Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1876-10-07


cruising in that neighborhood, and
A boats crew was sent ashore to
make observation. Hale was sus-
pected and was taken aboard the
ship, where he was recognized by
an American renegade. Disguise
being no longer Of use, he avowed
his name aud purpose, and was
therefore sent Immediately to Gen.
eral Howe, whose headquarters were
in the Beekman House, t the foot
of what is now Fifty first street.
This building, which has since
been destroyed, was then called
Mount Pleasant, and was for many
years the only structure 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 2lst Of Septem-
Der, a day long remembered because
of the great fire. 1t broke out in
Whitehall, and extended up Broad
way as far as the Park, destroying
493 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 recon
structed is now the Hall of Rec
ords. Cunningham, the provost
marshal, was notorious for his bru-
tality. He was a British dragoon,
who came hither before the Revolu.
tion, and fulfilled his office
throughout the war in the most
cruel manner. lie asked for wri-
ting materials, in order to send a
farewell letter home, but his request
was refused. A young officer inter
ceded and obtained the object OF
his request, but the letter was aC-
terward destroyed. During that
night, when the city was apparent
Iy doomed, the young patriot re-
mained in durance, and the next
morning, the 22d of September
l77G, Cunningham led him forth
to his late. AT that time Chambers
street-then called Barrack street
contained an old burial ground
which extended from Broadway al
most to what is now Center street
In this burial ground, not far from
the present site of A. 7. Stewar
& Co.'s warehouse, the gallows wa;
erected, and there Nathan Hale
suffered death, leaving as his last
words that oft quoted regret, which
breathes the noblest patriotism: C
only regret that | have but one lil,
to lose for my country" lie wa
buried near the gallo@s, and, a
the grave had no DISTINCTIVE mark
all ipaces of the spot werolost, Hale
companion carried to the homestea'
at South Coventry the camp-bool
and camp-basket, as we'll a
other memorials Of the young hero
aud could never refer to the sat
event without weeping. In 1883
an association was formed in Soutt
Coventry for the purpose of erect
ing a suitable monument, and min,
years afterward it was finished. |
is fourteen feet square at the base
and being forty-fiye feet high is
very notable feature in the cemete
rv. -Four years alter Jhe deatn o
Hale the Beekman House witnesses
Il meeting between General How
and another spy whose fate wa
equally tragic. This man was Johl
Andre, who started from that no
! ted mansion on his mission to Yves
RoipF. Andre and Hale have SOM
additional points of historical con
nection. They were the most re
markable pair whom history men
tions as having suffered the deatl
of the spy. When Andre was ar
; rested he asked the officer wha
would be the probable consequences
gpd the replY was given by 2 6rie
EecitaI Of the fate q Nathan Hale
In the one INSTANCE y grand ambi
ton may have been in some degre
a motive. In the other we behol
the sublime devotion Of a noble
: hearted youth who SO loved hi
conntrv that one life was too smAI