Soon John Hancock's sloop, _Liberty_, sailed into the harbor with a cargo of Madeira wine.
As Hancock had no idea of paying the duty, the customs officers seized the sloop and towed her under the guns of a warship which was in the harbor.

Crowds of people now collected.

They could not recapture the _Liberty_.

They seized one of the war-ship's boats, carried it to the Common, and had a famous bonfire.

All this confusion frightened the chief customs officers.