The sun., 1897-01-18
A New York Day-Jnnuary 1S.


On the Common of the city of New York,
that open field where we OF to-day have our
City Hall Park, there stood from 1T88 to
1879 wooden staff. forty feet high. placed
there and kept there rs n Liberty pole
Because certain incidents in the history Of
that pole eliminated, on the 18th OF Janu-
ary, 1870, In the first shedding Of blood in
the cause Of American Independence, the
18th OF January ought to be more generally
remembered by every true American: and
because that first sacrifice Of patriot blood
occurred on Manhattan Island. every loyal
citizen OF New York, proud Of the city in
which he lives, ought in some way to cele-
brate the 18th OF January as distinctively a
New York city day.
This day, one hundred and twenty seven
years ago GEORGE the Third was King, and
this city then was his, city whereof the
northern limits barely reached to the line Of
our Chambers street. Its population num-
bcred little more than go, 900 persons.
The Liberty pole stood in the city's pub
lie fields to commemorate the repeal OF the
Stamp act Erected by the common people,
II was an object OF dislike to trucking Tory
residents and to the British soldiers quar-
tered in barracks on the Common to repress
the growing spirit Of Americanism.
More than once since the staff was raised
on June 4, 1895. the soldiers In the dark
ness OF night had torn 1t down. AS often
the people raised 1t again. At last the in
Gignant patriots organized and maintained
hguard to keep constant watch over the
bymbol OF the victory they had won by the
celebrated New York Non-Importation
agreement of Oct 81, 1765. But during
The night Of Jan. 16, 1870, the soldiers got
The better of the patriot guard and, cutting
down the pole, threw its pieces near the
place where the Sons OF Liberty were
accustomed to assemble. The next
day the people were furious, and dis
butes with the insolent soldiers were
frequent. On Jan. 1S the disputes became
, quarrel in which weapons were used.
Three privates OF the Sixteenth Regi-
ment Of Foot had been taken prisoners by
tome patriots and were being hurried from
ne Common toward Wall street. Soldiers
bushed to the rescue; groups Of patriots
pressed boldly upon the Kings men, over
powered them, and forced the Red Coats to
retreat to the elevated ground then called
Golden Hill. We OF to-day have no Golden
Hill, but In its place we have John street !;
and that part Of John street, near William
street, we may we'll remember as historic,
for there was the thick Of the first armed
fight the thick of the first battle between
American patriots and GEORGE the Tyrant's
soldiery.
Reinforcements from the garrison came
to the troops upon Golden HILL but rein
forcements came also to the brave, outraged
people. All the city had been aroused,
bells had been rung, shops were closed,
homes were left, and the angry populace as
sailed the soldiers from all sides. Had not
the officers OF the troops acknowledged
defeat and consented to order their men to
their barracks, there would have been a
massacre OF the Britishers to which history
would give two pages instead OF one.
1t was triumph for the people. Banded
and riveted with iron their Liberty pole
was raised again on the historic Common to
remain there undisturbed until the days
when the lines were finally drawn for the
War for Independence
Boston had massacre on March 8, 1870,
OF which historians have made so much
that New York's Golden Hill affair has
boen somewhat obscured. Let Boston be
proud that her townsfolk showed resistance
TO the domineerng soldiers OF Britain, re-
sistance that led to her memorable March
the fifth, but let New York not forget that
here, on the site where is done John streets
peaceful business OF to-day, there was moro
serious business on Jan. lS, 1870; and that
then and there was the first blood shed in
the series OF local minor struggles which led
TO Lexington and Yorktown