The Topeka state journal., 1919-05-15
British Capital MOurns Today
for Edith CaVeIl.
Impressive Services for Martyr
Nurse at Westminster Abbey.
UNION JACK DRAPES COFFIN
Solemn ThrOngs Line Streets
and Fill Abbey's Pews.
'Abide With Me-" Edith CavelI's
FavOrite Hymn, Sung Again.

=
London. May 15.-The capital of
the British empire mourned today for
Edith Cavell. the heroic nurse muir
dered by the Germans in Brussels in
1915.
Her body. exhumed from the place
where the Germans buried it, was re-
ceived with impressive military hon
ors at Victoria station this morning.
After ser1. .os at Westminster Abbey
the body was taken to her native
town, Norwich, for interment.
Crowds Block Streets.
Crowds blocked the approaches to
Victoria station as the hour Approach-
ed for the arrival of the special train
from Dover bearing the casket. The
throngs were quiet solemn. An
escort of honor of grenadier guards
was drawn UP at the entrance to the
stati n. the mems heads bowed, their
rifles reversed.
The coach containing the coffin was
draped in purple. As the pallbearers
appeared with their honored burden
there was a sharp command, a rattle
of arms, and the troops came to sa-
lutte.
The casket was plain oak with
brass plate inscribed:
Edith Cavell. born December 4,
1865; died october II, 1915"
Drapcd With Union Jack.
1t was dTaped with the Union Jack.
Thru a lane of soldiers standing
stiftly at attention, the pallbearerS
paced slowly to a battle Scared gun
carriage, which once belonged to Com
pany l., the heroes of the battle of
lie Cateau. The coffin was placed on
this historic carriage and six black
Il G1p pytr1N- n I n var lie Of
the guard into view of thousands
nassed in the streets sAll hats were
DOTTED. There was a rumble of drums
and a military band sounded the
mournful strains of Chopin's funeral
march. Vast, silent crowds lined the
route to the Abbey and thousands of
soldiers were drawn up on both sides
of the streets, standing with guns re-
versed. heads bowed.
At Westminster Abbey as the flag
draped coffin was borne into the lofty
nave, amid the tombs of kings, it
was received by the clergy, chanting
the burial service. Behind the pro-
fession of ministers a-4d dignitaries of
the church, the coffin was carried up
the aisle to the altar while the voices
Of men and boys chanted: "The Lord
Is Ny Shepherd. Shall Not Want"
"Abidc With Me" Sung.
The hymn, Il Heard a Voice From
Heaven was sung, and then abide
with Me" Edith Cavells favorite,
which she asked to have sung in the
evening before her death when she
was waiting to be led out to face a
German firing squad.
As the last notes of the hymn died
away, there was moment of silence,
then the thunder of the massed drums
of the guards band and the Dead
b. March" from Saul filled the Abbey
with sound. During the dirge many of
the people, who filled every pew in the
historic Abbey, wept.
The grandeur of the dead march"
and the drums throbbed to conclu-
sion and there was another moment of
stiffness, broken by the clamor of
many bugles and the tones of last
post echoed and re-echoed thru the
At the conclusion of the service. the
trumpeters sounded reveille briskly
and cheerfully.
Secretary Lansing Present.
Among those in the Abbey were
eight members of the Cavell family;
the Count De La Laing, representing
Belgium; Dowager Queen Alexandria =:
the Earl of Athlone, representing King
George; Secretary of State Lansing
and Mrs. Lansing and American Am
bassador and Mrs. Davis.
The cortege reformed and marched
thru Liverpool street to the railway
station, where the casket was placed
on the train to be taken to Norwich.
Liverpool street also was thronged
with spectators.
The casket was again placed on a
, gun carriage at Norwich and drawn
slowly thru the streets, the procession
led by a group of Red Cross nurses
laden with flowers. The cortege pass
ed the Cavell monument draped in
mourning. At the cathedral, the bish-
op of Norwich met the procession and
officiated at the services, which were
even more impressive than those in
London, due to the fact that among
the mourners were many persons who
knew Edith Cavell intimately The
cathedral was overflowing with flora
tributes and as Chopin's funera'
march was played and the last post
again sounded by the buglers much
emotion was manifested. Sobs were
heard as the music died away
The lord mayor and city officials
were present at the interment wit.
messed by close friends and relative.
of the martyred nurse. and a guard o.
picked soldiers, who escorted the bod,
to the grave side