The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1854-11-10
The Boston Massacre in Ito.

The Boston Massacre in Ito.
Wesubjoin another extract from Bancrol's
forthcoming sixth volume. II is, however,
one Of the most highly finished OF thj
more strictly narrative passages Of this vol.
ume, aud is hardly surpassed BY any Of
Mr.. Bancroil's efforts in this line Of hisiori-
al writing. The people Of Boston had been
greatly incensed by the British iroops.-
Mutual feelings Of hostility were cherished
and op.nly expressed. The excitement
was manifested in different ways, and at
length led 10 tho scene of bloodshcd which
precipi!aied the Revolution -
On Friday, the 81 Gay Of March, a sol.
dier of the iweniy.ninlh asked 10 DO EN-.
ployed al Gray's Ropewalk, and was re.
pulsed in the coarsesl words. He then de.
fled the ropemakers 10 boxinssmalch and
one Of them accepting his challenge, he
was beaten of. Returning with several Of
his companions, they, too were driven oil.
A larger number came down 10 renew The
fight with clubs and cutlasses, and in their
turn encountered defeat. BY This time
Gray and others inierposed, and for that day
prevented further disturbance.
There was al end OF The affair al the
Ropewalk, but not at the barracks, where
The soldiers inaamed each others passions,
as il the honor Of the regiment was tar.
nished. On Saturday they prepared bludg.
cons and being resolved 10 brave the cit.
liens OH Mon :ay night, they iorewarned
their particular acquainances not 10 be
abroad. Without duly restraining his men,
Carr, the Lieu,enani-C Colonel Of the twenty.
ninth, made complaint 10 the Lieutenant.
Governor Of The insul, thsy had received.
The Council, deliberaiing on Monday,
seemed Of opinion that the town would
never be safe from quarrels between the
people and the soldiers, as long rs soldiers
should be quartered among them. In the
present case the owner OF the Ropewalk
gave satisfaction by di,missing the workman
complained Of n
The officers, should, OH their part, have
kept their men within The barracks af!er
nighlfall. Instead Of II, they left them 10
roam The streets. Hutchinson should have
insisted on measures Of prccaulion but he
too much wished the favor Of all who had
influence al Westminster.
Evening came on. The young moon
was shining brightly in cloudless winter
sky, and its ligh, was increased BY new
fallen snow. Parties Of soldiers were driv.
ing about tho streets, muking parade Of
yalor, challenging resistance, and striking
the inhabitants Unfortunately with sticks
or sheathed cullasses.
A band which rushed out of Muuay's
Barracks in Battle ST., armed with clubs,
culasses and bayonels, provoked resistance,
and an afIray ensued. Ensign Maui, nj the
gate Of tho barrack yard, cried 10 the sol.
diers, {" Turn out, and will stand by you |;
kill them stick them; knock them down |;
run your bayoneis through them" and
one soldier after another levellpd o lirelock
and threatened 10 "make lane" through
he crowd.
Just before 0, rs an officer was crossing
King st n barber's lad cried afler him,
"There goes mean fellow who hath not
paid my master for dressing lis hair" on
which ihe sentinel stationed al the westerly
end OF The Custom House, on The corner Of
King 81. and exchange lane, LEI, his post,
and with his musket gave tho boy stroke
OIL the head, which made him s,agger and
cry with pain.
The street soon became clear, and no.
body troubled tho sentry, when party Of
soldiers issued violently from the main
guard, their arms glil,ering in the moon.
light, and passed on hallooiny, "Whcrc are
they! Where are iheyl Let them come"
Presently twelve or fifteen more, ultering
The same cries, rushed from the South into
King ST., and SO by way Of Cornhill, towards
Murray's Barracks. "Pray, soldiers, spare
my life,n cried boy OF twelve, whom they
met. "No, no, Fll kill you all )" answered
one Of them, aud knocked him down with
his cutlass.
They abused and insrlied several persons
at their doors, and others in The street,
running about like madmen in u fury"
crying .'Fire," which seemed 10 be their
walchwoTd, and where are they! knock
them down." Their outrageous behavior
occasioned tho ringing Of The bell at The
head Of King street.
Tho citizens, whom tho alarm sci in mo.
ton, came out with canes and clyns; and,
partly by the courage OF Crispus A,lucIs, n
mula,,o, and some others, the aiTray at The
Barracks was soon over. Ot The citizens,
The prudent shouted home, home;" 9th.
ers, 1t is said, called out, "Huzzah Tor the
main guard, there is the nest" but the
main guard was not molested the whole
evening.
A body Of soldiers came up Royal Ex.
change lane, crying, Where are The COW.
ardsin and branJishing their arms, passed
through King street. Fiom ten 10 twenty
bows came alter them, asking, Where are
thew, where are lhey!" "Thero is the
soldier who knocked me down, said the
BARRIERS boy, and they began pushing one
another towards The sentinel. He primed
and loaded his muskei. "The lobster is
going 10 fire." cried u boy. Waving his
piece about, The sentinel pulled the trigger.
hIf you fire, you mus, die for it, said
Henry Knox, who was passing by. 81
don't care" replied the sentry; "d-n
them, il they touch me, III fire. "Fiie
and be d-d,n shouted The boys, for they
were persuaded he could moi DO il without
leave from civil officer; and young iel.
low spoke out, We will knock him down
for snappiny;" while they whisiled through
their fingers and huzzaed. "Siand off,"
said the sentry, and shouted aloud "Tum
out, main guard" 'They arc killing al
seniinel," reported servant from the Gus.
tom House, running 10 the main guard
"Turn out, why don't you turn out cried
Preston who was captain Of tho day, TO Tue
guard. He appeared in great dn''er o.
spirits, and spoke to them roughly, a parry
Of siY' two Of whom, Kilroy and Moni2om
erv had been wopied Of tho RoPewalk,
formed with a corporal in front, and Preston
Siiawing with bayoneis Gxe.i, they hausl'-I
,;Iy rushed through the people" upon the
iro,. G cursing them as they went along.-]
They found about zen persous round the