The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-16
BIG THRONGSAT
EDITH CAVELL'S
TWO FUNERALS
Impressive Services Held in
Westminster Abbey and
Norwich Cathedral.
HIGH OFFICIALS PRESENT
Secretary Lansing at Bier Of
Brave Nurse Slain by Ger
mans in Brussels.
HIGH OFFICIALS PRESENT
Special Cable DespofcA 20 THn Sun.
Copyright. 1919: oil rtohfs reserved.


LONDON, May 15.-As might have De-
cited dead queen the body OF Edith
Cavell was borne to-day to Westminster
Abbey and her memory accorded one of
the most remarkable demonstrations in
the history OF England.
BY their very silence and solemnity
the ceremonies to-day at historic West
minister Abbey, in times of peace, would
have been appropriate to the passing of
a national figure. To-day they assumed
the proportions Of a great nations trib-
ute to a martyred heroine.
Few royal funerals in the past have
upheld ouch weight of sentiment as was
exhibited to-day by British manhood
and womanhood which Joined in a
demonstration OF devotion and reverence
for the memory of the woman who oc-
cupies the foremost place In the hearts
OF Brtons.
England showed to-day that It had not
forgotten the cruelties and barbarinns
committed during the early days of the
war especially during the days when
Edith Cavel as nurse aided and COM
forted British soldiers. then died, after
an unjust trial and verdict at the hands
Of Brtains enemies.
As the coffin, draped with the Union
Jack and covered with red carnations,
was removed from the railway carriage
st Victoria Station and placed upon a
gun carriage low moan rose from the
crowd in the thickly packed streets. The
moan was the wall of nation, but here
and there could be distinguished audi
bic and individual expressions OF real
grief
These died away as the band of the
Guards struck the opening bars of the
Dead March and the military escort
with arms reversed. silently took its
position on either side of the gun car
rage and the procession moved cathe-
dralward.
Under the soft caressing breezes of
spring and the warmth of spring
sun the procession crept forward be-
tween solidly packed lines OF men and
women who bowed reeerently In a sill
ence that was so complete as to be
almost impressive. Throughout the
line of march there was silence, with
here and there devout softly murmured
prayers as men and women drew forth
rosaries and told off their pleas for the
martyr Hundreds of wounded soldiers
were in the crowds, and they and the
army nurses stood stinly at attention,
their eyes filled with tears. Many who
suffered grievous wrongs during the war
wept silently for wounds still bleeding
and for wrongs still unrighted.
A tremendous crowd gathered at the
Abbey. filed the streets and overhung
The galleries. Queen Alexandra at
tended the funerafsand, entered the Alb
hey through lanes of nurses represent
ing the Allied countries, the United
States and all the British colonies. A
party of American soldiers led by a
captain marched into the cathedral as
the choir sang the psalm: Though
walk in the valley of the shadow OF the
death, thou art with me-"
The Coldstream Guards, commanded
b. Col Aston, carried the coffin to the
catafalque before the altar. Relatives
who had accompanied the body from
Dover followed the coffin. while the
choir chanted solemnly. A long ray OF
sunshine that streamed through the
lofty windows fell across the casket as
the soldiers set It down, making a halo
about the rostrum where the dead
woman lay The dean of Westminster
Abbey spoke in words OF glowing tribute
to the dead nurse. and as the bells
toled six soldiers again lifted the coffin
and bore 1t TO the carriage. The pro-
cession then started down the embank'
rnent for the Liverpool street station,
whore the journey was resumed to Nor
witch for the final burial.