Democratic Sentinel, Volume 18, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 June 1894 — MASSACRE AT BOSTON. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MASSACRE AT BOSTON.

ONE OF THE CAUSES LEADING TO THE REVOLUTION. A Bloody Episode In Colonial History— Quartering of British Troops In Boston Had Long Boon Considered a Grievance —Criapni Attacks Monument. A Memorable Event. The Boston ma-sacre in itself was a matter of unimportance, it was a street brawl between soldiers and civilians, yet really it was cne of the most important of the lesser causes of the Revolutionary war and, in this light, receives a distinction and a place in men’s memories which otherwise it would neither hold nor deserve. The quartering of British troops in Boston had long been considered as a grievance by the people and complaints

of great bitterness were constantly made of the matter. It does not appear that the soldiers did any considerable damage or that the sufferings of the citizens were excessive, but it was just one of those things which prove a constant irritation and an excuse for oomplaint. March 3, 1770, a party of soldiers and rope makers of Boston had an encounter with clubs about midnight and several men on each side were wounded. The next night it was

attempted to renew the battle, but the authorities prevented it. Fighting would have served as the natural outlet on both sides had it been allowed, but, being smothered, it burned more fiercely and the men wore ready to seize any occurrence for an excuse to battle with each other. It happened that on the evening ot the sth two young men undertook to pass a sentinel at the foot of Cornhill, without answering his challenge. A struggle ensued and some soldiers ran from the neighboring barracks to the sentry's aid, armed hastily with any weapon they happened to pick up. The soldiers, in turn, attracted the attention of other citizens and windows were hastily thrown up and heads put out to see what the matter was. Evidently

tbe prospects were fair for some sort of a scrimmage and so, eagerly donning their clothes, the good citizens poured into the street and surrounded the soldiers. The officers were anxious to avoid any encounter and succeeded in drawing the soldiers into the barracks. But the mob did not wish to be disappointed of its sport; it had come out to see a fight and it did not want its wishes balked. An .Excited Mob. In a few moments another sentinel at some little distance was seen. A boy cried out that this soldier had struck him a few days before. It was just the excuse that the crowd wanted, and instantly twenty young men advanced and began to pelt the sentry with missiles. The man loaded his gun, but did not fire, and tried to retire into the building before which he was. He found the door locked, however, and he called loudly for the main guard whose station was within hearing. The officer in command sent to his relief a sergeant and six men and also dispatched a messenger to Capt Preston, the officer of the day, The mob meanwhile, was increasing every moment, and by the time Preston with six more men arrived on the spot it was a huge gathering. Preston behaved with coolness and moderation, but the soldiers were provoked and excited by the constant jeers and insults of the crowd. “Qome on. you bloody-backs,” they cried. “Come'on, you lobster-backs. ’* “Fire if you dare. * “Why don’t you fire?” The Soldier* Fire. One soldier was hit by a olub: he drew back, leveled bis musket and fired. Inspired by his example, seven or eight more di-charged tneir arms and the mob fled. Two metl were killed,

threg others mortally wounded and six injured; slightly. The people were terribly excited at this, and to calm them Gov. Hutchinson addressed them at the Staje House, promising that a full investigation of the affair should be made the next day. The next day Preston gave bimself up to the authorities and, with six of his men, was put upon trial and acquitted. Popular sentiment, however, had its way in the funerals of those slain. These, were Crispus Attucks, a halfbreed Indian nergro; Patrick Carr, an Irishman; and three American*: Samuel Gray, James Caldwell and Christopher Maverick. Their bodies were borne with 1 great pomp through the streets, a sdlemn funeral service was held over them, and they wore buried in cne common vault. The affair of the shooting reoeived then the exaggerated “massacre,” a name which has clung to ft from that day to this. Crtaptu Attacks. A good daallws lfeen made of Attucks sir.caHhta affair, and In 1888 a raoau-

ment was unveiledln Boston. He was a resident of Framingham and a man about 50 years of age. The removal of the British troop i from Boston was demanded by the people and, after some efforts to withstand the request, the Governor complied. Not again until Gage’s arrival in 1774 were troops quartered in the city.

THE CRISPUS ATTUCKS MONUMENT.

OLD STATE HOUSE OF BOSTON. [Near which the massacre occurred The building is stilt standing. ]

THE BOSTON MASSACRE. [A curious picture of toe event from a contemporary engraving.]