The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1940-08-03
THE MARTYRDOM OF
CRISPUS ATTACKS

clash of sticks against the threatened
arms, some one either gave the order
to "fre" or soldiers thought they
heard the order to "fire" and at the
first shot Crispus Attacks fell, dead.
Samuel Gray and James Caldwell
were also killed. Samuel Maverick
and Patrick Carr were MORALLY
wounded. Blood was mixed with snow,
blood of the colored man and blood of
white men, was shed for the redemp-
ton of America from the British OPP
preston. Attacks and Caldwell hav-
ing no home in Boston were removed
to Faneuil Hall, the cradle of Ameri-
can Liberty, which Graded the dead
body of our Crispus Attacks.
Hundreds of visitors came to Fame
uil Hall and to the homes of Maverick
and Gray to express their sympathy.
| The funeral was held on Wednesday,
March 7th. There were muffled drums
and tolling bells not only in Boston
but in the surrounding towns. Shops
were closed and it was a day of great
mourning. Four hearses and a long
line of coaches belonging to the most
distinguished families and filled with
distinguished people proceeded to the
Granary Burying Ground, on fremont
| Street, where the bodies are buried in
one grave, side by side. 1t is said that
a greater number of persons assem-
bled on this occasion than were ever
gathered on the continent for similar
purpose.
In the meantime Justice Court was
Immediately held. Captain Preston
was put in prison and the eight SOL
diers who had fired. A town meeting
was held by the citizens in Faneuil
Hall. A committee of Is was APP
pointed to wait on Gov. Hutchinson
and Col. Dalrymple to express the
sentiments of the people and fervent
prayer for removal of troops. Does it
not remind US of our fervent prayers
for removal of segregation holes in our
midst?
The 29th Regiment had taken no
part in the Massacre. The Governor
removed the 29th Regiment. Will his
tory repeat itself? Will the answer
to our fervent prayer be similar? The
giving to us of what we ask not, while
Withholding what we ask?
The anniversary of the Boston
Massacre was observed on the 9Th of
/ March each year thereafter until July
was substituted as Independence
Day. There was great solemnity on
that day and eloquent orators spoke
on the blessings of liberty and the
horrors of slavery.
Four years after, when John Han
cock, signer of the Declaration of
independence, was orator at the ami
versary he exclaimed: do not the in
| jured shades of Maverick, Gray, Cald-
WE'LL Attacks and Carr attend you in
your solitary walks; arrest you in the
midst of your debaucheries and fill
even your dreams with terror"
Five years after the bloody affair
Judge Dawes said: "The provocation
of that night must be numbered among
the master springs which gave the
| first motion to a vast machinery-a
noble comprehensive system of ma
ti0nal independence"
On the sixth anniversary Gen.
George Washington, making the
rounds of his intrenchments in Boston
said, while addressing his men: ere
member it is the 9Th of March and
avenge the death of your brethren"
Crispus Attacks plays no small
part in the tragedy that preceded the
birth of American independence. His
name in its connection with American
history is immortal. We should inn
mortalize it by celebrating the ami
versary of his martydrom, March 5, of
every succeeding year.
On Boston Common stands a monu-
ment erected to the memory of the
heroes of the Boston Massacre. It is
called "The Crispus Attacks Monu-
ment." The agitation for the erection
of this was started by William C. Nell.
The face representing Crispus Attacks
is carved in the likeness of the late
Lewis Hayden, it is said. He was an
other Colored abolitionist and for
mer slave. The figure of the woman
at the summit is said to be that of a
Boston Colored girl, Mary Smith, who
was considered very beautiful. At
the unwilling of the monument the
silken cord was pulled by Lillian Chap
pelle the little daughter of the late
Julius G. Chappelle, who at that time
was from to years old. She is now
grown up and the widow Of young
Philadelphia named Benjamin.
On the bronze base relief of the
monument are these quotations.:
"From that moment we may date
the severance of the British Empire"
Daniel Webster.
"On that night the foundation of
American independence was laid"
John Adams.
Each year the Boston Equal Rights
League places wreath on the grave
of Crispus Attacks and those buried
with him, and also hangs a wreath on
the Crispus Attacks monument, with
public exercises. On the memorial
stone placed over the grave are these
lines:
"Long as in Freedoms cause the wise
contend,
Dear to your country shall your
fame extend;
While to the world the lettered stone
shall tell
Where Caldwell, Attacks, Gray and
Maverick fell"
adore