The times., 1899-05-08
A RIVAL TO PAUL REVERE.
The Midnight Ride of William DAVE,
to Rouse the Patriots.
(FIom the Boston Herald.

Inc nrst patriotic event of Patriots Day.
1888. was the unwilling CT a tablet placed
by the Sons OF the Revolution upon the
tcn.o In Kings Chapel burying ground
which marks the resting place of William
Dawes. whose daring midnight ride OF
April 1913, 1II5. was OF the same charac-
ter and accomplished the same purpose as
the ride Of Paul Revere
Major Frank II. Briggs delivering the
address said:
Poetry has so adorned with its attract
i've charm the ride of Paul Revere that to
the average mind Revere was the enIy
man who had anything to do with warn
ing the people at the time of the expadi-
ton Of the British from Boston on the
night Of April is, 1775.
AS matter of fact, however. Revere
although one of the leaders. was ct the
same time only a spoke in the wheel and
though from Longfellow's poem even the
child can learn with interest OF the poetic
details of Reyere's ride, yet the similar
ride of William Dawes. OF Just as much
value to the community. has not been
made famous or heralded abroad as a
daring deed.
-Longfellow has assumed with Poetic
license to place Revere in different towns
hour by hour. and at the outset he is Sp-
parently standing on the Charlestcwn
shore waiting for the signal from the cid
and William Dawes were practically stimuli
taneous as regards the start from the town
of Boston.
''The facts which led up to the ride were
these: 1t had been known some time pre-
-vious to April 10 that the British were
preparing 10 make a movement, with tho
probable destination at Concord, as mu-
nitions of war were being gathered there.
and Hancock. Adams. and other Revoiu-
tionary leaders were in that town and vi
cinity.
Joseph Warren, who had remained at
Boston, had arranged certain details as to
notification from inside the town. Re
yeres own narrative states that it had
been agreed with a Colonel Conant and
some other gentlemen in Charlestown that
il the British army went out by water
two lanterns should be shown in the
North Church steeple. and if by land one.
as signal for We were apprehensive it
would be difficult to cross over Charles
River or get over Boston Neck
Warren waited until the British troops
had actually begun to move TO their boats.
and then he started William Dawes out
1 by land route from Boston Neck and
thence across Brighton Bridge for Con-
cord and Lexington. and directly after
about 10 o'cloek-he sent Revere by water
to Charlestown, thence TO Lexington
across the country. to aequaint Hancock
and Adams of the movement, and arouse
the country
Revere Immediately called upon Capt
John Pulling and desired him to make
the signal at once in the North Church
steeple. Richard Devens and Colonel CO.
nant who were on the Charlestown shore.
saw the signal and sent a messenger at
once to warn Hancock and Adams.
Revere then went across to CharlsStown
| in a boat and. Joined by Devens. started
on his mission. He got to Parson Clark's 5
at Lexington. where he. found Hancock
| and Adams about midnight, and IN the
| course OF half an hour he was joined by
| Dawes. After some refreshments they rode
| on to Concord and were Joined by DIR.
| Prescott but, near Hartweils Tavern in
| lower Lincoln. became separated. and Re-
/ we're was afterward captured.
William Dawes was OF old Puritan
stock The first William Dawes vas a
/ mason by trade, and settled in BraIntree
in 1885. and afterward moved to Boston.
! and his house on Sudbury Street was pulled
| down in 1775 after five generations had
! successfully lived in it.
| The William Dawes in whom we are
! interested was born on April o, lIfo. ana
/ lived on Ann Street. He learned the trade
/ CT a tanner, and his yard was at the corner
of Sudbury and Friend Streets.
He was married in 1868 and became
| major in the Ancient and Honorable Ar
| tillery Company. In 1TT5 he was the
leader OF those who saved the two small
feldpieces of the Ancient and Honorable
Artillery Company from capture by Gen
| eral Gage.
When Boston became unsafe from siege
be moved his family to Worcester. and
after the seat of war was moved from New
England was appointed commissary by
Congress at Worcester. He died Febru-
ary %. 1893. and was described in the Ian
guage of that day as very fearless and
brave man who never shrank from any
post of duty.
THE Sons Of the Revolution. believing
that Major Dawes services were worthy
of the aims of the society. therefore place
this enduring memorial of the work OF SO
stanch a patriot In this they have re-
ceived the cooperation OF the grand
daughter of William Dawes, Miss Julia
Goddard. OF Brookline. whom | am pleased
TO see present.
I'VE transfer, however, to the custody
of the city of Boston this tablet, and trust
that it may stimulate our descendants TO
equally noble and brave deeds should oe
casion ever arise