NURSE CAVELL'S LAST MOMENTS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 228, 20 June 1919, Page 7

NURSE CAVELL'S LAST MOMENTS

CHAPLAIN'S STORY OF HIS I'ABEWELL INTERVIEW. The Rev. H. S. T. Gahan, of the Colonial and Continental Church Society, who elected to remain in Brusstls, with bis wife, during the whole period of the war, told the story recently of his Inst interview with Nurse .Cavell : in prison. He made her acquaintance first of all, he said, in the nursing home, which Nurse Cavell had made a rendezvous for British and Belgian soldiers, who were assisted to escape across the Dutch frontier. After her arrest, through the services of a. German. Protestant chaplain, Mr. Gahan leceived permission to see Miss Cavell in prison on the night before the death- sentence was carried out. He met this chaplain, who remarked: "I ant sorry to fay she is to be shot to-morrow morning!" 'Mr. Gahan continued: "Wo went to tho cell door, aud it opened, and Miss Cavell stood in the doorway. I Lad prepared for a very trying scene. There stood my friend—looking calmly. sweet as anyone could look.. She. was collected and unchanged, except that she appeared bet, tcr for the enforced rest, The warder withdrew, and we were not interrupted. "I. remember practically all she said. She was thankful for the quiet I time, as her lifo had been s;wh. a rush and burden and trial in many respects. She v,as thankful for tho complete solitude, especially during the latter part of her imprisonment. She was not sorry to- g/>, for her life had contained, f:o much trial that she was weary beyond endurance. "'They have treated mo very kindly here,' she said. 'I expected my sentence, but I am glad to die for my country. ;In itlio sight of eternity, I know now it is not enough to love your own. You must lovo all not hate any.'" .

The little Communion vessels were placed on a chair, ami after the service Mr. Gahan recited "Abido with- me." "Nurse Cavell joined under her breath softly," said Mr. Gahan, "and wo said it through together, all but one verse, Then I felt I must not stay much longer, for I had been there an hour. I stood up and said 'Good-bye,' and we v/ero face to-face. She was looking slightly strained, but nothing more. AVe shook hands and smiled, and I added, 'We c-liall meet again. Good-bye!'" Mr. Gahan stated that the sentence was carried out next morning on'the National Rifle Range, Brussels. The great crime of hurrying the execution belonged -to tho Military Governor of Brussels, who would not wait to communicate with Headquarters. '