New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-30
The Last Hours of Edith CaueA
By Hugh Gibson
From The Worlds Work for October

cared for their interests; how during the
siege Of Antwerp / had repeatedly crossed
the lines during actual fighting at the re-
quest OF Field Marshal Won der Goltz to look
after German interests; how all this service
had been rendered gladly and without
thought Of reward; that since the beginning
Of the war we had never asked favor Of the
German authorities, and it seemed incredible
tia. they should now decline to grant Us even
I days delay to discuss the case of poor
woman who was, by her Imprisonment, pre-
voted from doing further harm, and whose
execution in the middle Of the night a. the
conclusion Of course Of trichery and deep
ton was nothing short of an afFrort 70 civili-
zatlon. Even when | was ready 10 abandon
ali hope, De Leval was unable 70 believe that
the German authorities would persist in their
decision, and appealed most tOuchinsly and
feclingly to the sense of pity for which We
Looked in vain.
Our efforts were perfectly useless, how
ever, as the three men with whom we lad to
deal were so completely calloUs and indfer-
ent that they were in 10 way moved by any
thing that we could say.
The Night of the Execution
We did not stop until after midnight. when
it was only too clear that there was no hope.
It was a bitter business leaving the place
feeling that we had failed and that the little
woman was to be led out before a firing
squad within few hours. But il was worse
to go back TO the legation 20 the little group
,, English women who were waiting in my
Office TO learn the result OF our visit They
rad been there for nearly four hours while
Mrs. Whtlock and Miss Lacner sat with
them and tried 70 sustain them through the
hours of waiting. There were Mrs. Gahsn,
wife of the English chaplain; Miss b. and
several nurses from Miss Csvells school.
One was a little wisp of thing who had
been mothered by Miss Cavell, and was near
iy beside herself with grief. There was no
way of breaking the news TO them gently, for
they could read the answer in our faces
VIXEN we came in. All we could do was TO
give them each stiff drink Of sherry and
send them home. De Leval was white as
death and | took him back to his house. |
had a splitting headache myself and could
not face the idea of going to bed. went
home and read for awhile, but that was no
good, so | went out and walked the streets,
mrch TO the annoyance Of German patrols.
| rang the bells of several houses in des-
perate desire TO talk to somebody, but could
not find soul-only sleepy and disgrunt!ed
servants. It was night / should not Ike 70
60 through again, but it wore through some
how, and braced up with cold bath and
went to the legation for the days work.
The day brought forth another loathsome
fact in connection with the case. j, seems
the sentence on Miss Cavell was not pro
notr ccd IN open court. Her executioners, APP
rdrcntiy in the hope Of concesling their in
tcntions from US, went into her cell, and
there, behind locked door, pronounced SEN
toncc uIon her. 1t is all of piece with the
ether things they have done.
On October IL Mr.. Gahan got pass and WAS
atInitted to see Miss Cavel shortly before
she was taken out and shot. he said she Was
calm and prepared and faced the ordeal with
out tremor. She was tiny thing that
looked as though she could be blown away
with breath, but she had a gres. spirit
Sre told Mr. Gahan that soldiers had come
- hen and asked 10 be helped to the from
tor; that, knowing the risks they ran and
tie risks she took, she had helped them. She
s'ld she had nothing to regret, no complaint
- make, and that II she had II all TO do
ever again she would change nothing
They partook together Of tho Holy Com
Elunion, and she who had SO little need OF
pref aratiOn was prepared for death. She was
free from resentment and said: ~ realize
that patriotism is not enough. I must have
n" hatred or bitterness toward any one"
She was taken out and shot before day
bleak
She was denied the support OF her own
Clergyman at the end but German military
c,sr lain stayed with her and gave her burial
within the precincts Of the prison. He did
ut conceal his admiration, and said: "Sse
vas courageous to the end. She professsd
her Christian faith and said that she was
glad to die for her country. She died Ike 8
heroine"