, when three young men who had evidently arrived on the 6:20 train, stepped into the baggage room, each armed with a suit case. They placed their cases on the floor and inquired about the departure of trains for Bellows Falls. Upon receipt of the information they left the baggage room without their cases.

After the departure of the men the baggage room resumed its usual quietness at that hour of the morning and the baggage men resumed their work. Suddenly the room resounded with the cries of roosters and the baggage-men looked at each other in surprise. The crowing continued and investigation on the part of the employees traced the sound to the suit cases where it was quickly perceived that each suit case contained a bird. The case was filled with air holes so the roosters had plenty of room. Only for their unexpected noise they would have been undiscovered.

Train time found the young men on hand, the cases were picked up and the trio set forth for the scene of the battle.

—The Fitchburg Sentinel, Fitchburg, MA, Feb. 13, 1909, p. 2.