drew himself into the house, having a
handker-
chief or some kind of cloth over his face.
These depositions shew clearly that a number
of guns were fired from the Custom-House. --
As this affair is now enquiring into, all the no-
tice we shall take of it is, that it distinguishes
the actors in it into Street-Actors and House-Actors ;
which is necessary to be observed.
What gave occasion to the melancholy event
of that evening seems to have been this. A
difference having happened near Mr. Gray's
ropewalk, between a soldier and a man belong-
ing to it, the soldier challenged the ropemakers
to a boxing match. The challenge was accepted
by one of them, and the soldier worsted. He
ran to the barrack in the neighborhood, and
returned with several of his companions. The
fray was renewed, and the soldiers were driven
off. They soon returned with recruits and were
again worsted. This happened several times,
till at length a considerable body of soldiers was
collected, and they also were driven off, the
ropemakers having been joined by their brethren
of the contiguous ropewalks. By this time
Mr. Gray being alarmed interposed, and with
the assistance of some gentlemen prevented any
further disturbance. To satisfy the soldiers and
punish the man who had been the occasion of
the first difference, and as an example to the rest,
he turned him out of his service; and waited on
Col. Dalrymple, the commanding
officer of the
troops, and with him concerted measures for