The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-07-16
THE POPE'S ILLNESS
I
Leo Thirteenth Holds His 0Wa at the
Close Ct First Weeks Illness
HIS LAST HOUR HAS not COME
The Manner In Which a Successor to
the Pope VIII Be Chosen Many
Candidates Seek Election,

1 Rome, Dy SdUlc.- ~ ~
the Pope's serious illness closed with
his condition practically unchanged.
Two operations have been performed,
and for a man Of "a years he has stood
the strain of dangerous illness remark
ably we'll. Two Of his most devoted at
tendants have died during the week
from the constant watching at his bed
side. The world has watched his sick
ness with expectancy, hourly looking
for his death. The bulletins OF Satur-
day give the following account OF his
condition:
A general feeling Of tranquility
marked the day in Rome yesterday,
due to widespread belief, that though
the Pope's days are numbered his hour
has not yet come.
The news Of Friday mornings OPP
Grafton sent cardinals and ambassa-
doris driving hurriedly to the Vatican
OF the former, relieved only by Gimp
ses. The sombre black carriages and
horses of the scarlet robes worn by tiny
pale faced occupants, contrasted
strangely with the brilliant ~equirages
OF the ambassadors. Outside St. Peters
the ordinary visitors hurried past the
guards and assembled the staircase lead
ing to the inner court Of the Vatican.
The sun beat fiercly on the plain
white shutters which shelter the Pope's
room, and all eyes were turned to-
wards them. Compared with the mag
nifcence below, with the bewilderin9
colors Of the papal court, and the rich
attire Of the guards, the shattered win
dows are pe~asant-like in their simplic-
ity. Another window caught the eye.
This was open and the sun streamed IN
on RaphaeTs priceless frescoes and lit
up the great marble portico. Within
there" said a papel attendant, the
rooms are all ready for Oreglia, the
cardinal deacon, who will reign during
the inte-regnum." The same grim pre-
paration Is apparent on all sides. Count
Pecci, a nephew Of the dying Pope,
wearing a straw hat and 1annels, sat
in the fire engine house opposite the
private entrance to the Vatican chat
ting with the firemen. Carriage after
carriage drove into the court. All the
cardinals and countless bishops and
| priests came to await the bulletin. A
small crowd Of men, women and chill
dren of all descriptions besieged the
door where the news was to be given
out.
From the castle of St. Angelo came
the boom Of the midday gun and then
tho palatine guard gave the signal for
| the anxious crowd to be admitted.
/ Passing through the corridor each re-
| ceived a slip of white paper on which
the morning bulletin was already
printed. Intently reading these papers,
the crowd filed out through another
door past the armed guard and into
the quiet streets. During the remain
der of the day but few sought the Vat
/ lean Then came the night bulletin and
far larger crowds than had gathered
during the day wandered to the Vati-
can in the cool of the evening. The
! Swiss Guards had received Instructions
only to admit a small portion Of the
ipquirers prior to the printing OF the
bulletin, and even this restricted num-
Der almost filed the court Of the Vat
lean while many waited in suspense on
the steps Of St. Peters.
The Successor.
In the event Of the Pope's death his
Office will be flied by Oreglio the
resident cardinal Deacon for fifteen
days, when an election will be held
by the college Of Cardinals. The cleo
tion will then be entered into, and the
candidate who is chosen as the future
Pope must receive q two-thirds ma
jority. A number Of Cardinals are al
ready avowed candidates for the papal
tiara. The prospects are that the sue
cessful candidate will be an Italian
In this connection tie following Is
given:
The Pope's end being near, public
attention is almost exclusively con-
centrated on his possible successor,
and the movements Of the cardinals
are closely watched. Several Of them
have visited Cardinal Gotti, Project Of
the Sacred Congregation Of Bishops
and Regulars and Of Regular Dis
cipline. Gotti, in the first ballotings
IN the Conclave, Will have many votes,
but certainly no THE two-thirds ma
tority necessary to elect, because
there is a strong party in the Vannu-
telli and Rampolla groups, about ten
In number, will vote against him.
The attitude Of Cardinal Francis
Satolli, Project Of the CONGREGATION Of
Studies. and formerly papal delegate
at Washington, in this wholesale can
wasting attracts attention. He lives q
retired life, avoids meeting his col
leagues, and only goes to the Vatican
when it is absolutely necessary. He
is evidently posing as a neutral on
whom the majority may fall il the con-
ficting factions become tired. Cardi-
nal Satolli has no enemies in the.
Sacred College, and is Of the most r4
spectable antecedents. The foregoing
are the current who will vote against
him.