The Western Pigeon Review from Topeka, Kansas • 2

2 THE WESTERN PIGEON REVIEW. TOPEKA SHOW JOTTINGS Who ever thought the Western boys had such crack birds. You Eastern fellows will have a think coming when you meet some of them. I leave for Kansas City and the Mid-Continental Show to-morrow. Two hundred of the best Topeka birds go with me: Keep your eyes on them.

I shall feel more than repaid for time lost on my Western judging trip if I find the quality there 1 met in Topeka. Mr. Daily of Texas (not Potter of Texas) sends a team of Blue Pouters, four birds, winners of tour firsts and special, for best Pouter in show that I expect to see come out the same way at Kansas City. Mr. Daily ts a fancier of the right type.

D.L.Bruen of Humphrey, has a team of about forty birds here, and was a daily attendent to the show. He surprised all the boys one night by giving us a double shuffle in regular up to date form. The way that Nebraska farmer can handle his feet is a sight. Come again Dock and dont forget that black eyed girl. Its a shame to leave all those girls on the dairy while the old man is having all kinds of fun.

Hot show: Well I should say yes, so hot the roof got on fire the first night and we had the whole fire department out. Thats no josh, ask any of the Topeka boys. I dont know of any other shows so hot thetthey are wearing gold medals for setting the root on fire. Charley Heuschelle of St. Joseph, Mo.

was down the first day. Couldnt trust his pets with some one else of course, well thats right old man; sorry you couldnt stay longer. Wanted to see Spies Fans awful bad; rushed down to every train to get a squint at them and they were in the show all the time. Well square up the next time we meet. You see it was this way.

Spies sends about thirty five Fans in show cages formerly owned by C. W. Robinson, with his name on and we all supposed they were Robinsons birds. After Heus-chelle is gone Jack Lucas gets it in his head that Spies bought birds of Robinson and got his show cages. Then we get things straightened out.

Speaking of Jack Lucas, makes me think of the time we had in the second story behind closed doors with Will Buck, the great Dane man. Osceola Bey is a gaeat dog, but I preferred the puppies. Tom and Jerry and Whiskey Cocktail. Two great pups and suit me to a T. I fancy Jack did not like them very well, too strong in the hind quarters.

Sorry you couldnt come back to the show that afternoon old mau, we missed you. Mr. M. F. Hankla has a great string of inside Tumblers on exhibition, not for competition, he has the boys all faded here.

I consider them the best birds I ever saw. In fact I think he has bred them a little too fine, but I dont know of any of you other fellows that ever had this misfortune. These birds go to Kansas City for competition. Henry Checksfield Jr. of Topeka has a crack string of colored Fantails in the show that gave a good account of themselves.

Blues, Blacks, Reds and Yellows and some great birds in the lot. A pair of little blacks and blues hard to beat. Cheeky is a fancier of the right stamp, and sure to make his mark, keep your eyes on this boy. Ihe Hon. Isaac Sheetz is another boy that knows a good bird when he sees it.

Any one can tell that by running their eye down his cages. One hundred birds in all and not a poor one in the lot. Ike wins special for best Jack in show and special for best carrier in show with two crack birds. Then he sells a bird once in a while too, just to help pay the feed bill. I saw him open a letter and pull out a N.Y.

Draft for $100.00 just to pass the time a-way. Some fellow gets ten good good Pouters for that hundred, several winners of first here. Both Mr. Adam Royers and Will Ramsberger have some good birds and take their share of prizes look out for them next year you Topeka fanciers. Mr.

Royers is Blue Pouters, and he has a good start. Mr. Ramsberger breeds Owls, Pouters and Barbs and wins special for best Owl in show with a very fine English cock. John Haman is an old vetern in the faucy, and made the boys all step around. He owns just about the best Black Fan in the business, a little black cock that is a hnm-mer and the best black I ever saw.

Wonderful style, perfect color, great action and grand snaky head and neck, fine flat tail, full in center and large cushion. While this cock is less than 6 months old and his tail mostly nest feathers he wins special for best Black tantail in show against twenty black and not a poor one in the lot. Mr. Isedor Ellion of Colorado and H.C. Vesper of Topeka both breed inside Tumblers exclusively and won the majority of the prizes with some as good birds as I would care to own.

Mr. Brooks and Mr. Mears also had some fine birds that won first. Mr. F.

J. Spies Jr. of Creston, Iowa has a great team of white and colord Fans on exhibition, some thirty five birds in all that goto Kansas City. His 97 White Cock is a jewel, wonderful large full tail and grand style and body, wins special for first Fantail in show: His reds, Yellows and Blacks are away up and fit for competition. In Whites Mr.

Spies divides honors with Mr. Heuchelle, all grand birds. Mr. F. O.

Homel of Chicago is a plucky fancier to send a string of eighteen homers for competition, all crack birds, stout sturdy.