Evening star., 1925-09-26
FEATHERED RACERS
START.LONG FLIGHT
5000 Homing Pigeons Set
Free at Union Station for
20O-MiIe Contest.

A cloud Of dust, the almost sinul-
taneous Tapping OF 1000 pairs Of
cramped wings and Il furry of feath-
ers. was all that marked the start in
Washington today of the annual
classic of the New Jersey Homing
Pigeon Concourse Association. 200
mile event for young racing pigeons.
The pick of the Spring crop Of the
pigeon fancierS of New Jersey was en-
tered in the race - 1000 birds who
through previous tests had proven
their stamina to fly long distances at
great speed. To the owners Of the
winners will go approximately $1,000
in prizes.
These racers, brought here from the
lofts Of pigeon fanciers in Newark,
Paterson, Jersey City, New Bruins
wick, Boundbrook. Sayreville, Plain
field, Bloomfield and Staten Island,
were liberated simultaneously from a
score or more of coops near the Union
Station train shed at precisely 9:10
O'Clock this morning.
In one immense flock. the birds
made wide circle to the northwest OF
the railroad terminal and then headed
due north, as If following the railroad
tracks. In less than a minute the
great flock was too far away for the
naked eye to discern.
Wind Is nfavOrable.
Some OF the pigeons in the race
have flown at an average speed of
1,s00 yards a minute under favorable
conditions. Others have records rang
ing from 1900 to 1000 yards a min
ute. An unfavorable wind, blowing
briskly from the east at the start OF
the race, however. may prevent the
birds from establishing a new record
In the 200-miIa event
Officials of the International Fedora
t1on OF the American Homing Pigeon
Association, as well as few OF the
owners of the prize pigeons entered
in the race, witnessed the starting.
Among them were John II. Holrnead
OF Washington, president of the Inter
national Federation; J. f. Barrels,
president Of the Greater Newark As
sociation: W. G.. Cow of Newark, H.
G. Burke of the District, Norris S.
Grossman of Paterson, Harry II. Jones
Of Newark, Thomas Wilson of Newark,
A. S. Johnstone Of the District, secre-
tary-treasurer Of the international
Federation, and Jack Rost of Newark
official liberator and convoyer of the
association.
1t was Mr.. Rost who accompanied
the birds TO Washington Thursday in
a special express car. He watered and
fed them and gave them as much care
as a trainer would give thoroughbred
race horse.
Arrivals to Be Checked.
When the pigeons drop into their
home lofts, ending the 200-mile fight,
arrangements have been made Off
ctally to check the time of arrival.
Officials of the association have an ac-
curate air line distance from Wash
ington to the loft of every bird en-
tered In the race, and point out that a
fraction Of a second may determine
the winner.
All Of the birds have a ring on each
leg-one giving the date of birth and
the number OF the owner, another
bearing the seal and number Of the
racing association. The latter Will be
removed at the close of the race and
checked by the official time clock.
Some of the pigeons may not reach
their destination. In previous events,
it was pointed out. hunters and 9TH
ers, mistaking the focks of racers for
wild birds, have fired at them, always
killing number.