The evening times., 1896-03-25
COTE THEIR tolDs1ONt
Season for Training H!el!ml!!ins !! on!
Pigeons Is Now Here.
CAN ALWAYS FIND THE WAY
Number of Washington Birds Have
Made First-Ciass RecOrds-FrOm
Chicago to the Capital City IL One
of Their Acliievements-Wh the
Trials Are Made.

pigeon. Hundreds are bred and trained here
The process OF training, or boming. as it
is called, is by no means an easy task ard
requires considerable knowledge OF the
characteristics of the fowl. With the COM
ing of spring the local fanciers begin to
lily their pigeons for test purposes. a suit
able and attractive dovecote Is first re-
auired. The pigeon has naturally great
deal of home instinct, and 1t is the love or
their own roost and nest that first leads
them homeward.
A modern pigeon house is fitted up with
electric bells, which indicate the exact
time OF the arrival OF each bird. VIXEN the
pigeons are on the wing cage is arranged
at the window of the cote, into which the
bird flies ard cannot get out until re-
lieved of its message. Beneath the vim
dow sill is an adjustable spring, and wien
the pigeon lights the indicator marks the
precise titnc-of its arrival. 7sl.-a.-~ 80
TEACHING THE YOUNG
During the forepart of the coming month
the Washington pigeon fanciers VIII beSin
flyiHg their birds. AT first the young are
taken but short distance way from home.
not outside OF the city limits and released.
In less than five minutes they are back
to their cote. The next fly Is made from
Alexandria. where the birds are liberated
one at a time, and the record or each is
noted.
Getting Il few miles farther away for the
third trial, Marshall Hall is selected as
the site for the start. Quantico, OF duck
fame, is the succeeding point, and by
this time the pigeons are beginning to get
accustomed TO the tests. A location near
Chester, Va, just below Richmond, and
exactly one hundred miles from Washing
ton. is the first rca! test for record.
The time each bird makes is now carefully
taken and the swiftest winged eau be de
termined In hundred-mile flight.
Thereafter. jumps of hundred miles are
made. until savannah, Ga, is reached,
which is five hundred miles from here. The
best record ever made on this trip was
by pigeon called "st. Lawrence Boy
owned by Samuel Wallace Of this city. The
bird is the only one ever covering The dis
tance without rema ming away all night,
ma king the fly in 3 hours and - minutes.
Another noted long-distance journey was
| made by wallace, " from Washington, La,
to Washington, d. C., a distance of ,O16
miles. but the time record was not so good,
the pigeon having been on the wing days.
"Cora" is the first bird ever awarded a
gold medal in this city. the event being from
| Colesville,- Va, home, u distance OF 12O
miles in little over three hours time. -
HIGHLY PRIZED PIGEONS
One Of the most highly priced pigeons Is
Happiness" the only bird liberated al
| the Worlds Fair, which reached home in
| safety, having been ten days en- route a
| number of record-breakers We're released al
| the same time, but were overtaken by a
| Storm and never arrived a their destinat ton
Happiness" remaining behind the Others
| ESCAPED the storm, and was thus enabled
! to arrive here. A Conyoyer is always sent tC
| liberate tue pigeon when out on IonS fly,
The manner OF computing the distance q
! pigeon flies is more or less difficult
| Fanciers do not accept the number OF mile:
| in the railroad or land route, but STRIKE
| direct air line from the point of liberation
straight to destination. This Is math
F., ematical problem, and is accomplished %,
ia king into account the difference il
| longitude and latitude between the TIVE
points, together with the curvature of th'
earth and the variance of geographical
| mile here and at the equator.
4 Inc plStcI Is uON DSt'h ihto u-'
for marine service. Through the sug
| gestions OF Prof. Marion and Lieut.. Har
low, OF the Annapolis Academy, Secretar.
of the Navy Herbert has recommended tn
| establishment of pigeon stations along th
Atlantic coast. at distances OF about. 15'
miles, from Key West, Fla, to Portland
Ne. 7''--'''''.'.'
Every vessel going out OF port vii
take with it Il number of pigeons, and RI
ports will thus be transmitted back to land
In ca sc OF accident or disaster the birds vii
be of invaluable service. For this work
peculiar kind of pigeon is being bred
Fanciers agree that the bird should have
small black eye TO stand the effects of I'll
sunlight on the water. \ distance OF nearl
800 miles has already been made by one o
the Annapolis pigeons.
On Monday next the various climbs NEE
to formulate races for the coming seasoI
and arrange n program of events. 1t
expected that 500 birds will compete