The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1875-09-10
NEW YORK BoMBARDED.

The British Man-of-War Pouring Her
Broadsides Into the City for Three
Hours The story of Hundred Years
Ago.
| 1t is a fact that one hundred years ago
tonight the city of New York was bonn
barded by the British line-of-battleship
Asia, under command of Captain George
Vanderput, and that during that combat
between the Sons of Liberty and the man
ofwar a number of citizens were killed.
To those only who were well acquainted
with the workings of the different political
parties in this city and who knew what
1 struggles there were in 1861 can there be
even faint idea of how matters stood on
the 23d of August, 1775. Bunker Hill had
been fought two months before, and the
Colonies were just beginning to feel that
kthere were men in them who were pledged
to victory OF death. 1t is pretty certain
from the records that now exist that New
York city was full of tories. There were
secret meetings of the Sons of Liberty night
after night, and measures were taken by
them to prevent any assistance being rem
dered the British on the outskil is of the
city, or through vessels of war on the river
or harbor, all of which were under the COM
mand of General Gage. There was fort
in the neighborhood of Bowling Green, in
which number of guns were mounted,
and the patriots, having been convened and
instructed, 1t was deemed by them of imme-
diate necessity that all these guns should
be seized at the first favorable opportunity,
| in order that the British should not carry
them away, and thus practically uncover
the city to their attacks.
THE COMPANY BEATS
| The city was districted and formed into
what was then called company BEATS"
| These companies were really volunteer Or
ganizations under the management and in
structions of the famous Sons of Liberty,
and each one of them had two officers, who
were responsible for the safety of their men.
arms and equipments. These men were all
tried and assured patriots, and were every
one determined to stand by the issue made
by the colonies with Great Britain. An
organization formed by committee of
two from each district or beat" was in
reality tine first armed body of patriots that
Manhattan Island ever had
BATTLE AND VICTORY.
There were thirty pieces of heavy cannon
in the fort, which was situated south of
the Bowling Green and a few feet west of
State and some short distance north of
Pearl street. On the night of August 90,
100 years ago, the Sons Of Liberty met in
what was called the field" but which is
now known as the City Hall Park, and
held a secret consultation as to what meas
ures were to be taken to comply with the
wishes of Congress, which earnestly desired
that the patriots should not allow the can
non to be removed, as they were needed to
arm some of the forts little while previ-
ously erected on the Highlands. Lambs
Battery, of McDougars regiment of the
Continental Army, stood to their guns in
the darkness of the night to assist the
patriots and to reply to the guns Of the
Asia as soon as that vessel discovered the
attempted removal of the artillery. At
eleven o'clock at night the patriots, headed
by Captain Palker's company of light in
fantry. of the battalion of Colonel Lasher,
silently entered the Battery and proceeded
to remove the guns. This was, no doubG,
a solemn moment to all the loyal hearts
congregated on the Battery, waiting anx-
iously to see the result of the endeavor.
Under the glimmering of the August moon
the barge of the Asia was discovered, her
oarsmen and party of marines watching
carefully all the movements of the patriots.
Young Hamilton was one of the first to
seize rope which had been attached to a
cannon. At about twelve o'clock the barge
moved away slowly through the water in
battle ship. AS the barge moved off a
musket was fred by marine in the stern
sheets at the patriots on the battery, and
this shot was replied to imm ediately by
sharp fire of musketry from Captain Park
er's light infantry. Very shortly after the
Asia, having secured her position, opened
| fire from three guns. The drums began to
| beat IN the city, and those who had arms
seized them and hurried down to the scene
of the conflict. Now the conflict became
general, and the Asia went to work in
earnest, firing by broadsides from her
eighteen and twenty -four Founders.
| New York had, at that time, 10000 in-
| kabitants and 1900 houses. What
guns could be got into position ON the
| patriots side, were fired by them as rapidly
as possible from the Battery. Families
| fed from their houses IN hot haste, and a
| number of persons were killed and wounded
/ in the streets. The cannonade from the
Asia lasted until three o'clock in the morn
| ing of the oath Of August, but, in spite of
her furious thunder, the guns were all
safely removed from the fort, which, being
denuded Of all warlike paraphernalia, was
| abandoned until the Asia should depart
| At the time of the action the tory Governor
of the province, Tryon, was on Long Island
and party of patrol cavalry started to
secure his person. He stated, however,
that he knew nothing of the approach of
Gage, the British General, or any of his
troops from Boston, and having promised
that he would take note of all damages in
the city caused by the commander Of the
Asia, he was let go undisturbed. And
thus ended the first, and, no doubt, the last
bombardment of New York, which occurred
100 years ago, on the night of August 23,
| 1775.--N. 7. Herald, august 23d.
Origin Of the g House that Jack Built.
| There is a poem at the end of the Book
of Passover Services used by the Jews, says