The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-08-08
DICK TURPIN's HoUNsLow.
Traces Of It's Ancient Glories Still t.
Be Seen.

Traces OF It's Ancient Glorles Still to
Be Seen.
In days gone by-those good cd
times" ere the iron road had superseded
the turnpike and electrically propelled
motor-cars were undreamed of-the an
Gent town OF Hounslow could hold up its
head with the best of them. Several hun
bred stagecoaches and at least 1900 horses
were employed in daily transit throu III
the High street, or what was, Tor most
coaches, the first stage on the important
road to Windsor Staines, Bath, Bristol
and the west of ENGLAND generally. 1t
was here that timid travellers first expt-
rienced uncom Portable spprehenslons In
regard to those whom they might meet on
the road, for only a short way out OF the
then tourishing Middlesex Town began
the dreaded Hounslow Heath.
And, truly, twas enough to give one
pause, for more desolate and awesome
waste than was presented by the noted
rendezvous of highwaymen at that time
could scarcely pe imagined. 10 begin
with, it was entirely uninclosed, and us
area had been variously recorded at 4292
and 6658 acres. Many and terrible we're
the stories in circulation as to the bold
ness and ferociiy of the footpads and
mounted rob bers who frequented the hid
wonder the guards cautiously examined
the printing of their huge blunderbusses
as the gallant equipages left the Bel Inn
behind them on starting across this Will
derness. Moreover, there were many glib
bets to be seen (some even as late as 1S3O),
with their nolsome occupants exposing
bleached skeletons to the shuddering pass
erDy.
The Heath has undoubtedly been the
scene of many sanguinary encounters be.
tween the peaceaLle wayfarer and the ad-
venturous robber. The great Dick Turpin,
although he is supposed to have paid more
devoted attention to the York road than
10 the Bath road, was concerned in many
of these ex, loits-according 10 well-estab-
| shed tradition. that is, and TO much in
direct evidence which seems to bear the
impress of probability.
Hounslow Heath was the chief rival in
this undesirable sort OF notorlty OF Finch
ley Common. The famous Moll Cutpurse
robbed General Fairfax here, and in IVA
Lord BerKley shot footpad on the road
to Crawford. Twerty-four years Inter
John Meliish, Nj. P. for Great Grimsoy,
was shot Dy highwaymen on returning
from hunting with the Kings hounds. 1t
is also related that Twysden, Bishop OF
Raphoe, was shot through the body while
playing the highwayman in 1702.
Claud Duval, too is said to have per-
formed an impromptu dance with
charming young captive on Hounsiow
Heath, on which occasion, and in consid-
GRAFTON of the lady's com plasance, he re-
stored 20 her f300 of the property found in
the coach. Dick Turpin himself appears
to have perpetrated no notable robbery on
the Heath proper, but it is here that he is
reported to have 'held up the lawyer on
the day that he helped himself to a por-
ton of the latter cloak for his saddle
1t is also related that Dick once met
poor iaborer returning home on a Satur-
day night with his scant pittance hidden
in his pocket, under his huge "smock"
frock. The robber happened to be pressed
for even few shillings and he forthwith
stopped the man near place known as
the Avenue, at Crawford.
The poor fellow readily parted with "Lhe
siller" Oh hearing Dick Turpin's name,
but was not surprised to receive promise
that if he would attend certain place, at
an appointed time, the amount would be
restored. He did attend, and received not
only his own again, but a substan tial ad-
dition. The story goes that at the first
meeting, at the mans request, Iurpin dis
charged pistol through his smock frock,
so that all beholders might realize that q
meeting with the noted rascal had &C.
tuaily taken place. At the same time it
should be stated that the tales told of
Turpin in the vicinity to-day are gener-
ally tinged with shade of re pect, if not
exactly of admiration, and he would seem
TO have en- joyed well-establishel reputa-
ton for generous and kindly dealing with
all the poorer classes with whom he came
in eontact-LonGon.