Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-09-11
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rss wstl,,, vses, Mature, ana frs'"'ns'
fpittsburah pispa,ch,i


gan. In Egypt their dcmes'icat'on
goes back as far as 3,o00 years before
Christ, and in coronation scene 0.
Rsmesis III. the King is represented
Is having assumed the crown OF upper
and Loves Egypt, and priest lets ny
four pigeons, commanding them TO
snnouice TO the South, the North the
East. and the West that the son OF
Iris has put on tho splendid douo'e
crown Of the upper and lower coe'-
try" IA.
The Romans at one time had VIC
pigeon craze. Pliny says Of IT. "Mtny
lemons are iucane in their love OF 'sese
iitds.- WhSc ones were the'rge II
they were good flyers. and ifss ,hey
wsie highis priced may bc judged oy
The prices which we're askedfsr them.
There is one instance where good
Price wss offered for fine pair, out
The owrer refused TO ts'ec less than
<CO dcaarii for them, sum equal
in our money to about sos. II was
their eastom to carry pigeons to thea
tres snd when out walking, and throw
them into the air, rivals betting heavily
on whose bird would get home first.
70 become good asd reliable they
mus; be taken from the nest as soon as
they are able TO fly, aud carried short
distance away. probably quarter or
half mile. All those that get nome
quickly are further trained, and the
slow ones are killed. In this way the
, best are preserved. When they find
their way home from short distances
they are taken further and further, I'M
al they cover any distance within the
limit Of power. They can fly ABOUT
thirty miles an hour, but more is some
times claimed. Instances are known
where they have tlown goo miles with
out a rest.
As soon as they are thrown into the
air they 20 to considerable height
and fly around and around until some
familiar landmark is seen, from when
they take their course and start IN
straight line for home. If no we'll
known mark can be seen they are lost,
and often come back TO the starting
nlace. In instances where carriers
were let 20 from balloons and couldnot
find their way, they have returned to
the balloon. as the dove did to Noah
when il could find no place to rest.
il is through no love of flying nor
kecnness Of racing that makes the car
rier return to it's cote, but its love OF
home. IL is this instinct that makes 1t
fy with unti,ing wing for hours and
hours, to rest at last in familiar places
and among friends.
Among the Romans, and the Ash
atics before them, it was the custom to
tie letters aroung the leg or foot. and
many letter from distant friend and
absent father. OF lover. was carried IN
this way. Travellers going from Rome
in olden times, or soldiers departing
for distant wars, frequently carried
pigeons. releasing them at intervals
that they might be the bearers of good
tidincs TO the folks at home. Tying
the message around the neck or wing
had been tired. but both were found to
impede the birds flight. At present,
when they are used, the message Is tied
around the leg, high up, where it does
not interfere at all.
In England and France old writer's
speak Of the frequent use Of these birds,
both for private correspondence as well
as public, especially in time of war,
when cities were besieged and there
were no other available means. At such
times the attacking party kept large
stock of falcons, and it was the duty Of
the salconers to keep a sharp lookout
for carrier-pigeons. As soon as one
would be observed the falcons were let
60. and away they rushed in hot pur-
suit. 1t is described as intensely in
terestiDg to see both pursuer and pur-
sued cleaving the air like arrows; one
flying for his game and the other for his
life. The falcons frequently proved
victorious, and would bring the dead
dove back with information Of great
value.
To circumvent this the besieced some
times let fly five or six birds at time,
which bore no message, and when the
falcons were either engaged with these
or too tired TO ily fast, another bearing
the letter would be let 90, and run the
gauntlet with ease.
During the siege of Paris this was a
very common way of hearing news, and
many were the letters which reached
outside friends and military leaders far
beyond the walls. SharpshooterS were
on the lookout for them continually,
but as n usual thing were of no avail.
Ii was in this way that much news
reached other countries of the condi-
ton within the city. The French. not
wishing to cucumber the pigeons any
more than necessary, in order that they
might enhance the chances of their get
ting through all right, made very small
acknowledgements Of newspapers, let
tiers, and military orders, the entire
budget weighing but few grains.
The only use they are put to at pres
tnt is in flying matches. Birds belong
ing to different owners are kept long
enough in the same dove-cote to con-
oeive an attachment for it, and then
taken long distance away. At this
"pigeon meet" hooks are kept with a
description Of each bird entered and
who 1t is owned by. The owners
name and the exact moment of flight
are stamped quickly upon the vane of
one of the wing or tail-feathers and the
birds sent oil. At the other end of the
"fly" q committee Of judges are sta
toned to record the incomers. 1t is
usually arranged that the entire dis
lance may be travelled in daylight, as
the birds are apt to GO astray il al
lowed to fly by night. Large sums
change hands yearly in England and
France at the pigeon-nys.
BURNED TO DEATH.