The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-11-17
A NEW SPORT.
The Training cf Carrier Pigeons and How
IL Ha- Grown.

The keeping and training Of carrier pigeons
is sport which is growing gradually into
popular favor IN this country, aud fine pigeon
lofts have been established in many promi-
nent places in and around Nec York. The
exhibition Of trained homing pigeons at the
American Inst. ute fair last year, ana the ex'
pertinent with the birds in carrying messages
during the international yacht races added
great stimulus 10 this interesting pastlme OF
bird fanciers, ard the pretty winged nessen-
gers have received any amount Of attention
and sympathy since that time That the
sport will be more interesting and popular
with the educated portion Of our people than
the fascinating, yet apparently oarDlrous'
fashion ofshooting pigeons from traps Tor
stakes, Is manifest from the great strides
which the work Of training the birds has
made during the last two years. Many can
not eadurc the sight Of pigeon snooiins
match. but the most sensitive man or woman
would not refuse 10 see pigeon race or a
winged message bearer gong about ~ duty
The birds have been utilized IN various
ways in New York. and private lofts are
SPECIAL features Of the work. Recent expert
ments have shown that n bird may be 50
traiue'l that it will take its food at one sta
ton and water at another, thus flying reg
ularly from one station TO the other once or
twice a dag. Many private letter posts are
established IN this way, connecting CITY
Offices with country homes or factories.
Homng pigeons are used more or les gen
orally in newspaper offices, and they are
destined, IN tine, 70 save reporters AID cor
respondents OF large daiiies the trouble aud
expense Of teiegrapAins on many ot their
items II news. BY having pigeon lots I'D al
II our large cities news could he obtained
easier and by O. more direct route, during
heavy winter storms, than by the present
system Wire, arc often down or Ont ~
working order "a such times. aud quite FREE
qucuuy dispatches reach New York from
Boston by way Of Chicago
The Franco lu,sian war Of 1870 first
brought Inc Lomng pigeon into universal
favor Shut up in Paris by tine enemy, inc
French soldier. had no means Of commune
eating with the outer world until the expcri'
uent OF using homing pigeons a. messengers
was first tried Three hundred and sixty
three birds were sent out OF the bcsleged cry
by means Of sixty-four balloons, fifty seven
] hl WHICH ItkllltA 10 OF - hAAA fff- t'f'
official dispatches and over 100000 private
messages. Such a mass Of matter could only
be carried into the city By the birds through
the aid Of photography. Ordinary print
| covering a space ten feet square, was photo
/ eiaphed 50 as 10 occupy space on delicate
collodon film about the size Of postage
stamp These films were tied 10 the feather
Of the birds and carried back ID the lofts ~
/ Paris By the aid n "a magic lantern they
were easily deciphercd.
This work was another Illustration Of tho
/ old Swing, that Necessity Is the mother Of
! invention for within "a month the pigeon
service FOR war purposes was brought almost
20 perfection. Since then several Of tho
| Eurouean countries have established lofts at
| their military outposts, periecting thd service
annually by constant practice and expes
ucut.
Ia Belgium and portions Of France, pigeon
races might be- said 10 boz the national sport
/ Public trials Of the speed ot the booming
/ pigeons are almost Of daily occurrence, ana
some remarkable records have been made
| For short distances The birds nave averaged
more than mile "a minute. In longer races
the average decrease. a5 the flight az the
bird lessons gradually after the iirsta)l mile
have been covered The bird "Aru0ux
carried O. message from Pensacola, Fla, &c
Newark. Y. j., distance Of 100 miles, m
twenty-six days. while another bird from
Newark returned from Montgomery, Ala, q
| distance Of SEQ miles. 90 four and one quarter
DAYS Other records of longer flights have
been published. bu, these two servo as an cx
eel ext illustration OK tle wonderful powers
and endurance OF the birds
The correct Lomus station amodel Of
perfection iu Itself Everything for the con
veuiencc and comfor, ~ the pigeons is there
and the birds are made TO feel that 10 Is ther
home" When bird returns from RAGS
Dc has 10 ght upon @ trap before entering
iAe loft This ACT operates al mstanianeou.
camera which photographs the bird and
c'oc. 90 the right OF TO- Inepreci.c momcu.
that the bird returns is thus automatically
recorded The Epoch.