The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-06-28
Death of Hero who Crossed the
Andes in the Dead of Winter.


The life of Col. Ezekiel Jewett, which
came to close in Santa Barbara this
morning, has been a most eventful one.
Col. Jewett was born in Rindge, New
Hampshire, Oct. 16, 1871. At very
early age he evinced decided passion
for military life, and at the age when
most boys are engaged in multiplication
and conjugation he had been chosen
captain of a company of State militia.
The war of 1912 was an exceedingly un-
popular one in his section, but despite
the frowns of the Federalists he sue
ceeded in being commissioned as ensign
in the Eleventh United States Infantry,
and soon after the breaking out of hos
tilities he was ordered with his regiment
to the Niagara frontier. He partici-
pated in all the most important engage
ments, including Chippewa, Lundy's
Lane, and Fort Erie. At the siege OF
the latter, by a dashing act of valor in
repelling storming party, young jew
ett was so fortunate as to engage the at
tention of that chieftain, then in the sun
rise of his fame, Winfield Scott. From
that hour a warm friendship existed be-
tween the two until the death of Gen.
Scott.
The war had closed, but such an adj
venturous spirit as his could i'll brook
| the piping times of peace. Gen. Car
| rera, the President of the young Chilian
republic, visited this country to obtain
| arms and the aid of American officers
to assist in throwing off the Spanish
| x,ol-a Tho 1oro IF a6vopt,1ro and tho
thought of aiding the cause of liberty,
drew Jewett to join him, and in COM
pany with Gen. Carrera and a number
of American, French and English Of
ficers, he sailed for Buenos Ayres.
| Upon arriving at that port, the inter-
nal commotions of the country delayed
their further progress, and Carrera and
a number of his officers were imprison-
ed. Jewett was soon after released, and,
as bearer of dispatches, endeavored to
make the journey across the continent
to Santiago The first distance of 900
miles to Mendoza, at the foot of the An
des, was accomplished by relays of
horses in eleven days. To cross the
Andes at that time (the dead of winter)
was considered impossible, but the ar
dor of a young soldier accomplished
what sager heads would have given up
in despair.
| After many trying adventures, Jewett
and his guides accomplished the pas
sage, and in eleven days from leaving
Mendoza reached a small village on the
Pacific side The inhabitants were as
much surprised to see them as though
!. they had descended from the clouds.
Soon after his arrival at Santiago, jew
EFT was placed in command of the Chill
ian cavalry, and for over two years
welded his sword in defense of the lib.
, erty of Chilli This having been accom-
, plished, in 1918 he returned to his ma
, tive land. In 1926, Col. Jewett receiy.
, ed an appointment in the Quartermastel
, Department, and for seventeen years
was in charge of Fort Niagara. While a
this fort he laid the foundation of thai
r fame which will be more lasting thar
the glories he won in the service of Mar
t his labors as scientist. In the &C day.
: of 40" Col. Jewett became attracted t.
this coast, and sailed for San Francisco
: where he arrived in October Of tina
, year. After few months spent in pros
, pecting, he came to Santa Barbara, com
, missioned by firm in San Francisco t.
make explorations for the discovery o
quicksilver. He remained here for sev
eral months, and is well remembered b
our older citizens.
The Jewett collection of geology
y probably the most complete and valua
It BILE in its departments of any extant.
e was almost entirely collected by Co
: Jewett. In concho1ogy his name wi
# be linked with the very choice collectio
e now in possession of his daughter. Dul
n ing the lifetime of Agassiz, that gres
g naturalist was proud to hold him as on
l. of his warmest friends. The loss of h
/. wife, most talented and estimable lady
IS which occurred in 1868, had a depres'
ii ing effect upon him, but up to the la
d he was what nature made him, a kint
9 courteous, noble-hearted gentleman
= Col. Jewett left but two children,
D. daughter, Mrs. A. A. Boyce of this cit,
4, and son, the Hon. j. L. Jewett
20 Omaha, Nebraska.-Santa Barba,
st (Cal.) Press.
~ ILL-GoTTEN gain is hard to keep. S
. years ago one Hine, teller in the M
- - haiwe Bank, of Great Darlington, Ma
- sachusetts, stole from the bank 90
~ ~ after which he absconded to Californi
r "t Afterward, being convicted, he was Sc
~ ~ to prison. While there it was learn'
10 10 from his letters, which were opened
~ ~. the jailer, that one Barry, of Barrin
~ ~ ton, helped him to get away on Il
~ - night of the robbery. For this servi
e Hine paid him S1,700, with $1,000
VI which Barry's parents bought real estai