The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1876-04-19
MISCELLANY.
An AMAz0N'S RECEPTION.
AN INCIDENT OF ITO.


"Tryon is coming Tryon is coming y
was the cry that blanched many cheek in
Connecticut in the month of July, 1779
This news that spread like wildfire about
the towns of Fairfield and NorwalS was well
calculated to incite alarm in patriotic breasts,
for Tryon was merciless invader, and wher-
ever he went the torch completed his work of
destruction. In the month of February of
the year just written he had ravaged Kings
bridge and Horse Neck, and now, for the
second time had entered the State.
His soldiers committed, under his very
eye, atrocities of the most shocking descrip-
ton they plundered without distinction = old
and young, rich and poor felt alike the merci-
less 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. Con
necticut's able-bodied patriots were absent in
the army, and their homes we're as defenseless
as the lions whelps when the parents are a.
way in search of food.
Governor Tryon knew that he would find
Connecticut completely at his mercy, and con-
graduated himself on the easy conquest that
invited him to her shores. He succeeded in
his errand of devastation, and returned to his
superiors with victory in his hand. But he
made his name odious throughout North
America, and his memory execrable to every
patriot in the land.
Not far from Norwalk stood the plain home
Barbara Bdlack, whose husband was an az
tilerist doing duty under Knox. She was a
large, muscular woman whose strength was
prodigious it had gained for her the singu-
lar so5rtquet Of Mrs. Hercules" title of
which she was rather proud than otherwise.
Her features were rather inclined to COARSE
ness, and close physiognomist would have
concluded that there was Celtic blood in her.
veins. As she had no children, she was the
sole occupant of her house, and her nearest
neighbor was a young woman name Haven
who had lost her husband at the battle of
Brier Creek
Mrs. Bidack, who seldom exchanged visits
with the young widow, was not aware of
lTyOu D ScCOHQ iufttoiOi uueii iO bCShh w dp-
proach Norwalk. The terror of the inhabi-
tants, many of whom were abandoning their
homes, acquainted her with the disastrous
state of affairs, and her eyes flashed fire when
she exclaimed to the fugitives.
"You may CO. if you wish /; but two hun
bred such rascals as Governor Tryon cannot
frighten Barbara Bidlack one inch from her
home If the relocated scoundrel enters
my house he'll 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 eagerness the arrival of
the invaders.
She was soon treated to the sight of Nor
walk in fames and saw the torch applied to
her neighbors' houses. But the spectacle
moved her not she did not even barricade
her door, nor suspend for moment the per-
Torrance of her household 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 sultry day
in July when Barbara Bidlack, about to dis
cuss the frugal meal she had prepared, was
startled by heavy footstep.
Lifting her eyes from the steaming meat
that graced the little table, she beheld a Brit
ish officer standing in the door. His aspect
did not brighten her in the least, though she
knew from his uniform that he was soldier
Of lofty rank.
"Another plate, Mrs Hercules 2" he COM