The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-10-20
BURNING OF THE PEGGY
STEWART.
A Thrilling Event in Mary
lands History One Hundred
mi. o. Vonr Loo

Tory Is IRmlllaF Win tue Story u
the overthrow of the tea in Boston
harbOr. If they are not familiar
with the details of that event. it
is not the fault of the New Eng
land historians, who have never
failed to sound the praises of their
countrymen on ali occasions aud
events pertaining to the stirring
period proceeding the outbreak of
the Revolution.
During the stormy period fol
lowing the passage of the Stamp
Act, no colony of the original thir
teen then composing the colonial
federation, took "a more decided
stand for their rights than did
Maryland, who was peopled with
a class that were liberal in their
sentiments. proud of their liber.
ties, and were ready to maintain
them at the point of the bayonet
in the struggle which they saw
was inevitable with the mother
country.
This was her position, when, on
the 18th of October, 1774. the
brig Peggy Stewart sailed into
Annapolis harbor, having in her
cargo large consignment of tea.
imported by Joseph and James
Williams. The duty was paid by
Anthony Stewart, the owner of
the vessel. The people OF the ell
tire province were inSulted by this
submission to the contested claim
Of the British Parliament to tax
the American colonies. The great.
est indignation prevailed; a pub,
lie meeting was held, at which it
was determined that the tea should
not be landed. The vessel was
put under a guard of citizens. un-
til the sentiment of the people
could be aScertained concerning
the disposal of it and its obnoxi
Gus contents. C0uriers were dis.
patched throughout the surround.
ing county, to spread the news,
and soon the roads leading to
Annapolis were filled with angry
and determined men and boys
hurrying towards the town.
Among the chief leaders of the
movement was DR.. Charles Alex.
ander Wardeld, who was chief of
the Wing Club ofthe manor neigh
bOrhOod of Howard county. Com
miSsioned as major in the colonial
militia of the province. he turned
his political club into a military
battalion, drilling them as cav
airy. When the news came of the
arrival of the tea at Annapolis.
Major Warfield had a number of
hatbauds printed on white cloth,
with the words, "Lii erty, indie
pendeuce. Death in the pursuit Of
it," which were put around the
hats of the Wing battalion. This
sinister sentence struck terror to
the hearts of many OF those who
were as yet undecided on he course
to pursue in the coming struggle
Charles Carroll, the father OF
Carroll the Signer, hurriedly wait
ed upon Dr. Warfield's father.
"Do you know that your son
Charles is committing treason
against the King" he said to the
old gentleman. II Know" was
the reply of the old patriot, "that
the King has committed treason
agaist us; he is our enemy and we
are his, and the sword must de
eide. My son Charles is right, and
we will live or die on that issue"
In the meantime, DR.. Warfield.
at the head of his battalion. rode
into Annapolis, and straight foV
the State House. At the State
House an immense meeting was IN
progress concerning what disposal
should be made of the vessel.
Samuel Chase, cousel for the owner
of the brig, had mounted a stump
and was earnestly pleading for
lenity and moderation on the part
of the people in the crisis at hand.
He pleaded so eloquently and
earnestly the cause of Mr.. Stew
art, as to produce a deep impress
sion upon the assembled multi
tude. Seeing the effect of his
speech upon his audience, War
field decided upon immediate
action. Lighting his torch, he
rode ont, in-frnnt Of tho 70 lssos
nj There being no official room or of
ii clal desk or official messenger or of
II cial anything else for the first lord, /
had taken possession of the secon
lords quarters and was working
~ save England and her colonies to pc
II terity when a messenger arrived vii
III an important document. The messe
al ger had come from France In all hast
ri The document was so important tn
n It was sealed in four places and til
with the reddest Of red tape, and Il
=" second lord, who carried it to the FIR
q lord. looked. awed and handled the b
a envelope with reverence. 1t was dc
G ument not to be opened until the thr
II hdred and twenty nile years
ako, in the presence of the assem-
bied multitude, the owner of the
vessel applied the torch with his