charged breast-high, the officer holding a naked cutlass in his
hand, swinging and calling, stand out of the way, and the soldi-
ers cursing and damning, and pushing their bayonets to clear the
way. They went down to the Custom-house, and
placed them-
selves just above the centinel box, the
officer then ordered the
soldiers to place themselves, which they did in a half circle ;
with that the boys came up near to the soldiers (standing as
before). The officer then said, Boys go off, lest there be some
murder done ; with that the boys removed back a little dis-
tance throwing snow-balls, the soldiers
pushing them with
their bayonets, saying, damn you, stand off ; with that the
boys went forward again, and a man with a naked cutlass in
his hand, who appear'd to be the commanding
officer (as be-
fore), gave the word Fire ; immediately a gun going off upon
the left of me, I saw a man like a sailor, go up to the comman-
der, and strike him upon the left arm. Immediately he the
said officer said, think I'll be used in this manner, Damn you,
Fire, which they did, one after another. After they had all
fired, he ordered then to prime and load again ; after that he
ordered his men in the middle of the street, and told them to
clear their way with their bayonets breast high ; with that look-
ing round, I saw four men lay dead on the snow, the snow being
at that time near a foot deep. Then I went and help'd
the
molatto man who was shot, into Mr. Stone's house.
After we
got him in there, I saw him give one gasp. I then open'd his
breast, and saw two holes, one in each breast, where the Balls
had enter'd. After that went to the door, and
look'd, and
saw the soldiers standing in the middle of the street, and saw
two gentlemen talking with the officers and soldiers. Present-
ly after went to see the molatto again ; and
returned back
into the street, saw all the soldiers at the main guard house
out, with their bayonets charged breast high ; with that going
home thro'
quaker-lane into
long-lane, about the middle of
the lane, saw two soldiers, who told me to stand out of the
way or else they would stabb me. I immediately got out
of
the way, and made the best of my way home. And further
say, that the grand jury desired me to go and see whether I
should know the officer again ; one of them going with me,
I went up, and when I came to the goal I saw several
people
in the room with him. The gentleman of the grand jury
(who went up with me), asked me which was the man, I told
him that that gentleman (pointing to Capt. Preston),
looked
very much like the man, and I verily believed he was the man
that order'd the soldiers to Fire. Don't you say
so, says he ;
yes sir, said I, you look very much like the man. If you say