Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1903-07-15
POPE LEO is DYING.
Close of the Life of Venerable Pre-
late Is Near.
He EeaIizes His Condition and Calm
Iy Awaits the Ead-Last Sacra-
ments Administered His
Mind Is Clear.

full vitality of the remarka BILE old man is
combating a complication of diseases
which would endanger strong man in
the prime of life.
The prevailing sentiment Of those adj
mitted nearest to the sufferer is that his
life is gradually ebbing away, but
whether the final agony will be matter
of hours or of days neither the doctors
nor his nearest friends can tell
Throughout Wednesday the reports
from the sick room alternated with fears
and hopes. At times rumors of the grav-
est character gained currency. Out of
the mass Of contradictory reports the
essential features of the pope's actual
condition are indicated in the bulletins
issued at 9: As Wednesday morning and
at 8:15 in the evening, bearing the sig
| natures of the two attending doctors.
The early bulletin was nOticeably free
from technical language. During the
night the pope had secured but little re-
| freshing sleep, and with this sleepless-
ness was augmented depression. The
difficulty in breathing had increased and
a arrangement of the kidneys began to
| seriously manifest Itself
Have Little Hope of Recovery.
The official bulletin was supplemented
in the course Of personal conversation,
in which they showed that they enter
tanned scarcely any hopes of recovery.
Yet they always qualified their state
ments, setting forth the remarkable con-
stitutional strength and indomitable
energy of the patient as the most strik-
ing evidence of his almost superhuman
will. They instanced the dying mans
leaving his bed during the morning and
taking several steps, unaided, save by a
cane, to an armchair
| Mind Is Clear.
| These seemingly last moments of
Pope Leo are full Of solemnity. Perhaps
his last hours would be less melancholy
! and sad if the august sufferer were less
conscious Of the circumstances and his
mind less clear as to the duration of
time remaining to him before he enters
eternity Although his physical powers
are at the lowest ebb and his breathing
becomes more Iabored, the pope's mind
| is clear, as is manifest to all around him
by his bright expressive eyes and the few
words he now and then succeeds in ut
| tering.
Shortly after 10 Monday night the
pontiff received the extreme junction.
| At o'clock his condition seemed so
hopeless that only short time appar-
| eEtly remained before he would glide
| into his last sleep. At DR.. Lapponi's mi
tiative hasty consultation of the popes
relatives, Cardinal Rampolla and other
eccelesiastics was held, and it was de-
| cided that extreme JUNCTION should be
| given. The pontiff received the an
nouncement with his usual caImness,
and, though scarcely able to speak audi
| bly,, he said he knew his time had come
and he was ready to appear before the
| sublime tribunal with fulT trust in the
| Divine mercy. MOnsignor Pifferi, Pope
| Leo's cOnfessor, administered the ex-
! IRENE JUNCTION, and when the ceremony
was over his holiness sank back on the,
pillow with apparent great relief that
all was done and that he was entering
into rest after his long pilgrimage.
Shows Improvement.
Rome, July 11.-At nine p. N. the
| 1OllOW1uS OlllC1dl UuiIcIlu, SlSu6u NY all
of the pope's physicians, was issued:
During the day his holiness had
hours Of rest, without suffering His
pulse maintains its frequency and
force. This morning, after the opera
ton, his pulsation was 90, his respira-
ton %, and his temperature So cent?
grade. The kidneys continue function
ally deficient. His general state is sta
tionary."
The pope at 2:10 this Saturday
morning awoke much refreshed from
a sleep which lasted two hours. After
awakening the pontiff became restless,
and dose Of choral was administered
Rome, July 1.-THE pope's marvel
=! our vitality still permits him to main
tain his struggle against death, al
though portion of the night was passed
in sleepless waiting. He greeted his
doctors Friday morning with hopeful
/ expressions It was decided to perform
another operation, which was executed
by DR.. MaZzOni, assisted by DR.. Lapponi.
The patient was visibly relieved and
soon after arose, sat in his armchair
and read his favorite Latin poet, Horace
Speculation Regarding Successor
In the provinces so firmly rooted has
become the conviction that the pope will
not recover, that the discussion concern
ing his successor is almost superseding
| in general interest the details of the
pontiff's illness. Betting goes on with
great animation, each cardinal having
his fervid admirers.
Those most frequently mentioned as
! likely to be the next occupant of the
papal throne are Cardinals Oreglia, Gotti
and Rampolla, but Cardinals AgIiardi.
Serainio, Vannutel-i and Ferrari press
them hard in public favor
To Meet in Los Angeles.
Los Angeles, Cal, July Sat a meet
ing Of the local committee and the com
nlittee sent here by the book committee