Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1896-01-23
GRADE E-LEssoN X.
THB BOSTON MASSACRE.

The evening of the fifth came on. The
young moon was shining brightly III
cloudless winter sky, ana its light was
increased by a new-fallen snow. Parties
of soldiers were driving about the streets,
making parade of valor, challenging
resistance, and striking the inha bitants
indiscriminately with sticks or sheat he'd
cutlasses.
A band, which poured out from Muir
rays barracks, in Brattle street, armed
with clubs, cutlasses, and bayonets,
provoked resistance, and fray ensued.
Ensign Maui, at the gate of the barrack-
yard, cried to the soldiers: "Turn out,
and will stand by you; kill them; stick
them; knock them down; run your bayo-
| nets through them" One soldier after
another leveled a firelock, and threatened
to make lane" through the crowd.
Just before nine, as an officer crossed
king street, now state street, BARRIERS
lad cried after him: "There goes a mean
fellow who hath not paid my father for
dressing his hair;" on which, the sentinel
stationed at the westerly end OF the
custom house, on the corner of King
street and Exchange lane, left his post,
and with his musket gave the boy
/ stroke on the head, that made him
stagger and cry for pain
I The street soon became clear, and no.
I body troubled the sentry, when party
+ OF soldiers issued violently from he main
j guard, their arms glittering in the moon
light, and passed on, hallooing: "W here
are they? where are they? Let them
come"
. Presently twelve or fifteen more, utter
ing the same cries, rushed from the south
b into King street, aud 50 by the way OF
/ Cornhill towards Murray's barracks
/ Pray, soldiers, sPare my life cried At
boy of twelve, whom they met. mo, no,
III kill you all, answered one of them.
and knocked hlm down with his cutlass.
They abused and insulted several persons
at their doors and others in the street !;
/ running about like madmen in fury"
crying, Fire. which seemed their
watchword, and, NV here are they?
Knock them down. Their outrageous
behavior occasioned the ringing of the
/ bell at the head of King street.
motion, came out with canes and clubs;
and, partly by the Interference of we'll
disposed officers, partly by the courage of
Crispus Attacks, mulatto, and some
/ Others he fray at he barracks was soon
over. OF the citizens, the prudent
shouted, CLONE! home!" others, it is
said, cried out, "Huzza for the main
= id ~ but hn
guard was not molested the whole even
ing.
A body of soldiers came up Royal EX
change lane, crying, "W here are the
cowards?" and, brandishing their arms,
passed through King street. From ten
to twenty boys came after them, asking,
"Where are they? where are they?"
"There is the soldier who knocked me
down." said the BARRIERS boy; and they
began pushing one another towards the
sentinel. He loaded and primed his
musket. 1.-The lobster is going to fire."
cried a boy. Waving his piece about,
the sentinel pulled the trigger.
at you fire you must die for it, )" said
Henry Knox, who was passing by. 81
don't care" replied the sentry, "if they
touch me, I'll fire. "Fire!" shouted the
boys, for they were persuaded he could
not do it without leave from civil Of
ficer and young fellow spoke out,
ave will knock him down for swapping"
while they whistled through their fingers
and huzzsed. ''Stand Off" said the SEN
try, and shouted aloud, Turn out, main
guardn "rhey are killing the sentinel"
reported a servant from the custom
house, running to the main guard. Turn
out why don't you turn out?" cried
Preston, who was captain OF the day, to
the guard.
A party Of six, two of whom, Kilroi
and Montgomery, had been worsted at
the rope walk, formed, with corporal
in front and Preston following. With
bayonets fixed, they crushed through the
people," upon the trot, cursing them,
and pushing them as they went along.
They found about ten persons round the
sentry, while about fifty or sixty came
down with them. 'For Gods sake" said
Knox, holding Preston by the coat, "take
YOUR men back again; il they fire, your
life must answer the consequences" -
know what am about" said he hastily,
and much agitated.
None pressed on them or provoked
them till they began loading, when a
party of about twelve in number, with
sticks in their hands, moved from the
middle of the street where they had been
standing, gave three cheers, and passed
along the front OF the soldiers, hose