NURSE CAVELL

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 10278, 13 May 1919, Page 7

NURSE CAVELL

CHAPLAIN’S STORY OP FAREWELL INTERVIEW.

The Rev. H! S. T. Gahan, of the Colonial and Continental Church Society, who elected to remain in Brussels, with his wife, during the whole period of the war, told the story m London recently, at Eion College, of his last interview with Nurse Cavell in prison. He made her acquaintance first or 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 Butch frontier.

After her arrest, through the services of a German pro-chaplain, Mr Gahan received permission to see Miss Cavell in prison on the night before the death sentence was carried out. He met this chaplain, who remarked; <‘X am sorry to say she is to be shot to-morrow morning 1” . • Mr Gahan continued: “We went to ..the cell door, and it opened, and Miss Cavell stood in the doorway. I had gone 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 better lor the enforced rest. Tho warder withdrew, and wo were not interrupted. “I- remember practically all she said. She was thankful for .the quiet time, as her life had been SUcJr"a‘ rush “and burden and trial in many respects. She was thankful for the complete solitude, especially during the latter part of her imprisonment. She was not sorry to go, for her life had contained so much trial that she was weary beyond endurance.

“ ‘They have treated me very kindly here,’ she said. ‘I expected my sentence, but I am glad to die for my country. In the sight of eternity, 1 know it is not enough to love your own. You must love all and not hate any.’” The little .Communion vessels wero placed on a chair, and after the service Mr Gahan recited “Abide With Me.” “Nurse Cavell joined under her breath softly,” said Mr Gahan, “and we 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 wore face to face. She was looking slightly strained, but nothing more. Wo shook hands and smiled, and i added, ‘We shall meet again. Goodbye!’” • 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 the military governor ot Brussels, who would not wait to communicate with Headquarters.