The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-10-05
Nathan Hale, the Spy.

One hundred years ago to-day Nathan
Hale was hanged by British soldiers il
this city The facts concerning his mis-
sion, his capture and his execution ar
we'll known to readers of American his
tory, but it may not be amiss to recall
them now.
| Nathan Hale was native of South Gov
entry, Conn.,, where his father, Richart
Hale, reared large family. From hi
fathers farm Nathan went to Yale Col
legey was graduated with honor at eight
cen, and then became schOOl-teacher-
an employment which was congenial t.
| his studious habits. He was but twent,
years old when the Revolution began, ant
his patriotism soon led him to the Cont
captain. After the battle Of Long Island el
Washington felt the importance of OBJ
tanning information concerning the Plan:
of the enemy, and Capt. Hale volunteered
in the dangerous service. He left the
camp at Harlem about the middle of Sep
TENDER, 1776, accompanied by a friend
and soon reached Norwalk, where lay 6
sloop bound for Huntingdon, L. I. Hale
then parted with his friend, whose name
was Hemstreet, and to whom he confided
a farewell message to his family. The
disguise assumed by the young spy was
that of schOOlmaster. He exchanged
his uniform for plain suit, sent home
his commission, and also his shoe buckles
by the hands of his friend, but retained
his diploma. After two hours sail, the
sloop reached Huntingdon, and Hale was
Immediately rowed ashore. He landed al
place called The Cedars and remained
all night. Next day he moved on to this
city, which he entered without difficulty
Here he remained for several days, and
contrived to jot down his observations
whose meaning was concealed by the use
of Latin. Having accomplished his pur
pose, he crossed the East River at Brook
Ign, and soon reached The Cedars, whence
he expected to get passage to Norwalk
Unfortunately, the British man of war
Halifax, Capt. Quarme. happened to be
cruising in that neighborhood, and a
boats crew was sent ashore to make OBJ.
servation. Hale was suspected and was
taken aboard the ship, where he was
recognized by an American renegade
Disguise being no longer of use, he
avowed his name and purpose, and was
therefore sent Immediately to Gen. Howe,
whose headquarters were in the Beekman
House, at the foot Of what is now Fifty
first street.
This building, which has since been de.
stroyed, was then called Mount Pleasant,
and was for many years the only struc.
ture of note in Turtle Bay. Here the
prisoner was subjected to the form of a
court martial. The Latin notes had been
discovered, and his manly avowal of his
purpose assisted in the brevity of the
trial. He was sentenced to be hanged the
next morning at daybreak, the execution
being placed in the hands of Provost
Marshal Cunningham. The trial took
place on the 21st of September, a day long
remembered because of the great fire. Il
broke out in Whitehall, and extended up
Broadway as far as the Park, destroying
four hundred and ninety-three houses
That night, the last that Nathan Hale
spent on earth, was passed in the provost
Jail. This building is still in existence,
and having been thoroughly reconstructed
is now the Hall of Records. Cunningham,
the Provost Marshal, was notorious for
his brutality. He was British dragon,
who came hither before the revolution,
and fulfilled his Office throughout the war
in the most cruel manner. Hale asked fol-
writing materials, in order to send a
farewell letter home, but his request was
refused. A young officer interceded
and obtained the object of his request,
but the letter was afterward destroyed.
During that night, when the city was ap.
parently doomed, the young patriot re.
NAMED in durance, and the next morning,
the 22d of September, 1776, Cunningham
led him forth to his fate. At that time
Chambers street-then called Barrack
street-contained an old burial ground,
which extended from Broadway almost
to what is now Center street. In this
burial ground, not far from the present
site of A. T. Stewart Il Co.'s warehouse,
the gallows was erected, and there Nathan
Hale suffered death, leaving as his last
words that oft quoted regret, which
breathes the noblest patriotism II only
regret that have but one life to lose for
my country" He was buried near the
gallows, and, as the grave had no distinc.
tive mark, all traces of the spot were
lost. Hale's companion carried to the
homestead at South Coventry the camp.
book and camp-basket, as we'll as
other memorials of the young hero,
and could never refer to the sad event
without weeping. In 1887 an associa-
ton was formed in South Coventry for
the purpose of erecting suitable monu-
ment, and nine years afterward it was fin
ished. 1t is fourteen feet square at the
base, and being forty five feet high is a
very notable feature in the cemetery.
-Four years after the death of Hale the
Beekman House witnessed meeting be-
tween Gen. Howe and another spy whose
fate was equally tragic. This man was
John Andre, who started from that noted
mansion on his mission to West Point.
Andre and Hale have some additional
points of historical connection. They
were the most remarkable pair whom his
tory mentions as having suffered the death
of the spy. When Andre was arrested he
asked the officer what would be the prob
able consequences, and the reply was
given by brief recital of the fate of
Nathan Hale. In the one instance grand
ambition may have been in some degree a
motive. In the other we behold the sub
lime devotion of a noble hearted youth
who so loved his country that one life was
too small sacrifice for her welfare.-N.
7. Euening Post, Sept. 22. -
0&D