That Dreadful Night in Boston Harbor

It all started when the British newspapers published an announcement calling for men age eighteen and above to join the crew of cargo ships the Dartmouth, the Eleanor, the Beaver, or the William. I have always dreamt of sailing the seas, and since I just turned eighteen, it was a perfect opportunity.

I was assigned to the Dartmouth. I boarded the ship, staring at it with amazement. My father and I had gone sailing many times in our meager little boat, but I had never done anything like this!

When I got on, Captain Hall greeted me roughly and put me straight to work raising the masts, hoisting the anchors, and rowing the ship. Soon, we set sail for the American Colonies with a cargo full of tea. The Eleanor, the Beaver, and the William followed promptly behind us.

During the next few months at sea, we worked hard. The food was stale, we were given no rest, but I stayed as strong as I could be.

Finally, we arrived in Boston. The Americans refused to pay the taxes, so we could not unload our cargo. A few weeks later, we were still docked in Boston Harbor.

On one cold night, December 16, 1773, we were awakened by a loud thump and angry shouting. I got up instantly and ran up to the deck. I saw a mob that looked like Indians. They chopped apart the 114 chests of tea in our cargo and tossed it into the sea.

Although I was terrified, I gathered my courage. I tried to catch a chest of tea on its journey to the sea, but it was in vain. I shouted, “Stop! Thief! Help!” but the mob was too loud. All I could do was helplessly watch all that was happening.

Later, it was revealed that the men who destroyed our tea were a part of the organization of American Patriots called the Sons of Liberty. As a punishment, King George III set out laws that closed the Boston Harbor.

I knew there would be consequences to the dreadful night.