San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1878-03-16
Caring for the Dead Pope.

ROME, February 10.-At o'clock
yesterday afternoon the corpse Of the
late Pontiff was removed from the iron
bedstead on which he died, vested in
full pontifcals, and placed upon bier.
A golden inter was upon the head, the
hands were crossed, and crucifix was
to be seen upon the breast. The fea-
lures were calm, the lips closed, and
upon the face appeared that smile which
in life gave so singular charm to the
conversation of Plus TX. At half-past
five the body was ready for transport.
The e-chambers were crowded with
Princes, gentlemen of rank, noble
guards, and privy chamberlains, the
entrance being rigidly restricted to
those personages holding position in the
Papal court. A few Cardinals came to
see the corpse and knelt in prayer.
Bishop Clifford was amongst the visit
ors, and Cardinal Bartolini, after kiss
ing the forehead of the deceased Pope,
sobbed aloud. ''.''i; .
About 6 80 the procession began to
move. Between files Of Swiss Guards
marched the palafrenieri in red liveries,
with clergy bearing torches. Then came
mace-bearers and detachment Of Swiss
Guards preceding the bier, which was
surrounded by Noble Guards and Peni-
tentiaries with torches. Monsignor
Ricci (majordomo) followed. and then
came Monsignor Macchi (maestro di
camera), Monsignor Sanmimatelli (al-
moner), Monsignori Negrotto, Casali,
Di Bosogno and Della Volpe (privy
champerlain), Bishop Marinelli (sacris-
tan), Monsignori Vanuentelli and Sac
chetti (foriere), and Serlupi (master of
the horse), Duke Cattelvecchi, Prince
Altieri, and other officers of the Noble
Guards; Cardinals, two and two, with
torches, reciting psalms; Prince Orsini
(prince assistant at the .throne), Prince
Chigi (marechal of the Conclave, in a
black robe), Prince Ruspoli (master of
the sacred hospice), and Signor Caval-
lett (Senator of Romeo. After these
walked Princes, Mobiles and Camerieri
Segretti, wearing their collars and
orders, detachment of Palatine Guards
terminating the procession. ....I d.
The sad cortege passed through the
ample halls and corridors of the Vati-
can, the Sala Ducale and the Sala Re-
gia, some ladies and gentlemen, by
special favor, being permitted to stand
in the passages TO view the proceedings.
The Basilica had been closed at 5
O'Clock, and at Z the body was brought
into the Chapel Of the Sacrament by
private access, being received by the
Chapter of St. Peters. The corpse was
placed on platform erected in front of
the altar, with the feet toward the gates.
Prayers were sung by the choir of the
Cappella Guila, and Canon Folicaldi
performed the dissolution. Cardinals
and all now withdrew, leaving the re-
mains of the Pope in the custody of the
Noble Guard.
st. Peters was reopened at 6 80 to-
day, and immense crowds thronged in
to look up the body, which will remain
for three days in the Chapel of the Sac
rament.
The embalming began at 8 o'clock on
Friday evening, and was finished at
4:30 yesterday morning. DR.. Cocoa
relli and eight assistant medical men
performed the operation. All the bodi-
ly organs were found to be perfectly
sound except the heart, portion of
which showed some slight signs of thick
ening of the walls, tending to cause
an impeachment to the circulation. The
flesh of the body had no appearance of
emaciation, and the skin was white and
healthy. The legs bore marks of the
wounds whence the humors had free ex-
it to the last. The viscera was careful
ly removed and deposited in jar, which
was closed up by the Polish Penitentiary
with seal supplied by the majordomo.
The operation was conducted in the
presence of the Noble Guards and the
Penitentiaries, the corpse lying on the
iron. bedstead alluded to above. The
process of injection was employed, and
was attended with perfect success, the
windows of the room being opened to
purify the atmosphere loaded with the
odors of the powerful aromatics made
use Of Photographs were taken of the
corpse before the embalming took place,
and q nnrtrait sketch was made of il by