The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-05-07
FEATHEEED SEA MESSENGER
Advantages of Taking HomInR Pigeons to
Sen on the Principal Liners.

Prom me san Francisco Examiner.
Capt. Hawley. superintendent Of the Black
Stack Towboat Company, has a scheme for es-
tablishing communication with the outward
bound tugs and steamers owned by John d..
Spreckels 4 Bros. by means of carrier pigeons.
The superintendent's idea Is to put up a dove
cote either at the Oceanic dock, his own resi-
dence. or that of John ID. Spreckels. The propo-
sition first suggested itself by the trip OF the
tugs Fearless and Nigilant 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. Capts. Has
kell and Randall of the towboats were under
instructions to remain outside until tomorrow
afternoon. unless they got the burning ship.
Capt. Hawley WAS on the floor of the Mer-
chants Exchange at change hour yesterday af-
ternoon and discussed his scheme with ship
ping men, who Immediately became very much
interested in it,. Had the Fearless and the
Vigi!ant any communication with the shore
their owners would know ut this time whether
the Republic was in sight, and whether IT was
necessary to send out more tugs TO tow her in.
The scheme OF sending hnrning pigeons on out
ward bound steamers Is IA new one on this coast.
but IL is one that is much In vogue in European
seaports. The general impression il that j. ID,
Spreckels will put Capt. Hawley's idea into exc
cution. There Is "a possi biiity OF the Pacific Mail
Company and the Occidental and Oriental peo-
pie following suit.
'"The idea occurred to me-" said Capt. Haw-
ley yesterday. after the performance OF the
carrier pigeons sent nome from down the coast
by one of the Pacific Mail steamers about two
weeks ago. The birds were let 90 somewhere
of Los Angeles. and they returned to san Fran
cisco In IA remarkably short time. have studied
the matter very closely since then. and from
what | have learned | have no doubt that the
pigeons could be trained to fly home from thou
sands of miles out at sea. In recent hominK
matches the birds have flown from as far south
as Los Angeles and from as far north as Port
land, making very good time.
Suppose that ono OF our australian or Homo
lulu steamers were on 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 tho
intelligence that the vessel was In such a po-
sition. That news would have been received by
lis and tugs could have been despatched with
out loss Of time to the burning vessel. AS IL
linwood stood by to take off her crew. Had
help not been near there Is no telling what
might have become of tie men. Two tugs could
have easily accommodated all hands and, TAX
ing the vessel in tow, landed her safely in port,
where the flames could have been eXtinguished.
My idea is to put the pigeons on all our
steamers leaving here. with Instructions that
sea. II there ~ 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 90
out beyond the Farallones TO cruise for incom-
ing ships, tho homing pigeons would be invalu-
able. II any assistance were required a tug
could heaye-tO instead OF coming back to port,
nicating with san francisco. | have not yet
broaChed the subject TO Mr.. Spreckels, but I
have no doubt that my ideas will meet with his
APPRECIATION"