PAX Centurion - January / February 2013

Page 26 • PAX CENTURION • January/February 2013 617-989-BPPA (2772) Watchman and Police Officer’s Rattles By P.O. Robert E. Anthony, Chronologist, Boston Police Department R attles came into use sometime in the late seventeenth or early eigh- teenth century when night watchmen and/or village constables began using them to “raise the alarm.” They proved to be an ideal method to summon aid, sound the fire alarm, or just generally get folks’ attention. A traditional rattle was constructed of wood, usually oak, where one or two blades are held in a frame and a ratchet turned – generally by swinging – to make the blades ‘snap,’ thus creating a very loud noise. When the Metropolitan Police was formed in 1829, the rattle was a standard piece of equipment issued to each constable. Made to fit in a special uniform pocket, this rattle was one-bladed and had a folding handle. It was weighted with two lead plugs to make it swing easier and this also made it become a formidable weapon if necessary. Rattles were used by police forces, fire brigades, and military units across the British Empire up throughWWI. In 1883, the Metropolitan Police con- ducted tests and found that the sound from a whistle carried almost twice the distance of a rattle’s noise. In 1884, whistles were issued in place of rattles and by 1887, all rattles had been withdrawn from use by the Metropolitan Police in London. The Boston Police Rattle was used when Officer Ezekiel W. Hodsdon was killed in the line of duty on the morning of October 18, 1857. Officers that responded to the scene used the rattle to summon help. The loud clacking sound could be heard echoing in the street and was a clear sound for help when this device was used as a way of commu- nication between officers during their walking beats in the City of Boston. The story below was taken from the book by Edward Savage. In this story you can see how this rattle saved the life of a Police Officer in the North End of Boston. From the Boston Police Department’s Historical Collection. The Watchman’s Rattle T heWatchman’s Rattle was first provided for the use of the guardians of the night about the time Boston was incorporated a city, and has been in constant use ever since. I am informed by old watchmen that the original was quite similar to that now in use, although much larger. Fromwhat cause its peculiar form was conceived, or who was its ingenious inventor, the record saith not: but it is believed to be the only police appendage that has not undergone a variety of changes, and is an article seldom if ever found in other cities. If there is any one thing that will infuse life or anxiety, or energy, into the heart or heels of a policeman, it is the sound of the watchman’s rattle in the night time. I can hardly tell how or where I acquired this feeling, but I have never heard a sound beating the air, so fraught with a spirit of trouble and need of assistance, as the sharp crack of the watchman’s rattle reverberating in the street at the dead hour of night. Its peculiar tone is different from anything I have ever heard, and the sensation is as peculiarly novel and exciting. On the morning of the 17 th of October, 1854 a circum- stance occurred which served to strengthen the impression already somewhat acquired by the exciting echoes of the rattle. I was walking alone down Hanover Street, on the way from the station house to my home, about half past one o’clock on the mooring in question, and when near Richmond Street I heard the sharp crack of the rattle, which seemed to be cut short before it was fairly through. That denoted hand-to-hand work, and I well knew that some of my boys were in trouble. The air that morning was thick and heavy, and the sound seemed to fill the entire space aroundme; in fact it seemed to come from directly overhead. I cast a hasty glance up and around, but discovering nothing, ran immediately to the corner of Richmond Street. On reaching that point, my ear again caught the sound; but still, I could not fix the direction, and thinking it most likely to come from North Street, I mad hasty tracks in that direction. As I neared North Street there came a third alarm, evidently in the direc- tion of BrickAlley, I hastened on, and, arriving at that point, by the aid of the lamp-light on the corner, I caught sight of the object of my search, If was in a man’s hand, which was thrust through a pane of glass up on flight, and was twirling out its notes of distress in quick succession. I was not a strange in that locality, and soon found my way up an outside stairway in the direction of the room; but the door was fastened. I stepped back a pace, and then sprang forward with my shoulder against the door with all the force I could command, and the next moment found myself at full length on the broken door in the entry. I was not long in reach- ing the farther end of the entry, where I found another door fastened also, and which was as soon opened the same way. On entering the room, I three found one of my boys – and as good a fellowas ever broke bread inwhat seemed tome to be rather a tight place, although in physical power and courage he was a match for two common men. He had hardly a rag of clothing left on his person, was all coveredwith blood, and had a man nearly his own size by the throat with one hand, and his bloody arm thrust through the window springing his rattle with the other, while three others were lying about the floor in the same room under the influence of the muscle in this powerful arm. He had had a hard fight against fearful odds, but he was master of the field when I arrived, He had followed a burglar with his plunder into this den, where he was set upon by these four ruffians, who after fastening the door, probably intended to make an end of him; but his strong arm and indomitable courage saved his life, and he was only calling for help to carry off his game. The four men (three of them brothers) were taken to the station house, and each subsequently took a lesson of Captain Robbins; but the incidents of that night to me added a new sensation to the echoes of theWatchman’s Rattle. – P.O. Robert Anthony, Chronologist, Boston Police Department (Information taken from Captain Edward Hartwell Savage’s Book, BostonWatch and Police.)