The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1897-03-20

n.y. ancient town Of
hold up is head
with the best OF EN-. says London.
Several hundred stage coaches and at
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, Stalnes. Bath. Bristol and the west
Of England generally. II was here that
timid travellers nrst experienced un-
comfortable apprehensions In regard TO
those whom they might meet on the
road. for only short way out OF the
then hourlshing Middlesex town began
the dreaded Hounslow heath. And,
truly. twas enough 20 give one pause.
FOR a more desolate and awes0me waste
than was presented by the noted rem
devious OF hlghwaymen at that time
could scarcely be imagined. To begin
with. Il was entirely unlnclosed. and
its area had been yariously recorded AZ
i.292 and 6.G5S acres. Many and ter
rible were the stories In circulation as
TO the boldness and feroclty Of the
iooipads and mounted robbers who fire.
quented the hiding places In the VI
ciniV. 20 that Il Is no wonder the
guards cautiously examined the prim-
ings OF their huge blunderbusses as the
gallant equipages left the Bell inn be-
hind them on starting across this
wilderness. Moreover there were many
gibbois 10 be seen (somo even as late
as 1880. with their nolsome occupants
exposing bleached skeletons 10 the
shuddoring passerhy. The heath has
undoubtedly been the scene OF many
sangiinary encounters between the
peaceable wayfarer and the adyontur-
Gus robber. The great Dick Turpln. al
though he Is supposed 10 have paid
more devoted attention 10 the York
road than to the Bath road. was con
,erncd In many OF these exploits ac-
,ording 10 well-establlshcd local tradi-
ion. that Is. and to much Indirect evil
lonoo which seems TO bear the impress
II probability.
Il a. also related that Dick once met
poor laborer returning homeward on
Saturday night with his scant pitt
lance hidden In his pockets under his
huge "smock' frock. The robber hap.
)ened 10 b. pressed for even a few shll.
llngs. and he forthwith stopped IN,
nan, near a place known a. the Ave.
aue. At Crawford. The poor fellow mad
ny parted with the siller" on hearinl
Dick Tlrpin's name. but was not sur
prised TO receive a promise that II b,
would attend a certain place az an ap
pointed time the amount would BE- re-
stored. He did attend and receive,
cot only his own again but a substan
tlal addition. The story goes that a
the first meeting, AZ the mans request
/ Turpln discharged a pistol through hi
smock frock. 90 that all beholder
might realize that a meeting with IN
noted rascal had actually taken plac,
| Al the same time Il should b. state
that the tales told OF nurpln "a the vi
entity today are generally tlnged wit
a shade OF respect N not exactly OF al
. mlratlon. and be would seom TO hay
enjoyed well-os,ablished reputatlo
Tor generous and kindly dealing wit
all the poorer classes with whom b
came in contact
To ind the spot where these event
OF long past era occurred would /
now an impossible task. Tor the heat
vas many years since brought into ca
tlyation. but those who care 10 tai
stroll through the prcscnt-da
Hounslow will hnd much tina, Is OF II
tercst 10 reward them. You may sti
a discern. In the quaint old tavern agi
! and names. some reflection OF pa
! glories. The roomy stables OF the al
Client time speak eloQuently. IN the
b drcary solitude. Of the hustle and Al
? lmation once 10 BE- seen In the palm
q coaching days Some time, pcrhap
Q Hounslow will have the laugh. VII,
= the motor car has done ia work In Of
o lorseyards OF the next few years
grace. The High street Virtually Il
street, presents as many specimens
the architecture OF the last 100 years
=. the ordinary man can desire. The ia
y and present are inextrieably mixed, al
IL al length the group OF old hous,
!. known as "Mrpin's cottages" Is
II course OF demolition. 20 ALLOW Of 1
Il building oi a modern postofico. III
nurpin IA further reported 10 Ia
many times lodged In the bulldl
which was known a. the Cock tavei
b, once the oldest house" In Hounslo
a Subsequently the inn was divided
slight partitions into private dwellin
Il and the title was dropped. The bio
was entirely swept away an 1866