The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1893-06-07
CARRIER PIGEONS.
Winged Messengers for Philadelphia
to he Turned Loose.

1
to be Turned Loose.
Last Friday a basket of seven carrier pig
cons were received at the express office in Abb
| beville from Philadelphia.
The instructions to the express agent were
not 10 release them except on clear MORN
| ing, soon after sunrise. ~
On the basket was printed In large letters
on card-"We leave at sunrise tomorrow, II
the weather is clear. for Philadelphia, Pa
On the tails of the birds were various letter
ings in ink. One read: "Give me corn and
water, and let me GO. ,,-
| The birds have been in a conspicuous place
al the express office, and many persons view
ed them with pleasure, and every body was
either a listener or a speaker on the peculiari-
| ties, habits, or wonderful gift by which these
BIRDS after being shipped on the ordinary
take tas, ~ Straight course through the air for
their cages In their distant home. From Alb.
beville TO Philadelphia we believe it Is $50
miles, and those who know something of the
birds estimate that they will 60 home at the
rate of fifty miles an hour.
Notice Of their liberation will be telegraph
ed Immediately, stating the exact lime OF
their departure.
ty, and many speculate as TO the object which
was had In view when sending them here.
AS rule they seem contented enough In
their prison house, though II Is plainly TO be
seen that some of them are not quite satisfied
and exhibit degree OF unrest. This unrest
is more noticeable in one Of the smaller birds,
and it is generally supposed that 1t Ia young
er and not accustomed to being sent on as are
Appleton's Cyclop@dia says Of the carrier
"The carrier pigeon is bird larger than the
common pigeon, measures about 10 inches In
length, and weighs about ~ pounds, The
neck Is long, and the pectoral muscles are
very large, indicating power OF vigorous and
flight An ,p appenadage. OF
ues down on either side of the lower mandi.
BILE. According to its size and shape the anna.
teurs o. carrier pigeons estimate the value OF
the bird. They consider those pigeons the
the head, and Of considerable width across
the bill, and that are also distinguished by q
wide circlet around the eyes, destitute OF
bird so valuable is its very strong love Of
home. which Is In some degree common to all
the domeSticated varieties. The mode OF
training them in Turkey, where the art Is sup
is this: The person who has the charge OF
rearing and training them takes the young
pigeons when they have got their full strength
OF wing In a covered basket to distance Of
then set at liberty, and II any Of them fall In
returning home from this short distance, they
are considered stupid, and are rejected as val
ueless. Those that return home are then
taken 10 greater distances, progressively In
creased TO 1000 miles, and they will then re-
turn with certainty from the furthest parts OF
the kingdom. In England 1t Is usual TO keep
these birds In dark place for about six hours
before they are used; they are then sparingly
fed. but have as much water given them as
they will drink. The paper on which the
round the upper part of the birds leg, but SO
as In no wise 10 impede It's flight. II appears
from an English ballad, and from line In
Tasso, that 10 olden times the original way Of
round the neck; but the above method Is that
now adopted. The antiquity Of the use OF
these birds for the purpose OF bearing intelli-
gence to distant parts or persons, ana the R Per
which is named, from Its peculiar fitness, the
carrier more especially. when we'll trained,
will return from long distances, ts well
whom the pigeon was first applied TO this pur-
pose. We have the authority OF Sir John
Vaudeville that the Astattcs used them for
crusade Of St. Louis they were so employed
Tasso presses them iE to service In the siege OF
Jerusalem, making Godfrey defend one when
attacked by falcon; and Ariosto makes the
rilo's death by messenger dove. During the
late siege Of Paris these birds were employed
TO convey messages beyond the German lines
very long documents, printed by micro-pho-
Biography on films indestructible by water,
and weighing only a few grains, we're thus
transmitted with great success. The ordinary
rate OF the flight of carrier pigeons Is not gen.
orally held to exceed thirty miles an hour, al
rate or velocity are recorded. The education
OF cal rier pigeons Is entirely progressive: the
distance flown being gradually and slowly in
creased from halt mile up TO 20 or 80 miles.
When the bird is able 10 accomplish this, he
may be trusted to fly any distance overland,
within the limits OF physical power. The
younger the bird Is, II It have strength to fly
we'll, the greater is the chance Of educating II
to be good bearer OF despatch. II this
drilling be not commenced early. birds Of the
best breed cannot be trusted. When thrown
up the bird rises, and when II has reached q
good height will at first fly round and round
evidently for the purpose OF finding some
we'll known landmark, and then make of,
continuing on the wing without stop or stay,
unless prevented, till Its home Is reached. III
no such landmark Is found, the bird Is lost.
Thus pigeons, when loosed from balloon at
q great height, have, after flying round and
round, returned to the balloon for want OF oh
Jects to guide them In their homeward flight.
The magnetic telegraph has now rendered the
service Of carrier pigeons, unless In times OF
siege, OF little use."