The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1879-02-27

WHY NATHAN HALE INSTEAD OF JOHN AN
DIRE SHOULD BE THE ONE TO HAVE THE
CONTEMPLATED MONUMENT.

DRE SHOULD BE THE ONE 10 HAVE IHE
CONTEMPLATED MONUMENT.
There seems to be some Revolutionary
patriotism left yet, iudging from the
vigorous protests entered everywhere
against the proposed erection Of mon
ument by certain citizens of New York
Cyrus ". Field in particular the
memory Of Maj. John Andre, whose
capture prevented the consummation of
Benedict Arnold's treacherous designs.
The protests Indignantly point to the
fact that the graves of thousands of our
Revolutionary heroes are still unmarked,
and instance the fate aud treatment Of
Capt. Nathan Hale, Of Coventry, CT,
aged q, who was captured in the British
lines in New York and hanged as a spy.
He was n most heroic young fellow, and
WAS selected by Washington to make a
long and perilous journey through the
English army, which the ''Father" cal
culated would, If successful, save his lit
tie starving and fast dissolving forces
from annihilation. AS a school teacher,
Hale accomplished his object, remaining
two weeks in the enemy's lines. He was
betrayed by Tory relative and captured
while returning to the American lines.
He was stripped and searched, and rs in
Andres case, there were found between
the soles of his shoes detailed plans and
memoranda. Hale, pinioned and guard
ed, was taken before Lord Howe. 1t is
believed that Gen. Howe retired to a
greenhouse just back Of the mansion, and
listened there 20 the charges against the
young Revolutionary Captain, and was
shown the plans and data found in Hale's
shoes.
Hale denied nothing. He admitted
that he was a Captain in Washington's
army, said that he had been a spy, and
had been successful in his search for in
formation regretted that he was by his
capture unable to serve his country, and
then fearlessly awaited his sentence. He
did not even demand a court martial. In
d few minutes he heard his sentence =
''WilIiam Cunningham, Provost Marshal
Of the Royal Army of New York, is di-
rected to receive into his custody the
Nathan Hale, Captain in the rebel army,
convicted as a spy. and to see him hang
ed by the neck until he is dead tomorrow
morning at daybreak.
Hale was at once taken in charge by
the brutal Cunningham, who was after
ward hanged after confessing that he
had been accessory to several hundred
murders. Cunningham asked Hale, as
he put him into his cell, for his name,
age, size, and rank, and then read the
death warrant to him. AS he was leaving
Hale asked that his arms might be un-
pinioned and that he might have writing
materials and light Cunningham re-
fused this with an oath. Then Hale
asked that he might have Bible. This,
too, was denied him. Subsequently
young officer of Hale's guard interceded
for him, and his arms We're freed, and a
light, pen, ink, and paper and Bible
were given to him. Part of tie night he
passed in writing-one letter to his
mother, another to his sister, and third
to his sweetheart. When Cunningham
reached Hale's cell in the morning he
found the Federal Captain and spyready.
Is was just daybreak. Hale handed the
Provost Marshal the letters he had writ
ten, and asked, as dying favor, that
they be kept until they could be deliver
ed. Cunningham read them insoIently
in Hale's presence, and then tore them
up. When asked. afterwards, why he
did this, he said that he did not want the
rebels to know that they had man who
could die with such frmness. Then he
ordered Hale to make ready for the scat
fold. His arms were pinioned, a coarse
white gown trimmed with black was
placed nver his body and a white cap put
on his head. A rough board coffin was
carried by attendants in front Of him,
guard OF soldiers was around him, and
the negro executioner, Richmond, bro't
mp the rear with the ladder and moose.
Thus attended, Hale walked to the gall
lows. Then, while Capt. Hale was stand
l. l. IL
moose about his neck, Cunningham ad-
dressed him and scoffingly asked him to
speak out his dying speech and confes-
sion. Tt is said that Hale just glanced
with touch Of contempt on his features
at Cunningham, and then, turning to
the others, he SAID quietly, but with an
impressiveness that silenced the iibes of
those who were there to joke, and melted
some to tears II only regret that have
but one life to lose for my country" !"
''Swing the rebel off !" shouted the mad
dened Cunningham. In half an hour
the body of the martyr was buried,
probably in a grave bereath the gallows.
/ The site was unmarked, and when the
Revolutionary army re-ectered New
York, there was no one who could tell
where Hale was sleeping. But the story
OF MS heroic death and his memorable
words under the gallows speedily became
known throughout the army. II inspir
ed the men like a victory, and in after
years, until a comparatively recent time,
Hale's only monument has been the
remembrance of him as the Martyr spy
of the Revolution" and of his dying
words.
4 Western paper gives this little bit of
backwoods gossip between parent and