The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-08-14
So \ MONTH.


/ Nathan Hale. Ii is a story which every
son and daughter OF the great republic
should eashrine in their memories.
| In the darkest hour of our countrv's
struggle for liberty. this self-devoted
hero-inspired with fervid patriotism
and eager TO render service 10 his
country-laid down his young life, a
| sacrifice to the cause of American
liberty.
The days and weeks that followed
that memorable Fourth Of July in i776
We're dark, indeed. for the struggling
colonists.
Determined to crush with one effort
| the Instruction in her American colo
MES, Great Britain sent that summer a
larger force than any which had before
landed upon our shores.
You know the story of the disastrous
battle upon Long Island-where the
few thousand ill-clothed, undisciplined
provincial troops faced a splendidly-
equipped army, many regiments Of
which were veterans. The raw Amer
lean troops, despite their courage and
heroism, were no match for the trained
and skilled sOldiery of Great Britain:
and even Gen. Washington. undemon-
strative and reserved as he was. is said
TO have wrung his hands in anguish
upon seeing his troops defeated and
driven back, he being powerless TO aid
them.
After the disastrous battle of Long
Island, Washington sorely needed in
formation of the strength and probable
movements of the powerful enemy. He
deemed il necessary that some skilled
soldier should go, as a spy, within the
British lines and procure for him the
knowledge so much desired, that he
might be warned in ample time"
Capt. Nathan Hale, brilliant young
officer belonging 10 knowlton's Rang
ers, calmly decided it was his duty TO
undertake the enterprise upon which
the fate of the detected little army
seemed 10 depend. His friends sought in
vain to dissuade him from his purpose
81 desire TO be useful" was his reply;
his only thought seemed 10 be 70 serve
his country.
The young officer presented himself
the dangerous service. was accepted,
received his instructions and diSap-
peared from camp.
He passed up the Connecticut shore.
disguised himself as a schoolmaster,
and landed upon Long Island. lie Wis
tied all the British camps upon Long
Island and in New York, and made
drawings of the Notifications. writing
his observations in Latin. and hiding
them between the sOles of his shoes.
He had been about two weeks within
the British lines, had accomplished his
purpose, and was waiting upon the
shore at Huntington, l.. l., for a boat
that was to convey him to Connecticut,
when he was captured, having been rec
ognized few hours previous by tory
refugee. He was taken aboard a British
man-of-war and carried 10 Sir William
Howe's headquarters in New York city.
Here he was condemned to be executed
at sunrise on the following morning.
In what prison or guardhouse the
noble souled young patriot spent that
last sad night of his life is not known;
but of the brutality with which he WA
treated by the provost marshal into
whose hands he was given over there is
abundant proof. His request for the
of clergyman was refused. ,
Even a Bible was denied him
During the preparations for the eve
cution, an English officer obtained per-
mission 10 offer the prisoner the seclu-
sion of his tent, where writing mate
rails were furnished.
But the farewell letters he wrote "a .
his mother, 20 his sweetheart and 90
comrade in the army were torn % shreds
before his eyes by the cruel proves.
marshal
1t was early dawn on Sunday morn
ing, September %, 1776, that our young
hero was hurried away from the tent
Of the English officer TO the galIoTs
The spot selected was the orchard %
Col. Henry Rutgers on East Broadway,
not far above what is now franklin
square
4 crowd had gathered. many *
whom aftervvard bore witness % the
noble bearing Of tho young hero, and
10 the barbaritv with which be was
treated by the provost marshal This
1.ficial said. The rebels shall never
zuow they have a man who can de
.sith such frmness.
A. Hale was about 20 ascend ths
'a;al scaffold, be stood moment look
ny upon the detachment % British
soldier and the crowd standing about;
.nd the words that came from his
oyal young heart IN that supreme mo-
nent viii never die: Il only regret
hat have but ore life &c lose for ny
country"
Il : not known in what spot his
BODY was LAID, but the bones of the
-oUng patriot crznpled 20 dust in the
leari % the great metropolis Of the
'epEblic he helped 20 found
50 long as love % country Is cher
she'd and devotion % the cause a
oerty Is remembered. 20 ;ong viii The
anne % Nathan Hale shine with pare
I'd 2ndimned Iastre
I
EEAEEFCL ASSAELL LIZ