The Portland daily press., 1875-05-07
Centennial Chips.
Christ Church, Boston, and the "siEnai
Lights "-''ThOse Charming Belis"-
CSpp,s MiII and its Surroundings.

During the late memorial celebration in BOs-
ton, Lexington and Concord, very little has
been written of the commemorative observance
of the vigilance and forethought of Paul Revere
in 1775 Revere was warm patricia gold
smith, eugrayer, and afterwards brass found
er. He had already engraved picture of the
"massacre in King street, in 1770, in which the
firing on the people by the troops was repre-
sented as wanton cruelty. He had also as
sisted in throwing the tea overheard in 1773.
He was always watching for an opportunity to
frusrate che plans of Gen. Gage. 1t had been
apparent for several days that an attempt would
be made to destvoy the Provincial stores at
Concord. and Revere, on the day preceding the
proposed expedition, got wind of it, and ar
ranged with his friend Robert Newman to
show lights from the church tower when the
troops left, 'one il by land aud two if by sea-"
At ten o'clock p. m. decentralization OF eight
hundred troops commenced at the bottom of
the Commen, for the Cambridge shore, and
Robert Newman hung the lanterns outside the
tower, while Revere was watching on the other
side of Charles river, and he was soon mounted
and off for Lexington to apprise Hancock and
Adams that they and the Provincial stores were
inIdanger
The evening previous to the Lexington aud
Concord Centennial, it had been arranged to
have a commemorative address in the old
church in Boston, and to have the signal lights
shown from the steepe, to be placed there by
descendant of Robert Newman, who made
the signals in 1775.
1t being Sunday, with some friends l took an
early walk toward the north end, and found all
the streets leading to Copps Hill already occu-
pied by throDgs of people, many of whom
were foreigners, but they were as enthusiastic
as those of native birth. As it was not Jet
dark we went n,o the old Copps Hill burSing
ground to sse the Mather tomb, IN which rests
Samuel, Cotton, and Increase. all ministers.
at is the tomb of our fathers" rays the in
scription on tablet inserted in thick slab OF
red sandstone; also the stone OF Captain Daniel
Malcomb who lies in stone grave ten feet
deep" This hill is historic ground. From
here Burgoyne and Clinton witnessed the fight
at Bunker Hill. and directed the fire of a bat
terry one of whose shells set Charlestown on fire.
Sir VIM. Phips native OF Maine, mad hs :, resi-
dence on the corner of Charter and Salem
streets-the latter makes the northern
boundary of the burying ground and takes its
name from the new charter granted by King
William III, which Phips brought home from
England in 1852 with his own commission as
Governor Under this charter, Maine, Plym-
outh and Massachusetts were united in one col.
ony
Tie bells of Christ Church had been ringing
merrly since we came in hearing; this chime
consists of eight bells. The day before the Gel
ebra:ion of the completion OF the Bunker Hill
Monument, in 1843 climbed the stairs TO the
belfry to see these ancient bells, which have
their own history, that OF the church, and some
of that of the colony, Cast on them. They had
just been rehung for the occasion. They were
procured by subscription-one has this inserip-
ton, "Sipce generosity has opened our mouths
our tongues shall ring aloud its praise. John
F. Hull ESQ.,, of your cityhas In his possession
printed receipt, Except the names) given to
Mr. John Butler in full for 95 towards ring
of bells TO be erected in the steeple OF Christ
Church ia Boston"-t is dated Sept. 1744, and
signed by ''Robert jenkins warden Of said
church." On another bell is the following:
''We are the first ring of bells cast for the
British Empire in N. A, on another abel
Rudhall of Gloucester cast us all. Ammo 1744.
This is the Oldest church III Boston; it is OF
brick and was built in 1928 six years before
the sold South Its vaulted tombs below
contain the dead of one hundred and fifty
years. From the steeple of this church Cen
Gage watched the advance and retreat OF his
troops at Bunker Hill, and discovered that be
had lost his military reputation by neglecting
to fortify the hill before the Yankees took pos
session.
But to return to the centennial ceremonies
The crowd continued to grow more dense in
Streets until half past sever, expecting to see
the church doors open. Soon squad OF
mounted police forced their wey through the
crowd, followed by line of coaches containing
these who were to take part in the celebra.
ton within. These entered by side door, and
the front doors were not opened to the public;
The gathered mass of humanity now turned
their attention to the tower, watching the oell-
ringers through the windows, who continued
the melody in Ia variety of airs from grave to
gay.
Prompt at eight o'clock che man with the
signal lanterns began to climb the narrow
stairs from story to story-he was plain to be
seen. as there were no blinds to the windows.
There is glazed loft above the clock where he
stepped, opened the sash, and hung out his two
sional lights The people had been cheering
during his arrest, and when the lights appeared
outside there was one continued huzza until a
bright calcium light from the steeple flashed
out over the crowded street, when the cheers
seemed wilder and louder than before. The
people quietly dispersed without seeing the
ceremonies within, seemingly satisfied with
those without. w. G..
WINDHAM May g. 1875.