Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-07-05
NATHAN HALE.
The Brave Caltain Who Regretted That
He Had bu, one Life 10 Give.

fho Brave Caltain Who Regretted That
He Had bu, One Life TO Give.
Although the monument TO Captain
Nathan Halls was long ago erected at Cow
entry, Conn, where he was born. IL vase
inenily appropriate that in this city there
should be mother, because here was origi-
mated the enterprise upon which he entered,
and here occurred the tragedy Of his lass
hours.
General Washington was occupying the
house OF Robert Murray, whose farm cx-
tended from what is now Thirty-sixth street
to Fortlcth street. Hence the well known
name Of Murray hill. The Murray maii-
sion was situated about where the Brick
church stands While occupying this house
Washington determined upon discovering
what We're the plans and situation OF the
British army on Long Island.
In the regiment OF American Colonel
Knowlton was Nathan Hale, a young cap
tain just OF nge, who had left college and
the pursuits OF a literary profession to en-.
list In the continental army. He had re-
Gently been Mt the head OF little expedi.
ton on the Hudson river for embarrassing
the British ships and had shown great
GOODNESS, bravery and discretion. Colonel
knuwlton selected him and sent him to
Washington for instructions There can
be no question that Hale was made a spy.
No such technicality existed in his case as
was attempted by Sir Henry Clinton and
Andre IN the lattcr's behalf The captain
furtively crossed the sound, landing at
Huntington, and thence made his way to
Brooklyn and returned in n few days with
the result OF his observations In sketches
and memoranda He was recognized at
Huntington rs strange man, who had
mystcriously arrived and had as mysteri.
ously Gbsented himself, wherefore he was
arrested and the paaphernalia OF his spy.
ship discovered. lie was Immediately sent
TO the lower pHrt Of tho city, then in British
possession, while Washington occupied the
upper part.
The notorious Monster Cunninghamn-
so denominated by many historians OF that
period-wns then provost marshal He
placed Captain Hale under guard in tho
greenhouse OF n Mr. Beekman, whose farm
comprising Turtle hay ON the East River
was about where Flfty.second street and
First avenue now are. Lord Howe was 90
cupying il as his headquarters. The cruel
Cunningham. without even the form of
trial, concluded to execute him the next
morning as spy
Captain Hale wrote some fumily letters
Of farewell and asked for the loan OF n
Bible and the solace Of n clergyman, These
were insultingly refused 10y the provost
marshal, who even tore up che letters.
The victim was then, early on the next
day, cGrted down TO the Rutgers farm and
hanged after the 1yburn fashion TO an up
pile tree that local history has shown to
have been at the corner Of East broadway
and Market street, When the carton tho
floor whereof he stood, young man OF even
handsome, boyish appearance-was about
to be drawn away TO leave him suspended,
Captain Nathan Hale remarked to the by.
ISLANDERS and grinning redcosts, My only
regret Is that havenot another life to give
TO the service of my country His remains
rested at the foot of the fatal tree until the
end Of British occupation Of the city per
mitted their honorable removal.
Historians have agreed that II he could
have reached General Wnshingtous head.
quarters with the intelligence lie had OBJ
tanned the knowledge would have saved
much Of after disaster to the American
cause. II ever u spy was patriotic, Hale
was, aud Fenimore Cooper in his novel OF
"The Spy" based upon the career OF Har-
vcy Birch, has drawn vivid picture OF the
necessity, value and praiseworthiness Of the
spy in time OF war.
Captain Hale was the earliest martyr OF
the Revolution, and HIS martyrdom was an
appropriate incident for our metropolitan
commemoration.- York Recorder.