The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1907-07-03

dfately enlisted IN the army OF indie
pendence, y serving until his death at
the earlyiage Of twenty -one years and
three months.
So far as history has been able to de-
tach itself' from hearsay and make a
reliable chronicle, we have, neverthe-
less, a fairly satisfactory narrative Of
Hale's martyrdom. 1t is known that
he served with the body of patriot sol.
diery called Knowlton's rangers on
. Long Island and Manhattan Island.
After Washington's defeat at the bat.
tie of Long Island and his retreat
across the East river to the northern
part Of Manhattan Island Lord Howe
took possession Of New York city and
strongly intrenched himself. General
Washington was sorely depressed. His
forces were weakened by losses in bat
tie and from disease and by assertions.
He knew but little of the strength and
disposition Of the British forces. 1t
was highly important to learn some
thing, and accordingly he called for a
man Of intelligence to volunteer to en-
ter the enemy's lines and acquire the
information desired. Young Captain
Nathan Hale, college graduate and
schoolteacher, presented himself to
Colonel Knowlton against the advice
Of his brother officers. He knew we'll
that his capture meant his speedy
hanging as spy.
Hale left the American army camp
above Harlem heights and proceeded
to NorwAlk, Conn, where he disguised
himself as schoolmaster. Then he
passed into the British lines and spent
two weeks studying the Notifications
ind the general disposition Of forces,
making drawings and jotting down val
liable data in Latin. The drawings and
ether data he concealed between the
soles of his shoes. He visited the enc
my's forces both on Long Island and
Manhattan Island, in the city Of New
York.
At last he was ready to return to his
own army and lay his information be-
fore the commander in chief. At Hunt
ington, N. Y, She was to embark in a
small boat. 1t appears that through
error he took passage in boat from
| a British vessel, believing it in the
darkness of the night to be the one
which his friends were to send for
him.
At any rate, he was captured there
that night, Sept. 21, and was taken
| over to Lord Howe's headquarters, the
Needham mansion, which was located
! about where Forty-frst street and
| First avenue intersect in the present
city Of New York. His papers were
discovered. Lord Howe, after brief
pafley, during which Hale freely adj
| mitted that he was a captain in Wash
ington's army and had entered the lines
| to get information, ordered his provost
| marshal, one Cunningham, to take the
prisoner in custody for the night and
hang him at daybreak next morning.
Hale was hanged, presumably from
| the limb Of a tree, and his body was
buried at once. During the night he
| wrote three letters-to~his mother, his
sister and the young woman to whom
he was to have been married. These
letters he handed to Cunningham with
the request" that they be sent to the
addresses when convenient Cunning
ham read them and tore them up In the
presence Of the prisoner. But for this
| miserable and Infamous act our litera-
ture and history might now be enrich
ed with the last messages of love from
the splendid youth who has become by
| universal consent the epiton1c of indie
Dendence martyrdOm