The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1879-01-14
NATHAN HALE.
The Pathetic story oi the Martyr spy
Recalled.
From tn. Boston nerald.

airy patriotism left yet, judging from
the vigorous protests entered every
where against the proposed erection OF
monument by our citizens-Cyrus
w. Field in particular-to the memory
of Maj. John Andre, whose capture
prevented the consummation Of Bene-
dict ArDold's treacherous designs. The
protests Indignantly point TO the fact
that the graves of thousands OF our
Revolutionary heroes are still unmark-
ed, and instance the fate and treatment
OF Capt. Nathan Hale, Of Coventry.
Conn. aged 81, who was captured in
the British lines in New York and
hanged as a spy. He was a most heroic
young fellow, and was selected IN
Washington TO make long and peril
ous journey through the English army,
which the Father" calculated would,
II successful, save his little starving
and fast dissolving forces from annihi-
lation. As school teacher Hale ac-
complished his object. remaining two
weeks in the enemys liues. He was
betrayed by Tory relative, and cap
tured while returning to the American
lines. He was stripped and searched.
and, as in Andres case, there were
found between the soles. Of his
shoes detailed plans and memoranda.
Further than this nothing has ever
been known. Whether Hale was treat
ed with the kindness that was extended
to Andre after his capture is very
doubtful. IL is certain that he was not
after he arrived in New York.
Hale reached New York on Saturday
September 81, the day of the great fire
that burned 400 buildings from White
hall slip to Barclay street, where IL was
checked by the College Green. He was
taken at once before Lord Ho we, who
was using the Beekman mansion, near
Turtle Bay, for his headquarters. The
present site is Fifty-frst street and
/ First avenue. Here lived James Beck
man in luxury; but, a strong advocate
of the revolutionary cause, he gave up
/ his elegant home when Lord Howe oc-
cupied New York, and took his family
back into the country. Here the Brit
ish officers received and entertained
their guests; here Andre danced the
night before he went up the Hudson to
barter with Benedict Arnold, and here
Hale, pinioned and guarded, was taken
before Lord Howe. II is believed that
General Howe retired to a greenhouse
just back Of the mansion and listened
there TO the charges against the young
revolutionary captain, and was shown
the plans and data found in Hale's
shoes. Hale denied nothing He ad
mitted that he was captain in Wash
ington's army, said that he had been q
spy and had been successful in his
search for information, regretted that
he was by his capture unable to serve
country, and then fearlessly awaited
his sentence. He did not even demand
a court-martial. In few minutes he
heard his sentence: civilian Cunning
ham, provost martial of the royal army
in New York, is directed TO receive in
TO his custody the body of Nathan Hale
captain in the rebel army, convicted
as spy, aud TO see him hanged by the
neck until dead, tomorrow morning at
! daybreak.
Hale was Mt once taken in charge by
the brutal Cunningham, who was after
wards hanged after confessing that he
had been accessory in several hundred
\ murders, and who was responsible for
the awful suffering of Federal prisoners
\ IN the Old Sugar House Prison, still
standing in Rose street. II is believed
/ that Cunningham took Hale TO the
/ Provost, a prison that stood where is
now the Hall Of Records. Beyond this
towards Broadway, and bordering on
| Chambers street, was grave yard,
which also served as a place for public
/ executions. Hale is believed to have
/ been confined in a cell, the little win
/ dow Of which looked ont upon the Park
aud Center street. Cunningham asked
/ Hale, as be put him into his cell, for
/ his name, age, size and rank, and then
/ read the death warrant 10 him. As he
was leaving. Hale asked that his arms
might be unpInioned and that he might
/ have writing material and light. Gun
ningham refused this with an oati.--
/ Then Hale asked that he might have
| "A Bible. This, too, was denied him. 49,
| Subsequently young officer of Hale's
/ guard interceded for him. and his
arms were freed, and light, pen, ink
and paper aud Bible were given to
/ him. Part Of the night he spent writ
/ ing-one letter to his mother, another
/ TO his sister and third 20 his sweet
heart. When Cunningham reached
Hale's cell in the morning he found the
| Federal captain and spy ready. Ii was
just at daybreak. Hale handed the
Provost Marshal the letters that he had
written, aud asked, ms a dying favor,
that they be kept until they might he
delivered. Cunningham read them in
solently in Hale's presence and then
tore them up. When asked afterward
why he did this, he said that be did
not want the rebels TO know that they
had a man who could die with such
frmness. Then he ordered Hale 10
make ready for the scaffold. His arms
were pinioned, a coarse white gown
trimmed with black was placed over
his body, and a white cap put on his
head. A rough board coffin was carried
by attendants in front Of him, and the
negro executioner, Richmond, brought
up the rear with the ladder and moose.
| Thus attended Hale walked TO the gal
| lows. 10 is probable that he walked
from the prison to the cemetery, on
the site OF a part OF which the new
court. house now stands. Then, while
\ Capt. Hale was standing on the rounds
| of ladder, with the moose about his
neck, Cunningham addressed him, and
| scofingly asked him TO speak out his
| diving speech and confession. IL is
said that Hale had just glanced, with
a touch of contempt on his features, at
Cunningham, and then, turning 10 the
others, he said quietly, but with al
impressiveness that silenced the jibes
of those who were there TO joke, and
melted some 10 tears: 81 only regret
that have but one life TO lose for my
| country" Swing the rebel OFF,
/ shouted the maddened Cunningham. -
In half an hour later the body of the
martyr was buried, probable in a grave
beneath the gsllows. The site was un-
marked, and when the Revolutionary
army re-entered New York there was
no one who could tell where Hale was
sleeping. But the story OF his heroic
death and Of his memorable words under
the gallows speedily became known
throughout the army. It inspired the
men like a victory, and in after years,
until comparatively recent time,
Hale's only monument has been the re-
membrance Of him as the Martyr Spy
Of the Revolution" and of his dying
words. Hale was Just OF age when he
/ died. He was a native Of Coventry,
/ Conn, and was born in l755. Educated
at Yale College, was n teacher in New
/ London, with the ultimate purpose Of
4 entering the ministry, when the news
came from Boston OF the battle OF Lex
/ fnofan Ha uaa ono ~ fho drQt fo an.