The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-09
IT'S THE BELGIANS HOBBY.
BTG MONEY PRIZES OFFERED nj THE
KING and OTHERS FOR PIGEON FLYING.

BIG MONEY PRIZES OFFERED NJ THE
KING IND OTHERS FOR PlGEOS FLYING.
over Eisht Theusa.s Eat-ses for tie
sraad Nationsi Coneosr.s - Much 1s-
serest Taken IN nreeaisg sad Develop.
Sag nirss-Some OF the Mig Winners.
Pigeon flying as conducted II Belgium would
o considered in America gambling. To tho
French and Flemish, however. tie princi-
pes and proprieties aeetn to be fully met IN
the Profession by which fraud 10 prevented.
Fair play 10 offered, and the amount Mt stake
is SO small that the owner OF u rigeon and
few francs may risk his bird and not his al
with II. IT difficult to realize that asport
and one that is apparently such child's play
can have the influence upon people and their
customs that pigeon flying has upon the Eel
CLANS Every third house. 1t is estimated. has
It's pigeon loft, and the advertisements to let
or for sac In certain Of the Belgian news
rapers have less 10 say Of housekeeping con-
veniences and comforts than OF the dimensions
of tho loft In the attic. and tho facilities for
racing and breeding. Tho location. too. Is not
in reference to business centre or post Office
but o some rige,n clubs rooms
At this season OF the year trims are made up
daily solely to carry the pigeons TO their desti-
milton. Sometimes the birds will return al
most together. Sometimes a sudden storm
will catch the returning flights. and Mt homo
| tho satdencd. wistful faces turned skywnrd
tell of the wreck. Those who have been over
whslmed by 1t. say there l. nothing to equal
, the excitement there Ia in tho finale OF con-
course. 1t Is told OF a resident OF CureRhen.
who had been Ill with rheumatism for weeks,
that at his urgent entreaty he was assisted ty
his nurse and physician from his bed to
|. chair by u window that he might SEQ his birds
return in an important AGO. He was alone.
d. tl,.~ lNfk kNyAR-
head when his first bird appeared In sight aud
followed close by another which his keon eyes
told to be that hated rival Of his fnvorite. his
noaiest neighbors champ on. As he heard his
own bird drop upon tho board above. he forgot
his illness. and oil except the prize his neigh
tors bir,l might win. How he got to the loft
un stairs he never knew, but ho had caught
the bird. buried 1t into the bag. ah'i the bag
on 10 the ropc which It should slide wn into
the bands OF ,he runner waiting In the street
pelow. ana had seen II disappear whilo YET the
ne GIL boris bird was cooling about on III. house
top. aud It's owne was whlstiinG and frantical-
~ scattering seeds to tempt 1t in. Then 1t was
that the invalid OF no many weeks cnme to
himself and to get back was til. question.
The gentleman still lives. and ono of Bel
gums most earnest pigeon Flyers t"-dav rec
ommcnds the winning bird Ia race Us better
than tluclor
Aside from the races for local and general
| competition. OF which there are scores ar
ranged fur every sunday through the, time
Belgium. the Count o, F!nnder-. and tho. city
from Ties, emoiumonts thsre 10 not moro ut
stake than in many other OF tho distance
nna in IT, Viii ssow e
there 10 70 win and md, he G change the Winnnn Is.
q 1 IN as much n"Si
more as t1s ~. OF the snt,y money; To-" ths
King: the second. tn. lno francs offered by tLs
Count OF Flanders. Tho LOCO {, ancs "ile cd By
the city Of b us els wns divided into twenty
! prizes Of so frunrs each. the society rrizes to
| 70 o. io francs eael, ana to eeir with tho
Of ~ francs PR bird was {" be divided into
prizes OF 80 francs ach. and special pool OF
valued OF 500 francs Tor the winner o! the
kinR's purse. watch valued at l0I francs for
the 20 ond return. tho balance to ~ to the
The SUM ioIal OF tho rcceipts, from which.
after expenses We're ND al other thar q sGs lis
frames j $50 Iranes: i.ss7 entries Tor sS:irano
francs; il7'i eutr es. francs. 1859 frarcs: 765
iraacs. $50 flames. Total. !o,sss frnn"s. The
Inst Tour $50 TO offered III one prize Tor
ec Whe Start IN tbis race was from st. Jean do
IN nH H. air ne .fsns vt
tinued on The airline course they had tbe
f fSrSaenins a sn a. ' Scioek At n ocosk
,wever they were IN .lsnr skies. ana With
Lone ut O'Clock thai ai,olnonr the clouds
wer. l"w aud with ram threatening. while at
TSs s fK w %st The ~ Wander
yeken 81 lou,nin at s:44 4; NJ, tho next day:
At il oolocE hi teen tirds lad been tined
and at l:44 L. NJ. the zz2d and last prize was
well Snown t. American SIrd buyer, sscoEd
| nrriving sixteen minutes later. The entry
FIX e. birds UNI won two Prizes ; N; Charb"nee
tenth and ninety-hrst prizes This eentic-
mans mans Winnings must hayo counted tor some.
club. and in several m ado mn outside. 4 club
race IN como tlon with this had III entries for
5sfA ink pr ~ Is, m entries S 9rs
Is At francs u at lrsncs. 81 =! 10 iran"s 81
for u srccinl prize. aud q 70 pool OF honor
80 miles dista"t The entry was GA H Hirs.
over 800 francs I'm the winner Il IN. twelfth
a race from bayonne ssh mics also o zen 10
al Bceium. has LOCO rams gun anteed ms
should excesd li5 hInis. The regular Ice ie
r nns sH Win Tor the eqls or
every seven rniries The rools nro i. 2. 5. III.
rs. and 30 'rnncs, with one rri:e inr overy ten
try has one prize for every Ave entries.
| The grand nnti'nnl RAGE OF las! year WAS tho
| 1854 birds. The stnrt was from Dnx. rance.
$50 miles distant. at 9 4. NJ. July a. Tn Lrst
| 7. ~. The race WAS closed. over 500 bird. hay.
| irG been EsporteL The best speed was al.nt
ts race 81 COO ancs wsle Phe e IN
pense MAS only about 1000 francs.