The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-05-19
SIX HOMING PIGEONS
Released from the Roof of the
Wharfboat Yesterday,
THEY REACH HOME IN GOOD SHAPE.
Nying to Jeanette, Pa, in about
Two Hours and a Half-one of Them
was very Young, but Kept up with
the Proccssion-A Very Satisfactory
Test Watched With Much Interest,

AS was announced exclusively In the
1NTELLlGENCER yesterday morning six
carrier pigeons arrived at the Wheeling
office OF the Adams Express Company
Wednesday night from Jeanette, Pa,
with instructions to the agent here to
release them at 7 o'clock yesterday
morning They were from Jules A.
Burgan, On enthusiast homing pigeon
fancler Of Jeanette. Pa, who has been
flying his young birds this spring at
various stages from home. They are
thus tested and trained at once.
Tho six birds which were received
here were mainly young ones, and one
was SO youthful that it had not losE the
peculiar chirruping note which is u
characteristic OF the small pigeons, but
which is never heard from them after
they reach maturity.
Agent Hiner, OF the express COM
pany, watered the birds ut the office,
and then took them down to the wharf
boat. In order to DO able to see their
startto advantage, he took them up on
the roof OF the boat, where tho basket
was opened and they were set free
Of the six birds, ono or two simply
rose, cirCled once in short round, and
darted away in bee line for jean
nette, trifle north OF east. Others
circled a second time in wider ring,
but then took the Same course. They
were soon all out OF sight.
A peculiar and interesting fact was
that when the carriers started eastward,
large flock OF tame pigeons which FREE
quent the wharf and that vicinity rose
with them and followed them until lost
to sight over the rooyes OF the houses.
II would probably have been more
easy to watch them had they been re-
leased on the now steel bridge, but this
would not have been Of much advantage.
In answer to q telegram Of inquiry,
the INTELLTdENCER yesterday received
dispatch from Mr.. Burgan saying that
two Of the birds reached homo at 0:45
q. m, in good condition, and two others
five minutes later.
Mr.. Burgan is so well pleased with
hAlO kllub AlS AlNl w nOIllG
time in the future bring other birds
here and release them. The distance
from Wheeling to Jeanette makes q
very good fly, and is thorough test Of
the marvellous instinct OF the birds.
The following from the Philadelphia
Ledger OF Wednesday Is interesting in
this connection:
The United States steamship New
York left the dock at Cramps shipyards
at II o. m. yesterday, and, although it
was several minutes later when she was
facing down stream and the tug had
dropped the hawser and moved out Of
the way, she was opposite Chestnut
street at l1:25 a. m, when Elsie and
Fred, OF tho Starr loft, the first OF the
messenger pigeons, were to 60. These
simply brought advice from Lieut.. 7. B.
NJ. Mason that all was well; that the
pigeons to DO used as messengers had
been received and instructions were
understood, and gave the time Of the
vessel at Chestnut street.
The first regular message by !. B., OF
the lines loft, in Camac street. was
from "below Wilmington" at half.past
2 o'clock. At 6o'clock, Empress, Of tho
L. A. Mehler loft, brought word from
Rear Admiral Belknap to the secretary
OF the navy, written at 4 p. M, as fol-
lows:
anchored for the night off Reedy Is.
land. Easterly storm prevailing"
For sea seavice there were on board
the steamer tho birds Harrison and
Kildare. Mr.. +. J. Schoen, Highstown,
N. j. Blue Jim, jr., Charles Mehler, jr /,
West Philadelphia, and Komekul Kus
and Miss Herbert, OF Louis Mehler's
team, that returned from 3S7 miles
southwest last Sunday. Tho birds for
the soa may DO liberated rs late as 10
o'clock to-day, and at Z o'clock Of each
morning thereafter.
Harrison and Kildare both have re.
cords for sea service, tho former from
100 miles off Cape May tho 100 milas
to home being covered In $50 minutes;
the other from 10 miles off Montauk
Point, tho 200 miles to homo being
made in 225 minutes.
The New York, 1t was expected, would
BIO at Reedy Island at $3.50 D. m. to leave
at II p. m, and would be OFT Boston
Light on Thursday at noon,
Ii connection can be made Boston
aud Providence BIRDS will DO taken out
IRON Boston by tug. for use in tho trial.
The Philadol phia birds Nelson,
Moorestown, Yorkie, Daredevil, Clip
per and Tyler out for the Royal Blue
Line prize for speed arc still waiting in
Barboursville, Va, for weather In which
to make the 2l0 miles journey, but will
probably DO liberated to-day.
wellsburg School Commencement.
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