Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1901-02-05
NATHAN HALE.


the house OF Robert Murray on the 18th
The position of the American army nov
appeared more perilous than ever. Two
ships-of-wsr had passed up the Eas
River. Others soon followed. 1t was
OF utmost importance to know something
Of the real intentions of the enemy
Washington, in his perpDexity, called 6
council of war at Murray's. 1t was re-
solved to send competent person, In
disguise, into the British camps on Long
Island to unveil the momentous secret.
1t needed one skilled In military
science and good draughtsman; man
possessed Of quick eye, cool head
unf1inching courage; tact, caution and
| sagacitv. Washington sent for Lieut.
Col. Knowlton and asked him to seek for
a trustful man for the service, in his own
noted regiment or some other.
Knowlton summoned large number
Of officers to conference at his quar-
ters. and in the name of the commander
in-chief, invited volunteer for the i'm
portant service. They were surprised.
There was a long pause. 1t was an in
vitation to serve their country supremacy
by becoming n spy-a character upon
whom all civilized nations place the ban
of scorn, They recoiled from such a
service, and there was general and
even resentful refusal to comply with
the request.
Late in the conference Young officer
appeared, pale from the effects Of re-
cent illness. Knowlton repeated the in
vitstion. when, almost Immediately the
sh of hos nd
II will undertake it," 1t was the voice
of Capt. Nathan Hale. Everybody WAS
astonished. The whole company knew
Hale. They loved and admired him.
They tried to dissuade him from his pur-
pose, setting forth the risk Of sacrificing
all his good prospects in life and the
fond hopes of his parents and friends.
They painted in darkest cOlOrs the ig-
nomiuy and death to which he might be
exposed, but in vain. With warmth
aud decision Hale said: "Gentlemen, |
think l owe to my country the ac-
complishment of an object so important
and so much desired by the commander
in-chief of her armies, and | know Of no
mode Of obtaining the information but
by assuming a disguise and passing into
the enemy's camp. L am fully sensible
of the consequences Of discovery and
capture in such a situation. But for a
year have been attached to the army,
and have not rendered any material
service, while receiving compensation
for which make no return. Yet l am
not influenced by any expectation OF
promotion or pecuniary reward. l wish
TO be useful; and every kind Of service
necessary for the public good becomes
honorable by being necessary. Ii the
exigencies Of my country demand a Pc
culiar service, its claims to that service
are imperious." These manly, wise,
and patriotic words-this willingness to
sacrifice himself, if necessary, for the
good of the country-silenced his broth
er officers.
Accompanied by Knowlton, he APP
peared before Washington that same
afternoon, and received instructions
his mission. His commander
also furnished him with general order
10 the owners of all American vessels in
Long Islapd Sound to convey him to any |
point on Long Island which he might
designate. Hale left the camp on Har-
EN- Heights the same evening, with |
Hampstead, trustworthy |
member of his company.
They found no safe place to cross the
Sound until thew arrived at Norwalk,
ifty miles from New York. There Hale
exchanged his regimentals for citizens |
iress of brown cloth and broad
round hat, and directed Hemp
stead to tarrv for him at Norwalk until
MS return which he supposed would be
IN the Goth. He directed boat to be
sent for him on the morning of that day.
He WAS conveyed across the Sound to |
Bay, where he landed. He
assumed the character of q schoolmaster |
and loyalist disgusted with the rebel
cause, and he professed to be in quest OF
an engagement as school teacher. 1t is
known that he entered the British camps
u personal disguise, and with the pre-
ext of loyalty and the character or
Dedsgogue, that he was received with
great cordislity as good fellow; that
ne visited all the British camps on Long |
Island, made observations openly, and
drawings snd memoranda of fortitics-
ions secretly; that he passed over from
BROOKLYN 70 New York City and gather
I'd much information concerning affairs |
here. and that he returned to Long Is |
and and passed through the various |
camps to Huntington Bay for the pur- |
pose of going back to Norwalk. Hale,
Dn his return, had reached in safety the |
point on the Long Island shore where he
first landed, and prepared to recross the
sound at Norwalk the next morning.
He wore shoes with loose inner soles. |
Between the soles he had concealed the |
accurate drawings he had made OF FORTH |
ficatiOns, etc. /
Feeling secure in his simple dress and
disguised manner, Hale entered the
tavern of the widow Chichester, at 1.-The |
Cedars." A number of persons were in |
the room. A moment afterward, man |
whose face seemed familiar to him, sud- |
denly departed and was not seen again.
Hale passed the night at the tavern, and |
at dawn went to look for the expected
boat. To his great JOY he saw one NOV
ing toward the shore, with several men |
in it. Not doubling they were friends,
he fastened to the beach where he was
istounded by the sight of barge bear !
ing British marines. He turned to flee,
when loud voice called: "Surrender or
lie '" Looking back he saw six men
standing erect, with muskets leveled at
him, He was seized, taken into the |
barge, and conveyed to the British |
Halifax, which was anchored
behind point of wooded land offl
Lloyd's Neck. JOHN.
In a Bath home where there is new
telephone, the head of the household is
charged by his wife with lifting his hat
the first time he heard female voice at
the other end of the wire. But the hus.
band says that it is just a polite habit
and not half as ridiculous as when his
l. 70 tho incfrnnnQnf