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Reading the News of the Fall of Sebastopol at Ceylon, 1856. Creator: Unknown
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Reading the News of the Fall of Sebastopol at Ceylon, 1856. Creator: Unknown
Reading the News of the Fall of Sebastopol at Ceylon, 1856. Crimean War news. Engraving...from a photograph by Mr. Parting...representing the scene in the Colombo Observer office during the reading of a carrier-pigeon express containing the details...of the fall of Sebastopol...Dr. Elliott's carrier-pigeon express had been recognised as a public institution of the greatest possible value, in the absence of a line of electric telegraph to connect Colombo, the capital of the island, with the port of Galle, at which the steamers touch. The distance is seventy-two miles, the road being almost a straight line, and our pigeons usually accomplish the passage, well laden with manuscript and printed slips, in from one to two hours...When pigeons occasionally go astray, driven out of their course by a strong wind...they are almost invariably caught and sent to the Observer office by the natives...'. From "Illustrated London News", 1856
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Media ID 36338021
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British India British Raj Carrier Pigeon Ceylon Ceylonese Colombo Sri Lanka Communication Crimean War Good News Imperialism News Pigeon Sri Lanka Sri Lankan The Raj Top Hat Top Hats Tophat British Empire
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This engraving, titled 'Reading the News of the Fall of Sebastopol at Ceylon, 1856,' depicts an excited scene in the Colombo Observer office as the latest news from the Crimean War is being read aloud from a carrier pigeon. The image is based on a photograph taken by an unknown photographer named Mr. Parting. At the time, Dr. Elliott's carrier-pigeon express was a vital source of communication in Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), where the capital Colombo was not yet connected to the port of Galle by a telegraph line. The seventy-two-mile distance between the two locations was often bridged by these winged messengers, who carried manuscript and printed slips, and typically completed the journey in just one to two hours. The importance of the pigeons is underlined by the fact that when they occasionally strayed from their course, they were invariably caught and sent to the Observer office by the native population. In this instance, the arrival of a carrier pigeon bearing the news of the fall of Sebastopol, a major victory for the Allied forces, was met with great anticipation and excitement. The engraving captures the moment as the news is being read aloud, with the assembled crowd leaning in to hear every detail. The image offers a fascinating glimpse into the past, illustrating the role of carrier pigeons as essential communication tools during a time before modern telegraphy.
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