The Washington herald., 1911-02-12
CARRIER PIGEONS
FLY WITH MANY
STRANGE MESSAGES

For centuries good and bad news, pray
ers for help, secrets of state, tidings OF
wars victories and defeats have been
sent under a pigeons wings. Egyptian
records show that they were used in the
land of the Pharaohs thirteen centuries
before Christ. Ovid tells that they car
ried the news of the Olympian games
to the distant friends and relatives of
the victors.
First-class carrier pigeons are very
expensive, some stud birds costing as
much as 500, and they can attain the
remarkable speed of nearly 1,5O0 yards
a minute. The birds were trained all
along the coast and intercommunication
between dockyards was maintained by
this means
A few years ago the japanese govern
ment obtained all possible information on
the subject Of pigeon breeding and pur-
chased a large number of birds from
English fanciers. Although to Italy be-
longs the credit of having first recog-
nized the utility of training pigeons as
messengers of war, France, Germany.
Russia and Denmark were not slow TO
take advantage of this mode of sending
news in time of strife.
1t was during the Franco-German war
that pigeons proved their utility as gov
eminent letter carriers. When Paris was
invested by the enemy and all the ordi-
nary channels of communication with
the outside world were cut off the atten-
tion of the authorities was directed to
the fact that the carrier pigeons in the
CITY could 70 int .
first the suggestion was ridiculed. but
the practicability of the plan was soon
demonstrated. and in a very short time
birds were conveying news into and out
Of the besieged city almost hourly
During the South African war when
Sir George White was beleaguered at
l-adySmith. a few pigeons belonging 10
English fanCiers which had been taken
INTO the town before the siege proved Of
lnestimable value to the gallant COM
mander in conveying messages to the
base at Durham
The organization of pigeon posts for
military purposes in Germany is OF an
extremely practical character In addi-
oon to the various government lofts in
the fortreSSeS and at important strategic
points most of the homing clubs place
their birds in case of need at the dispo-
SitIon Of the state. and in return for this
the same protection is afforded to their
pigeons as to those which are the prop-
ertY Of the government They bear an
"f1clal mark and il is a criminal offense
I" trap or shoot them or to detain them
should they stray into a private loft.
Manchester firm OF mill owners is re-
ported to be possessed OF a pigeon which
has been employed as a messenger from
one mill to another for over ten years.
During that period it has made over
600 journeys and Travelled over 1900
miles. 1t is calculated that to have sent
IN" messages by wire would have cost
$3.50
Homing pigeons are not only endowed
with marvellous speed. but with great en-
DURANGO. few years ago a bird belong-
ing to the late King Edward, who was
q great pigeon enthusiast. as is King
George, won the national race from Ier-
wI"k, covering SO miles at velocity
Of l.T7 yards a minute.
This stands in the records of the Eng
liSh FLYING Club as one of the best per
fprmanCes ever accomplished in connec-
ton with its races. The speed naturally
depends largely on atmospheric condi-
tons. With a strong wind behind a
speed Of i.5ol yards a minute is fairly
common. Whether pigeons return to
their homes ny means Of sight or instinct
is a disputed point, but as long as life
lasts the bird will seek to reach home.