Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-06-02
INTERNAL mAcH1sgs A CENTURY AGO

While the two houses were in recess Tor
the Christmas holidays, the country was
greatly agitated By number of incendiary
fires. which pointed to the existence OF
conspiracy for the destruction Of the ship
ping and arsenals. Although similar de-
sign had been conceived In l764 by the
French Minister, Choiseul, and had come
TO the knowledge OF the English Govern
ment, proper precautions for the guarding
of the arsenals and dock-yards were not
taken, and on the 9TH of December tire
broke ont at Portsmouth. which threat,
ened the total destruction of the national
property there. It was at first supposed
to be mischance, but on the 10Th OF the
following January, l777, clerk IN the
dock yard in moving some hemp, dis
covered an explosive machine and vari-
Gus oombustible materials. Some OF the
authorities then recollected that sullen,
silent man, al artisan, had been seen loi'
tering about the yard on the day OF the
fire, and had been accidentally locked one
night into the rope house He exact mans
was not known, but, from his calling III
life, he was generally spoken of as John
the Painter. A reward was offered for ms
capture but he had disappeared and could
not be found, in spite of diligent search;
either in Portsmouth or the neighborhood;;
The suspicion against him was strengthened
by the fact that he had recently come from
America, and a panic spread through the
country, where il was said that band OF
American incendiares had arrived with
instructions to spread fire and havoc III
every direction. Subsequent events gave
color to this apprehension. lncendIary
fires were attempted at Plymouth and
at Bristol, and in the latter city tne
miscreant, having failed to set hre
to some vessels, contrived TO burn down
some warehouses that stood upon the quay,
close to a crowded mass of shipping. In
house OF the same city, combustibles
were found stored, and the feeling OF alarm
was naturally increased in no small de-
gree. At the beginning of February a
man was apprehended at Oldham, III
Hampshire, on charge OF burglary. lie
was Scotchman, named Aitken, 81 years
OF age wandering, unsettled person. who
had at various times borne several aliases.
and who now turned out to be John the
Painter. Three years previously he had
been to seek his fortune in America, and
had there adopted the most extreme views
of the party of independence. On return
ing to Great Britain he had committed va
rious acts of theft, and was at length in
custody on suspicion of housebreaking-
1t was found a very difficult mat
ter, however, to fix on him any
connection with the recent acts OF
incendiarism, for ne showed great clever
ness in parrying such questions as were
asked. On the suggestion of Earl Temple
another painter named Baldwin, who had
also travelled in America, was put into the
same cell with Aitken. By protesting
sympathy with his views, ne managed to
win his confidence, and John the Painter
speedily divulged great deal which, il
true, it was very important that the Gov
ernment should know. Early in March he
was tried at Winchester. The evidence OF
Baldwin being confirmed by other wit.
nesses, the accused was found guilty and
sentenced to be hanged. The execution
took place on the 10th of March, on gal
lows sixty feet high, in front of the dock.
yard at Portsmouth, after the prisoner had
first been carried in an open cart round the
ruins of the building he had destroyed
-TCassells History of the United States