Paul Revere, The Bloody Massacre perpetrated in King Street
Boston on March 5th 1770 by a party of the 29th Regt. Engraving
with watercolor on laid paper. 25.8 x 33.4 cm. (plate). Boston,
1770.
Library of Congress
Just
three weeks after British soldiers shot and killed five
Bostonians
and wounded six others, the silversmith and patriot Paul
Revere produced this engraving, which depicts the British
massacring peaceful colonists in
cold blood.
Text at the bottom:
Unhappy BOSTON! see thy Sons deplore, Thy hallowe'd Walks
besmear'd with guiltless Gore: While faithless --- and his
savage Bands, With murd'rous Rancour stretch their bloody Hands;
Like fierce Barbarians grinning o'er their Prey, Approve the
Carnage, and enjoy the Day.
If scalding drops from Rage from Anguish Wrung If speechless
Sorrows lab' ring for a Tongue, Or if a weeping World can ought
appease The plaintive Ghosts of Victims such as these; The
Patriot's copious Tears for each are shed, A glorious Tribute
which embalms the Dead.
But know, FATE summons to that awful Goal, Where JUSTICE strips
the Murd'rer of his Soul: Should venal C-ts the scandal of
the Land, Snatch the relentless Villain from her Hand, Keen
Execrations on this Plate inscrib'd, Shall reach a JUDGE who
never can be brib'd.
The unhappy Sufferers were Messs. SAM. L GRAY, SAM.L MAVERICK,
JAM.S CALDWELL , CRISPUS ATTUCKS & PAT.K CARR Killed. Six
wounded two of them (CHRIST.R MONK & JOHN CLARK) Mortally