The Boston Massacre

            The Boston Massacre, a known tragedy that even made a town go at loss. Was an event that took place in Boston in a small town on Kings street on March 5, 1770. It all started with a few kids throwing snowballs at the customhouse door. There were soldiers their guarding the customhouse. The tragedy began as soon as the soldiers began to fire. 4 were immediately killed and several were severely wounded. Lasted about 20 minutes. Within those 20 minutes the town went insane the bells of the town were even rung. Lieutenant Governor Thomas Hutchinson was called to take over the situation.

            Everyone met at the council chamber where the Lietu. Hutchingson sent everyone home after he had promised; he would do everything at his reach to apply justice. The 8 soldiers that fired were sent to jail but then there was an immediate removal of the soldiers from jail since the lieutenant did not have such power over the troops. The soldiers would be moved along with the captain.

            The inhabitants were not happy and the captain and soldiers had to be moved for their safety although there was still a trial going on. The inhabitants wanted to take justice and murder the captain as well as the soldiers and anyone who would protect him. The 8 soldiers and the captain were moved to the Castle Barracks.

            Captain Thomas Preston was taken into trial that took about 3 days with the soldiers. He was the one at fault of why the town was upset for such an injustice. He knew he was not safe and was practically hiding. Although he pleaded that he was not the one to shout Fire. Some of the soldiers declared that they fired because they heard him say fire. Others testified saying they heard fire but did not know if it was coming from the captain. There was two testifiers one stating he was shouting fire and another stating he was shouting not to fire and to stop. There was one testifier that was about 2 feet away from the captain that declared him guilty stating he heard the captain shout fire.  

            The captain was declaring he was not at fault and was the one that was trying to stop the fire. He did shout fire but he declared that he was trying to say, stop the fire. The captain and the soldiers were filed with a warrant. Captain Thomas Preston turned him self in when the three justices met to issue the warrant. The Captain stated in his words, “I am, though perfectly innocent, under most unhappy circumstances, having nothing in reason to expect but the loss of life in a very ignominous manner, without the interposition of his Majesty's royal goodness.”

            Justice was rendered for the inhabitants on March 8, 1770 in place for the 4 men at loss, Saml Gray, Saml Maverick, James Caldwell, and Crispus Attucks. On this sorrowful occasion most of the towns stores and shops were closed down and everyone in the town had been obligated to leave by a long Train of Carriages.

            After reading and writing about the article it had came to my knowledge that there must have been something else going on for this tragedy to happen and it all played out for the captain to be at fault it could have been the captain or the soldiers or the testifiers who were close by that could have been the ones shouting fire. In this historical period it questions if there was any racism or anger towards the town or the children or fellows that were throwing the snowballs. It does play either the reconstruction or revolution of the British and their soldiers.