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| Printer's Side of the Massacre
Uncovered by Danyna P. |
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1770, March 10th
I dare say that my name is David Bendel and I’m 29 years of age. I live
in Boston,Massachusetts with my wife Elizabeth. Elizabeth’s job is to
make clothes for people in the upper class and they pay her quite well.
So we get as much money as we need. We also have a son, who we call,
Sam and is attending school as a first grader.
Life here in Boston is great, there’s nothing like it! People here are
so kind, but ever since the Lobsterbacks came here, there’s a big
twist. Thing’s here use to be calm and peaceful. There is so much
tension here and people are angry about the Lobsterbacks being in every
corner of the town. It just snowed on March 5th and it is much colder
now in Boston than it is in England. Right now it’s normally cold as it
always is in the winter, yet the falling snow is quite beautiful and
fascinating to watch.
Everyday, I work in a shop located on King Street, because it is where
I work for a living. I spend most of my days printing articles or
newspapers about the daily news for the town. Mr. Jefferson is the man
that I work for. He is the owner of the shop and he is an amazing boss.
I treat Mr. Jefferson with much respect or would lose the job that I
truly love!
There is a horrific story about March 5th, and I will be sure to tell
you about it soon, but I have to get ready and report to dinner with my
wife and son.
Your Dearest Writer,
David Bendel
1770, March 15th
As I continue to write from the last journal entry, I would like to
talk about March 5th. It was a total shock for me as I first heard and
saw it. To tell you the truth it is a fascinating story.
It was March 5th and I was working in the shop and as I was putting on
my white apron, I saw people outside running to the Custom House on
King Street, yelling, “FIRE!” The colonists were also carrying bags and
buckets of water and so I grabbed a hold of my jacket and ran out of
the shop, following the others to the Custom House.
As I got there, I saw no fire, but colonists insulting the Lobsterbacks
and all of a sudden out of nowhere, a shot rang out. No one knew who it
was, but they knew it was either the crowd of colonists or the
soldiers. I was afraid and did not know what was going to happen next,
but I soon found out.
The soldiers had shot into the crowd and after the smoke from the
muskets had cleared, I saw that three men had dropped dead on the
ground. I then heard from my friend, John Davis, that two more were
wounded afterwards. One of the five men was Crispus Attucks, a black
sailor, who was in the Sons of Liberty. After the shot, I was afraid
that I would be the next colonist to be shot at. So I ran back before
anything else bad could happen.
People are deciding to be either a Loyalist or a Patriot. I did
not know who had shot first and that's just too much confusion
for me, and so I choose to be neither a Loyalist or a Patriot.
As I was working in the shop this week, I heard customers talking about
the gun shot, and soon Mr. Jefferson walked in. He told me that it is
my job to write an article about the Boston Massacre. At first I was
shocked, because I did not think I would have to write about something
so serious. I was also afraid that I would get shot by one of the
soldiers, but I strongly agreed with Mr. Jefferson. I’m brave enough to
gather information and find out what is going on.
Well, I have to get ready for bed, and give Sam his medicine because he
has been sick for quite a while now. So I’ll write more after a few
months, when he’s feeling better.
Your Dearest Writer,
David Bendel
1770, October 30th
For the past few months I’ve been working on the last piece of my
article, and taking care of little Sam. Sam is getting better now, but
still has to take his medicine,just in case.
After the shot, John had told me that a man named Samuel Adams wrote to
the other colonies and told about the shooting. Then a Boston
silversmith, Paul Revere, made an engraving of the Boston Massacre. The
Engraving showed the dead and wounded colonists, from the day of the
Massacre. This united people against the British.
After a while I heard that the soldiers were put up for trial for the
shooting. I heard this from my friend, James Barrick. A guy named John
Adams will be defending the soldiers and said the soldiers deserve a
fair trial.
At the trial, the crowd had provoked the soldiers, and John Adams had
argued with the crowd. Adams arguments convinced the jury, and the
soldiers got light sentences. They asked the jury many questions and
they all had different answers, and some were similar to others. I
think the trial still hasn’t ended, but we’ll find out, soon.
That’s the end of the story because that’s all I have gathered. Well I
have to finish the last article, tonight, so, I better get started.
Your Dearest Writer,
David Bendel
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Historical References:
The Colonial
Williamsburg Foundation. Date accessed: 4/14/0 6
<http://colonialwilliamsburg.com/almanack/life/trades/tradepri.cfm>
Colonial America Almanac. Copyright 2000.
PRINTER. 4/14/06
<http://esd.k12.ca.us/matsumoto/TM30/history/trades/pr/pr1.html>
Reynelson. Printer.
Date accessed: 4/14/0 6
<http://pocanticohills.org/tradesmen/printer.htm>
The Colonial
Williams Burg Foundation Date accessed: 4/14/0 6
<http://history.org/almanack/life/food/foodhdr.cfm>
Liberty, The American
Revolution.
World Book.
5/14/06. worldbook.com
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