Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1901-02-13
JACK JOUETT'S RIDE.
YOUNG INNKEEPER'S WARNING
TO THOMAS JEFFERSON.
Another Revolutionary Hero Who,
Like Paul Revere, Rode Long and
Hard to Warn American Patriots of
the Approach of the British.

inc Approach OF the DIltleAs
Paul Revere was not the only man
who rode long and hard to warn patri-
OTIS that the British were coming, In
the days when the present entente be-
tween England and America was a
thing undreamed of. Worthy to rank
with it was the adventure Of Jack
Jouett, young Charlottesville Inn
keeper, who rode thirty miles to save
Thomas Jefferson from capture. The
story is told in the st. Nicholas by Z.
I. w. Duke, Jr.
Jack shrewdly guessed that Tarleton
would follow the highway into tho
main road that led by the country
knew a shorter route, an old disused
road that would lead him to the river,
thence to Monticello, and then to Char
lottesville-not pleasant road to ride
or drive, though as picturesque route
as one often sees; for on either side
grew great pine trees here, and mas
sive oaks there, while dogwood and
sassafras and sumac filed in spaces.
The road had once been a buffalo
track and then an Indian trail, then
wagon road for while; but as no one
ever worked 1t or changed the grade,
1t rapidly washed into a succession OF
red gullies and became well-nigh I'M
passable. So 1t had been abandoned
many years, and nature had covered
up the scars made by the animals and
men, and only in few places could
one have known that 1t had ever been
used as highway. Broom-sedge grew
wherever there was an open space;
ferns of hundred varieties clustered
in every hollow where water ran; and
the wild bramble ran riot everywhere
in the shade. Into this old road Jack
pushed his horse, and soon was dash
ing at full speed over hill and dale. 1t
was q dangerous ride, even at slow
gait.sSDeep gullies lay concealed under
treacherously smiling wild flowers.
Grounding holes offered pitfalls liable
to break the leg of his steed; overhang-
irg limbs swept him in the face, and
the wild brier ever and anon caught
him in a painful and harassing en-
brace. His face bore for many years
the scars left on 1t by this brier,
which, you know, climbs up trees and
seems to throw itself from one to an
other. But Jack had no time to con-
slider these things. He knew that In a
few hours the enemy would be In Char
lottesville, and make the Governor and
Legislature prisoners, unless he could
give them warning. His mare was sure
of foot, sound Of wind, and no other
fox-hunter ever got the brush when
Jack and she were in the hunt
$50 away he went, touching her
lightly with the spur now and then,
but oftener cheering her in the race
with merry whistle or encouraging
word. He had thirty miles to make.
He could have as easily made fifty on
a good road as thirty through this
wilderness. At one point the dlsused
road entered field in sight Of the high
way along which Tarleton's legion was
passing, and few stragglers saw Jack
when he dashed into the open. They
followed him with loud shouts and a
pistol-shot or two, but when he dashed
into the woods they abandoned the
pursuit. Once his bay mare fell, her
foot having caught in mass of brush
and brier and half-rotten logs; but up
she scrambled, and away she went, as
If she knew that the fate of common
wealth depended upon her. In two
hours Jack rode his thirty miles, and
paused in the ford just opposite the lit
tie hamlet Of Milton, two miles from
Monticello. Only a mouthful Of water
did be allow his gallant bay to sip, and
then he dashed up the river bank and
on through the streets of the village,
stopping not at anxious halls of men
and women, but merely shouting: The
Bf fish are coming! The British are
comingv In ten minutes he drew rein
In front of quaint brick house on top
of the now famous mountain. He was
sight, too the darkies said. His face
was torn and bleeding from the Wild
brier thorns, his gay blue suit covered
with mud and dirt. his mare covered
with sweat and foam and painting as
If her heart would burst through her
sides. Gown from the porch In front
of which Jack had halted came a tall,
thin man, dressed in suit of nan.
keen, lace at his wrists and shirt-front
and with little sword-cane in his
hand. This man had clear, sparkling
blue eyes; thin skin under which the
blood almost seemed starting. His hall
was thin and curly, and covered with
white powder. For moment he did
not recognize the rider. Then, as be
drew nearer, why, Mr.. Jouett,' he
said. what brings you here, and with
your good horse SO well-nigh spentY
"Jack could only gasp, The British
Governor! Tarleton and his men passed
Cuckoo Tavern at six o'clock this
morning"
CritnEkrc