The Meeker herald., 1894-08-04

/ In City Hall park, New York city,
stands the bronze statue of young
man, the story of whose brief life
/ thrills all patriotic hearts.
/ The statue represents him pinioncd.
awaiting the gallows, as he uttered
/ ms lust words.
Americans unite in admiration of
| his noble character, pride in his self
/ forge tful heroism, and grief over his
untimcly death. Every boy and girl
| in America should know by heart the
| life of Captain Nathan Hale. 1t is Il
story which every son and daughter
| of the great republic should enshrine
| in their memories.
| In the darkest hour of our country's
| struggle for liberty, this self devoted
| hero-inspircd with fcrvid patriotism
& and eager to render service to ms
country-laid down his young life, II
/ sacrifice to the cause OF American
liberty.
The days and weeks that followed
I that memorable Fourth of July in
| 1919 were dark indeed for the strug-
| Cling colonists.
Determined to crush with one effort
the instruction in her American
colonies. Great Britain sent that
summer larger force than any which
had before landed upon our shores.
You know the story of the disastrous
battle upon Long islnnd-whcre the
few thousand ill-clothed, undisciplin-
ed provincial troops faced splendid
ly equipped army, many regiments of
. Il. ~
American troops, despite their cour-
age and heroism, were no match for
the trained and skilled soldiery of
Great Britain: and even George Wash
inton, undenonstrative and reserved
as he was, is said to have wrung his
hands in anguish upon seeing his
troops defeated and driven buck, he
being powcrlcss to aid them.
After the disastrous battle of Long
island, Washington sorely needed in
formation of the strength and prob
able movements of the powerful
enemy. lie deemed it necessary that
some skilled soldier should 20, as Il
spy. within the British lines, and pro-
cure for him the knowledge so much
desired, that he might be warned in
ample time
Captain Nathan Hale, brilliant
young officer belonging to "Knowl-
toms Rangers" calmly decided that it
was his duty to undertake the enter
prise upon which the fate of the de
icctcd little army seemed to depend.
His friends sought in vain to dissuadc
him from his purpose. Il desire to
be useful" was his reply; his only
thought seemed to be to serve his
country.
The young officer presented him
self to General Washington as vol
untecr for the dangerous service, was
accepted received his instructions
and disappeared from camp.
He passed up the Connecticut shore,
disguised himself as schoolmaster,
and landed upon Long island. He
visited all the British camps upon
Long ISLAM AMI in New York, and
made drawings of the Notifications.
writing his observations in Latin, and
hiding them between the soles of his
shoes,
lie had been about two weeks with
in the British lines, and had accom-
plishcd his purpose, and was waiting
island, for boat that was to convey
him to Connecticut, when he was cap
tured-having been recognized few
hours previous by Tory refugee. lie
was taken aboard n British man-of-
war. and carried to Sir William Howc's
headquarters in New York City Here
he was condemned to be executed at
sunrise on the following morning
In what prison or guard house the
noblesoulcd young patriot spent that
last sad night of his life is not known;
but of the brutality with which he
was treated by the provost marshal
into whose hands he was given over,
there is abundont proof. His request
for the attendance Of a clergyman
was refused. Even bible was denied
him.
During the preparations for the
execution, an English officer obtained
permission to offer the prisoner the
seclusion of his tent, where writing
materials were furnished.
But the farewell letters he wrote to
his mother, to his sweetheart, and to
u comrade in the army, We're torn &c
shrcds before his eyes by the cruel
provost marshal.
1t was early dawn on Sunday morn
inp, September %, 17i6, that our
young hero was hurried away from
the tent of the English officer TO the
gallows. The spot selected was the
orchard of Colonel Henry Rutgers, on