d. Captain Preston almost
immediately joined his men. The file now numbered nine.

The number of people here at this time is variously estimated from
thirty to a hundred,--"between fifty and sixty" being the most common
statement. Some of them were fresh from the affray at the barracks, and
some of the soldiers had been in the affair at the ropewalks. There was
aggravation on both sides. The crowd were unarmed, or had merely sticks,
which they struck defiantly against each other,--having no definite
object, and doing no greater mischief than, in retaliation of
uncalled-for military roughness, to throw snowballs, hurrah, whistle
through their fingers, use oaths and foul language, call the soldiers
names, hustle them, and dare them to fire. One of the file was struck
with a stick. There were good men trying to prevent a riot, and some
assured the soldiers that they would not be hurt. Among others, Henry
Knox, subsequently General, was present, who saw nothing to justify the
use of fire-arms, and, with others, remonstrated against their
employment; but Captain Preston, as he was talking with Knox, saw his
men pressing the people with their bayonets, when, in great agitation,
he rushed in among them. Then, with or without orders, but certainly
without any legal form or warning, seven of the file, one after another,
discharged their muskets upon the citizens; and the result indicates the
malignity and precision of their aim. Crispus Attucks, an intrepid
mulatto, who was a leader in the affair at Murray's Barracks, was killed
as he stood leaning and resting his breast on a stout "cord-wood stick";
Samuel Gray, one of the rope-makers, was shot as he stood with his hands
in his bosom, and just as he had said, "My lads, they will not fire";
Patrick Carr, on hearing the alarm-bell, had left his house full of
fight, and, as he was crossing the street, was mortally wounded; James
Caldwell, in like manner summoned from his home, was killed as he was
standing in the middle of the street; Samuel Maverick, a lad of
seventeen, ran out of the house to go to a fire, and was shot as he was
crossing the street; six others were wounded. But fifteen or twenty
minutes had elapsed from the time the sergeant went from the main guard
to the time of the firing. The people, on the report of the guns, fell
back, but instinctively and instantly returned for the killed and
wounded, when the infuriated soldiers prepared to fire again, but were
checked