New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-24
PUTNAM FAMOUS RIDE.
HOW HE GALLOPED DOWN STAIRS.
THE "uoRsENEcKn WHERE HE ESCAPED AND

THE "UORSENECK'' WHERE HE ESCAPED AND
THE TAVERN WHERE HE WAS SHAVING.
Greenwich. Conn. Aug. 90 spccaD.-"s SO this is
Puts IIilI- said a young lady as she lonnged I'D an
easy carriage while II slowly assembled gentle grade
in the old Boston post road where 1t entc:s Green
witch village from the cast. NO one wouiu guess
from any OF the present indications tat mere u Wa
that gallant Israel Putnam "stumped' the hhghsh
cavalry TO follow him and his horse over precipoe
The Young lady whose remark Is quoted must nave
been q resident OF the town, or else she mns' nave
been Informed by her friends possibly by driver
With historical tastes Certainly the immediate
neghborhood is unpromising field In winch 10 se'h
information The occupants Of the cottages Or cter
side of the road showed amentsble ignorance oi inc
locality when asked for information By IriDuhe
correspondent the most Interested person being an
old colorcd cook who stoutly averrcd that zoe Put
went right down Obcr dat rock by dem bushes
knows de place, sah It's right dar'
According 10 the nearest neighbors, the doughty
general tumbled the rocks all along on bolh
sides Of the road for dozen rods. lie must nave
gone over broadsde on 30 cover all the ground But
Of course all ncghbos wish TO claim that he made
the great plunge for liberty on the ground they now
own or occupy. on inquiry among older inhabitants
In the centre Of the town more exact Information was
gained Indeed Greenwich is at bottom proud OF
The memories OF Putnam, and 1t Is wonder that con
flaming As II does, so many rich people, the town
has not erected monument on the scene OF PuthaiiS
exploit a ride as famous any In history or fiction.
Pau Revere Tam O'Shantcr or John Gllpin probably
never presented more startling spectacle OF rcck-
less riding than did old Putnam on March 90
I770 lie tore down across the fsc Of this rvk. guiding
his horse now into path. through the trees
across the lodges into the old stone stairway mat
led 10 the church. and down IL to the road leading
to stamford Bystanders said afterward that Putnam
was cursne the British furlorisy a. he rode
he lcgin NJ flmOuS
must 60 westward on rutnam-sve. perhaps furlonc,
10 where stands the vcrltabls house In which he was
surprised by the British troops. II was then tavern,
kept by Israel Knapp. and in II the old Connecticut
hero pursuing the innocent occupation OF shaving
when all at he reflected In his mirror the
advance OF 800 hOrsemen. led by Governor Tryon.
from New-Yorl. coming Ia capture him. small
wonder he sworc he spurcd for the hillside aud
liberty.
The old honse + now let for the summer TO city
family From IT. front It doe, not al first bctray
IT. age. But notes the big square chimney
In the middle of the roof. the solid stone kith hen
Indian proof, built the east end. aud the low
quantity shaped windows IN The gables that light
the attic 1t we'll preserved old hon'e and deserves
70 have a suitable tablet procaimng IT. age and IT.
distinguished history.
IL Is related that Putnam had LETT thirteen men
at the old Congregational Church the brow Of the
hill Among them was Lieutenant Isaac Woed, whose
descendants Including young LADY with literary CUTS
now live in othc town. The General hastily ordered
these pon q retreat and meet HIN at the swainpS
further ON. where he had $50 men and two cannon
IL was possibly a. a nsc a. foil the British and pre-
vent the capture Of th~ forc that Putnam then took
a different path and drew the British pursuit. after
him. lie went on 10 stamford. hastily collected
ndfnl Of militia aud followed the returning British
10 Pcrtche,ter. killing many and takins ;lhrtyeisht
prisoners. 1t Is and that Tryon - greatly admired
the Connecticut leader that he sent him a new mt
Of clothes To replace the that lad been well
rIddlcd by bullets. torn by trees ana spIa'hcd WIN
mud IT, his prccpitltc retreat
The old stone church stood the brow OF the hill
where now stands the cottage occupied BY George A.
sheldon and owned by Mrs. Mllhank. IT, memory
j. pepetaated In the much larger. stone Church built
further west the same STREET, with a loily stone
sprc aud open tefry, forming land mark for dozen
miles around Not only has the old church entirely
d-appcard but also the gt Of seventy stone steps
up which the Ievercn col1nlstS from West Greenwich
Mlanus and Riverside tDled sunday mornings TO
worship These steps led up dlagOnally TO the lrit
from the old road which curved OF up the hill 70 the
right the point OF divergence being about III the
middle OF the modern road. The ascent is now an
easy one for the rock has been blasted away at the
top while for long distance before reaching the ledge
the rad has been graded up. IL is Just al The noth
Of the present road that has bot reason To fancy
IN, can the mitrs Of the Iron hOOfs OF Pntuam's
charge H. he slid down the ledge. There i sort OF
natural stairway hdc. the ciin not being TOO pc
,apltOds for q feat like Futnaius and sort OF COW
path below leads into the main road. following much
the the closest students OF inc subject
think must have been taken by Putnam. IL Is need
,e, 10 say that the startling picture that adors The
old histories and reading books, showing Putnam
eallopng down long flight OF lmpoSsbly stccp stairs.
i greatly overdrawn Ict must not bclittlc the
old herO's fc1t, pain 81 merting the chdgh mat
fell 10 young Engi,hmln who Wa Observing the
scene Of the exploit.
"Awl That not such very daring ride Ia
make 50 much Of IN history" said he.
Perhaps not said his Yankee glldc, "but YOU
fellows dbrcn't follow hlih, ara You wanted I" eaten
him awful bad
\ monument 70 commemorate this deed and mark
the spot could not have more charming natural site
than the Of the ledge the north sid" OF the
road. Here under tall trc j. natural level plateau
whence one may look across the wide valley 10 STAN
ford or out upon the sail dotted sound. Some day
Greenwich will honor herself by placing a monument