The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-05-09
FEATHERED SEA MESSENGERS.
Advantages of Taking Homing Pigeons to
Sea ON the Principal Liners.
(san Francisco Examiner. }

Capt. Hawley, superintendent of th g
Black Stack Towboat Company, has a
scheme for establishing communication
with the outward hound tugs and
steamers owned by John D. Spreckles s.
Bros. by means of carrier pigeons. The
superitendent's idea Is to put up a dove
cote either at the Oceanic dock, his own
residence. or that of John D. Spreoksls.
The proposition first suggested itself by
the trip of abe tugs Fearless and Vigilant
in search of the burning British bark
Republic The tugs went out last Friday,
and not word had been heard from
them up to yesterday noon. Capts.
Haskell and Randall Of the towboats,
were under instructions to remain out
side until tomorrow afternoon, unless
they got the burning ship.
Capt. Hawlsy was on the floor of the
Merchants Exchange at 'ohange hour
yesterday afternoon and discussed his
scheme with shipping men, who imme-
diately became very much interested in
it. Had the Fearless and ethe Vigilant
any communication with the shore their
owners would Know at this time whether
the Republic was in sight, and whether
1t WIS necessary to send out more tugs to
tow her in. The scheme of sending hon.
ing pigeons on outN ard bound steam ers
is new one on this coast, but it Is one
that is much i'll vogue in European sea-
ports. The general Impression is that J.
D. Spreckles will put Capt. Hawley' s
idea into execution. There is a possibility
of the Pacific Mail Company and the
Occidental and Oriental people following
suit.
The idea occurred to me-" said Capt
Hawley, yesterday, latter the perfor-
nance OF the carrier pigeons sent home
from down the coast by one of the Pa
oific Mail steamers about two weeks ago.
The birds We're let go somewhere off Los
Angeles, and they returned to San Fran
cisco in a remarkably short time. I
have studied the matter very closely since
tn en-, end from what I have learned |
have no doubt that the pigeons could be
trained to fly home from thousands of
N lies out at sea. In recent homing
m atches the birds have flown from as
far south as Los Angeles and from as far
north as Portland, making very good
time.
"Suppose that one of our Australian
or Honolulu steamers were on her way
across the ocean and had come across the
ship Republic at the time when her crew
was about to abandon her. If they had
carrier pigeons on board they could have
turned the birds loose with the Int lii
gence THAT the vessel was in such po-
sition. That news would have been re-
ceive by us and tugs could have been
despatched without loss gof time to the
burning vessel. AS it happened in the
case of the Republic, the HOLLYWOOD
stood by to take off her crew. Had help
not been near there is no telling that
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 to putethe pigeons on all
our steamers leaving here. with instruc-
tions that the birds be released at GER
tain distance out to sea. If there is
nothing to report there is no harm done.
But how often could a derelict be saved
by her position becoming known at this
port? Even in. the case of the tugs which
go out beyond the Farallones to cruise
for incoming ships the homing pigeons
would be invaluable. If any assistance
were req uired a tug could heave-to in
stead of coming back to port, and get all
the assistance required by communicate
ing with San Francisco. / have not yet
preached the subject to Mr.. Spreokels,
but have no doubt that my ideas will
meet with his appreciation"