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CRISPUS ATTUCKS 
February 17th, 1770, three thousand indignant people as- 
sembled in Boston without retaliation, expressing abhorrence 
and contempt of the English soldiers as enemies to the con- 
stitution, to the peace of the city, and the home. The sol- 
diers, on seeing the dissatisfaction of the citizens, replied 
by publicly exhibiting insulting placards in various communi- 
ties, which, arousing the anger of the people, caused two suc- 
cessive days to be engaged in affray, whereupon wounds and 
bruises were received on both sides. 
Amid such revolutionary spirit, a middle-aged man, stand- 
ing among many persons of various nationalities, ages, and 
different ambitions, was delivering a speech, sending forth 
words of justice, fraternity, equality, liberty, communicating 
to his auditors the home-loving words of freedom. The crowd 
continued to grow, just as a nation grows—a family, com- 
munity, city, county, state, nation—for every passer-by who 
heard his voice stopped, looked, listened, agreed, and finally 
joined him and his advocators. 
“Citizens,” continued the speaker, “I hold a Boston news- 
paper in my hand, a paper within which is an interesting para- 
graph, one that I am going to read to you. Here it is, listen: 
‘Septempder 30th, 1750, a Mulatto, named Crispus, about twen- 
ty-seven years of age, six feet two inches high, curled hair, 
knees nearer together than common, fran away from his mas- 
ter, William Brown, of Bramingham. This said Crispus wore 
a light coloured Bearskin Coat, plain brown Fustian Jacket, 
or brown All Wool one, new Buck Skin breeches, blue Yarn 
Stockings, and a checked woolen shirt. Whoever shall take 
up said runaway, and convey him to his above said master, 
shall have ten pounds, old Tenor Reward, and all necessary 
charges paid. All masters or vessels, and others, are hereby 
cautioned against concealing or carrying off said servant on 
penalty of the law.’ +4 
“Citizens, this paragraph is a reprint; the original appeared 
in the Boston Gazette October 2nd, 1750, which was twenty 
years ago. Thus, that the runaway, at the time he ran away 
from his master, was twenty-seven years of age, today, Feb- 
ruary 17th, 1770, he is forty-seven years of age. And, has he 
been taken into captivity? I say no, for I who stand before 
you, I am the runaway, the ex-slave, Crispus Attucks. More- 
over, no man, let him be police, judge, senator, president, king, 
or pope, not one of them will make me a slave again without 
bloodshed.” 
The spectators, upon hearing these words, became enthu- 
siastic, whereupon the men threw their hats in mid air, while 
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