Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-03-16
A Scene In n Theater mt the Time of the
RavnInffao

n GCohc IN u IneuteF Inc Time OF the
Revolution.
The author of the Camp-FSres of the Re
Oolution relates this scene:
When we got there, we found some of our
boys taking the shillings, on the steps; for
the guards were too tipsy to see what was
gong on, especially as it was night. Sturde
Wlnked as he wentby, and they slipped each
OF us shilling, to provide against trouble,
But when the Tory fools got up to the door
on the second story, that opened into
the theater entry, the door. keeper demanded
their money. They called him a fool; say
ing they had given their money to the real
door keeper, down below. He swore they
were lying, for no one was there to receive
money. -
Now some of these very chaps were off.
GERS, with Tory girls on their arms; and
there were some old rich Tories, that weren't
used to hear insults, except from US. So
half a-dozen clinched the poor fellow at the
same time, and dragged him down the steps,
to give him to the guards; and the whole
crowd rushed up the entry and into the
door, hurraing for King George and the army.
We laughed in our sleeves and soon found
out that good many of the boys were be-
hind u.s. laughing, too. The hubbub brought
the managers to the door; and when they
found out how they had been cheated, they
ran down into the street, swearing to hang
the rebels who had taken the money. But
they didn't find one of them and they burst
not ask those who had got in for theirmone
lest there should be another disturbance
Our lads kept themselves straight as pine
tree, till the show began.
There was big picture painted like Bos-
ton, and good many ne-dressed English
soldiers defending it. Some Tories, dressed
in rags, pretended to be the Americans.
They had spades, picks, and broomsticks, in
stead of guns, and stoVe-pipes for hats. This
wasn't enough but they bad the prudence
to bring out his excellency, dressed in q
blanket with rusty sword In his hand, and
wig that reached down TO his waist. /
asked Studie how long we must bear such
insults; but he was busy contriVing some
mischief, and made no answer. Just as
Washington came out, some of the people
near the stove began to jump about as if a
cannon. ball had been shot among them, IN
a minute, we smelled sulphur a. fire; and
such fit of coughing don't often happen in
theateTs.
The managers ran down to the stove some
ran down stairs; the women near the stoves
famed and a fellow, dress in red coat,
ToaTed out from the stage that there was no
danger They let in fresh air, aud were lust
beginning to search for the one who had
caused the mischief, when a sergeant ran
in, and throwing down his bayonet, cried
out that the Yankees were attacking
Bunker Hill. Some believed that this was
part of the play; but,sall at once, General
Howe spraDg TO his feet and drawing his
sword, ordered the officers to their alarm-
posts. g-...- --r u.
The crowd was in an uproar; women
screaming and fainting; soldiers hurrying to
seize their guns; and the Tories on their
knees, praying that their lives might be
spared, Howe told the people TO clear the
house and in the rush, the lights on our
side were knocked down. This was what
we wanted. There weren't many silk dresses,
nor cloth coats, got out whole; saying
nothing about the damage done by the apoth-
ecaries' stuff that was put on before the
alarm was given. Besides, the front ones
were showed down stairs head foremost and
there they lay until the mob behind walked
over them. kept near Sturdie all the time
and as soon as we got into the street, says
he, at was worth a shilling; let's scatter"
And away we walked different ways. We
never found out who put the sulphur in the
stove, nor who got in for all four stoves
were surrounded with Tories only.