LONGEST PIGEON RACE IN ENGLAND.

Evening Star, Issue 4081, 25 March 1876, Page 2 (Supplement)

LONGEST PIGEON RACE IN ENGLAND.

A race froin Newcastle to Brighton, under the management of the Brighton and Sussex Pigeon Society, took place on July 7 last. Eight birds competed, and were received at Newcastle by the Secretary of the Newcastle Columbarian Society, in accordance with previous arrangement. The birds were privately stamped on the tail by Mr J. P. Taylor, of Newcastle, the color, markings, &c., being particularly noted by Mr Cuthbertson, of London, and a stamp (the Prince of Wales* feather) put on the wing of each bird by Mr Anderson, the secretary of the Newcastle Club, unknown to any other person. Punctually at 5.30 a.m., the morning being calm and clear, with a slight south-west wind blowing,' the birds were liberated together in the presence of about a dozen members of the Newcastle Society. Immediately on leaving the basket the birds took a southerly direction without making a turn of any kind, and in the short space of fifty seconds were out of view. Shortly after 5 p.m. telegrams were received from Brighton by Mr Anderson, stating that the first bird homed at 4h 22m 15s p.m., second at 4h Ora 15s, third, at 4h 22m 30s, and fourth at 5 p.m. The telegram also described the different marks as stamped on the birds, thus proving beyond a doubt that the distance had been accomplished.