| Citation |
BNL.774.005
27 Jan 1774:22 (3669)
Jan 25. Last week four men belonging to Marblehead were
suspected, by some circumstances in their behaviour, of
having a design of attempting to steal a quantity of
cloathing from the Essex Hospital;. . . [they were caught.
. . [9 lines] it was determined, by a great majority, that
the mode of punishment should be tarring and feathering.--In
consequence of this determination, the most extraordinary
exhibition of the kind, ever seen in North-America, was
drawn forth to public view. The procession formed, on
Thursday morning, at the Town-House in Marblehead. The four
objects of resentment were placed in a cart, facing each
other having been previously tarred and feathered in the
modern way. A fifer and one drummer were placed in the
front of the carriage, which, according to the computation
of some persons, was preceded by one thousand people,
chiefly dressed in uniform, among whom were four drummers.
In this manner they marched from Marblehead to Salem, 4
1/2 miles an entered the town about 12 o'clock. Here,
forming a junction with a numerous body the inhabitants,
they paraded through the principal streets, with drums
beating, a fife playing, and a large white flag flying from
the cart, which with the exquisitely droll and grotesque
appearance of the four tarred and feathered objects of
derision, exhibited a very laughable and truely commic
scene. They went out of town before one o'clock, and
returned to Marblehead, where they were dispersed.
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