Fatal Accident While Hunting Pigeons in Tamarack Swamp

Just after midnight on Friday night, Mr. Madison Shoemaker, of Colebrook, accompanied by a young man named Finley, were hunting in the great pigeon roost in the Tamarack Swamp in Bloomfield in this County; while Finley was carrying the gun on his shoulder, and Shoemaker was walking behind, the charge in the gun exploded, the load entering the body of Shoemaker just above the breast bone, killing him instantly. The place where the accident happened, was near the west side of the swamp, and it required the utmost exertions of six men, for six hours, to convey the body through the swamp, to the eastern side.

Mr. Shoemaker was about fifty years of age, and leaves a wife and several children.

March 7, 1860. Fatal accident. Western Reserve Chronicle 44(30): 3.

Millions of Wild Pigeons Over Cincinnati

Millions of wild pigeons passed over Cincinnati on Sunday. A great fuss is made in this State when a single bill passes over the head of the Governor, and we wonder what Cincinnati must have thought when so many bills passed over her head in a single day.

March 29, 1860. [Millions of wild pigeons over Cincinnati.] Jeffersonian 19(12): 1.

Sky-Rockets Among Pigeons at Cleveland

A few days since, while the wild pigeons were flying in innumerable quantities over the city, Mr. Geo. N. Baker, proprietor of the pyrotechnics establishment at the corner of Perry and Superior street, thought he would see what effect his fire-works would have upon the feathered tribe, and upon trial discovered a new field for sporting gentlemen to humor their fancy. Just as a large flock approached he sent hissing through their midst a half dozen heavy rockets, producing a wild and irrepressible consternation; at once the vast flock would change its course, while the greatest number would come down within a few yards of the ground, wandering about in wild confusion. One heavy rocket bursting just before a large flock and shooting out its hundred fiery, hissing serpents, had the effect to send the whole brood flying upwards until it was lost to the sight. In many instances large numbers, diving in wild confusion to the earth, were captured by boys in the neighborhood, who together with many people who happened to be on the ground enjoyed the sport as peculiar original and well worthy 'The Spirit of the Times.' — Cleveland Plaindealer.

April 5, 1860. Sky-Rockets among pigeons. Jeffersonian 19(13): 1. Also April 4, 1860 in the Daily Dispatch, issued at Richmond Virginia.

Pigeons Flying in Numbers at Urbana

During the past week the wild pigeons have been flying about in such numbers as would gladden the heart of any Jerseyman. Geese and ducks also abound; among the most attractive of the latter being a duck of a bonnet, just introduced as the spring style. We haven't heard the name, but it seems especially adapted to lover's "au revoirs" and affectionate adieuxes. That is, the bonnet is so far from the face that it will act as no preventing providence.

March 7, 1866. [Pigeons flying in numbers.] Urbana Union 5(50): 3.

Clouds of Pigeons at Cincinnati

The atmosphere of Cincinnati was disturbed on Thursday, by the flight of prodigious flocks of pigeons, the whir of whose innumerable wings at times was heard like the rush of the wind through a leafy wilderness. It is conjectured that this extraordinary movement of birds indicates the breaking up of a pigeon roost in Indiana. The pigeons were flying from the southeast to the northwest out of range.

March 14, 1866. Clouds of pigeons. Western Reserve Chronicle 51(30): 2.

Beech Forests in Ohio Alive with Wild Pigeons

The beech forests in the vicinity of Wilmington, Ohio, are said to be alive with wild pigeons.

June 13, 1866. [Beech forests alive with wild pigeons.] Urbana Union 5(12): 2.

Market Price for Wild Pigeons at Urbana Ohio

In the good old times of 11 to 15 years ago, one could get all the wild pigeons desired for 20 to 25 cts, a doz. Last week all brought to town were readily disposed of for 75 cts. a dozen. In the good old times, however, you could shoot 'em with a club — they were so plentiful; not you have to take 'em on the fly. And if you do take a pigeon on the fly, it's fowl. Pigeons are selling in West Liberty for 50 cents a dozen.

April 14, 1869. [Market price for wild pigeons at Urbana.] Urbana Union 8(4): 3.

Wild Pigeons at Bellefontaine in Ohio

The multitude of these feathered esculents that has visited our country this Spring, has provided quite an unexpected source of revenue, to the people in the southern part of the county — the birds being snared and shot by the thousands of dozens and shipped to New York and other points. Parties from N.Y. , and Michigan are here to capture and buy — and thousands of dollars have already been realized by our citizens. One of the New York men snare sixty-five dozens in one forenoon.

April 10, 1873. Wild pigeons. Tiffin Tribune 25(26): 3. From the Bellefontaine Republican.

Large Numbers of Wild Pigeons Killed at Ohio

Large numbers of wild pigeons have been killed at Chardon, Ohio, with clubs while passing over the place in flocks.

May 19, 1834. [Large numbers of wild pigeons killed.] New-Hampshire Patriot 6(255): 2.

Plenty of Pigeons in Ohio

We learn from the Repository, printed at Canton, Stark county, Ohio, that wild pigeons were so abundant in the neighborhood of that place on the 26 of October, that of several parties of sportsmen who had gone out in pursuit of them, one killed 1100, another 1000, another 900, and several others from 5 to 600. The game was afterwards distributed gratis to the citizens of Canton. We should like to have such a flight of them in our neighborhood of Stroudsburg, to let our sportsmen try their fowling pieces at them.

November 23, 1843. Plenty of pigeons. Jeffersonian Republican 4(33): 2.

Pigeons Pass Over Cincinnati in Magnitudes

The Cincinnati Chronicle says that on the morning of the 21st, the whole Southern horizon was covered with pigeons, which continued to move on over the face of the skies, in squadrons of various magnitude, forming an innumerable army of this prolific bird. They were moving northwardly, as the Spring approaches.

The same paper of a later date, says: — "The Pigeons continue to pass over the city in immense flocks. A friend told us yesterday, that the woods in Kentucky are filled with them. Fine sport over the way."

March 11, 1847. Pigeons. Jeffersonian Republican 7(38): 3.

Thousand and Thousands of Pigeons

Ten thousand times ten thousands and thousands and thousands of pigeons are seen wending their way from the South until they reach the Lake shore, when they would suddenly perform a summerset, and turn back in the direction they came. The mild weather of the last few days has no doubt deceived them, and when they get in sight of the snows of Canada, they turn back. It is said that millions are found dead on the snows of the Province. — Cleveland Plaindealer, Jan. 23.

February 8, 1851. Pigeons - pigeons. New York Daily Tribune 10(3062): 7.

Flock of Wild Pigeons at Columbus

A flock of wild pigeons, estimated at two millions in number, passed over Columbus, Ohio, last week. The Journal has the birds accurately counted.

April 15, 1852. [Flock of wild pigeons at Columbus.] Jeffersonian Republican 12(28): 2.

Immense Numbers of Wild Pigeons Surrounding St. Clairsville

Immense numbers of wild pigeons are now in the woods surrounding our village. They are fat and plump, and it seems the sportsman's harvest. We heard of a person who had taken about six hundred in a net the present season.

April 3, 1856. [Immense numbers of wild pigeons surrounding St. Clairsville.] Belmont Chronicle 8(26): 2. Published at St. Clairsville.

Wild Pigeons Appear at Ashtabula

Wild Pigeons have made their appearance in this vicinity. Immense flocks are continually passing over our village. We understand they are preparing to nest in the hemlocks. — Ashtabula Sentinel.

March 24, 1858. [Wild pigeons appear at Ashtabula.] Western Reserve Chronicle 42(32): 2.

Wild Pigeons on the Wing at Ashtabula

The pigeons roost up at Ashtabula is clearing out. The Sentinel says;

One of the most numerous flight of wild pigeons we have witnessed took place on Friday of last week. For a time the heavens were almost black with them, stretching at times from horizon to horizon. Their course was westerly.

November 25, 1859. Wild pigeons on the wing. Dayton Daily Empire 10(276): 2.

Pigeon Roost in Ohio

Chilicothe, (Ohio,) Oct. 7.

Pigeons, in numbers exceeding all calculation, have, for several weeks, been collected on the waters of Sciota, Brush Creek, a few miles east of the Furnaces, in Adams county. Their roost extends over an acre of ground about a quarter of a mile in length and breadth. To this place they collect in the evening; and, in the morning, they rise in a cloud, and literally darken the air. To persons a mile distant, their noise, when on the roost, seems to resemble the sound of a distant water fall. The trees and shrubs which form their roost are bent to the ground by their weight. They are destroying the white oak mast, which is abundant in that district of country; and fears are entertained that the fields of ripening corn will not escape their ravages. Many of them have been beaten down with stick and caught in the night, by the surrounding inhabitants.

October 20, 1820. [Pigeon roost in Ohio.] Washington D.C. Daily National Intelligencer 8(2426): 2. Also: October 23, 1820 in The American; November 4, 1820 in Carolina Sentinel.

Innumerable Quantities of Pigeons Collecting

Delaware, (Ohio) Nov. 30.

Innumerable quantities of pigeons have been collecting in this and the adjoining county of Franklin for a few days past. In the neighborhood of Worthington, in particular, in the fore part of last week they were much more numerous than ever before known in this part of the country. Any description of which we are capable would be inadequate to convey an idea of their numbers. For nearly an hour on Tuesday evening last the horizon was darkened with them as far as the eye could extend, in every direction, and immense numbers had preceded this main body. In their flight, and when collected at their roost, (which is from two to three miles southeast from Worthington) they make a noise resembling a distant waterfall, and which may be distinctly heard more than two miles. The most credulous will scarcely believe, without actually seeing, what havoc is made among the trees on the ground they have chosen for a roost. We had the curiosity to visit this ground, and actually saw two trees, (elm and oak,) from 18 inches to two feet in diameter, which were broken down and turned out at the roots by them.

Many of the citizens in the neighborhood of this ground amuse themselves by shooting them at night, and as many as from 500 to 800 have been brought in of a morning — as many as 20 have been brought down at one shot. The ground occupied as a roost is an oblong of about 3 1-4 miles in length, by 2 miles in width, and every twig within these bounds is loaded with them each night. They will probably continue until they destroy a great portion of the beech and oak mast, which is very plenty this season.

December 17, 1821. Pigeons. New Hampshire Patriot 3(51): 2.

Multitudes of Pigeons Over Piqua in Ohio

Innumerable multitudes of wild pigeons were passing over the town of Piqua, in Ohio, the first week in January. The editor of the Piqua paper estimates that one flock was 30 miles in length; they were observed in every direction as far as they eye could reach, obscuring the atmosphere, and making a noise like a strong rush of wind.

February 13, 1829. Pigeons. New Bedford Mercury 22(32): 1.

April Arrival of the Bluebird

Anonymous. April 23, 1859. The blue bird. Dayton Daily Empire 10(81): 1.

I am so blithe and glad to day!

At morn I heard a blue bird sing;

The blue-bird, warbling soul of spring,

The prophet of the leafy May —

And I knew the violets under the tree

Would listen and look the bird to see,

Peeping timidly here and there

In purple and odor to charm the air;

And the wind flower lifts its rose veined cup

In the leaves of the old year buried up;

And all the delicate buds that bloom

On the moss beds, deep in the forest gloom,

Would stir in their slumber and catch the strain,

And dream of the sun and the April rain —

For spring has come when the blue-bird sings

And folds in the maple his glossy wings,

And the wind may blow and the storm may fall,

But the voice of summer is heard in all.

 

I am so blithe and glad to day!

My heart, beside the blue-bird sings,

And folds, serene, its weary wings,

And knows the hours lead on to May!