The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1914-03-20
A DARING PATRIOT
FSats of a Little Known Hero of
Revolutionary Times.
JACK JOWETT'S BRAVE RACE.
lt Saved Jefferson and the Virginia
Assembly From Capture by Tarle-
toms Dragons and Gave General
Washington Valuable Information.

Most OF the Revolutionary heroes
have been immortaliZed In song or
story, but there Is one whose fame has
never spread, as 1t should, beyond the
region Of his birth. His name was
Jack Jowett. In the little city OF
Charlottesville, Va, there Is tablet
| Of his old tavern. But that simple
bronze is the only memorial OF his
name and deeds.
In Revolutionary days young Jack
| Jowett kept the Swan tavern in Char
lottesville. He was a patriot at time
when patriotism was dangerous, for
CORVALLIS was in possession Of tide
water Virginia, and Tarleton and his
cavalry were sweeping back and forth
over the inland counties.
In June, 1881, the Virginia assembly
abandoned Richmond, which Cornwall
lis threatened, and came to sit In Char
lottesville. Among It's members were
such men as Patrick Henry, Richard
Henry Lee and Benjamin Harrison,
Thomas Jefferson. One bright morn
ing when the state assembly was In
session Jack mounted his thoroughbred
mare and rode out to look over his
farm outside the town. AS he rode
along he caught through the trees
glimpse Of British uniform flashing
down n crossroad. He put his horse
ed the rider. 1t was one Of Tarleton's
troopers.
With big pistol pointed at his head,
the Englishman thought 1t wise to
obey Jacks command to turn in at the
gate of nearby house and change
clothing with him. Under threat of
death the soldier divulged the fact that
Tarleton was in the vicinity. Jowett
at once galloped away In search of the
enemy. The day passed without re-
suit, and Jack stopped at an inn to
take few hours rest.
In the night he heard the tramp Of
horses and, looking out Of his window,
saw that the yard was full of British
soldiers, led by Tarleton himself. The
troopers entered the tavern and sat
down to drink and talk, quite uncon-
scious that an enemy was on the stair
above listening to every word. From
their conversation Jowett learned
that Tarleton commanded an advance
guard that was halting td<Mait for the
rest Of the troop. Then they planned
to dash on to Charlottesville and cap
ture the Virginia assembly.
Jack Jowett set out at once In the
cool Of the dawn. Once he was chased
by some troopers who trotted In from
the pike that crossed his path, but his
bay mare soon outpaced theirs. Like
the wind he raced through lanes, over
low stone fences, up the side Of the
hill to beautiful Monticello, the home
Of Governor Jefferson. He warned
ish, and then, with fresh horse, he
dashed down the steep mountain road |
into Charlottesville. Rushing into the
hall where the assembly was In ses- |
sion, he called to the members to flee, |
for Tarleton's dragons would soon be |
IL
hall was empty, and the members
were on their way across the noun
tains to Staunton, where they would |
be safe from pursuit.
Jack rode on to his tavern, but found |
there a wounded officer Of the Cont
mental army-General Stevens. He |
dressed the sick man In suit of his
own clothes, carried him downstairs |
and put him on the fresh horse, with |
bags Of corn in front and behind-the |
very picture Of an old farmer going to |
the mill. Side by side Jowett and Ste
vens rode out Of town, which by 10
o'clock was In the possession of Tarle-
toms men. Pausing as he reached the
top Of hill, Jack saw his own tavern
In flames.
The British, who had reason to sus-
pect the young man In a uniform, set
out in chase Of him. but Jacks horse
was again too speedy for them, and he
got safely away to Washington with
the news that Tarleton was no longer
acting In support Of Cornwalis-a bit
of information that was of the great
est value TO the commander Of the
army.
To Jack Jowett's quick wit and dar
ing the author of the Declaration Of
Independence and many another hardly
less famous patriot owed their liberty
and perhaps their escape from trai-
tors death upon the scaffold.-Youth's
Companion.