Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-10-16
BUNKER HILL BATTLE.
Tense Feeling of the Patriots Before
the Great Event.

C'ioC ~
the Great Event.
NV great grandmother. Parnell
Brooks. whose maiden name was
Boylston. in the year 1920 sold her
homestead. on which now stands
Bunker Hill monument. 10 the city Of
Boston for $1,000. AT the time of the
battle of that name she was Il little
girl of seven and a half years living
with her parents, Richard and Parnell
BOylstOn. in the old homestead resi-
dence. which then stood on the very
spot where the monument now stands.
She retained to the end of her days Il
most vivid recollection of events there.
especially on the day and night pre-
ceding that memorable battle. the vari
Gus incidents of which she never tired
of telling and retelling
As nearly as | can. / shall give these
little items as she used TO relate them.
as follows:
My father. Richard Boylston. was
the grandson of the celebrated DR..
Zabdiel BOylston of Brookline. who
was the first to introduce lin 1721) vac
cinatiOn into the civilized world and
which he did against great opposition,
preceding DIR. Edward Jenner's fur
Their development of the practice in
England by about fifty years. At the
above dale. during The epidemic Of
smallpox in Boston. DR.. BoyIston in
Oculared 2S6 persons. of whom only six
died.
My father. grandson of this ia
nous physician, was Il prosperous mer-
chant of Charlestcwn. Our home was
on Breeds hill. Il little less than half
Il mile from the village. my father
owning that and much of the adjacent
land down TO the waters edge.
For months things had been very
unsettled. and 1 had heard much talk
among my elders about OPPRESSION,
tyranny and taxation. Up in the gar
ret. hidden behind the big loom. were
Il chest of tea. a teakettle. teacups.
saucerS. etc. carefully covered with
Il heap Of fax. Every afternoon my
mother would retire TO this garnet |
with any guest she might have 10 |
brew and drink Il cup of that forbid |
den beverage. How often had l been |
told. to stay near the door and play.
but to run quickly and tell my moth |
err if | saw any one coming up the |
hill.
For days out i'll the harbor mother
and the servants had been watching
and discussing the big ships which
were anchored there. There were so
many and so different from the little
fishing and harbor boats l had been
accustomed to see there.
Il was too young TO fully under
stand exactly what it all meant. but l
had Il vague idea that something aw-
FIJI was going to happen.
The day before the battle. June 1G.
we children. my brother Richard sis
er Ann and myself, had been playing
II the newly gathered hay which the
farm hands had left in little cocks
'eady for carting to the barn. These
We had seen fit to scatter mostly in
I'll directions.
My father. returning for midday
Inner. looked very serious. and we I
bought him exceedingly cross, for he |
commanded that we should rake up ,
very particle of the hay into cocks
gain Immediately.
AT dinner there was much talk OF :
var and the British. and the ships :
we're watched closer than ever They ,
eemed now to be teeming with con- :
family moving red coated men. At +
upper the family talked with bated +
'reath. and afterward father went =
Jack 10 the village. which mother did +
lot seem TO like him to do and was q
cry unusual for him. We were not r
ut to bed at the usual time They +
eemed TO forget us. and we huddled :
round mother as she talked anxiously
Nth neighbors who had called to see
ather.
AT 10 O'Clock, when father returned.
e said orders had been issued to Colo
ell Prescott TO fortify Bunker HILL az
very evidence showed the British
'ere intending TO land. Our callers
eparted. and we retired.
1t must have been nearly midnight
hen the whole household was aroused
terrible knocking at our doors and
lie tramping Of horses In the yard.
ather. hastily throwing up his win
ow, demanded who was there. The
nswer was: General Putnam. Get
he women and children out of the =