Hale’s ‘only regret’ a noble one

•On Sept. 22, 1776, Nathan Hale, a Connecticut schoolteacher and captain in the Continental Army, is executed by the British for spying. Before being hanged, legend holds that Hale said, “I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.”

•On Sept. 21, 1866, H.G. Wells, a pioneer of science fiction, is born in Bromley, England. His classic novel “The Time Machine” (1895), about a man who journeys to the future, was a success, as was “The War of the Worlds” (1898).

•On Sept. 19, 1900, Robert Parker and Harry Longbaugh, better known as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, rob the First National Bank in Winnemucca, Nev., marking the first time that the duo worked as a team.

•On Sept. 23, 1930, R&B pioneer Ray Charles is born. Ray Charles (Robinson) broke ground by fusing gospel with blues and other secular musical styles. He went on to score a number of successes, including his hit song “Georgia On My Mind.”