The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-04-09
THE BOSTON MASSACRE.

j THE BOSTON MASSACRE.
we are indebted TO Mr.. William Silliman, o
East Haddam, Conn, for a copy of the New
London Gazette, of March 20, 1910, from which
we make the annexed extracts. They relat
chiehy to the Boston Massacre as il has sine,
y peen called; transaction which reused tn,
spirit OF the colonists, and especially of the Bos
i tonians, to pitch of excitement bordering oil
desperation. The population Of Boston at tina
nme was less than 10000, yet it required seye
raj regiments of British troops, backed by III.
4 civil power, TO keep them in subsection; O.
rather several regiments being found inadequat,
to this purpose, they were removed for ihe
own safety, as well as the peace of the town
immediately after the massacre, TO Castle Viii
liam, on an island in the harbor
The paper from which we copy. if not the
only one of the kind now In existence, is at leas,
one OF very few which time and accident have
spared. II bears the marks of great age, as might
be expected. We shall hold il at the disposal OF
It's owner, and in the mean time shall multiply
Its principal contents by $500 or 5000
BosToN, March 5, I77O
| One day last week soldier, who has lone
passed for bully of the 29th regiment, bought
| two baskets OF charcoal from Soughton man.
and in payment offered him pistareen in lieu
| OF shilling sterling, which the man refused,
and insisted on his money or the return of the
coal The soldier denied to do either. on which
the charcoal man said he would take it out of
his hide, rather than trouble himself much about
IT, TO which the bully very readily agreed, and
was laid sprawling at every pass, till quite tired
Of the diversion, he protested his satisfaction,
took his fellow combatant to an ale-house, and
amicably settled the dispute.
moi quite so fortunate were two of these Don
Quixote adventures who fell upon a young
man walking quietly near the lower end of King
street, and stopping him in his way, insuted
him with very opprobrious language, on which
after short parley, he laid both sprawling, and
such rencontres have happened lately
lis said many ofthe goth regiment have arm
ed themselves with bludgeons of about two feet
long, round handle, and the body of the club
three square. With such weapons as these.
swords, and cutlasses, on Friday last about Ii
O'Clock, they made formal attack on the rope
walk of Mr.. John Gray one Of them appearing
frst, and complaining that some of their people
had affronted him, and declared he would have
satisfaction The workmen not much attending
TO him, he grew very abusive, and challenged
any one in the ropewalk to turn out and fight
him; one of the hands stepped out to him very
speedily, ripped up his heels, and took his sword
from him. He then went from them, and soon
returned with eight or nine more, armed as afore-
said, asking, very haughtily, why he had been
used in that ,e r tife upon
thew affect to syleno being accidentally well pre-
th9.a for their reception, made 1t necessary for
par ,,bole body TO march in quest OF auxiiaries.
Recruited to the number OF 30 or 40, they again
visited the ropewalk, and challenged any or all
of the workmen to come out and fight them.
This offer was readily embraced, and notwlth-
standing the soldiers were three TO one, prepared
on purpose, they were beat of, many of them
much bruised, and two or three of the workmen
slightly wounded.
Mr.. Justice Hill came up as this last riotous
multitude advanced, told them he was in COM
mission ofthe peace, and commanded them TO go
to their barracks. In this exercise Of his duty
he was struck at by one of them with club,
which, had it reached him might have been ia
tai, and so daring was this fellow, that IN the ma
gisrrate's presence he knocked down laborer,
dragged him about, and beat and abused him
much, in despite of the Justices utmost nterpo-
srion. No less audacious was the behaviour OF
a tall. negro drummer, to whom Justice Hill par
ticularly spoke, ordering him home, but he, IN
tent on wounding, or probably killing the inhabl-
tants, headed the party, sword in hand but had
his sword beat from his hold, which, however,
being chained to his body, he carried with hun.
| He is said to be much wounded.
This gallant party assaulted many single per-
sons in the street as they returned from the bat
tie, but did no considerable damage as we learn.
Between five and six the same evening, large
BODY of them collected again, and were In iull
march for the field of battle, when Mr.. John
Gav, owner of the walk, met them, and diverted
their attention for that evening. But on Satur-
dav about half after four, three stout grenaders,
armed with bludgeons as above described came
into the bottom of the walk and finding three
Young men spinning together unarmed, accosted
them in these most impudent words: You d-n
dogs don't YOU deserve 10 be XII y r The lads
not answering. Mr. James oung came up and
| spoke boldly on which grenadier aimed blow
al his head but MI. Dung Tended of with his
arms he then turned from Young, and made a
pass at Mr.. Archibald Mcneil, jun. which he
avoided, otherwise believes II would nave killed
him. During this buslle one OF Mr.. Calef's
journeymen went into the tan-house, got two
bats and giving one 10 his comrade, soon clear
ed the walks Of the soldiers.
The remains of young Spider, the unfortu
nate boy who was barbarously murdered on the
22d of February last, was decently buried tn,
Monday following His uagical death, and The
peculiar circumstances attending it, had touche,
the breasts of all with the tenderest sympathy
a tew only excepted, who have long shown
themselves TO be void Of the feelings Of humani
ty The little corpse was set down under III,
tree of Liberty, from whence the procession be
gan. About five hundred school-boys preceded
and numerous train of citizens followed, IN tn
estimation of good Judges at least two thousand
of all ranks, amids, a crowd of spectators, VIII
discovered in their countenance and deportmen
the evident marks of true sorrow.
The pail was supported by six youths, chosel
by the parents Of the deceased, Upon the foe
of the coffin was an inscription In sllvered LEI
tiers, LATEr ANGUS IN HERBAl lntima,lng tina
in the gayest season of life, and amidst the mos
naltering scenes, without the least apprehensio
of an evil hour, we are exposed to the unseen a
rows of death The serpent is lurking IN N
grass, ready TO infuse his deadly poison. Upo
y L L L Ann