The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-27
THE REVOLUTIONARY HERALD.

The number OF the NEW YORK HERALD published
on the Concord Lexington Centennial day con-
tanned several fac-similes and reproductions OF
colonial papers containing the ate1ul news Of the
nrst Tight for American independence. The quaint
old journals OF fascinating interest. Here is
broadside of the Salem Gazette with three accounts
of the nght and funeral elegy "to the immortal
memory OF those worthless who were slain in the
battle Of Concord" Reversed rules line the page
with mourning for the dead patriots. The head-
ing consists OF rough wood-cut OF forty cof-
fms, lying side by side, and marked on tine
lids with the names or the martyrs. Then
come the glowing lines, written with all
modern journalists appreciation OF apt altera-
toms artlul aid, such as "A Bloody Butchery BY
the British; or the Runaway Flight OF the Regu-
lars.n The FIRST sketch, written three days after
the battle, Is very meagre. The second, dated
April %, is quite iull. George Ill Is denounced as
an "ungrateul Tyrant," and the hostilities OF his
troops are said to have been "attended with Cir
cumstances or Cruelty not less brutal than what
our venerable Ancestors received from the vllest
Savagesn The Gazette is full OF items. We learn
that the regulars "hurrdn (hurrahed) Just before
firing at Lexington, and that they pillaged
and burned several houses. One OF their
victims was 'the gooc, the pious and friendly Mr..
Daniel Townsend As this estlmable person
distinguished as IAN able mild, and sincere re-
proven of those who we're cut of the way" the
community perhaps endured with equanimity his
Deing put out OF the way. The poem is OF
touching nature. witness tails pathetic pas
sage:-
on SQUIRE GARDENERS death we feel.
and sympathzinE mourn;
Let's drop tear when 1t will tell
And view his hapless
The Gazette ays:-"We can assure the public,
from the best authority wnica we can get that
our brethren OF all the colonies heard from are
frm and unsnaken IN their attachments TO the
common cause OF America. and they are now
ready with their lives and fortunes 10 assist us in
defeating the designs OF our implacable enemies"
This was bold talk for salem man when Boston
was in British hands.
RtUington's Neto York Gazetteer ana Connecticut,
Hudson Rtuer, Neso Jersey ana quebec Weekly ia
uertiSer-appalling title l-was In after times the
tory aud royal organ OF the colonies. On May rs,
l775, however. it announced itself as ''printed at
his tRivington's) open aud uninnuenced press"
and published number OF afidayits which 40 to
show that the regulars rushed uriously and fred
upon" the minute men without provocation or
warning. This number OF the Gazetteer also con-
tanned long speech OF the tory, William Frank
lin, the illegitimate son Of BENJAMIN Franklin and
the then governor, Chancellor and Vice Admi-
raj" OF New Jersey. His ExceIency impiores the
General Assembly OF his province to become
reconciled with the King and to lay n few taxes
for His Majesty's benefit.
Then we have the Massachusetts, spy, or Anle7f-
can oracle or liberty, published then and now at
worcester. Above its title the stirring line
Americans Liberty or Death Join or Die ~
The date is May g. 1875. The publisher, Mr. Isaiah
Thomas, announces that he escaped from Boston
.son the memorable 10Th day Of April, which will
be remembered in the future as the Anniversary
Of the Battle OF Lexiugtonw The spy plazes with
italics, invectiye and indignation. 1t says that
the troops, after firing on the Lexington
minute men, 'laugned ana damned the
Yankees, ana said they could not bear the
smell OF gunpowder." THIS, by the way,
contradlcts the current belief that the word
ssYanKeen was invented as reproach during the
Revolution. Besides the Lexington news the spy
has one other item. It Is that "ihe Hon
John Hancock ESQ., Mr. Samuel ADAMS Mr.
John Adams and others have gone to Philadelphia
TO the 'Grand American Congress"
we regret 20 see that rural journalism In 1715
did not differ from rural journalism in 1878 in
Important particular The Salem Gagette ends It's
columns with this painful statement
our Customers arc desired TO consider the DIM
try are now involved: and that we cannot con
time our Business without regular AMI ppnc ual
Payments. We SHAH be obliged 10 discontinue
sending the Gazette 70 all whu are indebted for
more than one Year, unless they make immediate
Payment.-ChicGg0 Tribune.