The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-04-27
TO CARRY STORM SIGNALS.
HOMING PIGEONS BEING TRAINED
FOR WEATHER SERVICE.

The Department Has Taken an In
terest in the Work and VIII CO.
Operate With Those Seeking To Es-
tabIish This New Branch-Bomb
Rockets VIII Probably he Used at
Night to Give Notice of Approach
ing Storms-HurrIcnne Flags Fur
nishcd Several Important stations.
Considerable progress is being made IN
the matter Of using homing pigeons in
connection with the signal service bu-
reau here, and with a little energetic eff
fort in this direction, the plan can be car
ried into effect, and put in shape for use
before the net cyclone season, which Will
be along about next August.
Observer Smyth is taking quite an ac-
tive interest in the matter and has had
considerable correspondence with his
headquarters at Washington with re-
gard TO the matter. 1t has also been sug-
gested in this connection that bomb rock
cts be used with the homing pigeons for
the purpose of giving hurricane warnings
at night. This suggestion was made by
DR.. J. b. Graham, who has received the
following letter from the department
with regard to the subject:
Dear Sir: Referring to your letter of
the 18th inst. to Mr.. p. II. Smyth, OBJ
server Of this bureau at Savannah, GA,
relative to the use of bomb rockets in
giving warnings of hurricanes, l beg to
thank you for your interest in the work
OF the bureau, as shown by your letter and
the valuable suggestion contained therein,
and to inform you that steps have been
taken looking to the practical use of sug-
gestion in connection with one of the
means proposed by the bureau for dis
semination OF these warnings. Very re-
spectfully, Mark w Harrington,
Chief of Bureau"
The interest taken By the weather de-
partment will be seen in the following ex-
tract from a letter from II. c. c. Dun
woody, one of the heads of the department:
The use of these rockets for the gen
eral dissemination of hurricane warnings
at night throughout the islands and coast
regions, by means of a system of rocket
stations, and the use of homing pigeons
Tor similar purpose by day, has been
suggested, and while it is considered
hardly practicable for this bureau to
put in operation so extensive a system as
would be required to carry out these sug-
gestions it would be glad TO encourage the
adoption of these systems among the in
habitants themselves, and to cooperate
with them as far as practicable"
This means that, while the department
could not itself go into the business of
raising and taking care of homing pigeons
for the purpose mentioned, that ii will
extend any aid and cooperation to those
who desire to get up a signal service of
this kind. The idea is to have lofts of
homlng pigeons on all the sea islands,
ana at other points where warnings are
desired, and to have a central lott in the
city, near the weather bureau, where
the birds could be taken care of in cap
uvtty. They could then be released with
the reports and the warnings as soon as
the information was secured by the
The islanders and others could be noti-
ned at night of the approach of hurri-
cane or cyclone by the use of bomb rock
pigeons have already been established in
and around the city, and are now under
going training:
Mr.. E. r. Middleton, Wilmington Island,
% old and 30 young birds; DR.. George H.
stone has about 20 old and six young
birds at his residence on South Broad
street; Mr., r. j. Davant at Pooler has
about 20 old and 10 young birds; Mr. Nun
gazer on Second street, near Abercorn,
mas loft of ten old and five young birds;
Mr. Ollie Nichols has about eight old and
four young birds and Mr.. +. F. Jones and
Mr. Sylvan both have lofts, which have
been furnished from that of Mr.. Middle
ton, on Wilmington Island. They all de-
sire the general establishment of lofts
wherever they would be useful in receive
ing storm signals, and central loft
where the birds could be kept and cared
for during their captivity
A day or two ago seven birds from Mr..
Middleton's loft were released from the
signal service Office here, and five of them
reached Wilmington Island in just nine
minutes The other two took a slightly
longer time. DR.. Stone liberated several
pigeons at Port Royal sound and they
made the trip to his loft in this city in
an hour and two minutes
Any information that is desired with re-
gard to raising these pigeons or procuring
them for the establishment of lofts can
be obtained from the signal service Office
here. Now, it seems, is the proper time
to begin the work of raising them, if the
plan is to be put in proper shape to work
by the next cyclone season.
In addition to these methods of provid-
ing warnings for storms, hurricane flags
have been sent by the department to the
quarantine station, Brunswick, Tybee
Island Port Royal the Savannah Yacht
Club, and they have been furnished the
revenue cutter Boutwell,, and the steam
launch Discover. The hurricane signal
consists of two red flags with black cen
tiers, one above the other, the pennant
being omitted. The night signal is the
same as it always has been, namely. a red
light for east winds, and a red and white
light for west winds Every effort is being
made, it appears to perfect the system
of giving warning signals in the time of
these severe storms which visit the coast.
| The plans will no doubt receive full and
warm encouragement from the inhab BIZ
tants throughout this section