Thank you for visiting SNEWPapers!
Sign up free
Alexandria Daily Gazette, Commercial & Political
Alexandria, Virginia
What is this article about?
In Providence on January 23, 1808, under martial law, the governor ordered militia to protect an embargo-seized sloop, but troops refused. A crowd of 200-300 seized the vessel, cut through ice, and sailed it away amid threats of violence.
Clipping
OCR Quality
Full Text
"We are under martial law. Our Governor this day ordered our four companies to protect the embargo---the companies met, and resolved that they would dismiss, and retire to their houses. Information having been lodged with the Collector that an attempt would be made to get off a small sloop that had been seized by the custom house officers, was the reason for calling in military aid. The sensations excited among the inhabitants by this act are not to be described.--The streets were soon thronged; and had a single shot been fired, the whole military force would have been massacred, and many houses demolished. At 9 o'clock P. M. a party of men, from 2 to 300, took possession of the sloop-cut a passage of about a mile through the ice-bent her sails--and hung her rudder, and she is now under way with a brisk breeze."
[Boston Centinel.
What sub-type of article is it?
What keywords are associated?
What entities or persons were involved?
Where did it happen?
Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Providence
Event Date
January 23, 1808
Key Persons
Outcome
no casualties; sloop seized by crowd and escaped through ice; potential violence averted.
Event Details
Under martial law, the Governor ordered four militia companies to protect an embargo-seized sloop after reports of an escape attempt. The companies refused and dispersed. Streets filled with throngs; a crowd of 200-300 men then took the sloop, cut a mile through ice, set sails, freed rudder, and sailed away at 9 PM with a brisk breeze.