The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1933-11-30

seized for non-payment. So, as December IT,
the date of expiration, approached affairs rap
Idly drew to a climax
During the 10 days which elapsed between
the arrival of the first ship and that climax,
Samuel Adams and his followers held a series
OF meetings to determine upon course OF ac-
ton. The first OF these was In Faneu hall and
1t Immediately adjourned to Old South church
where the subsequent meetings were held At
one OF them the county sheriff appeared with
proclamation commanding the patriots to dis,
perse. They listened to him quietly and then
unanimously voted to continue their meeting.
On December 16 a great crowd gathered In
Old South. Rotch had been sent to see Gov
ernor Hutchinson to secure his aid in getting
clearance papers. While the meeting waited
for his return, there were speeches-many of
them. Hancock spoke, as did Josiah Quincy, Jr.
But the most significant speech was that OF
John Rowe In which he boldly exclaimed: who
knows how tea will mix with salt waterr' The
shout OF approval that went up clearly indeat-
ed what was In the minds of most OF those
there.
Finally Rotch returned with the report that
the governor would give him no aid. Then
Samuel Adams arose. This meeting can do no
more to save the country" he said gravely but
significantly. As though this were a prear-
ranged signal, there was the sound OF an Indian
war-whoop outside and 1t was echoed by the
crowd inside Darkness was gathering as a
party OF men, most Of them dressed In Indian
costume but others with only black paint ON
their faces 4 disguise, marched down to Grif-
fms wharf and quietly but quickly threw over
board every pound of tea the three ships.
There no resistance and othe- property
damaged.
Their job DONE the Indians dispersed quick
1y and dotted their DISCUSSES. For years the
identity OF those who took part In this premed-
itated act OF violence and direct defiance to the
king and his ministers was carefully guarded.
But In later years, when the Revolution had
been a success the identities OF many of them
became generally known. One OF the most In
teresting of these, SO far rs his later history
was concerned was Thomas Melvill who be-
came frewarden In Boston and Is said to
have been the last Bostsnian to cling to the Gus
tom Of wearing the cooked hat OF colonial days.
lie became familiar sight on the streets OF
Boston. Living to shrIveled old age, his ven
cradle mien and quaint costume were immor-
talized by oliver Wendell Holmes In the poem,
"The Last Leaf" for which Mevill Is more
remembered than for his being member of
the Boston Tea Party. But there Is another
reason why he should be remembered When
he returned home on that historic night 100
years ago there was some tea In his boots. He
preserved 1t In bottle and that bottle and Its
contents may be seen In the Old State House
today.
"You cannot imagine the height OF Joy that
sparkes In the eyes and anImates the coun-
tenances as well as the hearts Of all we meet"
wrote Samuel Adams after the whole thing was
over The crown authorities knew that 1t
would be futile to try to identify the partici-
pants and punish them. So they decided to pun
ish the whole city of Boston instead The port
of Boston closed the famous "Intolerable
Acts" were passed Gen. Thomas Gage came to
Boston to succeed Hutchinson as governor and
events moved swiftly to the opening OF host1l-