The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-06-22
Selert Story.
AN AMAZON'S RECEPTION.


l779.
THIS news spreading like wildfre about
the towns of Fairfield and Norwalk' was
we'll calculated to excite alarm IN pa
triotic breasts, for Tryon was a merciless
invader and wherever he went the torch
completed his work Of destruction, In
the month of February of the year just
written he had ravaged Kingsbridge and
Horseneck, and now, for the second time
had entered the state. ...
His soldiers committed, under his very
eve, atrocities Of the most shocking de-
scription; they plundered without dis
tinction; old and young rich and poor
fell alike at the merciless hands of the
kings man. East Haven, Fairfield and
Norwalk, were reduced to ashes, and a
thousand acts of barbarous cruelty were
perpetrated on the homeless patriots,
A force sufficient to check the advance
of the invader could not be raised in the
State. Connecticut's able-bodied men
were absent in the army, and their homes
were as defenseles3 as the lions whelps
when the parents are away in search of
food.
Governor Tryon knew that he would
find Connecticut completely at his mercy,
and congratulated himself on the easy
conquest that invited him to her shores.
He succeeded in his errald Of devasta'
tion. and returned to his superiors with
victory in his hand.
But he made his name odious through
out North America, and his memory eX-
ecrable to every patriot in the land.
Not far from Norwa,k stood the plain
home of Barbara Bidlack, whose husband
was an artillerist doing duty under Knox,
She was large muscular woman, whose
strength was prodigious, it had gained
for her the singular soubriquet of Mrs.
Hercules" title ofwhich she was rather
proud than otherwise. Her features were
rather inclined to coarseness, and a
physiognomist would have concluded
that there was Celtic blood in her veins
AS she had no children she was the sole
occupant of the house, and her nearest
neighbor was a young woman named
HAYDEN, who had lost her husband at
the battle of Brian Creek.
Mrs. Bidlack, who seldom exchanged
visits with the young widow, was not
aware of Tryon's second invasion, until
he began to approach Norwalk. The
terror of the inhabitants, many of whom
were abandoning their homes, acquaint-
ed her with the disasterous state Of af-
fairs, and her eyes flashed fire when she
exclaimed to the fugitives ,.,
"You may go, if you Wish, but two
hundred such rasCals as Governor Iryon
cannot frighten Barbara Bidlack one
inch from her home If the relocated
scoundrel enters my house he will meet
with a reception he'll never forget"
More than once she was urged to fly,
but disdained with proud and defiant
curl of the lip, and awaited with eager
ness the arrival of the invaders.
She was soon treated to the sight OF
Norwalk ia hames and saw the torch
applied to her neighbOrs' houses. But
speCt ,ce moved her not, she did not
even barricade the door, nor suspend for
a moment the performance of her house
hold duties. But all the time there was
an indignant CLEAN in her eyes, and
more than once she glanced at the old
musket which occupied one corner of her
kitchen.
1t was near the hour of noon one sui.
try day of July, when Barbara Bidlack,
about to discuss the frugal meal she had
prepared, was startled by heavy foot
step. Lifting her eyes from the steam ng
meat that graCed the little table, she be-
held a British officer standing in the
door. His aspect did not frighten Eer in
the least; she knew from his uniform
that he was soldier of lofty rank.
Another plate, Mrs. Hercules" he
commanded in a naughty tone, striding
forward, and at the same time putting
his hand on the hilt Of his sword, as if
to frighten her.
She smiled derisively as she slowly
arose to her feet.
"Who are you, sirP
81 am a man devilishly we'll known
hereabouts, and | dare say the rebels
will not soon forget me My name is
Tryon."
-"Goyernor Tryon, the British rascal,
the man who burns houses over widows,
heads, and robs the babe of its cradle :?
If YOU are Governor Tryon, | know you
for the meanest villain that ever trod
New England soil"
Tryon's face grew crimson, but smoth,
ering his rage he burst out in a cruel
laugh.
"You are just the vixen heard you
were p he exclaimed. "They. call you
Mrs. Hercules through this region, and |
must say you resemble the stable cleans
ing god in build. Where is your hus'
bandW
"Under a flag that wouldn't own you
as defender" was the reply.
"He's rebel, then ?" said Tryon with
a sneer
"Like his wife He's soldier, too,
and not a house burner" ....
Mrs. Hercules, | discover that my
clemency is not recognized by the people
of this State, and that my kings heart is
supposed to contain no good. Why, my
dear woman, the existence of single
house on the coast is monument of
King Georges mercy and of mine But
we will discuss the subject at the table.
/ have ridden number of miles to enjoy
a tete-a-tete with woman have heard
so much about, and, besides, am hun
cry. That meat looks palatable.
at wasn't cooked for a British Gen.
eralp exclaimed the fearless woman with
flashing eyes, and next she removed the
meat and thrust it in arude cupboard, to
the CONSERVATION of the Governor.
"Come, come," he said, 81 do not want
to sit down to a cold dinner"
"Then 90 somewhere else and get your
dinner, there are sneaking tories about
Norwalk who would be glad to tickle
your tongue with the best they had in
tie house."
The Briton's anger arose again.
II command the meat to be replaced
upon the table," he said, dropping his
sword. "Your accursed insolence is not
becoming to one of your sex. and l will
bear it no longerl | can assure you now
that to-morrow's sun will shine on
heap Of ashes instead Of this hot.hed of |