The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-17
HOMING PIGEONS FOR THE NAVY.
LOng-Distance Flyers offered I'm Case
of War.
Philadelphia inquirer

AiAiouCApHid AuQulfef-
Five thousand birds all trained and ex-
perjenced flyers, could and would be placed
at the disposal of the United States govern
ment by Philadelphians in the event of a
war between this country and Spain That
is, II the government would accept them'
The speaker was one of the best known
ran rs and trainers of homing pigeons in
the United States. In chat with an In
qulrer reporter yesterday afternoon he told
a. whole lot of interesting things in connec-
ton with homing or carrier pigeons and the
service, they could render to the United
states in war with another nation.
OI course, you will understand that ii is
only IN naval engagement" he said. that
the birds would be valuable. In land battles
the telegraph and the field telephone would
furnish more rapid means of transmitting
messages But on the sea, where it is like
ly most of the fighting between this coun-
try and Spain viii be done, if any is done
at all, electricity cannot be used, for rea-
sons which are obvious. Still, it is often
gust as important that quick communica-
sion De had with the shore and with the
naval ofncials at Washington during a bat
tie between warships as between regiments
of land fighters.
'Philadelphians have paid more attention
perhaps, to the raising and training Of
homing pigeons than the people of any
other one locality in the country. AS re-
suit there are at least 900 birds of various
ages and in various stages of DEVELOPMENT
and training owned in the city to-day. OF
this number at least 10000 are fit to be nut
to work carrying war messages, and 5000.
l have not the least doubt, would be of
fered free to the Navy Department the min
used.
Some Of these birds hold championship
records for long distance flights and all of
them are good ones. Take the loft owned
by w. s. Torkingtbn, jr. of West Philadel-
phfa, for instance. MIR. Torkington, by the
way, wrote TO Secretary Long only a couple
or days ago offering the pick of his flyers
| to the government. Included in the number
are birds that have won the West PhiIadel-
phia district championships at 200, 800 and
400 miles and one that had finished second
in the 500 race His loft is bred principally
from Kingston and Twilight. two of the
most famous breeders in the world and the
birds he would turn over to Secretary Long
could be depended upon to bring home every
time the messages with which they were
intrusted
Charles H. Jones' of Clifton Heights, the
racing secretary of the National Associa-
ton of HOming Pigeon Fancers, Is another
whose loft Of long -distance flyers would be
turned over to the government. He has 125
or more birds Arthur McGinn. the we'll
known contractor. has also offered one hum
bred of his two hundred flyers to the gov
eminent one of them being the celebrated
Gainesville. the homer that finished second
in the world famed race in which the win
ner flew 614 miles between sunrise and sun
set. The loft of COnnel q Sloan. located in
West Philadelphia, would furnish fifty first
class birds, the most celebrated being the
winner of the Northumberland West Phil
adelpha district race last year; Another
breeder whose birds are at the disposal of
the government is Louis A. Mehler, of
Twentieth and Diamond streets, who turned
over a lot of homers TO Secretary Of the
n. erbert during Clevelands last adj
minstration. the latter making a number of
highly satisfactory experiments with them.
But the list could be extended indefinitely.
The method Of utilizing the pigeons by the
navy would be extremely simple. Cotes OF
birds would be carried on board each of the
war ships. one cote from each town or city
with which 1t might become desirable to
communicates These could be coast or in
land cities although the former would be
preferable, as all comm unications could be
forwarded from them 10 Washington by
wire upon arrival of the MESA ge-bearing
birds more rapidly than the pigeons them
selves could make the trip.
Before or after battle, or even during an
engagement should the commander Of
ship or of the fleet want to send word to
the national capital or TO any other place.
he would simply cause the message TO be
written on the light paper that is used for
the purpose and fastened to the tail feath-
eIs Of the bird whose home loft was IN the
town nearest To the place for which the
message was destined. Once given its lib
erty. the intelligent and home-loving little
flyer would do the rest. During d war with
Spain IL ~ probable that a majority of the
most important naval engagements would
be, fought within $50 miles of the Florida
coast. Under such circumstances two
hours from ne time a ptd was liberated
from war ship II could be IN Key West
or Jacksonville, and three minutes later it's
message would be in Washington
The government has already decided to
adopt homng pigeons as a part OF its light
house equipment. and 1t is altogether likely
that they viii become valuable adjuncts of
the United States navy A war with Spain
would certainly furnish an opportunity to,
determine their practical worth for war
purposes. and fancierS all over the country
are sparing no effort TO induce the govern
ment TO give the birds a trial. Philadelphia
Is in the lead, however, and il Is practically
q fOregone conclusion that the first of the
flyers used viii come from Philadelphia
let's