What Is Tarring and Feathering
Taring and Feathering dates back to the Middle Ages. Richard the Lionhearted and the Crusades had the first record of the punishment in 1189. Americans brought back the punishment in the 1760’s for tax collectors. They punished the tax collectors that threatened the smuggling of goods. Tar could easily be found in shipyards and pillows could be ripped opened for fathers. Tarring and feathering is not usually fatal, but was extremely unpleasant. Hot tar caused blisters and if you try to remove it often makes it worse. The feathers stuck to the tar and caused no problem to the body. However, they were a large sign of humiliation. At first, tarring and feathering was just a threat to tax collectors and stamp commissioners. Yet further down the road tarring and feathering was a real punishment. After the Stamp Act passed in November 1, 1765 there were no stamp commissioners left to collect the tax. The act was more common in the Boston Harbor where all the smugglers came in with their ships. While the person was getting tarred and feathered they made the victim drink boiling hot tea in protest for the tax on tea.
First Punishment by Law
Pine Tar
People Punished
The first mention of tarring and feathering as punishment by law was in 1189. Richard I said: "a thief or felon that hath stolen, being lawfully convicted, shall have his head shorn, and boiling pitch poured upon his head, and feathers or down strewed upon".
Pine tar is a substance from Pine trees used to seal ships of wholes and weather proof rope. Unlike petroleum tar, which was not used at the time, pine tar remains flexible so the person can still move and function. The boiling point is at 337 degrees Celsius. As the melting point is at 60 degrees Celsius. It is difficult to know the characteristics of pine tar when used for tarring and feathering because it had to be heated to extreme temperatures.
Joseph Smith is the founder of the Latter Day Saints movement. Mr. Smith was tarred and feathered after he was beat by a group of men. When he was dragged from his home his wife and infant child were threatened and forced out of their house. Mr. Smith was left for dead but he limped back to a home of his friends. When he got to the home they tore the tar off his body leaving him bloody with raw skin.
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John Bapst was a Swiss- born Jesuit priest. He was tarred and feathered by a Know-Nothing mob from Maine. The punishment happened in the midst of a controversy over religious education in grammar schools.
Industrial Workers of the World seventeen members of the group were tarred and feathered in 1917. They were tarred and feathered by a faction of the KKK. This was what started the Tulsa Outrage.
Anti- German sentiment was attacked and many of the German- Americans were captured. They were taken to nearby South Dakota and were tarred and feathered. This was over the settlement not supporting the war bonds. The men were sued for $6,000.