Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1899-12-15
BIRDS AVENGED BY FIRE.
THOUSANDS OF BIRDS SKINS BURN
WITH A FACTORY,

hight this morning. The establish.
ment was the largest of the kind
in the United State, and had
agents IN the South and at numer-
ous other places engaged in shoot
ing or trapping birds for MILL
nary purposes. The plant was
cwnCd by William L. Wilson, OF
this place. The immediate loss oc-
casloped by the fire is placed at
$4,000, Dut the damage to Mr..
Wilson's business just at this time
u hen the bnsy season had begun
will be very much larger. He will
rebuild the plant at once. The tac
tory was iOOA50 feet, one story
high and built Of wood.
There were many peculiar fea-
turcs TO Mr.. WilsOu's business.
Only a few weeks ago his stock OF
BIRDS and wings was very low. buI
be had just received some big
shipments of valuable bird skins
preparatory 10 beginning the ac
tive season of preparation for the
,prng demands and especially on
The Easter hat trade. Thousands OF
these skins were destrOged. He
usually employs fifty hands. and
would baye increased his force to
that number before the Christmas
holidays. There was in stock in the
factory 10000 stuffed sea gulls.
10000 wings of various other birds,
10000 heads OF birds, representing
many var!tles from the beautiful
p-lmed birds of the South 10 the
plain Long Island crow. The re.
sources OF the establishment bad
been severely taxed during the
past year to provide long wings
aud single feathers, and d number
OF special guuners were sent out
to provide II supply of those bros
that would meet that demand.
Long Island 6aymen all last winter
made more money shooting birds
for Mr.. Wilson tuan they did at
their regular callings ot oyster
gathering or fishing.
Tne establishment had men
sta iuned at Cape Cod, the island
If the coast OF Name. the shores Ot
Virginia and on the Florida coats.
TIL, ST men were kept busy filling
sprcial orders for certain varieties
of birds found IL those localities.
A few days ago several cunning
outfits were sent out from the es
tabhshment tor the wiuter's work.
One party went out in a big sloop
10 secure a cargo Of water fowl OF
Il ffcrent sorts, and another party
was sent South with naptha
launch to explore Southern
rivers for birds, and the Florida
coasts viii be hunted by still al
other outfit, Some of these gunntrs
kill q large number OF birds IN a
season. The greatest record made
by any one man was for l4l ,OOO
killed iD a single season in Florida.
After shooting the birds the
eunners remove the skins without
disturbing the feathers. The skins
are TUNED inside out and sprlnk'eC
with d preparation to keep then
until they reach the factory. Alter
the skins are treated in the factory
they are put IN a barrel filed with
preparation like dry plaster o
Paris. The barrel IS revolved un
I'll the skins become perfectly coat
ed with the preparation. ThcI
they are removed and turned rgh
side out and the bodies stuffed ~
as to resemble the live bird. Some
varieties of birds have skins tha
are very tender and their remOva
nas TO be accomplished with grea
care, The skins reach the factor!
packed in sea grass. Birds tina
are shot nearby are sent intact u
the factory aud the carcssses ar
packed in Ice auG sold 10 hOIel
and restaurants. Tue establish
ment had use for everv kind G
birds. Even guinea hens wet
used and sometimee special stN le
! OF trimmings were made by CON
binIng the head and bodies of on
bird with the wings and tail teatl
ers of others.
Mr. Wilson had number 4
lIye birds in the factory III a sma
apartment. These escaped durin
FIRE and to day cage was set ou
aud numbes were caught agail
In the cage this afternoon wer
several varieties of birds includin
number OF fancy pigeons, vhlc
were used in the preparation of
certain line of high. class hat ornI
ments.-N. Y. Sun.
sour engagement Is off again
1 ffNNhof~c M pnxxcD