Norwich bulletin., 1921-08-11
ODD INCIDENTS IN AMERICAN
 HISTORY

Of all the arrogant acts of the Eng fish in the impressment of seamen, and in the high-handed way in which they treated this country that led to the war of 1872, nothing aroused the people to the extent as did the killing of John Pierce on board the coasting sioop Rich ard in New York harbor on the evening of April 20, 1s06. As the Richard was approaching the harbor the Leapder g British warship, opened fire upon her and killed Pierce the Nlhelmsman. The Leander had long lain in the off1ng, stop ping coasters searching merchantmen seizing ships and inpressing citizens of the United States.
 But the Richard made her escape and reached New York As the news of what had happened spread through the city the whole population was thrown into reommotion. The body of the mur- dered man was taken from the ship and laid in state in the city hall. Thousands viewed it, and of these scarce one but went away cursing England and the Washington administration and vowing vengeance.
 The purser of the I.eander had been in the city the day before the murder and had bought a great quantity of meat and food for the Snip. Two boats loaded with them were seized at the wharf. Three more had gone down the bay but swift sailing vessels put after them. over hauling them at Sandy Hook and brought them back to the city where the fooA placed in ten carts, was dragged by shouting crowds to the aims house.
 Meanwhile the common council naet, denounced the murder and the daring aggression on national rights, voted q =iy yad ha n of the ships in the harbor to lower their flags at half-mast and the sextons ef the churches to toll the bells. The peo- pie assembled and resolved to attend the funeral in a body. The TammanS Society did likewise and directed that the members should, with black bands on their hats and black crepe edged ! with red~on their arns pay respect te the shade of the murdered Pierce. On the day of the funeral the body, surrounded by the clergy, the captain. and crews of all the ships in the hareof, the mayor, the common council and the Pearl street. to Broadway and deposited in the graveyard of St. Paul's church.
 The excitement called out by the in- cident did not stop at the grave The spring elections were near at hand and each party found in the murder of Fierce materials for campaign purpose. A Fed 1 eralist meeting in New York declared among other thing that ''the President would be much better employed in main taing our right and protesting our fla. than in cutting up animals and etufins the skins of dead raccoons.
 To the charges made by the Federal ists against the inactivity of Jefe1=oT the republicans replied by declaring tha, the murder of Pierce and every othes act of British insolence were the neces. sary consequences of the tamepess nd indifference of three Federal admins trations.
 Beyond the limits of New York thf feeling excited by the murder of Pierc, was less bitter. At Washington, the Sd of May Jefferson put forth a proclama ton. He commanded the Leander. thl Cambrian and Driver to lesve the port. of the United States. Should they fail t go, or, going, should they come back he prohibited the people to repair them pilot them or supply them with food, an( forbade tine officers, Henry Whithy, JehI Marine and Slingsby Simpson, ever aEail to enter the water of the United States. At Philadelphia, on the 18th of May , the day being the anniversary of the So ciety of St. Tan1many, the council ire were lighted and 8 set of respluticn framed in the great wigwam st tn Green Free Inn. The subject vas th killing of Pierce, and one of them or dered that a painting representing tn murder shtI-d be secured and hung U in the wigwam to keep in memory tn fact that he fell by one of the acts c those tyrants of whose bloody spiri