The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-01-08
CARRIER PIGEONS.
Their wonderful Speed and Accuracy
The Pigeons Enemy, the Hawk
Anppdofea.

Anecdotes.
Havre Cor. of Che Boston Commercial Bulletin.
trust yol will not deem me nighty If take
up the subject of carrier pigeons but as this
fancy is now attracting some attention in
Europe, have thought it would be interesting
TO say a few words on this matter, which has
been brought to my special attention by the
sending of nearly 1000 OF these rds from here
last Sunday. The pigeons were sent by rail
from Brussels slowed away in square baskets,
containing each about thirty birds. All ar
rived in safety, but in some Rhat dirty coudt
tion. For three days they were kept
on view at the Marine exhibition, aud
at nine o'clock on Sunday morning, with
one grand hutter, they sailed off for tier desti
nation. Tue start had but momentary interest,
for sweeping wildly up into the strong currents
of southerly and auLumnai gale, they were
soon lost TO sight. Scarce three minutes elapsed
after opening the cages before not a pigeon was
seen. Subsequently learned that about fifty,
who were Overpowered by the gale, or who did
not know their way, lit on the house Of the
Consul here, and at Rouele lot also alp ted.
AS it was, the leaders of the racers did not
arrive at Brussels until after O'Clock in the
afternoon, whereas, If they had made their
usual time, they should have been in at few
minutes past l o'clocS. Tue carriers belong to
Belgian societies, who make specially of car
rier training more for pastme than profit.
Carriers can and do often attain a speed of
one hundred and twenty miles an hour, aud
when well trained never lail to make straight
course unless driven of by a hawk, when they
are sometimes SO confused as to lose their way,
and it may be days before they find 1t. SIR
John Ross the Arctic explorer, despatched a
pair OF young pigeons on the 9th or 7th of
October, 1850, tIom Assistance Bay, a little to
the west OF Wellington Sound, and on the 18Th
OF Oci ober pigeon made his appearance at the
dove.cote in Ayrshire, Scotland from whence
Sir John had taken them. The distance
between the two places is about 1000 miles.
The doye.cote was under repair at this time
and the pigeons belonging to it had been re-.
moved, but the servants of the house were
struck with the appearance of the stranger
After short stay it went to the pigeon house
of a neghboriug proprietor, where it was
caught and sent back to the lady who originally
owned it. She at once recognized it as one of
those she had originally gwen to Sir John
Ross; but TO put the matter to a test, it was
carried TO the pigeon house, when out Of the
many inches 1t directly went to the one in
when il had been hatched.
am well acquainted with a gentleman, a
resident of Connecticut, who was noted for the
fine brood OF carriers he kept. negro servant
in his employ sold one OF his flock to gentle
man who resided in Canada. The Transaction
was unknown TO the proprietor. One day he
noticed bis pet bird resting on the gable of the
barn, and felt assured that it had performed
more than an ordinary journey, but the servants
could not explain 10 him anything satisfactory.
few days afterwards he received letter IRON
the Canada gentleman, which stated that he
! had paid $t5 to the other geutleman's servant
for carrier pigeon whicn had flown; and,
supposing that be would return home, he wrote,
asking him to forward the bird by the first
opportunity.
few months afterwards another of the flock
carried in safety to Albany, where, when
thought TO be sufficiently weaned and domest-
Gated, it was let out into one of the rooms of
Stan wix Hall. CHANGING to open window, the
bird took advantage and started for its old
home in Connecticut, where 1t arrived in a few
hours. The purchaser, having become very
much attached to the Bird wrote tor 1t, aud in
this manner the facts were ascertained, as |
have related them.
During Weoster's time and on the occasion
of one of his great speeches in Boston, some of
10
your city to bring home the speech. As soon
as delivered aud prepared it was attached to the
bird, and he was started. Unfortunately he
encountered hawk, and after deal of
manmuVripg, he succeeded III eludtng his pur-
suer, and tired, exhausted, and having lost his
Way he settled in the BARNARD of Judge -
who, attracted by the parcel he had on his legs,
caught him, and after reading the speech,
scarce delivered two hours, he took the bird to
Bridgeport, and sent the speech forward to Its
Before the day OF telegraphs, the carrier
pigeon was somewhat extensively used by the
enierprising newspapers. If am not mistaken,
and Enquirer, and the Herald relied upon them
for the transmission Of certain kinds of ne VS..
Except by the meeting of hawks, they seldom,
If ever, fail to 90 straight TO their destination.
Naturaists have always been puzzled to
account for the peculiar powers which enable
this bird to find its way home from immense
distances. The majority seem to agree that it is
enabled 10 do SO manly by its strength of vision
The generally ACCEPTED theory IS that at home
the pigeons are accustomed so mount to a very
great height, and 10 perform at lofty elevation
circles constantly increasing in diameter; that
when let loose at a moderate distance, say
hundred miles from home, they mount as usual
and with tar-reachlng glance recognize some
object which they have been accustomed TO see
in their home journeys this object is a sulli
Client guide, and the birds instantly shape their
course for it. 1he attachment of the carrier
pigeon 10 its birthplace Is well understood and
TO this, in conjunction with its wonderful
strength OF vision, must be attributed the Ger.
tainty of its fight homewafd When desired to
perform longer Journeys, so long that gIim pse
of familiar landmarks is out OF the question,
they must be carefully trained, and made ac-
quaInted with at least part OF the route which
they have TO pass over.
The carrier pigeon Is known by large wart
like excrescence under each eye, which in.
CTeases III size as 1T grows older. At certain
age these must be pared down, or the brC
cannot see directly anead. In color they are
blue. true-blooded carrier pigeon should no
have single white Gather about him.
have heard some talk of training pigeons fo
the Transmission OF naval messages, so tha
In the event OF war, ships Off the coast wou
have ready aud almost sure communication
with the shore. Hence tor eXa npe, Il cruise
on our coast could have pigeons trained 70
Washington for the Navy Department deS
patches, others for Boston, New York, Phila
delpnia, and Hampton Roads, and by thi
means the of shore squadron or cruiser coul
give timely notice OF the approach of an enemy
or send for TeintoIcements or ala i'll one
huDdredth OF the time it would take If tn
vessel herself was obliged to go in.
They might be great auxiliary TO our passeT
ger steamers, and, IN the event OF an acclden
a how readily the news might be sent and tn
location pointed out, so that succor could
sent quickly and 10 the exact spot! 1t
certainly practicable, and by no means costll