Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-02

%lO,vOV Il year on breeding plScOuS LUZ
this express purpose.
Under these circumstances it may be
interesting, says the London Standard, to
consider the part which these birds play
ed in military matters seven, or eight
hundred years ago. 1t was in Syria, du-
ring the First Crusade, that the in
habitants of Western Europe first made
acquaintance with the method of convey
ing messages in time Of war. The Chris
tians had taken Antioch from the Turks,
and were wearing away an anxious six
months, in vainly waiting for the arrival
Of the great army which the Greek EN-
peror Alexius had promised in his own
person 10 lead to their assistance. Mean
time, the leaders occupied themselves in
Selling all the fortresses in the neigh
borhood. Some of these were taken by
force; others capitulated; others, in their
fear Of rival Turkish States, proffered an
alliance. Among these last was The
small town of Azaz. some forty miles tc
the north Of Antioch. After long hesita-
ton, the ruler of this little fortress finally
made up his mind 10 take sides with the
Crusaders, and sent his own son, Ma.
homet, under the care Of q few of his
wisest cOunsellors, 10 ratify the terms
and act as hostage for their fulilment or
his part.
The boy came to the Christian camp,
and was brought before Godfrey OF
Bouillon, who gave his full consent to the
treaty. Then, as the Crusaders stood by
expecting one of the little party to be
sent back home with the news of his
successful negotiations, two Of the en-
voys-to the establishment of the by
standers-drew out from the loose bosoms
of their eastern robes a couple Of doves
"aves gratas ct domitas," as the contcm-
porary Christian chronicler calls them
and, after writing out a brief account
Of the transactions, tied the letters on TO
the birds tails, and then set them free
TO make their way home. These pigeons,
so Mahomet assured the wondering
Franks, were much better messengers
than men on such an occasion for many
reasons; they would journey more speed
fly, and would run less risk of falling
into the hands Of an enemy.
Pigeons, however, were not at all
times perfectly safe Intermediates, as
the Crusaders were soon to find TO their
own advantage. Six months later the
great army was marching against Tripoli,
when overhead a pigeon was sighted
making its way towards the city. Most
of the %crusading mobiles had taken their
falcons with them 10 The East, and one
OF these falcons, being let fly, soon
brought the bird messenger to earth. \
foot-soldier hurried out Of the ranks TO
pluck the message from its place OF
concealment. 1t was carried to the chiefs;
one of Tancred's followers succeeded in
~deciphering the Arabic script, which
turned out 10 be an urgent eXhOrtation to
the Saracen Emir Of Tripoli to hold out
against the christian dogs at any cost
till his coreligionists had time to come to
his relief. Needless to say, this message
was not forwarded to it's destination.
Sometimes these carrler-doves, even when
they succeeded in reaching their destina-
ton, did far more damage to their own
ers than TO the enemy.
In the year 1911 a German traveller,
Wilbrand, OF Oldenburg, on reaching
Palestine. found that the Christians there
had not yet forgotten the strange way
in which one OF the coast towns had
fallen into their hands a hundred years
earlier. The Count OF st. Gilles-i. e.,
Raymond OF Toulouse-had pressed the
city very hard; but IT still held out in the
hope Of receiving help from Damascus.
1t was during this time Of suspense that
the Christians seized upon another pigeon
making It's way TO the besieged. by a
happy chance" says our traveller, IF,
indeed, we can speak OF so divine an in
terposltion as a mere chance. our men
seized the bird" and found that IL was
bearing promises of aid TO the beleaguered
Saracens. Such n message could not
be allowed 10 pass. and the emergency
required stronger measures than a mere
arrest OF the emlssary. The original let
tiers were destroyed; other ietters-de-
clarlng that II was absolutely impossible
to send any h~elp--were forged. ana the
bird was set free once more TO seek It's