The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1903-07-22
PASSED INTO ETERNITY.
Final Scenes In Aged Pontiff S
Death Chamber.


Court and His Nephews-Prepara.
tions For Funeral and Election Of
His Successor.
Rome, July 21.-The final scene in
the death chamber of the pope was
profoundly impressive. The pcpe's
death having been expected since
noon, his deathbed was surrounded
by practically all the members of the
sacred college now in Rome and the
whole papal court, while the pontiff' s
nephews remained in the papal library
until they received word from the
! doctors which announced that his last
expiring breath was approaching. Then
they moved silently within the death
chamber, some standing, some kneel-
ing, all awaiting the awful moment
of dissolution.
In the ante-chamber had assembled
DIE high ecclesiastics, members of the
diplomatic corps and representatives
of papal aristccracy, awaiting the an
nouncement that the final moment had
come.
Profound silence reigned in the
popes bedroom, only broken by the
doctors rising to render their expiring
patient more comfortable, by the sobs
of the ever-faithful valet, Pho Contra,
or the murmured prayers of Mgr.
Pifferi, the papal confessor, himself
"a years CT age, who had to be as
sisted to the bed side
Softly he recited the prayers for the
| dying, the pontlff at one moment ap-
pearing to follow them as though
conscious of what was transpiring, but
he could net speak. Then the dying
pope murmured something to himself
in which those bending over him
heard the words: Father" and
Mother"
DR.. Lapponi, who almost constantly
had his fingers on the pope's pulse,
felt it grow gradually weaker and
|
tiff's eXtremities began to get cold,
| his lips became blue, his eyes sank
more deeply into his head, his breath
| ing became even more difficult and
there were strange ratings in his
| throat.
His Last Benedcton.
Finally the POPE was asked to bless
his nephewS and all the others pres
ent. He attempted to raise himself
and the extreme emaciation of his per.
| son, covered with a fine night shirt,
was rendered more pronounced by the
surroundings. The portieres dividing
the door were drawn back to the ut
most, to admit as much air as possible,
while the light filtering through the
green shades of the window rendered
his sunken eyes and shrunken features
absolutely ghastly.
1t was most solemn moment. The
head of the pontiff, with its white skull
cap, no whittier than the fringe of sill
very hair, rising above the crimson
| coverlet, his hand raised in the famil
lar gesture of benediction, the kneel-
ing assemblage being too earnestly alb.
sorbed in deep affliction, veneration
and weeping to even make a move.
ment.
The doctors again examined the dy-
ing holy father, and this time found
that he was at the extreme limit of his
powers of respiration. His eyes began
to become dull and clouded and Leo
XIII entered into the real agony of
death, which was recognized by all
present kneelng.
The last conscious act of the pontiff
was to turn his eyes towards the
great crucfix during which he passed
away.
Then the silence of the awe-stricken
assemblage was broken by the sonor-
Gus, solemn voice of Cardinal Serafino
Yannutelli, the grand penitentiary, in
toning the requiem aeternam crest
eternaD.
This was the signal for an outburst
of tears and the sound Of weeping
which could no longer be repressed, all
the kneeling prelates and others kiss
ing the dead hand-that hand which
had dispensed so many benefits, chari-
ties and benedictions
Outside the death chamber expecta-
ton was intense, but the sight of the
sorrowing faces of those leaving tAe
room was sufficient without words to
spread the sad news. which was not
long in spreading throughout Rome.
Chanting of Franciscan Monks.
The occurrences in the death cham
Der Immediately following the pope's
demise were of impressive solemnity.
Couriers had been dispatched to sum-
mon those who are delegated to per-
form the first religious offices toward
the dead pope and soon the chanting of
the Franciscan monks was heard as,
two by two, in coarse brown habits
and with sandled feet, they proceeded
to the room in which Leo lay dead.
From time immemoral the Fran
ciscans have been penitentiaries of st.
Peters. Following them came the
Noble Guard, to watch over the pom
tiffs remains, the brilliancy of their
uniforms contrasting strikingly with
the sombre attire of the quantity
garbed monks and the solemn dignity
Of the chamber itself. The only sound
heard was the measured chanting Of
the psalms of penitence by group of
monks kneeling beside the couch OF
death. Two Noble Guards took up po-
sitions at the foot of the couch and