Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-04-11


To the Shame of Delaware
Abiding to the sentiment that has
been aroused by the live pigeon shoot.
ing tournament now in progress on
Long Island, the New York World edi-
torially Gays:
Humanity and civilization will win
a notable victory if they shall triumph
at last. as now seems probable, over
the deyottes of live pigeon shooting, a
brutal and brutalizing rastlme mis-
called sport" The matter involved
here has only one side. In the TARGET
practice at live birds there is abso-
lutely no element of usefulness. The
VIII ole business is a wanton abuse of
mems powers and resources at the ex.
pense Of helpless suffering creatures.
At the Great American Handioap
in Inter. Urban Park, where pigeon
slaughter of the present week has
brought affairs to the point at which
the existence of the snort is threat.
ened, an observer estimated that aine
out Of ten birds that fell within
bounds failed of instant killing and
mad their necks wrung. Some birds
struggled with broken legs or wings.
photo nov away Will CLAW or II
leg shot off. Such ''sport" at once
condemns itself as really lower than the
lowest of prize-fghting. Yet women
take part in it, apparently obliyious to
what should DO a first impulse of
womanhooj.
Clay pigeons have long been on the
market. They spring from traps with
All the agility and uncertain flight OF
live birds. They are hard to hit. They
do not suffer under mutilation. 1t il
PASSING strange that in this age law
must be invoked to force men and
women tn accept these dumb substi-
tutes for living victims of the sporting.
piece.
1t is to the shame of Delaware, in
the light of this outburst OF public in
dignation over cruel and wanton
sport, that its Legislature only recently
passed a law authorizing the shooting
of live pigeons at matches, and it's
governor gave the measure his official
approval.
1t is probable that the New York
Legislature, now in session, will pass
u law prohibiting these cruel pigeon
shooting matches, in which event the
tournament now being hold on Long
Island, may be transferred to Della
ware. Our law authorizes the bloody
sport The laws OF other States pro.
hibit il.
The Legislature never did a meaner
piece Of work than in passing this bill,
and we doubt if Gov. Hum will ever
redeot with satisfaction upon his act
10 siguing 1t.
Secretary White of the New York
City Chamber Of Commerce has pre-
pared a detailed statement Of the
foreign commerce of the PORT Of New
York during the fiscal year ended June
3oth, 1900, as compared with that of
the whole United States. This shows
that the city's total commerce amounted
to 81, 1853, 1856, $50 the largest it has ever
enjoyed, and slos, 97l, GAG greater than
in the preceding year. But the forei IN
commerce of the whole country during
the same year was 81, 429, 1872, 1856, an
increase of 1921, $50, 1875, SO that New
York did not experience any exceptional
prosperity. Indeed, as compared with
the preceding fiscal year, it did not do
relatively as we'll as the entire country
did. The city's increase in 1899 was
s62, 1858, 497, while the country s increase
was 1868 279, 522. OF the oity's com.
MERGE in the last fiscal year 81, 024,-
6l3, 977 was carried in foreign vessels.
and sl40, G3s, POI 10 American vessels,
Three gold bars, each weighing 96
pounds aud worth in all about SEQ 900.
were stolen from the strong room of the
steamer Kaiser Wilhelm der Crosse
during her last trip across the ocean,
the theft having been discovered on the
Arrival of the steamer at Cherboure.
Tuesday, As the gold bars are 30
weighty. and SO difficult to conceal, If
is hard to see how the thieves can sue
coed 10 getting them safely ashore
without being detected.