BLIND JACK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 August 1940, Page 3

BLIND JACK

ACTIVITIES OF LONG LIFE

He was born at Knaresborough in Yorkshire in 1717.

At six an attack of smallpox left him blind for life.

His affliction did not prevent him playing games with other boys.

He soon learnt to fiddle merry tunes. Long before he was 20 he stood six feet two.

He rode to hounds, was a powerful swimmer, and was famous for the long walks he took alone.

He would often guide people across the open country between his home and York or Harrogate. Never once was he known to lose his way.

Wherever he went he carried a staff. One day he walked all the way to London, outstripping the coach. During the Scottish rebellion known as the Forty Five he was a recruiting sergeant, enlisting 140 men. He did not forget to recruit himself among them, and went oil fiddling to Scotland, fighting furiously at Falkirk.

Back home in Yorkshire this amazing blind man started a coaching service. bought and sold horses, and conducted other profitable businesses. No living man new the roads of England better than he did.

He became a pioneer of road-build-ing—preceding both Macadam and Telford. Doing his own surveying, he contracted for 180 miles of road-making, constructing bridges, retaining walls, culverts and dykps.

When other engineers failed to carry a road over the Penn hies he succeeded. His ability amazed all. his daring was the talk of the day.

lie had a ready wit. and loved a joke. Retiring to Spofl’orlh about 1792. he died there in 1810. He was 93 when his end came. He was John Metcalf, but he was always known as Blind Jack.