Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1879-01-09

In ne was not after ne arrived IN ~
N York.
ct Hale reached New York on Salurd
e Sept. n. the day Of The great Gre
le burned 400 buildings from Whslel
= Slip TO Barclay street, where il =
y checked b. Che College Green.
p vas taken Il once bkfoff &pxA H9s
EA0 Wa4 uss8N ~ ~ ~ <ssassnss.s
near Turtle Bay, for his hess'aaaffefs
The present site + Fissy-i'Fsf street anf
First avenue. Hers lived James Beek.
man in LUXURY; but, ! strong advocate
of the Revolutionary cause, hs gave ur
his elegant home when Lord Howe &c.
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 10
barter with Benedict Arnold, and here
Hale, pinioned and guarded, was taken
before Lord Howe. II Is believed that
Gen. Howe retired 10 4 greenhouse just
back OF the mansion, and listened 10 the
charges against the young Revolution
airy Captain, and was shown the plans
and data found in HaIe's shoes. He
denied nothing. He admitted that he
was a Captain in Washington's army,
said that he had been spy and had
been successful in has search for infor-
nation, regretted that he was by his
capture unable to serve his country,
and then fearlessIy awaited his sem
tence. He did not even demand a
court-martial. In q few minutes he
heard his sentence: "WillIam Cum
ningham. Provost Marshall ofthe Royal
Army in New York, is directed to re-
ceive into his custody the body of Ma
than Hale, Captain in the rebel army.
convicted as spy, and to see him
hanged by the neck until dead to-mor-
row morning at daybreak.
Hale was at once taken in charge by
the brutal Cunningham, who was after
ward hanged after contessing 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. 1t is believed
that Cunningham took Hale TO The Pro-
vost, a PRISON that stood where is now
the Hall of Records. Beyond this, to-
ward BFoadways and boIdefing on
Chambers street, was q graveyard,
which also served as place tor public
executions. Hale is believed to have
been confined in cell, the little win
dow Of which looked out upon the Park
and Centre street. 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 unpinioned and that he might
have writing materials and a light.
Cunningham refused this with an oath.
Then Hale asked that he might have a
Bible. This, too, was denied him.
Subsequently young officer of Hale's
guard interceded for him, and his arms
were freed and light, ink and paper
and Bible were given to him. Part
of the night he passed in writing-one
letter 10 his mother, another 10 his sis
ter, and a third to his sweetheart.
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
Marshall the letters that he had writ
ten and asked as dying favor that they
be kept until they could be delivered.
Cunningham read them insolently in
Hale's presence. and then tore them
up. When asked afterward why he
dad this, he said that che did not want
The rebels to'know they had man who
could die with such firmness." Then
ne ordered Hale to make ready for the
,caffold. His arms were pinioned,
coarse white gown trimmed with black
was placed over his body, and a white
zap put on his head. A rough board
,offin was carried by attendants in front
IF him, guard of soldiers were around
lim, and the negro execntioner Rich
nond brought up the rear with the lad
Ter and Moose. Thus attended Hale
walked to the galIows. II Is probable
hat he walked from the prison 70 the
on The site Of part Of which
he new Court House stands. Then,
while Capt. Hale was standing on the
ounds of the ladder, with the moose
lboat his neck, Cunningham addressed
lin, and scofingly asked him to speak
'ut bis dying speech and confession.
I is said that Hale just glanced. with
! touch OF contempt on his features, at
and then turning 10 the
'thers, be said quietly, but with an inn
'ressiveuess that silcnced the jibes of
hose who were there tojoke, and melted
ONE to tears: ''I only regret that /
AVE but one life TO lose for my coun-
ry."
"Swing the rebel or" shouted the
naddened Cunningham. In half an
Iour the body Of the martyr was buried, |
in a grave dug beneath the
allows. The site was unmarked, and
Fhen the Revolutionary army re-en-
cred New York there was no one who
rho conld tell where Hale was sleep
ng. But the story Of his heroic death, !
nd OF has memorable words under
be gsllows. speedily became known
hroughout the army. II inspired the
nen like victory, and IN after years !
ntil within comparatively recent |
ime, Hale's only monument has been |
he remembrance Of him ss the MAR
" Spy Of the Revolution and Of his
wing words.
Hale was Just Of age when be died.
Je was native Of Coventry, Conn,
I'd born in 1886. Educated al Yale |
,Ollege. be was teacher in Nen I.on-