Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-05-20
FEATHERED SEA MESSENGERS.
Advantages of Taking HominS
Pigeons to Sea on the Liners.
(San Francisco Examiner)

(San Francisco EXamlner)
CAPTAIN Hawley, superintendent OF the
BLACK Stack Towboat Company. has a
scheme for establishing communication
with the outward-bound tugs and steam
ers owned by John ID. Spreckels & Broth
ers by means OF carrier pigeons. The SUI
perintendents idea is TO put up dove
cot either at the Oceanic dock, his own
residence or that of John ID. Spreckels.
The proposition first suggested Itself by
the trip OF the tugs Fearless and Vigil
liant In search of the burning British bark
Republic. The tugs went out last Friday,
and not a word had been heard from them
up to yesterday noon. Captains Haskell
and Randall, OF the towboats. were under
instructions to remain outside until to-
morrow afternoon, unless they got the
burning ship.
Captain Hawley was on the floor of the
Merchants Exchange at Change hour
yesterday afternoon and discussed his
scheme with shipping men. who immedi-
ately became very much interested in II.
Had the Fearless and the Vigilant any
communication with the shore their own
ers would know at this time whether the
Republic was In sight. and whether 1t was
necessary 10 send out more tugs to tow
her i'm. The scheme OF sending homing
pigeons on outward-bound steamers is
new one on this coast, but II Is one that
is much In vogue In European seaports.
The general impression Is that j. ID.
Spreckels will put Captain Hawley's idea
into execution. There Is possibility of
the Pacific Mail company and me ocei-
"The Idea occurred to me- said Cap
tain Hawley yesterday. after the per-
Torrance Of the carrier piseons sent
home from down the coast by one OF the
Pacihc-mail steamers about two weeks
ago. The birds were let 20 somewhere
off Los Angeles, and they returned to
San Francisco In a remarkably short time.
| have studied the matter very closely
ed I have no doubt that the pigeons
could be trained TO fly home from thou
sands OF miles out at sea. In recent
homing matches the birds have flown
from as far north as Portland, making
very good time.
Suppose that one OF our Australian or
Honolulu steamers were en- their way
across the ocean. and had come across
the ship Republic at the time when her
crew was about TO abandon her. IL they
had carrier pigeons on board they could
have turned the birds loose with the
Intelligence that the vessel was in such
a position. That news would have been
received by us, and tugs could have been
dispatched without loss OF time TO the
burning vessed. AS II happened in the case
Oh lic ltcpubnt, inc fioiiiHNOpQ StOOu by
10 take or her crew. Had not help been
near there Is no telling what might have
become OF the men. Two tugs could have
easily accommodated all hands and
taking the vessel in tow, landed her
safely In port. where the flames could
have been extinguished.
MY idea is 10 put the pigeons on all
our steamers issylng here. with instruc-
tain distance out at sea. III there is
nothing TO report there IL no harm done.
But, how often could delelict be saved
by her position becoming known at this
port? Even In the case OF the tugs which
20 out beyond the Farallones to cruise for
incoming ships. the homing pigeons would
be invaluable. II any assistance were re-
quired tug could heave-to, instead OF
coming back to port and get all the as
sistance required by communicating with
San Francisco. / have not yet broached
the subject to Mr.. Spreckels. but have
no doubt that my IDEAS WI meet with nis
aDprooation-"