Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1903-07-20
DEATH OF LEO XIII.

received IN IOnuOn from nlSh OinOiAi
at Rome, that the Pope expired at
1910. The telegram is not confirmed.
London, July 20.-rhe Central News
sends out Rome dispatch timed 2:l5,
which says San hour ago the Pope
had terrible fs of coughing, and them
collapsed. A slight rally followed, but
death is momentarily expected"
Rome. July 20.-All the cardinals
have been summed to the Vatican.
This is a strong indication that the end
is approaching. rbo
Rome, July 20.-11:3O a. m:-Ine
holy sacrament was exposed,a t st. Peters
this morning. As this was generally
considered as sign that the final agony
has commenced, new alarm spread
through the city.
Rome, July 20, 1890 P. m.-Car,
dinal Ser6nao Vanutelli, the grand
penitentiary, has entered the paPal
chamber for the purpose Of giving the
Pope absolution in articulo mortis.
Rome. July 20.-Oficial bulletin
regarding the Pope's condition issued
by his physician this morning is very
laconic, giving but little information out
side of the fact that his condition con-
tinues grave.
Rome, July 2O.--1 p. m. The fol-
lowing semi-ofiicial medical statement
has been obtained by your correspondent
from the Vatican: "The pope is in
agonyor fevre agoni' which even his ply
siciansare unable to define scientifically.
The possibilities are that the pope may
last some time, even days, but the prob
ability is that this is the last day."
Rome, July 20, 1:45 p. MT is re-
ported that the final stage in the Pope 8
illness and entered upon at one o'clock
this afternoon. This is expected to last
some hours, perhaps into the evening.
Rome, July 20, 2:10.-The govern
ment has Just facetiously announced that
telegraph pole has fallen and that there
will be great delay on all messages.
This means that they are getting ready
to place an embargo upon kilograms and
that the government has reason to be-
ieve that dissolution is close at hand.
London, July 20.-A despatch to the
Exchange Telegraph Company from
Rome timed, 2:l5 p. m. say that Prof.
Mazzoni arrived hurriedly at the Vatican
and that it was considered that the pope's
death was then imminent.
Rome, July 20.-A special extra OF
the Newspaper Capitale, issued at 2;SO
D. M, states that the Pope has breathed
his last. The report could not be con-
firmed. Another street rumor has il
that the pontiff was thought to be dead,
but that he was again revived.
Rome July 20. 3:45 p. m.-False
alarms with apparent official sanction
have been coming from the Vatican with
rapid succession this afternoon. All, how
ever, have been denied.
London July 2O.-The announcement
has just been made here that the Pope
is dead
Rome, Julya20.-Pope Leo Kill is
dead. Announcement OF the fact was
made officially to the correspondents by
| the Italian Government
Rome, July 20.-The Pope died at
$3.50 this afternoon.
As the Pope lay dying the peniten-
tiaries who had been summoned to per-
form thier final Office, gathered about the
dying prelate's bedside, recited prayers
interceding for the soul of the passing
christian, and quoted verses from the
gospels giving the story of Christ's pas
sion, this last as the heart finally stop
ped. After the death, the doc.
tors waited some minutes. Then
they applied the usual death tests.
Finding that his holiness had passed
away, they notified Cardinal Ram
polla, who is filling the capacity
of project of the palace, that the pontif
was dead. He, in turn, informed Cardi'
nal Camerlengo of the Holy See. Greg
liza was conducted to the papal apart
ment by the head chamberlain, the
apostolic notary, and the physicians.
On arriving at the bed chamber Cardinal
Oreglia Knocked three times on the door,
and, receiving no response, he entered
and approached the corpse. Taking a
small silver mallet, he lightly struck the
Pope's forehead thrice, and thrice called
him by name. There being no answer,
the cardinal removed from the Pope's
finger, the "anulo piscatOrio, "'or fish
erman's ring" the sign OF papal author
ity, and then formally declared Pope
Leo XIII. dead. From the moment he
removed the ring, Cardinal Oreglia be-
came the executive officer of the Holy
See and the depositary of IT'S temporal
power.
The cardinals will meet shortly, and
will elect three of their body to dis
charge the duties of the government of
the Holy See during the interregnum.
Soon the big bells ofSt. Peters doomed,
tolling the sad news, being soon followed
by the mournful chorus of all the church
bells in Rome. The tolling of the bells
apprised the people of the death, and
crowds hurried toward St. Peters.
The dead Pope's body, clothed in
pontifcal robes, was laid on a couch
covered with scarlet brocade, while two
of the Noble Guard with the points of
their drawn swords resting on the floor
stood watch.
Tomorrow the Pope's body will be
opened and embalmed, the intestines be-
ing placed in an urn tor immediate
burial. Then the deceased pontiff, dress
ed in cassock, surplice, and woollen
cap, will be carried to the Consistory
Hall, to be visited by the cardinals,
ambassadors and the members of the
papal court. At the end of this cere-
mony, he will be dressed in full pontif-
ical robes, removed TO the Sistine