south side of it, where I saw an officer of the army lead out of
the guard-house there seven or eight soldiers of the army, and
lead them down, in seeming haste, to the custom-house on the
north side of kingstreet, where I followed them, and when the
officer had got there with the men, he bid them face about.
I stood just below them on the left wing, and the said officer or-
dered his men to load, which they did accordingly, with the ut-
most dispatch, then they remained about six minutes, with
their firelocks rested and bayonets fixed, but not standing in
exact order. I observed a considerable number of young lads, and
here and there a man amongst them, about the middle of the street,
facing the soldiers, but not within ten or twelve feet distance
from them ; I observed some of them, viz., the lads, &c. had
sticks in their hands, laughing, shouting, huzzaing, and crying
fire; but could not observe that any of them threw anything at
the soldiers, or threatened any of them. Then the said officer
retired from before the soldiers and steping behind them, to-
wards the right wing, bid the soldiers fire; they not firing, he
presently again bid 'em fire; they not yet firing, he stamp'd and
said, damn your bloods, fire, be the consequence what it will; then
the second man on the left wing fired off his gun, then, after a
very short pause, they fired one after another as quick as possi-
ble, beginning on the right wing; the last man's gun on
the left wing flash'd in the pan, then he prim'd again, and the
people being withdrawn from before the soldiers, most of them
further down the street, he turn'd his gun toward them and fired
upon them. Immediately after the principal firing, I saw three
of the people fall down in the street, presently after the last gun
was fired off, the said officer, who had commanded the soldiers
(as above) to fire, sprung before them, waving his sword or
stick, said, Damn ye, rascals, what did ye fire for, and struck
up the gun of one of the soldiers who was loading again,
whereupon they seemed confounded and fired no more. I then
went up behind them to the right wing, where one of the
people was lying, to see whether he was dead, where there
were four or five people about him, one of them saying he was
dead; whereupon one of the soldiers said, damn his blood, he
is dead, if he ever sprawl again I will be damned for him.--
And I remember as the said officer was going down with the
soldiers towards the Custom-House, a gentleman spoke to him
and said, Capt. Preston, for God's sake keep your men in order
and mind what you are about. And further I say not.
March 7. 1770.     WILLIAM WYAT.