Which statement best supports the second account? Read these two passages, which provide different
perspectives on the Boston Massacre.
In passing to this station the soldiers pushed several
persons with their bayonets, ... This occasioned some
snowballs to be thrown at them which seems to have
been the only provocation that was given... the
soldiers of his detachment had attacked the people with
ther bayonets and... there was not the least
provocation
Captain Preston is said to have ordered them to fire, and
to have repested that order,
Witnesses to the massacre
On my asking the soldiers why they fired without orders,
they said they heard the word "fire" and supposed it
came from me. This might be the case as many of the,
mob called out, "Fire, fire," but I assured the men that I
O "heard the word 'fire' and took it and am certain that
it came from behind the Soldiers... the word 'fire'
took to be a word of Command." Benjamin Burdick
" turned about and looked and heard the officer who
stood on the right in a line with the Soldiers give the
word "fire' twice." Daniel Calef
O "I heard the word "fire several times but know not
whether it came from the Captain, the Soldiers or
People." -Theodore Bliss
O "Capt. Preston was out and commanded 'em. They
drew up and charged their Bajonets." Ebenezer
Hinkley