The Portland daily press., 1893-07-11

Recent flights of carrier pigeons in
this vicinity have called attention to
this old system of communication and
modern sport Although in New York
and Massachusetts, pigeon flying has
been carried on extensively for number
of years, it is within very short time
that anything has been done in this line
in Maine. There is home club in San
ford, and others at Dexter and Augusta,
all of recent organization. In this city
Mr.. William N. Taylor whose home is at
No. 40 Eastern Promenade, has the only
loft of carriers. He has about forty birds
and is doing some very interesting work
in breeding and training them. The
pigeon that brought the last word from
Peary was from his flock, and one of his
own training. Mr.. Taylor, who has al
ways had liking for pigeons of the
kind that are seen on the streets in such
numbers, obtained his first carriers about
two years ago. The carrier resembles
very much the ordinary street pigeon, Cor
dove, as it is commonly called, but by
an expert the difference may easily be
detected. Mr.. Taylor's first pair came
from Medford, Mass, where Thomas
Wright has been breeding for many
years from stock obtained from Eng
land. From this pair Mr.. Taylor now
has about forty birds, ranging in age
from three years down to few months.
They are very prolific. One pair will
raise ten pair in year if not disturbed;
but in this country where the winters are
SO cold it is best to allow the raising of
but four pairs season.
Mr.. Taylor told the PRESS yesterday
how he trained the carriers. When they
are quite young he sees to it they get
used to going out and coming into their
house. They are much attached to their
home, and he allows all his carriers to
roam freely about the city. They frater-
ize with the common pigeons, but al
ways return to their own loft. After the
young can go to and fro in the vicinity of
their own homes. Mr.. Taylor takes them
to more distant places in the city, and
accustoms them to finding their way
back. Then Mr.. Taylor takes them to
Blackstrap, which is ten miles from the
city. Ordinarily a pigeon will come
in from Blackstrap in about ten and a
half minutes. Then after the ten-mile
flight is mastered, they are sent to New
Gloucester, twenty miles away. From
thence pigeon recently came in in
thirty-three minutes against a heavy
wind. "A veteran flyer will make
its way in almost any weather;
but daylight is required. If it is
dark when the bird is liberated it gener-
ally will remain in some. shelter until
morning and then go home. Trainers
have found that after bird has flown
home from Assistance of twenty five miles
it may be tried next at seventy-five miles.
1t seems probable that the bird adds to
its great attachment for its home very
keen eyesight, and peculiarly good
memory for the landmarks of the coun-
try. Mr.. Taylor expects to fly some of
his birds a distance of two hundred
miles before the present season is over.
The longest flight ever made by carrier
pigeon is said to have been 1900 miles.
four or five days being required for the
trip But 500 mile flight is often made
in single day. 1t will be Sc en- that a
few of these pigeons may be of consider
able advantage to Peary in sending back
to Red Cliff the news of his progress
towards the pole,
In olden times the message was sus-
pended around the neck of the bird; but
now the best way is to tie it to the leg or
middle tail feather. The message from
the Peary ship was tied to the tail. In
rainy weather the leg is preferable, be-
cause the message is then shielded from
the water.
The use of carrier pigeons is very an
cient. In the time of the crusades St.
Louis used them, and they are supposed
to have been used 'even before that by
the Romans and Asiatics. In Turkey
they are used extensively at the present
time, the best being trained to do a
thousand miles. The military systems
of Europe have utilized the carriers, and
during the siege of Paris by the Germans
they were very useful.
The bird that held the championship
of American for 1892 was Saxon Gu
owned by T. Fred Goldman, of Brook
lyn, New York. 1t flew 506 miles in 10
hours and "a minutes, or at the rate of
I4oe yards minute. The best record
this year is 5o4 miles in II hours and SIS
minutes done by bird belonging to c.
r. Jones of Philadelphia.
The long distances at which the birds
must be able to take their bearings is