ARMITAGE'S BOB vs CURRY'S MAN-O-WAR

This battle was fought at Lexington, Kentucky, on the afternoon of December 12, 1928, for a purse of $2,000.00 and all gate receipts going to the winner. The agreed-upon weight was 38 pounds, and the Police Gazette rules governed the contest. Harry Clark, of Cincinnati, was the stakeholder, and Mike Snyder was selected at pitside to act as referee.

The pit was built in an open field, with the sky as the roof and the north wind as a reminder that it was December. According to the agreement, the fight was scheduled to commence at 2:00 PM, but it didn't start until 4:00 PM. This delay of two hours proved costly to some, who believed that starting on time could have changed the outcome. Darkness fell before the fight ended, and there was no light except for a common oil lantern held by the referee, attempting to serve as a floodlight.

The dogs were washed and taken to their corners, and, at the referee's command, were made ready. At the command of "let go," the dogs clashed powerfully in the center of the pit, and the battle was on. Man-O-War proved difficult to get hold of, continuously grabbing Bob by the lower jaw and holding on. Bob, when given the chance, aimed for the throat and head, occasionally seizing a leg or shoulder. It was a fast and intense battle for an hour and 30 minutes before the pace started to slow.

The freezing Kentucky weather didn't stop Joe Bauldauf from sweating heavily as he bet $100.00 every 30 minutes that Bob would quit before the next half-hour mark. Each time the half-hour passed, Joe doubled down on his bet, unable to understand why Bob hadn't given up. Joe's faith in Bob faltered, while others, including Bob's backers, remained steadfast in their belief that he would fight to the end.

As the match continued, the crowd pressed closer and closer to the pit, eager not to miss a moment. Someone ran across the fields to fetch a lantern from a nearby farmhouse to ensure the dogs could still be seen as darkness settled in. After three hours, a suggestion was made by Curry's side to call the match a draw, and some of Bob's supporters began to agree. However, others insisted the fight continue as long as visibility allowed.

At three hours and 50 minutes into the fight, it was finally agreed to call it a draw. The risk of the crowd trampling the dogs in their eagerness to see the action up close had become too high. Curry and I separated our dogs. I released Bob to see if he would cross toward Man-O-War, and he did, while Man-O-War pulled his head away. I asked Curry to try the same with his dog, but Man-O-War wouldn't respond. This solidified my belief that Bob would have won if the fight had continued to the end.

Curry's dog was in bad shape and passed away at 11:00 that night. We divided the gate receipts, and the crowd left satisfied, saying they'd witnessed a great fight, as neither dog showed any sign of giving up during the contest.

I returned to Cincinnati with Bob, who appeared in good shape. I left him in the care of Harry Clark, one of the best caretakers for ailing dogs. The next day, Bob was up on his feet and moving well, though his jaws were swollen. He lived for five days in this condition. Reports claimed that Bob succumbed to "stomatitis," but I firmly believe he was maliciously poisoned, as there were a few resentful individuals in Cincinnati after the fight. Bob had walked the same route daily, morning and evening, and I am convinced someone left poisoned meat where he could find it.

You can find this story and many others in the book Thirty Years with Fighting Dogs by George C. Armitage, which you can purchase at the following link https://amzn.to/3Ra6g8l

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