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UNDER THE LIBERTY TREE.
STORIES OF
American History,
BY
JAMES OTIS.
=Under the Liberty Tree:= A Story of the
Boston Massacre.
=The Boys of 1745= at the Capture of Louisbourg.
=An Island Refuge:= Casco Bay in 1676.
=Neal the Miller:= A Son of Liberty.
=Ezra Jordan's Escape= from the Massacre at
Fort Loyall.
_Each volume cloth, small 12 mo, neatly
bound, 75 cents._
ESTES & LAURIAT,
PUBLISHERS.
[Illustration]
UNDER THE LIBERTY TREE
A STORY OF
THE "BOSTON MASSACRE"
BY
JAMES OTIS
AUTHOR OF "JENNY WREN'S BOARDING-HOUSE," "JERRY'S FAMILY,"
"THE BOYS' REVOLT," "THE BOYS OF 1745," ETC.
[Illustration: Illustrated]
BOSTON
ESTES AND LAURIAT
1896
_Copyright, 1896,_
BY ESTES AND LAURIAT
_All rights reserved_
Colonial Press:
C. H. Simonds & Co., Boston, Mass., U.S.A.
Electrotyped by Geo. C. Scott & Sons
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER PAGE
I. THE LIBERTY TREE 11
II. FIRST FRUITS 29
III. LIBERTY HALL 49
IV. A DISCOMFITED CREDITOR 67
V. A NIGHT OF TERROR 81
VI. AFTER THE MASSACRE 101
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
THE SOLDIERS FIRE _Frontispiece_
"HOW LONG IS IT SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN HOBNOBBING
IN THAT QUARTER?" 13
"THEY ARE INDULGING IN TREASONABLE PRACTICES" 19
ATTACHING THE WARNING 27
"WILL YOU GIVE ME THE MONEY NOW?" 35
"YOU ARE A COWARD!" 40
"RAISING HIS MUSKET QUICKLY, AND WITHOUT TAKING
AIM, HE FIRED" 45
PAUL REVERE AND AMOS 50
THE CROWD UNDER THE LIBERTY TREE 61
"THE SENTRY KNOCKED HIM DOWN" 71
"ONE OF THE FRAGMENTS STRUCK MRS. RICHARDSON" 74
"MEN AND BOYS RUSHED FROM THEIR HOMES" 85
ATTUCKS 89
"TO THE MAIN GUARD" 95
"POOR SAM!" 102
"BOTH REGIMENTS OR NONE!" 107
"Your Lordship must know that Liberty Tree is a large, old Elm in
the High Street, upon which the effigies were hung in the time of
the Stamp Act, and from whence the mobs at that time made their
parades. It has since been adorned with an inscription, and has
obtained the name of Liberty Tree, as the ground under it has
that of Liberty Hall. In August last, just before the
commencement of the present troubles, they erected a flagstaff,
which went through the tree, and a good deal above the top of the
tree. Upon this they hoist a flag as a signal for the Sons of
Liberty, as they are called."
_Extract from a letter written by Governor Bernard to Lord
Hillsborough under date of June 18, 1768._
* * * * *
"The world should never forget the spot where once stood Liberty
Tree, so famous in your annals."
_The Marquis de Lafayette, in a speech delivered in Boston during his
last visit to America._
UNDER THE LIBERTY TREE
A Story of the "Boston Massacre"
CHAPTER I.
THE LIBERTY TREE.
It was on the evening of February 21, 1770, in the city of Boston,
that a party of boys, ranging in age from ten to eighteen years, were
assembled at what was known as "Liberty Hall," which was not a
building, but simply the open space sheltered by the wide-spreading
branches of the "Liberty Tree."
Although General Gage's troops occupied the city, and patrols of the
"bloody backs," as the red-coated soldiers had been called in
derision, paced to and fro at regular intervals along the streets,
these boys spoke openly of their desire, and even of their intention,
to avenge the wrongs under which the colonists were suffering,
believing from past experience that the troops would not dare proceed
to extremities with the citizens, more especially since
Lieutenant-Governor Hutchinson "doubted his authority to order the
soldiers to fire upon the populace."[A]
These boys had shown several times in the vicinity of this same
so-called Liberty Hall of what acts they were capable, and there was not
one of them but that looked forward to the time when it should be
possible to do something more than simply vent his displeasure in words.
They had been among the throng who, in open defiance of the law, had
made prisoner of Giles Hendricks; tarred and feathered, and then
carried him in a cart through the principal streets of the city to the
Liberty Tree, because he had given evidence regarding the smuggling of
wine from Rhode Island. Here under the old elm he had been forced to
swear he would never be guilty of a like crime in the future, and only
then was allowed to go free, wearing his closely fitting and decidedly
uncomfortable garment of tar.
The gathering on this particular night at Liberty Hall was, in the
opinion of those participating, of great importance.
Several shopkeepers had failed to keep the promise not to import
British goods, made in January, and on the afternoon of this day,
Hardy Baker, who was apprenticed to Master Piemont, the barber, had
learned that Theophilus Lillie, whose shop was on Hanover Street, near
the New Brick Church, had not only broken his agreement, but openly
declared it was his intention to sell whatsoever he pleased.
"He boasts he will sell even tea, if it so be his customers wish to
buy," Master Baker said, in concluding his story of the shopkeeper's
iniquities.
"How did you learn this?" Amos Richardson asked, quite sharply, for
the barber's apprentice was noted rather for his imaginative powers
than a strict adherence to the truth.
[Illustration]
"I heard it when I went to the Custom House this morning."
"But what were you doing there? How long is it since you have been
hobnobbing in that quarter?"
"Am I accused of being friendly with the 'bloody backs'?" Hardy asked,
indignantly. "Can't I go anywhere in the town but that suspicions are
aroused?"
"It will be well for you to show anger only after you have explained
why you were at the Custom House."
"There is no reason why I should be forced to do so. The part I took
in bringing Hendricks to the Liberty Tree is enough to show that the
'bloody backs' can expect no favour from me."
"Yet your master has among his customers many who wear coats of red,
and you shave some of them."
"True; but it is not every one over whose face my razor passes, that I
call a friend. Since you are so suspicious, Amos Richardson, I will
explain my going to the Custom House," Hardy added, only after noting
the fact that several of those standing nearest were gazing at him
sternly. "You must know that many of the Britishers who come to Master
Piemont's shop to be served pay for the work at the end of every three
months, instead of doing so each day or week. Now, among these
redcoats who hold on to their money as long as possible, is one
Lieutenant Draper, whom I attend. When it was learned that he intended
to let his account run until three months had passed, Master Piemont
told me the bill should be mine in consideration of my strict
attention to duty. Master Piemont knows a good workman when he sees
one, and I have been in his shop a long while."
"But you are not a workman yet," a member of the party shouted. "You
are only an apprentice, Hardy."
"Well, and if I am? I may be as good as a journeyman for all that. If
I wasn't, it is hardly likely Master Piemont would have made me so
generous an offer, and of his own free will."
"Perhaps he thought it was the only way by which he could induce you
to attend to your work," some one shouted, laughingly, and Amos said,
sharply:
"We have not come here to make sport. Let him explain, without
interruption, why he was at the Custom House this morning, and then we
will decide how we can best bring Master Lillie to realise that he
must keep the agreement made with the other shopkeepers. What has
Lieutenant Draper and his account to do with your visit, Hardy?"
"It has everything to do, since I was there attending to my own
business. The officer's quarterly bill should have been paid last
Thursday, and, knowing he was on duty at the place, I went there in
the hope of getting my money. Does that seem reasonable?"
Amos looked around inquiringly at his companions, and Chris Snyder, a
German lad only eleven years of age, but who was allowed a voice in
the meetings beneath the Liberty Tree because of his staunch loyalty
and unfailing good nature, cried, impatiently:
"Let him tell his story. I am certain he has spoken nothing but the
truth, for he said to me last night that he had twice asked for the
money, and was going this morning for the third time."
"Did you get it, Hardy?" some one asked, and Master Baker replied,
angrily:
"I did not; but the next time I demand it he will pay, for I shall
treat him with no more ceremony than I would one of the pirates."
"Be careful you don't feel the flat of his sword across your back, my
old barber."
"He dares not strike me, for he knows how much influence I have in
this town."
"And how much have you? When did you become of great public
importance?"
"When I showed what should be done to reformers like Hendricks."
"And are you the one who is responsible for that lesson?"
"But for me it might never have been given, for I pointed out the man
when it was not believed he was in the city."
"We are wasting our time," Amos cried, impatiently, raising his voice
above the uproar, for now many had begun to deride Hardy's
pretensions. "Let him explain how he knows that Master Theophilus
Lillie has declared he will sell British goods."
The barber's apprentice was prompt to make reply, for the taunts of
his comrades were not at all to his liking.
"While waiting in the guard-room at the Custom House, I heard the
'bloody backs' talking among themselves about the spirit which
Theophilus was showing in declaring he would conduct his business to
please himself. There was among the soldiers one who had heard him
announce his decision to no less a person than Master Samuel Adams;
but in order to make more certain of the truth, I went to the shop as
if I had been sent by Master Piemont, and asked for tea. It was
Theophilus Lillie himself who told me he had it. Do you want stronger
proof than that?"
Although Hardy Baker was not noted for strict loyalty to the truth,
there was no one among the party who doubted his statement, and
immediately the question arose as to what should be done to bring the
offending shopkeeper to a full realisation of the enormity of his
offence.
While the bolder spirits were discussing among themselves as to
whether the general public would look with favour upon their treating
the merchant as they had the informer, and the more timid ones were
arguing that their elders might not countenance an act of violence
against a merchant occupying such a prominent position in the
mercantile world as did Master Theophilus Lillie, James Gray, a lad
small of stature but fertile in expedients, as had been shown many
times under similar circumstances, made a suggestion which met with
the unqualified approval of all.
"I have at home the figurehead of the old sloop _Faith and Prudence_.
It is the image of a man, with a nose not unlike the one Master Lillie
carries on his face. Let us saw the head off, nail it to a pole, and
set it up in front of his shop with a notice attached warning all
honest citizens against trading with him."
"Hurrah for Jim Gray's plan!" a member of the party cried, and
heartily the others responded, causing one of two old gentlemen, who
chanced to be passing at that moment, to say, with many an ominous
shake of his white head:
"If the children are allowed to display signs of disloyalty thus
publicly, it is not difficult to say how treasonable must be their
parents. Governor Hutchinson shows far too mild a spirit, or some of
these young sparks would be adorning the pillory. It was not so when I
was a boy."
"But it may be they are bent only on some youthful frolic, Friend
Johnson, and we gray-heads must make allowance for young blood."
"The only allowance they should have is a dozen strokes of the whip.
They are indulging in treasonable practices, otherwise the meeting-place
would not be under what is already known throughout the colony as the
Liberty Tree. I shall speak with Governor Hutchinson to-morrow, and if
he still insists upon faint-hearted measures, word must be sent to his
majesty. Unless this lawless spirit is speedily checked, trouble will
follow. The fathers of these young scoundrels may prudently contrive to
keep themselves from publicly committing any overt act against the laws;
but they can be taught a lesson through their sons."
Before the old gentlemen were beyond sight of the Tree, the meeting
had noisily adjourned to Jim Gray's home on Cross Street, the entire
party marching with something approaching military precision through
the streets, as if fancying this semblance of order was necessary to
give proper dignity to what they knew would be a riotous act.
[Illustration]
The figurehead of the sloop had been long exposed to the weather in
the rear of the house, and perhaps no one save Jim and his assistants
could have traced a resemblance in the roughly-hewn contour of the
face to that of the prosperous merchant. They, however, were well
satisfied with the instrument which might bring Master Lillie to a
realisation of his offence, and Hardy Baker was positive no citizen of
Boston could look upon the wooden face without seeing in it a strong
resemblance to the trader who had broken his agreement.
The head was severed from the trunk and affixed to the mast of Amos
Richardson's sailboat, which spar was willingly sacrificed for that
purpose by its owner.
The majority of the party appeared to think that the head in itself
would serve as a menace to Master Lillie; but Jim Gray was not
satisfied with so mild a warning, and proceeded, after his own
fashion, to add to its supposed terrors.
He found in the wood-house a piece of planed board, three feet long
and fifteen or sixteen inches in width, on which he inscribed, after
much labour, with paint composed of lampblack and fish-oil, the name
of each of the merchants who had been guilty of breaking their
agreement regarding the sale of British goods.
This he nailed on the spar within a few feet of the head, affixing it
so firmly that it could not readily be wrenched off, and the
instrument of warning was held erect a few moments that the young
conspirators might observe the general effect.
"Master Lillie will quake in his boots when he sees that," Hardy Baker
said, in a tone of conviction. "Nothing could be better, unless we had
his name with the others."
"But the head is there," Jim replied, "and even Master Lillie himself
must see that the face is like to his."
"Unless he is over-fond of looking in a mirror, he may make a mistake,"
Hardy persisted. "Can't you put his name on the board with the others?"
Jim was not disposed to add to what he considered almost a work of
art, lest he should detract from its merits in some degree, and after
a brief pause he said, as a happy thought occurred to him:
"This will look better, and there can be no mistake if the spar is put
up with the board set in the proper direction."
As he spoke he painted a rude hand with the dexter finger pointing.
"Now we have only to place it so that this shows the way into the shop,
and if Master Lillie makes any mistake in regard to its being intended
for him, he has a thicker skull than his neighbors credit him with."
It appeared to the party assembled as if nothing was wanting to make
this symbol of warning full of meaning and menace, and it only
remained to place it in position.
Hardy Baker proposed to set out at once to complete the work,
regardless of the fact that the citizens were yet astir, and that the
moon illumined the streets almost brilliantly, thereby preventing
secrecy of movement.
Amos Richardson insisted that it might be fatal to the success of the
scheme if they were discovered by Master Lillie before the pole had been
set in place, and suggested that a certain number be selected to perform
the work at an hour when all good people were supposed to be asleep.
The only difficulty in acting upon this suggestion was that every member
of the party was desirous of doing a portion of the work; but Amos held
firm to the idea that they might defeat their purpose by allowing too
large a body of workmen to take part, and that the smallest number
needed to perform the task would have greater chance of success.
Therefore it was that Jim, who was entitled to a place on the
"committee" because of having designed the symbol; Amos, owing to the
fact that he was looked upon by his comrades as their leader; Hardy
Baker, because he had a personal grievance against the British and,
consequently, against British goods, through his unsatisfied claim
against the lieutenant, and little Chris Snyder were finally selected
as the boys to perform the more delicate portion of the task.
Very reluctantly the others took their departure, leaving the four to
complete the work after their own fashion, and promising to be in
front of Master Lillie's shop at an early hour next morning.
Being thus left to their own devices, the "committee" took refuge in
the wood-shed, for the night seemed uncomfortably cold, save when a
fellow was indulging in plenty of exercise, and there they remained,
looking out of the open door at the result of Jim's handiwork ten
minutes or more without speaking, when Chris Snyder broke the silence
by asking, in his thin, piping voice:
"What are you fellows waiting here for? Why don't we carry the thing
up to Master Lillie's shop at once? It won't be a hard job for four of
us, and I must be getting home. Mother says a boy of my age ought not
to be out-of-doors after nine o'clock."
"And that's where your mother is right, Chris," Amos replied, with a
laugh. "We shall all get the reputation of being very dissolute lads
if the meetings at the Liberty Tree are continued many weeks longer.
As a matter of fact, I think you had best go home now."
"Why? I am one who was chosen to help place this warning in front of
Master Lillie's shop."
"You wasn't selected with the idea that you would be of very much
assistance, Chris. I think the other fellows wanted to confer an
honour upon you, even though you are the youngest of the party. That's
what comes of always being good-natured, and ready to do a comrade a
friendly turn. We shall get this pole into position without your help,
and you might find yourself in trouble at home by remaining
out-of-doors as long as I think it will be necessary for us to stay."
"Aren't you going to work at once?"
"I don't think it will be safe until one o'clock," Amos replied,
decidedly, and Hardy Baker exclaimed, petulantly:
"That's foolishness! It is after ten now, and we sha'n't see a dozen
people between here and Hanover Street. Are you afraid, Amos?"
"Do you think it?"
"I asked the question, that's all."
"If I thought you really meant it I should have a little task to
perform now, before we set about Master Lillie's business, in giving
you a warning against letting your tongue run away with your wits."
"I was only in sport, Amos," Hardy hastened to say, as he understood
that his friend was angry. "Of course I didn't suppose for a moment
you were afraid; but it seems to me as if we might get through with
the work at once, rather than wait around here all night. The 'bloody
backs' won't dare touch us so long as we are simply walking through
the streets, even though we _are_ carrying a pole."
Jim Gray appeared to be of the same opinion, and Amos, understanding
that his companions did not recognise the necessity for so much
prudence, gave way.
"If we wait till past midnight there will be no mistake about doing as
we wish, while to set out now may bring us into trouble," he said,
thoughtfully. "However, if you are of the mind that we should go on with
the work at this hour, taking all the chances of failure, I am ready."
"Come on, then!" Jim shouted, as he seized one end of the pole. "I
want to do my share of the work, and at the same time, slip into bed
before daylight."
"How are we to fasten it when we get there?" Chris asked.
"The best way will be to dig a hole, and set it down so far that it
cannot be pulled over without considerable labor," Hardy suggested,
and Jim added:
"There's a spade in the woodhouse. Let Chris bring that along, and the
rest of us will carry the pole."
"Something more than that will be necessary, because the ground is
frozen. Look around for an axe; we shall be obliged to work our way
through the frost," Amos cried.
Chris found the necessary implements without difficulty, and, desirous
of having the spar affixed so firmly there could be no question of
overturning it readily, Hardy thrust into his pocket a piece of stout
Manilla rope.
Thus equipped, the party set out.
Contrary to Amos's anticipations, they met no person during the walk
from Cross Street to Hanover, near the New Brick Church, where was
situated Master Theophilus Lillie's shop.
This quarter of the city appeared to be deserted, and the boys,
working noiselessly but rapidly, soon had such an excavation, despite
the frozen ground, as permitted of setting the spar at least two feet
below the surface, and within a couple of yards of the shopkeeper's
door. Then, by packing the clods of frosty earth around it, the symbol
of warning was soon as firm as could have been desired.
"Now help me to climb up there," Hardy whispered to Amos, as he took
the rope from his pocket and pointed to the top of the spar.
"What are you going to do?"
"Tie the pole to a limb of that tree, and then Master Lillie may dig
around the bottom as much as he pleases, for he will not be able to
dislodge it unless he does as I am about to do."
[Illustration]
Amos realised the wisdom of Hardy's plan, and, giving him the required
"leg up," the warning was speedily attached to a limb of the tree in
such a manner that considerable labour would be necessary in order to
overthrow it.
Then the boys walked to the opposite side of the street and surveyed
the result of their toil, after which Amos said, in a whisper:
"Now then, lads, we must get under cover. I don't fancy Master Lillie
would attempt to make any serious trouble, even if he knew who put the
ornament into position; but it is just as well that he and every one
else is kept in ignorance of our share in the work. I shall be here as
soon after daylight as possible, and reckon by that time there will be
a bigger crowd around the shop than has been seen for many a day."
Then the conspirators separated, each going to his own home, and there
was not in the minds of a single member of the party the slightest
forebodings of the terrible tragedy which was to follow their attempt
to teach Master Theophilus Lillie his duty.
[Footnote A: Gilman's "Story of Boston."]