As the town crier is walking through the narrow paves streets of Philadelphia ringing his hand-held bell, a colonist stops him and asks the following:

Colonist: "What is the talk I hear of this Boston Massacre?"

Towncrier: "Well sir, at first two soldiers were attacked and then

they were beaten. It seemed that tensions were

mounting and something was bound to occur. The

attackers broke into two meeting houses, and set off      

the fire alarms in each house."

Colonist: "Did the skirmish begin right then?"

Towncrier: "Not exactly sir. At first snowballs and rocks were being

thrown at the British soldiers. Captain Preston had warned his troops not to fire."

Colonist: "But didn’t the troops start to fire anyway?"

Towncrier: "Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened."

Colonist: "Why did the soldiers fire on the colonists?"

Towncrier: "They said someone gave the command."

Colonist: "How long did this fight last?"

Towncrier: "It lasted about 20 minutes at the most."

Colonist: "Was anyone killed or injured in this frightening act?"

Towncrier: "Yes, three men were killed instantly and two were

wounded but later died." One in particular was a former

slave named Crispus Attucks. He had been a runaway slave and was living in the colonies for the past 20 years. He also

was a sailor and had been working down at the harbor

shipyard.

Colonist: "Was anyone arrested for this incident?"

Towncrier: "Yes. Captain Preston and some of his men were arrested

as two eyewitnesses claim they heard Preston give

the command to ‘fire’.

Colonist: "Did Governor Hutchinson take action against the British

as a result of this massacre?"

Towncrier: "Yes sir he certainly did. I heard from reliable sources

he withdrew the British troops from the city to nearby

isles.

Colonist: "Thank you for informing me of this terrible tragedy. Who

knows what will happen next."

Towncrier as he continues his journey down the narrow paved streets

of Philadelphia: "Here ye, here ye, here ye, massacre occurs in

in Boston. Meeting held tonight at the town square."

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