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The Boston Massacre: a fine & detailed account...
The Boston Massacre: a fine & detailed account...
Item # 711274
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March 15, 1770
THE NEW-YORK JOURNAL OR THE GENERAL ADVERTISER, March 15, 1770 The masthead features an engraving of the Royal coat-of-arms.
Among the memorable events of history for the American populace, the Boston Massacre would certainly rank near the top. Unfortunately, we have rarely had the opportunity to offer this notable event in an American newspaper.
Page 3 reports a timely & very detailed telling of that tragic event, one of several that would lead to the Revolutionary War.
The report begins by noting that: "The Boston papers of the 5th instant give accounts of sundry frays between the people of the country & town, and some soldiers of the 29th Regiment, in which the soldiers were always the aggressors, and always worsted..." with further detail on the tensions that were brewing between the citizenry of Boston and the British soldiers just prior to the massacre.
Then further into the report is: "..reported that the workmen at the rope work seeing as they thought a disposition for further mischief prevailing among the soldiers, concluded if they came again, to ring the bells, and alarm the town. That on Monday evening the 5th instant a considerable body of the soldiers advancing toward the rope walk, the workmen rang the bill, cry'd Fire and alarm'd the town, a great number of people having assembled near the town house where a sentry is place..." with more detail.
And then: "...could not certainly tell the reasons, whether they were assaulted or too closely pressed, or were order'd to fire, but we hear Capt. Preston, who commanded, denies that he gave order to fire: The detachment however fired, one after another, in different directions up and down, across the street, etc. Three men were killed on the spot, another died soon after, 2 or 3 men were thought to be mortally wounded, and several more hurt. The Governor, Council Magistrates, etc. assembled, desired the people to disperse, which they refused, till the soldiers should retire to their barracks, which at last they did, and then the people dispersed. Capt. Preston immediately surrendered himself and was imprisoned, as also the 7 men who fired..." with more concerning events the following day.
The balance of the issue is taken up with typical news of the day, both from America and Europe. Many advertisements as well.
Four pages, various toning or foxing, never-trimmed margins, archivally & discretely rejoined at the blank spine, some wear to the center of pages 2 & 4 cause some perforation but fortunately, there is no effect to the Boston Massacre report which appears in the middle column of page 3.
Category: The 1600's and 1700's
No Longer Available
