"Sam": or The history of mystery./ By C. W. Webber.

" SAM:" OR, THE HISTORY OF MYSTERY.
people together. The committee returned about sunset, with
his answer, that he could not interfere. At this moment the
Indian yell was'heard from the street. Mr. Samuel Adams
cried out that it was a trick of their enemies to disturb the
meeting, and requested the people to keep their places-but
the people rushed out, and accompanied the Indians to the
ships. The number of persons disguised as Indians is variously stated-none put it lower than sixty, none higher
than eighty. It is said by persons who were present, that
nothing was destroyed but the tea-and this was not done
with noise and tumult, little or nothing being said either by
the agents or the multitude who looked on. The impression
was that of solemnity rather than that of riot and confusion.
The destruction was effected by the disguised persons, and
some young men who volunteered; one of the latter collected
the tea which fell into the shoes of himself and companions,
and put it into a vial and sealed it up-which vial is now in
his possession, containing the same tea.
The contrivers of this measure, and those who carried it
into effect, will never be known; some few persons have been
mentioned as being among the disguised, but there are many
and obvious reasons why secresy then, and concealment since,
were necessary. None of the persons who were confidently
said to have been of the party (except some who were then minors or very young men) have ever admitted that they were so.
The person who appeared to know more than any one I ever
spoke with, refused to mention names. Mr. Samuel Adams
is thought to have been in the counseling of this exploit, and
many other men, who were leaders in the political affairs of
the times; and the hall of council is said to have been in the
back-room of Edes & Gill's printing-office, at the corner of
the alley leading to Battle street church, from Court street.
There are very few alive now who helped to empty the
chests of tea, and these few will probably be as prudent as
those who have gone before them.
At length, after great delays, the New York tea ship
arrived at Sandy Hook. The pilots, under instructions from
the city committee, refused to bring her up, and a "Committee of Vigilance" soon took possession of her. Brought
to town, the captain was informed by a deputation from the
city committee that he must take back ship and cargo. He
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