THE house was so crowded that I could get no further than the porch. I found the moderator (person running the meeting) was just declaring the meeting to be dissolved (finished). This caused another general shout out-doors and inside, and three cheers. What with that and the consequent noise of breaking up the meeting, you'd have thought the inhabitants (people who live in) of the infernal regions (Hell) had broken loose. For my part I went contentedly (happily) home and finished my tea, but was soon informed what was going forward.
As I could not believe it without seeing for myself, I went out and was satisfied. The Indians mustered (gathered), I'm told, upon Fort Hill, to the number of about two hundred, and proceeded (went), two by two, to Griffin's wharf, where Hall, Bruce, and Coffin's vessels (ships) lay.
Coffin's ship had arrived at the wharf only the day before, and was freighted (loaded) with a large quantity of other goods, which they took the greatest care not to injure (damage) in the least. Before nine o'clock in the evening every chest on board the three vessels was knocked to pieces and flung over the sides. They say the actors (people who did it) were Indians from Narragansett. Whether they were or not, to a transient observer (casual watcher) they appeared such.
They were clothed in blankets, with their heads muffled (covered) and copper colored faces. Each was armed with a hatchet or axe or pair of pistols. Nor was their dialect different from what I imagine the real Indians to speak, as their jargon (spoken language) was nonsense to all but themselves.
Not the least insult was offered to any person, except to Captain Connor, a livery-stable keeper in this place, who came across the ocean not many years since. He ripped up the lining of his coat and waistcoat under the arms, and, watching his opportunity, he nearly filled them with tea.
When detected he was handled pretty roughly. The people not only stripped him of his clothes, but gave him a coat of mud, with a severe bruising into the bargain. Nothing but their utter aversion (not wanting to) to making any disturbance prevented his being tarred and feathered (covered with hot tar and rolled in feathers).
As I could not believe it without seeing for myself, I went out and was satisfied. The Indians mustered (gathered), I'm told, upon Fort Hill, to the number of about two hundred, and proceeded (went), two by two, to Griffin's wharf, where Hall, Bruce, and Coffin's vessels (ships) lay.
Coffin's ship had arrived at the wharf only the day before, and was freighted (loaded) with a large quantity of other goods, which they took the greatest care not to injure (damage) in the least. Before nine o'clock in the evening every chest on board the three vessels was knocked to pieces and flung over the sides. They say the actors (people who did it) were Indians from Narragansett. Whether they were or not, to a transient observer (casual watcher) they appeared such.
They were clothed in blankets, with their heads muffled (covered) and copper colored faces. Each was armed with a hatchet or axe or pair of pistols. Nor was their dialect different from what I imagine the real Indians to speak, as their jargon (spoken language) was nonsense to all but themselves.
Not the least insult was offered to any person, except to Captain Connor, a livery-stable keeper in this place, who came across the ocean not many years since. He ripped up the lining of his coat and waistcoat under the arms, and, watching his opportunity, he nearly filled them with tea.
When detected he was handled pretty roughly. The people not only stripped him of his clothes, but gave him a coat of mud, with a severe bruising into the bargain. Nothing but their utter aversion (not wanting to) to making any disturbance prevented his being tarred and feathered (covered with hot tar and rolled in feathers).
