The Columbus weekly courier., 1920-09-17
Pigeon Contest at
Druggists COnvsnLI0n

nU
ono Of lhc most spectacular
sporliue events ever arranged N this
country will be- contested Scnlcm-
ber 25lh. next. when thousands OF
nexall liomins pleeons,s racing Ia
pairs viii ny from nnlnis within 2
radius of 800 miles 81 ~. Louis buck
10 the home lolls 10 that city.
IN order 10 make possible This
race. which will be officially uD-
served by q detail Of Army Officers
sent by The Pigeon Section OF the
signal Corps, lhe biggest Pigeon
Lofts In the world we're construct
ed by the United DRUG Company.
The hest breeding homine pigeons
purchasable were procured, 800 IN
all. and placed IN the breeding lofts.
From This nucleus upwards of 0O0o
of the spcedlcsl and best trained
homcrs hnvn been reared. Each Is
trained 10 he hour aud many are
expected 10 set a new speed mark
and smash old records.
Scores uf married men who have
visited the trcai pigeon loft IN Saint
Louis. VIII moro than 5000 birds
are IN training ior The big Rcxall
Derby. have had revealed iu them
by this fcatherrd elan some hcnuli-
ful examnlrs Of domeslicily.
The most predominant trait In The
character "a, fhe hum'nf pigeon. OF
course. is his love of home. His
birthplace. the loft In which he was
bred. reared and trained. IL home
dn,l no other spot on earth. no mat
'sa how alluring, has any interest
ior him.
He may he carried of. miles from
home. and tossed off into space
Eventually he will return. II may
take days. or Il may be only a mat
ter of hours. lot no anxiety Is felt
on the part Of his mate, for she
knows that he will be back. sooner
or later. Devotion 10 mate and their
young. and love Of home Is 90 dom
inant In their natures that they are
oblivious % all else.
There are no slackcrs IN these
families. Both male and female
gather leaves and stems. and the e.
male sets herself 10 the task OF ac-
lual nest huihiine. Once mated. pig
cons remain mated for life. They
never waNer M their consiancy and
loyalty 10 and love Of mate. Al the
age of thrre months the YOUNG
pigeon looks about for his wife and
once he wins her. and this after the
most ardent wooing. he is hers iill
death and he slaves for her and
their progeny from d1Nn iill dark.
Every day circling over the great
loft in st. Louis. training for the
race, hundreds of pigeons may be
seen. familiarizing themselves with
the home surroundings. and always
with the idea uppcrmosl. OF re-
turning To home and family once thu
flight Is finished.
The care and training Of these
pigeons has been under the direction
of an expert who was In charge OF
the pigeons used on the American
battle front during The world war
Many Of these war pigeons won dis
iinciion and were hailed a. heroes
because OF their intrepid and un-
erring flights through rain Of bull
lets and shrapnels, bringing back
10 headquarters messages from OBJ
servers al the front that resulted In
saving the lives of hundreds Of the
American boys In the battle line.
Some of these hero birds are 10 be
sent to.Si Louis by the q. 5. Army
and will be- exhibited In the Rexall
Lofts foe the benefit OF the thou
sands Of Rexall Delegates 10 the
Convention.
Pigeons are going 10 he sent Ia
hexall druggists within five hun
dred miles Of 81. Iouis. AZ speci-
fled hour pair 0f these birds will
be released by the mayor. some
other official, on girl delegated by
the mayor. and sent on iis way Ia
ST. Louis. Each bird will carry a
bird message beneath ils wing ad-
dressed 10 the Governor ~ Missouri,
who personally will he at the Raxall
loft Ia receive a. Hundlcaps as "a
time and distance have been worked
out and the first bird trapped in At
The hexall Lofl will win the golden
prize.
The race Is 10 be the browning
! faaItsua ~ A..