The Savannah morning news., 1904-12-25
LITTLE PETE.

Ross B. Franklin in st. Nicholas.
Some time ago a consignment of
homing or carrier pigeons left San
Francisco for Auckland, New Zealand,
to be used in carrying communications
between Auckland and Great Barrier
Island; and among the little feathered
messengers was a bird named Pete,
which belonged to me, Pete was al
ways known as a wise fellow. his in
telligence at times causing people to
marvel. But Pete was a tramp: that
is, he could not be depended upon If
sent on long trip, often lettering on
the way to hunt food or to play, per-
maps staying out hours when he should
have been absent only minutes. So
Pete was shipped away to be used as
a loft bird-one which stays at the
nome loft to attract returning messen-
gers. Well, he went this time because
he couldn't help it; but his cunning
prayed line trick on his new owners.
This bird was taken 1000 miles nv
land to San Francisco; 2.OS9 miles nv
water to Hawaii; thence 2,240 miles nv
water to the Samoan Islands: thence
l,6OO miles by water to Auckland-in
all, nearly 5000 miles, and-now Pete
is at home agin,
The homecoming of this bird is lit
tie short of marvellous. and this ia
now he accomplished it. Watching
carefully for an opportunity to escape
after landing at Auckland, Pete took
10 MS wings, and finding in the harbor
the vessel which had carried him so far
from home, he radiated from its masts
IN every direction, searching for a
familiar scene or object. which. of
course, he could not find so MANY thou-
sand miles away from his American
dove-cote. However. he stayed near
the ship, perhaps thinking il would
return to America: but when the yes
sci finally steamed out, headed for
Australia instead of the United States
Hele deserted his perch and struck out
straight toward his home land. So
1t happened that the Lucy Belle. an
old-fashioned sailing vessel laden with
lumber from the Samoan Isles when
three days from Christmas Island. was
boarded by an almost exhausted
stranger; and the stranger was no.
body in the world but Mr.. Pete Az
the old sailor is a very superstitious
being, Pete was welcomed amid cries
OF wonder at encounterng a honing
pigeon In the middle of the Pacific
ocean, and was allowed to ride vuhare~
ever he chose on shipboard. The HID
was kindly treated and fed. and one
DAY, during storm which frightened
him and drove the little tramp 10 sbeI-
Ter on deck. 1t was discovered that he
carried small tag on one leg. bear,ne
a number and his name. He was
placed in a box with Stats for have
and in this condition came into San
Francisco Bay with the Lucy Relic
just as happy at sight OF land as any
member OF the crew, who considered
him a mascot.
The story of the Lucy Bellies mas
cot soon spread among the shipfolk
alohB me wharVes. and In few
hours Pete was identified as HAVING
been shipped some weeks before for
Auckland. Then It was that the peo.
pie understood that the crafty fellow
was homeward bound.
All this work is wonderful enou0b.
but the fact the Pete reached bo,no
unaided over 1000 miles Of lana route
~. perhaps only less wonderful. But
u was argued on the Lucy Rsu.
mat bird possessing brain NC
enough 70 figure out an ocean Wv
age could reach hls home on lana
ana hfter some debate the snilors AZ.
curolY fastened n little story III p.t.s.
leg, recitinE his adventures 40 a. ~
known ~ them, and turned ~,
loose. How fhe dear uifle uanaess,
found his way home he alone ean tr,i
n took Pete nine daya ~ fraVsi
fhe 1000 miief. in covering which -
course hf Iuuff have ffonnef ~ ~
Tor II De- could have Fors afralg,,,
nome fhe nlff1nrf could havs 49,.
made in thirty af fouy nouns w
HhN haN fNni hlW pn fo AHfffaiin haa
nei the a.ifhtffi itsa fhff ~ ~ M
sles q 90 eaAatet ~ % fhs Nef.A