Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-05-07
The Death of Hale, the Patriot Spy.
FROM HIS LIFE By CURTIS.


But in all that crowd there was not
one face familiarto Hale--not one voice
to whisper word of consolation to his
dying agony. Yet though without a
friend whom he knew-though denied
that privilege granted usually to the
meanest criminal, the attendance of
chaplain-though degraded by every
external mark of infamy-yet did his
spirit not give away. His gait, as he
approached the gallows, in spite of his
pinioned arms was upright and steady.
No offending soldier to whom the
choicest penalty has been assigned, to
receive the shot of his comrades, ever,
in the midst of sympathy, and the con-
seriousness that he was allowed at least
la soldiers death. marched more firmly
to kneel upon his coffin, than did Hale
to meet the felon's doom. Through
all the horrors of his situation, he main
tanned department. so dignihed, res
olution so calm, spirit so excited by
Christian readiness to meet his fate,
and the consciousness of duty done,
in the holy cause of his country, that
his face, we cannot but think, must
have worn almost the aspect Of Sc
raph's, lifted, as it was, at frequent in
tervals, to heaven, and SO radiant with
hope, heroism and resignation.
Thus looking, he stood at last-the
few simple preparations being ended
elevated on one of the rounds of the
gallows ladder-ready for the fatal fall.
The coarse voice Of Cunningham, whose
eye watched every arrangement, was
now heard scofingly demanding from
his victim his dying speech and confes.
sion-as if hoping that the chaos Of
Hales soul at that awful moment
would lead him to utter some remark
strange or ridiculous, which nigh
serve to glut the curiosity, of the crowd
or be remembered as a kind of self
mede epitaph by ''rebel captain. =
Never was torturer more cheated
OF his purpose-never a victim endow
ed with utterance more sublime! On,
glance, it is said, at Cunningham--on'
slight momentary contraction of hi
features into contempt he turnec
his look, filled again with holy energ,
and sweetness upon the spectators-noN
impressed, most Of them, with solemn
awe-and some Of them, the females
not forbearing to sob aloud. With
voice full, distinct, slow-which cam
mournfully from the very depths Of bi
4 being-in words witch patriotism Wi
forever enshrine, and every monumer
Of Hale's memory sink deepest into il
stone, and every temple Of liberty bl;
zon highest OF its entablature-at tt
very moment when the tightening kno
ted cord was to crush the life from h
young body forever, he ejaculated-;
the last immortal testament of his h
roic soul to the world he was leaving
" | only regret that l have but OF
life to lose for my country"
Maddened to hear a sentiment :
sublime burst from the lips of the su
ferer, and to witness visible signs
sympathy among the crowd, Cunnln
ham instantly shouted for the catastr
phe to close. Swing the rebel off
We conceive we hear him vociferatir
even now" swing him off," Fl
ladder diappeared-the cord straint
, from the creaking bough-and with
sudden jerk, the body of Hale dangl
: convulsively in the air. A few minut
luttering to and fro-a few heavin
of his noble chest-its manly limbs
, moments sharply bent by the pang-
at last hung straight and motionle
from its support,
And was still as the chamber of death
? The soul of the Martyr had fed.