Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-07-24
RACERS OF THE SKY.
THE MOST ANCIENT AND MOST
PRINcELV SPORT IN THE WORLD.


Faithfulness That Everyone Should See. ]
Probably the most ancient sport in the |
world Is racing various birds, especially |
falcons and pigeons, in the air. Among
the earliest Scriptures Is the statement
that Noah sent a dove out Of the ark,
which returned with an olive branch in
its beak. This shows that the reliability
Of the homing pigeon, or dove, to return
to its home was known and used by man
in the earliest history of the world. Doves
were used by kings and princes to carry
messages, and also to race, ages ago. 1t
Is surmised that carrier pigeons carried to
the appalled, priests of the Egyptian tenn
pies the first news Of the overwhelming OF
Pharaoh's host in the Red Sea.
Pigeon racing in modern time is
THE NATIONAL SPORT OF HOLLAND,
whence are derived the most perfect
breeds, called Antwerps, or homing
pigeons Great sums Of money are wag-
cred upon their speed. At tho Detroit
International Fair and Exposition (Aug.
90 to Sept. s, inclusive) there will be the
largest show of these beautiful birds ever
collected in America, and several fine
races by champion birds at distances vary
ing from 80 to 400 miles. How these birds
are trained to race Is puzzle to the gen.
sral public. They come to the start with
muscles as hard as steel, plumage glossier
than silk, and looking, all over, like
WINGED ATHLETES,
showing that regular exercise must have
been used to put them into condition. A
horse can be galloped, whether he will or
not, and so harden his muscles and i'm
prove his wind. But how can a bird be
made to fly regularly an hour or two
every days Mr.. George W. Burnham, the
famous indianapolis breeder and trainer,
tells how it is done. He is now training
basket full of birds for the great Exposi-
ton race from Detroit to Indianapolis, 24S
miles. At the Exposition he will exhibit
40 birds, and show and explain all his
methods Of breeding, travelling and train
ing. He says:
"a homing pigeon is one Of the most
| intelligent creatures in the whole animal
kingdom. They train themselves, after
| they once catch on to the idea, which they
| do with wonderful quickness; and they are
as faithful in doing their hour or hour and
q half Of hard exercise every day, all alone
by themselves away up and off In the air,
as horse is with rider and whip to COM
pei him to do his daily miles on the track"
| "But how do you manage it?"
First we select for the race such birds
| as have proved not only fast and strong,
but reliably industrious in preliminary
flights Some birds will loiter as soon as
they get out of sight, or stop and alight in
trees or elsewhere. Such birds are no
good, and are killed off, If they cannot be
broken. After the right birds are selected,
they are locked in separate apartments Of
the loft, away from their mates, and
PUT THROUGH COURSE OF REGULAR DAILY
EXERCISE
of from an hour to an hour and a half
strong fight every day. The loft is divided
off by wire screens, with one general exit
door, permitting only one bird to pass out
or in at a time But the doors of the
apartments can be opened either all to-
gether or each separately by the attendant
pulling cords or wires. The perch at the
main exit door has spring which rings
an electric bell every time bird passes in
or out, and self recorder Of the number
of birds passing. Regularly every morn
ing and afternoon, at exactly the same
hour and minute by the clock, little bell
rings rapidly in the loft for few seconds.
This is the call to exercise. A few min
utes before the time you win see every
bird in training getting restless and
eager. They keep track of the time more
closely than men could in their places
The instant their doors are open they ART
out like shot, and as impatient as pos
sible to get out Of the main door. WheI
the bell rings again and the exit dool
opens they fairly tumble over each othel
trying to see which shall be first to ge
started As each goes out the electric bel
rings and he is recorded. Each flies q
once up into the air and goes to flying hi
hour of exercise all over the surrounding
country as If his life depended upol
| getting somewhere. An attendant watche
outside, and If any bird fingers an instant
or alights anywhere in sight, or return
) before the hour is up, he is
! IMMEDIATELY SHOT AT
j with wad Of paper or other Harmless
. missile from a blow gun and compelled t
take wing. This is rarely necessary, an
bird that shirks in this way few time
Is counted out as no good.
"While the birds are out exerc1sin
: their apartments are cleaned with the u,
8 most nicely, fresh sand and gravel ar
S strewn and the troughs and baths ar
4 filled with fresh food and water At th
i end Of the exercise hour a bell is rune
: Then you should see the birds comet The
), drop down out Of the sky. They come q
:. full speed from far away off out of sigh
y They tumble over each other in the air
0 see which shall get in again first. Th
= door opens and they enter, one by on
}, each being recorded with bell ring.
J, every few days they are
{ TAKEN IN BASKETS OUT FOR TRIAL FLIGHT
r. The first flight may be 20 miles, The ne1
"a fight is Is to 20 miles farther; the next
= miles farther; then 80 or 60 miles farthe
u The time and condition and conduct
10 each bird at their fight is carefully note
le and his treatment corresponds with b
d akaaepls. Out of the trial birds the best a,
ie selected for the final race: The best meaI
y the ones who do the whole distance quic
t.. est. This means the most Industrious ar
e. reliable birds. One may go 20 or 80 mil,
. like shot, but let up on 100 miles, or stt
y, for too much rest on 200 miles or owe
ut Others may not cover 20 miles SO quickl
"a long distance. Each bird has to
p studied by itself. It's the particular bird
10 character that tells in the betting on
race, even more than power and speed.
Character means more than induStY
too. The intelligent bird that never &c
20 lost in fog, that flies high or low to &
:. favorable currents of air, that avoids {
!. the dangers of hawks and of being shot
tx miscreant gunners: the faithful bird th
it. crystal water or nice grain field or al
~ other temptation cannot seduce to lingt
:. and that can be depended upon eve
n time alike; the plucky bird that never q
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