The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-07-06
tNArHAN HAlr.


Whs Brave Captain Who Regretted That
He Had but One Life TO Give.
Although the monument to Captain
Nathan Hale was long ago erected at Gov
entry, Conn, whore he wAA born, II was en-
inently appropriate that In this city there
should be another, beceuse here was origi
mated the enterprise upon which he entered,
and here occurred the tragedy Of his last
hours.
General Washington was occupying the
houso Of Robert Murray, whose farm ex-
tended from what is now Thirty-sixth street
to Fortieth street. Hence the well known
name Of Murray hill. The Murray man
sion was situated about where the Brick
church stands, While occupying this house
Washington determined upon discovering
what were the plans and situation Of the
British army on Long Island.
In the regiment Of American Colonel
Knowlton was Nathan Hale, young cap.
tain just Of age. who had left college and
the pursuits Of literary profession to en-
list in the continental army. He had re.
Gently been at the head of little expedi.
ton on the Hudson river for embarrassing
the British ships and had shown great
GOODNESS, bravery and discretion. Colonel
Knowlton selected him and sent him ia
Washington for instructions. There can
be no question that Hale was made spy.
No such technicality existed in his case a:
was attempted by Sir Henry Clinton and
Andre in the latter's behalf. The captain
furtively crossed the sound, landing a,
Huntington, and thence made his way tt
Brooklyn and returned In q few days witt
the result Of his observations In sketchc.
and memoranda He was recognized a
Huntington as a strange man, who hat
mysteriously arrived and had as mysteri
ously absented himself, wherefore he wa
arrested and the paraphernalia of his spy
ship discovered. He was Immediately sen
to the lower part Of the city, then in British
possession, while Washington occupied thu
upper part
The notorious Monster Cunninghamn-
SO donominated by many historians of tina
| period-was then provost marshal H.
| placed Captain Hale under guard in th
greenhouse of Mr. Beekman, whose farm
comprising Turtle bay on the East Rive
was about where Fifty-second street an,
First avenue now are. Lord Howe was oc
cupying it as his headquarters The crue
| Cunningham, without even the form Of
trial, concluded to execute him the mex
morning as spy.
Captain Hale wrote some family letter
of farewell and asked for the loan Of
Bible and the solace Of a Clergyman. Thes
were insultinEly refused by the proves
marshal, who even tore up the letters.
The victim was then, early on the mex
day, carted down to the Rutgers farm an,
hanged after the Tyburp fashion to an az
pie tree that local history has shown I
have been at the corner of East Broadwa
and Market street. When the carton tn
floor whereof he stood, a young man Of eve
handsome, boyish appearance-was abou
to be drawn away to leave him suspended
Captain Nathan Hale remarked to the By
ISLANDERS and grinning redcoats, 'My onl
regret is that have not another life to Civ
to the service of my country His remain
rested at the foot of the fatal tree until tn
end of British occupation of the city pei
mitted their honorable removal.
Historians have agreed that If he coul
have reached General Washington's heaC
quarters with the intelligence he had oil
tanned the knowledge would have save
much of after disaster to the America
cause II ever "A spy was patriotic, Hal
was, and Fenimore Cooper, In his novel G
The Spy" based upon the career of Hai
vcy Birch, has drawn vivid picture of til
necessity, value and praiseworthiness of tn
spy in time OF war
Captain Hale was the earliest martyr {
the Revolution, and his martyrdom was n
appropriate incident for our metropolita
commemoration.- York Recorder.