Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-10-12
THROWING THE TEA OVERHEARD AT
BOSTON.

person, aud probably Tue o"iy Soi''"S o
who took part in throwing the Tea oVerooard
from the British ships in Boston haroour,-
undoubtedly one of the measures "hieh pre-
cpitated The Revolution. His name is joshua
Wyelh, Of Cambridge, whom every Harvard
cholar, Of the times, OF the venerable Ni'iaio
and Tappan, so well remembers. lie Ii'es III
this city, is turned of seVen'y-hve years. APP
pears to 5e in robus, health and uncommonly
cheerful. although It is believed his circum-
stances are Strengthened. His simple narrative
gave US vivid inpre ssions of The feelings which
actuatcd his fellow townsmen, ON the occasion
of bringing the tea into Boston harbour. News
Of the most interesting character TRANSFERRED
every day-Neyer was period so full OF ru
mours ant. reports, which had not yet acquired
the horrible and bloody interest to unfit them
for the lea table. The patriots saw that the
fair could no, resist The reasoning Of tie fra
grant beverage, with the discussion Of these
themes Of universal interest,", and ii was deter
mined that they should not be led into such lr-
resis,ible tempt alton, and that i. should be re-
moved by throwing tbr tea overheard. IL was
nroposed that Young men, not much known III
the town, and not liable to be easily recognlz-
ed, should lead IN The business. Our narrator
believes that mos, Of the persons selected tor
not few Of them, was the case with him.
self, living with tory masters-He had but
lew hours warning Of what was intended 10 be
done The part which he took in the business
is related as follows, and nearly in his own
words
laboured, as ourneyman blacksmith,
with Western and Grid!ey, blacksmiths by
trade and Baplis,s by profession Western at
the time, wss neutral, but afterwards became
a tory. Oar numbers were between twenty
eight and thirty. Of nv associates, only re-
member the names of Frothngham, Mead,
Martin and Grant We were met together
one evening, talking over the tyranny OF the
British government, such as he heavy duties,
shutting up the port of Boston, the numbering
of Mr.. Grays family, sending people 10 En-
gland for trial and sundry other acts oil oppres-
sion Our Indignation was increased by ha-
wing heard Of the arrival Of the tea ships at
this time. We agreed, that if the tea was land
ed, tie people could not withstand the tempt
alton. and would certainly buy it. We came
to sudden determination TO make sure work oil
it, by throwing it ali overheard. We first talk
I'd Of fling the ships, but we feared the hrr
would communicate to tie town. We hen pro-
posed sinking them, but we dropped this pro-
rct ,hro' fear that we should alarm the town
be tore we could get through with II. we had
observed that very few persons remained on
board Tie three ships, and We finally roncMd.
ed ha, W. could take possession OF hem and
discharge the tea into The harbour. without
daugrr ornpposi,ion. The greatest objection
10 our plan was, tina, il would take such a
grca, length of ,ime to carry il thro' apd render
II, more lianIr 10 detection We agreed, one
and ALL That we would 20 on at The risk Of our
lives We proceeded 70 contrive the mode o!
accomplishing our business One OF The SHIPS
laid at Hancock's wharf ard the other few
naces out in the stream with their war2s made
fast 10 the wharf A Brigade Of British SOLE
diers was cncamped on the common, less, than
mile from the wharf.-We agreed, in order,
as we might TO prevent ourselves from being
discovered 10 wear ragged clothes, and dIshg
ure ourselves as much as possible. We con-
cludcd 70 meet at an old building at the head OF
the wharf, and 70 fall in one after another as i!
by accident, so as not 10 excite suspicion. AT
ter having pl dyed our honour that we would
not cal our secret, we separated.
Atthe appointed time, we all mel according
to arrangement. we were dressed 10 resemble
Indians, as much as possible We had smeared
our faces with grease and SCOT or lamp black
We should not have known each other, except
by our voices, and We shurey resrmbled devils
from the bottomless pit, rather than men
We placed one sentry at the head OF the WHAT,
one in the middle, and one on the bow oil each
ship as we took possession. We boarded the
ship which was mopred bv the wharf, and the
leader Of the company in very stern and
rcsolute manner ordered the captain and
crew to open the hatchways. and hand US the
hosting lakle and ropes. The captain asked
rs wha' we intended to- do? The leader told
him, that we were going TO unload the ship OF
tea, and ORDERED him and the crew below, as
suripg HIM, that if they obeyed no harm was
Intended them. They instantly ooeyed with
GU, murnurs or threats Some of our numbers
jumped into the hold, and passed The ches 10
The tackle.
As they were hoisted on deck, others knock
ed them open with axes, and others raised them
TO he railing, and others discharged the con-
tents overheard. All that were not needed
for disc harging the tea from, this ship, went on
board of the Others and warped them into the
wharf, the same ceremonies were repra-
led as al the first ship While we were unloa-