Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1897-04-30

hold up its head
with the best OF EN-, says London.
Several hundred stage coaches and al
least 1900 horses were employed in
daily transit through the High street
OF what was, for most coaches. the first
stage on the important road to Wind
sor, Staines, Bath Bristol and the west
OF England generally. 1t was here that
t!mid travellers first experienced un-
comfortable apprehensions in regard to
these whom they might meet on the
road. for only short way out of the
then fiourishing Middlesex town began
the dreaded Hounslow heath. And.
truly. twas enough to give one pause,
for a more desolate and awesome waste
than was presented by the noted rem
devious of highwaymen at that time
could scarcely be imagined. To begin
with, 1t was entirely uninclosed, and
Its area had been variously recorded at
1922 and 6,65S acres. Many and ter
rible were the stories in circulation as
to the boldness and ferocity of the
footpads and mounted robbers who fire.
quented the hiding places in the vi
clnity, so that 1t is no wonder the
guards cautiously examined the prim-
ings of their huge blunderbusses as the
gallant eauipages left the Bell inn be-
hind them on starting across this
wilderness. Moreover, there were many
gibbets to be seen (some even as late
as 1890, with their noisome occupants
exposing bleached skeletons to the
shuddering passerby. The heath has
undoubtedly been the scene OF many
sanguinary encounters between the
peaceable wayfarer and the adventure
Gus robber. The great Dick Turpin, al
though he is supposed to have paid
more devoted attention to the York
road than to the Bath road, was con-
cerned in many OF these eXploits-ac-
cording to well-established local tradi-
tiOn that is, and to much indirect evil
dence which seems to bear the impress
of probability.
1t is also related that Dick once met
poor laborer returning homeward on
a Saturday night with his scant pit
lance hidden in his pockets under his
huge "smock frock. The robber hap
pened to be pressed for even few shil-
lings, and he forthwith stopped the
man, near a place known as the Ave-
nue., at Crawford. The poor fellow read
lily parted with 1.-THE siller" on hearing
Dick Turpin's name, but was not sur
prised to receive promise that II he
would attend certain place at nm an
pointed time the amount would be re-
stored. He did attend and received
not only his own again but substan-
tial addition. The story goes that at
the first meeting. at the mans request,
Turpin discharged a pistol through his
smOck frock, SO that all beholders
might realize that meeting with the
noted rascal had actually taken place.
At the same time 1t should be stated
that the tales told OF Turpin in the vi
entity today are generally tinged with
a shade of respect. II not exactly of adj
miration. and he would seem to have
enjoyed well-established reputation
for generous and kindly dealing with
all the poorer classes with whom he
came in contact.
To find the spot where these events
OF a long past era occurred would be
now an impossible task, for the heath
was many years since brought into cul.
tivation. But those who care to take
stroll through the present-dav
Hounslow will find much that is OF in
terest to reward them. You may still
discern. in the quaint old tavern signs
and names. some reflection of past
glories. The roomy stables Of the an
cient time speak eloQuently, in their
dreary solitude, Of the hustle and an
imatiOn once to be seen in the palmy
coaching days. Some time, pertains.
Hounslow will have the laugh. when
the motor car has done its work in our
horseyards of the next few years OF
grace. The High street VIRTUALLY the
streeO presents as many specimens Of
the architecture of the last $50 years az
the ordinary man can desire The past
and present are inextricably mixed. and
at length the group of old houses
known as "Turpin's cottages" is in
course of demolition, to allow Of the
building of modern postofiice. Dick
Turpin is further reported to have
many times lodged in the buildinx
which was known as the Cock tavern.
once the oldest house" in Hounslcw
Subsequently the inn was divided hy
slight partitions into private dwellings
and the title was dropped. The block
was entirely swept away in 1866.