The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-07-20


tinct change for the worse, particular
~ in the accelerated pulse. which had
risen TO 81, after remaining for many
days between SIS and 30.
The distinguished patient appeared
TO have lost all of that vitality which
he had hitherto so remarkably main
tanned. He appealed piteOusiy 10 those
about him, asking not TO be left alone.
Although his mental Vigor was nearly
exhausted, he again asked that mass
be celebrated. This was performed in
the room adjoining that in which the
pontin lay. He followed the ceremony
and took communion with extreme diff
ficulty.
In. a State of Torpor.
Almost Immediately he sank into a
state Of complete exhaustion. At first
this took on the character of an IN
natural sleep. and he lay as one imam
innate with his eyes closed. But Occa-
sionally he started up and cried out as
though in fear. Gradually, however.
his sleep became heavier and assumed
a condition Of semi or
torpor. After noon there was hardly
any revival from this continued state
of tOrpor, and the doctors remained
continuously in attendance. Their night
bulletin announced for the first time
that their patient had been in a state
OF coma, which. .hey said, had been
almost uninterrupted during the day
How long this condition would con-
tinue they did not venture to say. As
DR.. Lapponi came from the sick room
at O'Clock this evening for brief
breath OF fresh air, he summed up the
steady decline IN the patents condi-
ton BY saying:
The pOpe's condition tonight IL
" ha Ia s,fe
and. while the end may come at any
moment. yet an immediate catastrophe
Is hardly anticipated. as the state Of
coma may be prolonged many hours"
Rome Excited.
Meantime the critical condition of the
ponriff had caused intense excitement
throughout the city. When the state
Of coma first occurred the doctors for
mally communicated the gravity of She
condition Of his holiness to Cardinal
Rampolla, VINO in turn advised the car
dinals of the sacred college. At the
same time the general public became
aware of the alarming change in the
pope's condition and the entrance 10
the vatican was soon thrOnged with
dlgnitaries of the church and members
of the diplomatic corps, making anx-
tOus inquiries. Twice rumors of the
death Of the pOntiff have gained circu-
UPon their arrival were informed OF
the gravity Of the situation, but many
o them left upon hearing that the ru-
mors Of the pope's death were untrue
Confessors Called In.
The condition Of coma was interrupt
ed shortly after sunset when Cardinal
Yves Y Tuto and Mgr. Pifferi, the pOpe's
ccnfessOr. were Immediately called into
the sick room. When they began to re-
peat Latin prayers the familiar sound
Of the language which Leo XIII loved
so well penetrated to his couch and the
pope seemed reused from his stupor
and showed signs OF consciousness. He
lifted his head. Cardinal Wives Tuto
took advantage Of this condition to ap-
prOach the bed and tell the pope that
some cardinals were in the chamber.
1T is my DESIRE said he, Ito have
your benediction.'
The pope with great effort. raised a
trembling hand and in an almost inau-
dible voice between long Dauses gave
the cardinal the pontifical blessing.
The effort, however, appeared to have
been too much for him and he fell back
into a condition of Inconsistencies.
Cardinals in Readiness.
Among the cardinals who came TO the
vatican today was Cardinal Oreglia OF
the sacred college. upon whom will fall
the chief duty of directing affairs when
the pOpe's death occurs. He went to
the apartments which have already
been prepared for his residence at the
Continued on PAGE Two(