United States or Czechia ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
As no satisfaction could be obtained from the British for this acknowledged outrage and murder, for in acquitting Lippencot the British authorities virtually took upon themselves the responsibility of Huddy's execution, the Americans, being at war and acting in accordance with the bloody rules of war, determined to select an officer from among the English prisoners in the American lines, who should be executed in retaliation for Huddy's death.
"Let him waste himself on Sally Salisbury if he likes," she cried scornfully. "He's nothing to me." Gay's assertion that Rich's theatre in Lincoln's Inn Fields waited for her was soon verified. One of Rich's staff waited upon her when Huddy's company was playing at Woolwich, and she went off with him in high spirits and amid much growling from Huddy.
She had made good her footing at Rich's theatre and could she only tide over the summer months she would be on the stepping stones of success. But meanwhile? She took Rich's advice and went to the Little Theatre. She found she had not the ghost of a chance of an engagement. Lavinia retired discomfited. She had to go back to Huddy's, to the mumming booth and the innyard. There was no help for it.
"Yes, Captain Huddy's body was carried to Freehold and buried with the honors of war." "And did people care much about it?" "Yes, indeed! his death caused great excitement and indignation, and Dr. Woodhull, the Freehold minister, who preached the funeral sermon from the piazza of the hotel, earnestly entreated Washington to retaliate in order to prevent a repetition of such deeds.
As it was known that Huddy's men would probably soon return, for the noise of the firing had aroused the neighborhood, the enemy seized the captain and hurried him away, leaving the rest of the garrison behind.
Upon Huddy's breast the infamous Lippincott placed a label, on which, after avowing that the act was one of vengeance, he placed the words in large letters From the neighboring country went forth a strong cry for retaliation.
And so it did, but the next night Rich went back to "The Rape of Proserpine" and the piece continued to run until the summer, and then the theatre closed as usual for three months. "Whatever am I to do Mrs. Egleton?" she cried despairingly. "I suppose I could join Huddy's company again. Huddy I know would be glad enough to have me but " "Pray don't be silly," put in the experienced Mrs. Egleton.
This, however, did not satisfy the country, and from every side there came demands that some one of the officers who were then prisoners in the American lines should be executed in retaliation for Huddy's murder, unless Lippencot were delivered up to the Americans. Here, then, opened the fourth act of this bloody play of progression, and we will tell the story of the other captain.
These, led by a mulatto named Tye, made an attack upon his house. But although Captain Huddy's men were all away, they had left their guns behind; and so the brave Huddy, instead of surrendering to the force of fifty or sixty Tories who were outside, determined to fight them, with no garrison but himself and the negro girl, and he made ready to hold his house as long as he could.
Newspaper notices of theatrical performances were rarities in those days. Lavinia did not expect to see any reference to Mr. Huddy's benefit, and her expectations were realised. What she did see sent the blood rushing to her face and her hands fumbled so that she could hardly hold the paper.
Word Of The Day