Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-04-16
RACES IN THE AIR.

BIRDS TRAINED FOR SPEED AND THE MEN
WHO OWN THEM.
THE WASHINGTON uoMISo PIGEON FEDERATION
PROGRAM OF THE SPRING RACEs-How HoMINs
PIGEONS DIFFER FROM orHRRs-TnR WAY
THEY ARE CARED FoR-REoIsTERINo THE TIME
OF THEIR ARRIVAL HOME.
The breeding and flying Of homing pigeons
has lately taken fresh impetus in Washing
ton. and 1t is safe 10 say that before another
year this city will take its place among tho
best racing cities in this country. Homing
pigeons have been bred as means of commu-
nication for many hundreds Of years and his
tory tells OF many strange stories Of this won
derful bird. A noteworthy use Of tho homer
as postmen was made at the time Of the siege
OF Paris. strip OF paper ten inches long by
trife over two inches wide was rolled up in
side a large turkey quill and secured to the
tail Of the pigeon. The whole thing only
weighed about sixteen grains, yet the paper
contained over 100000 words. These were
put on the paper by process known as micro
photography. by this means messages were
sent regularly from the beleagured city.
The present species Of bird originally came
from Belgium, and for many years that
country has been the chief place Of abode Of
the true homer.
PECULIARIrIEs OF THE HOMER.
But what is true homer What are its dis
tinctive peculiarities and how are they bred?
These are the qustions q reporter OF TIE STAR
endeavored to have answered few days ago.
and this is the result. The shape of the bird
resembles that of a common blue-rock pigeon
with the exception of very full and wide
breast and capaciOus skull. The eyes are
wide apart and prominent with u deep orange
pupil The beak is thick and usually black,
although this differs In some birds. The wings
Of the homer are more powerful than those OF
any other pigeon species and form one of the
distinctive features Of the bird. Each wing
contains ten long feathers set close together.
These are known among pigeon breeders as
fight feathers and so long ways toward ill.,
creasing the speed OF the bird. The tail il the
most important portion Of the bird,
fo- it is here the messages are at
tached. There are usually twelve
feathers in the tail and they should be small
and well made, possessing great elasticity and
strung close together. The homer is truly
domestic bird and its love Of home is remark
able. Many people contend that this love of
home is only apparent after the bird has had
young. but there are many instances whore old
birds have been taken from their homes and
raised young i'll another loft. yet when once
liberated they left their offspring and returned
to their old home. Another popularity OF the
homer is that when once it selects a perch it
never leaves it and will fight hard to maintain
its rights. Homers are bred these days for
racing. That is, several fanciers get together
and wager large sums that their respective
birds will beat others home when liberated at
a distance.
TRAINING FOR CONTESTS.
just at this season of the year the racing
pigeon, like the race horse, is being zealously
trained for the spring races. There are two
classes in which the birds compete. One is for
old birds, while the other is for young ones
CONSIDERABLE pains are necessary to properly
train bird for race. and every day the fan
ciers may be seen boarding trains with huge
basket filled with birds. The young birds after
they have learned to fly about the loft are
taken short distance away and liberated.
The next day this distance is augmented, aud
SO on until they have traversed a distance equal
to the race in which they are to compete. Tho
basket in which the pigeons are transported is
of a peculiar device and arranged as not to
interfere with the free movement of their
bodies. A large wicker basket, built especially
for the purpose, Is usually employed. 1t is
provided with four or moro apartments, and
In these the birds may be shipped many miles
without danger. The day on which the birds
are liberated should be clear aud the birds
kept without food for at least twenty-four
hours. In liberating birds care should be
taken to avoid place near any high buildings,
for the birds are tempted to light and this is
considered very bad practice for young racers.
When bird is liberated it is thrown upward
from the hand, care being taken that mono of
the feathers are disarranged or ruif1ed.
Many peculiar devices are employed for reg
istering the return of a bird. For instance,
there IL the electrical platform, which is set on
two sensitive springs and registers automati-
cally by ringing bell in the breeders house
the moment q birds alight. Perhaps the
most unique arrangement Of all is that which
ny the use OF a camera, in which hinged
platform operates a shutter, the birds picture
Is taken the moment it alights upon the plat
form. But this device is rarely if ever used,
for tho reason that in any other but bright
sunshiny weather it will not work.
THE SPRING RACES.
The following is the race program as adopted
by the federation: Old bird races: May 8, from
Covesviile, w., 100 miles. May Is, from Cha
than, Va, 200 miles. May %, from Concord,
N. c., 30l1S miles, May 20, from Greers. s. c..
4ol miles. June II, from Swaunee, Ga, 5lOX
miles.
Young bird races, hatch Of 1892: August %,
Covesville, Va. l2o miles. September H. Am.
herst G. H., Va, $50 miles; September Is,
Chatham, Va, 200 miles,
Tho officers of the local association are:
President. X. D. Youngs; secretary, H. v. Lans-
uaAes tIcoeUTtE, y. H. StOCkman: race
tary, Frank Reamer; race committee. Frank
Reamer, DR.. l. Munson, E. s. Raymond and s,
Wallace.
OWNERS OF BIRDS.
The following is list Of the members, to-
gether with the location Of their lofts and the
number OF birds each one owns:
Allen c. Mclean, 1929 Gales street northeast,
80 birds; John Il. StOckmsn, 81 North Capitol
street northeast, 20 birds; Frank Miller, IA E |
street northwest, 40 birds; Julius Roth, 26 f |
street northwest, IS birds; s. Wallace. ia d
street northwest, 60 birds; II. v. Lansdale, 465 |
street southwest, $50 birds; George Phillips, |
479 H street southwest, $50 birds; Ed Devliu,
Gil d street northwest, As birds; James Noble.
1917 T street northwest IS birds; Dr. C. NJ,
Buckley, 927 II street northwest, 60 birds; DIR, Il
Cos 18th street northwest. 80 birds; E. |
3. Raymond, 927 NJ street northwest, 60 birds; |
Prof. Josef Kaspsr. 1917 III street northwest, As
birds; r. b Youngs, 9l2 G. street south west. |
IS birds; H. C. Kidwell, 2441 NJ street north |
west, IS birds; DR.. Darling, Brightwood, 2S
birds; r. H. Boswell, AIS o street northwest. so
birds; Harry A. Sellhausen, $50 G street north |
west, 40 birds; Capt r c. Moore, GIG 1st street |
northwest, Is birds.
New BAxK.-The controllers certificate au- |
Ihorising the following national bank to begin |
business has been issued; "Ths White National |
Bank Of Fort Wayne" Indiana Capital. e2o0.