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The tea destroyed was contained in three ships, lying near
each other at what was called at that time Griffin's wharf,
and were surrounded by armed ships of war, the commanders of
which had publicly declared that if the rebels, as they were
pleased to style the Bostonians, should not withdraw their
opposition to the landing of the tea before a certain day, the
17th day of December, 1773, they should on that day force it
on shore, under the cover of their cannon's mouth.
On the day preceding the seventeenth, there was a meeting
of the citizens of the county of Suffolk, convened at one of
the churches in Boston, for the purpose of consulting on what
measures might be considered expedient to prevent the landing
of the tea, or secure the people from the collection of the
duty. At that meeting a committee was appointed to wait on
Governor Hutchinson, and request him to inform them whether he
would take any measures to satisfy the people on the object of
the meeting.
To the first application of this committee, the Governor
told them he would give them a definite answer by five o'clock
in the afternoon. At the hour appointed, the committee again
repaired to the Governor's house, and on inquiry found he had
gone to his country seat at Milton, a distance of about six
miles. When the committee returned and informed the meeting of
the absence of the Governor, there was a confused murmur among
the members, and the meeting was immediately dissolved, many
of them crying out, "Let every man do his duty, and be
true to his country"; and there was a general huzza for
Griffin's wharf.
It was now evening, and I immediately dressed myself in the
costume of an Indian, equipped with a small hatchet, which I
and my associates denominated the tomahawk, with which, and a
club, after having painted my face and hands with coal dust in
the shop of a blacksmith, I repaired to Griffin's wharf, where
the ships lay that contained the tea. When I first appeared in
the street after being thus disguised, I fell in with many who
were dressed, equipped and painted as I was, and who fell in
with me and marched in order to the place of our destination.
When we arrived at the wharf, there were three of our
number who assumed an authority to direct our operations, to
which we readily submitted. They divided us into three
parties, for the purpose of boarding the three ships which
contained the tea at the same time. The name of him who
commanded the division to which I was assigned was Leonard
Pitt. The names of the other commanders I never knew.
We were immediately ordered by the respective commanders to
board all the ships at the same time, which we promptly
obeyed. The commander of the division to which I belonged, as
soon as we were on board the ship appointed me boatswain, and
ordered me to go to the captain and demand of him the keys to
the hatches and a dozen candles. I made the demand
accordingly, and the captain promptly replied, and delivered
the articles; but requested me at the same time to do no
damage to the ship or rigging.
We then were ordered by our commander to open the hatches
and take out all the chests of tea and throw them overboard,
and we immediately proceeded to execute his orders, first
cutting and splitting the chests with our tomahawks, so as
thoroughly to expose them to the effects of the water.
In about three hours from the time we went on board, we had
thus broken and thrown overboard every tea chest to be found
in the ship, while those in the other ships were disposing of
the tea in the same way, at the same time. We were surrounded
by British armed ships, but no attempt was made to resist us.
We then quietly retired to our several places of residence,
without having any conversation with each other, or taking any
measures to discover who were our associates; nor do I
recollect of our having had the knowledge of the name of a
single individual concerned in that affair, except that of
Leonard Pitt, the commander of my division, whom I have
mentioned. There appeared to be an understanding that each
individual should volunteer his services, keep his own secret,
and risk the consequence for himself. No disorder took place
during that transaction, and it was observed at that time that
the stillest night ensued that Boston had enjoyed for many
months.
During the time we were throwing the tea overboard, there
were several attempts made by some of the citizens of Boston
and its vicinity to carry off small quantities of it for their
family use. To effect that object, they would watch their
opportunity to snatch up a handful from the deck, where it
became plentifully scattered, and put it into their pockets.
One Captain O'Connor, whom I well knew, came on board for
that purpose, and when he supposed he was not noticed, filled
his pockets, and also the lining of his coat. But I had
detected him and gave information to the captain of what he
was doing. We were ordered to take him into custody, and just
as he was stepping from the vessel, I seized him by the skirt
of his coat, and in attempting to pull him back, I tore it
off; but, springing forward, by a rapid effort he made his
escape. He had, however, to run a gauntlet through the crowd
upon the wharf nine each one, as he passed, giving him a kick
or a stroke.
Another attempt was made to save a little tea from the
ruins of the cargo by a tall, aged man who wore a large cocked
hat and white wig, which was fashionable at that time. He had
sleightly slipped a little into his pocket, but being
detected, they seized him and, taking his hat and wig from his
head, threw them, together with the tea, of which they had
emptied his pockets, into the water. In consideration of his
advanced age, he was permitted to escape, with now and then a
slight kick.
The next morning, after we had cleared the ships of the
tea, it was discovered that very considerable quantities of it
were floating upon the surface of the water; and to prevent
the possibility of any of its being saved for use, a number of
small boats were manned by sailors and citizens, who rowed
them into those parts of the harbor wherever the tea was
visible, and by beating it with oars and paddles so thoroughly
drenched it as to render its entire destruction inevitable.
- George Hewes
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