The Coolidge examiner., 1933-12-01

seized for non-payment. So, as December 16,
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-
tion. The first of these was in Faneuil hall and
1t Immediately adjourned to Old South church
where the subsequent meetings were held At
one of them the county sheriff appeared with a
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 waterl" The
shout of approval that went up clearly indicat-
ed what was in the minds of most of those
there
Finally Rotch returned with the report that
the governor would give him 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-
whoop outside and it 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 a disguise, marched down TO Grif-
fins wharf and quietly but quickly threw over
board every pound of tea on the three ships.
There was no resistance and no other property
damaged.
Their job done, the Indians" dispersed quick
ly and doffed their DISCUSSES. For years the
identity of those who took part in this premed-
lated 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
terestng of these, so far as his later history
was concerned, was Thomas Melvill, who be-
came a fre-warden in Boston and is said to
have been the last BostOnian to cling to the Gus
tom of wearing the cooked hat of colonial days
He became a familiar sight on the streets of
Boston. Living to shriveled old age. his ven
erabe mien and quaint costume were immor-
talized by Oliver Wendell Holmes in the poem
"The Last Leaf" for which Melvill is more
remembered than for his being a member of
the Boston Tea Party. But there is another
reason why he should be remembered. When
he returned home that historic night 100
years ago there was some tea in his boots. He
preserved it in a 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 anmates 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 it
would be futile to try to identify the partci-
pants and punish them. So they decided to pun
ish the whole city of Boston instead. The port
of Boston was 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 hostil