Washington sentinel. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1855, 1854-10-03

They found about ten persons round the sentry,
while about fifty or sixty came down with them
For Gods sake, said Knox, holding Preston
by the coat, take your men back again; if
they hire, your life must answer for the conse-
quences." ~ know what am about said he
hastily, and much agitated. None pressed on
them or provoked them till they began loading,
when party of about twelve in number, with
sticks in their hands, moved from the middle
of the street where they had been standing,
gave three cheers, and passed along the front
of the soldiers, whose muskets some of them
struck as they went by. "You are cowardly
rascals," they said, for bringing arms against
naked men; lay aside your guns, and we are
ready for you" Are the soldiers loaded 2"
inquired Palmes of Preston. Yes" he an
swered, with powder and ball." Are they
going to fire upon the inhabitants p asked
Theodore Bliss. "They cannot without my
orders" replied Preston; while "the town born
called out, Come on, you rascals, you bloody
backs, you lobster scoundrels fire if you dare
We know you dare not" just then Mont
gomery received blow from stick thrown,
which hit his musket; and the word 81 FIRE be-
ing given, he stepped little on one side, and
shot Attucks, who at the time was quietly lean
ing on long stick. The people Immediately
began to move off, Don't fire. said Lang
ford, the Waterman, to Kilroi, looking him full
in the face; but yet he did SO, and Samuel
Gray, who was standing next Langford with
his hands in his bosom, fell lifeless The rest
fired slowly, and in succession, on the people,
who were dispensing. One aimed deliberately
at boy, who was running for safety. Mont
gomery then pushed at Palmes to stab him /;
on which the latter knocked his gun out of his
hand, and dwelling a blow at him, hit Preston.
Three persons were killed, among them At
tucks, the mulatto; eight were wounded, two of
them mortally. Of all the eleven not more
than one had any share in the disturbance.
SO infurated were the soldiers that when the
men returned to take up the dead, they pre-
pared to fre again but were checked by Pres
ton, while the twenty-ninth regiment appeared
under arms in King street, as if bent on further
massacre. "This is our time," cried soldiers of
the fourteenth; and dogs were never seen more
greedy for their prey.
The bells rung in all the churches the town
drums beat "To arms, to arms was the cry.
And now was to be tested the true character of
Boston. All its sons cameforth, excited almost
to madness; many were absolutely distracted
by the sight ofthe dead bodies and of the blood
which ran plentifully in the street, and was i'm.
printed in all directions by the foot tracks on
the snow. "Onr hearts, says Warren, abeat
to arms, almost resolved by one stroke to
avenge the death ofour slaughtered brethren"
But they stood selfpossessed and irresistible,
demanding justice according to the law. aDid
you not know that you should not have fred
without the order of civil magistrate?" asked
Hutchinson on meeting Preston, "I did it,
answered Preston "to save my men,"
The people would not be pacifed till the
regiment was confined to the guard-room and
the barracks; and Hutchinson himself gave as
surance that instant inquiries should be made
by The county magistrates. The body of them
then retired, having about one hundred per-
sons to keep watch on the examination, which
lasted till three hours after midnight. A war
rant was issued against Preston, who sur
rendered himself to the sheriff; and the soldiers
who composed the party were delivered up and
committed to prison."