The National tribune., 1885-09-24
HISTORY CORRECTS ITSELF.
Hamlet in Cherokee.

Tn n history of Florida and the Florida War is a
curious incident, one that would have been laugh
able if it had not been tragic Near the close ofhe
wara theatrical troupe, company oftrayeling barn.
stormers. had played an engagement at Palatka,
and started overland for st. Augustine. They did
not arrive at st. Augustine expected. The bills
announced that they would play at a certain day,
and that they would play " Hamlet" The people
OF St Augustine were yearnng for " Hamlet" and
at an appointed time they frequented the hail. but
the actors did not show up. There was much in
dignation at the time. and cutting remarks were
made about troupe that would not do as it adver-
tlsed but III the excitement OF the closing hours of
the war, the actors were forgotten. One day il
announced that the Chief of the Indians, with
large party of his braves, coming to surrender
to the commanding General, and the whole town
went to witness what was going to be the close of
the war. Presently it was said that they were COM
ing, and all eyes were turned to the pine woods,
where queer scene was witnessed: The travelling
theatrical company appeared to be coming. oil
dressed III the costumes of the play of Hamlet"
The people wondered until Hamlet" stepped upto
the commanding General and surrendered himself
prisoner of war. Then il was seen that " Ham,
let was the Cherokee Chief, and the persons wear
ing the costumes OF the" King and" Laertes, and
all the rest were braves belonging to his band The
commanding General took charge of the prisoners,
and then asked why this masquerade of a serious
matter, and the laughter was stopped when the
Chief admitted that he had captured and massacred
the theatrical party as they tramped along the road,
and taking the costumes and thinking they would
be an addition to their wearing apparel, and look
real nice, and please the commanding officer, they
had put them on to surrender in. The General
could hardly keep from laughing at the ridiculous
scene, though it was tragedy. Hamlet" and the
Ghost" were placed in The fort in chains, and the
rest were confined. and the clothes taken and sent
to the friends of the actors. Even at this late day,
people who frequent theaterS often witness per-
fornancc that is bad that they wish the actors
would have to tramp through hostile Indian
country, to be chased little by Indians, but nobody
wants them murdered and their clothes taken
by red men. If some of the ham-fattezs could
travel for II time through an Indian country they
would have more sympathy for audience.
Think of the ludicrous scene OF Hamlet" surren-
dering to the white officers.
1t is almost pity to spoil good story, but
incorrect history always corrects itself if any
of the actors therein happen to be living.
The undersigned served through the heaviest
part of the Florida War, which was fought by
SeminO!cs, not CherokeeS.
And the party of actors came safely in
wagons, with their scenery and costumes, and
played for week to full houses in st. Angus
tine. The schooner F'lirt, Commander Nc
Laughlin, and the Otsego, Acting Lieut.. Shu-
brick, of the Florida Naval Contingent, were in
port l was Midshipnan Acting Lieuten-
ant on the latter vessel. / think that Passed
Midshipman and then Acting Lieutenant G..
Il. z. Rodgers, now Admiral, was then on the
Flirt.
Thedramatic company was nothing extra, but
the management was well supplied with scenery
and costumes. The company varied in tragedy
and comedy-being as good in one as the
freely, for such recreation was seldom met with
out there.
| remember when at breakfast on shore, at
the only hotel then there,-this was in 1S39,-
hearing the leading man remark, as he held
slice of bologna up on his fork oft, upon the
Rialt0, I've eaten better sassenges nor tbese!"
roar of laughter from several of us drew
thunder-cloud frown on his face, and he drop
ped the sausage and kept his mouth thereafter,
too full for utterance,"
The curtain which dropped for them at last
acas red. After they had filled their time in
st. Augustine they started for Jacksonville in
their wagons. Palatka was only military post
and not over halfdozen houses there. Fool
ishly, they would not wait for mail-day, when
the stage and amilitary escort went over. They
were ambuscaded about half way over by Goa
cochec wild Cat) and a band of warriors and
massacred Thus the Indians got the costumes
which they Ostentatiousiy wore in many a
fight afterward. put bullet through Rich
ard Ill in the full tog of humped-backed roy
atty at the battle of McLaughlin's Key. But
mg Richard had no hump on his back when he
Strengthened out. l never heard while there of
any Chief or warrior surrendering in dramatic
toggery. The few who did come in were gen.
orally costumed after the pattern of Adam and
Eve before the "FaIl."-E. II. G. JUDsON Ned
Buntline).