The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-07-21
SCENES AT THE DEATH BED
Secret Family Noble Family and Per
 sonal Family Gather Around the Dying Pontiff.

| Rome, July 20-The whole day was one | of continual emotion, one depressing scene , following another. When 1t became | known shortly before 1 D. m. that the Pope's journey through the valley Of
 death was almost finished. Cardinal Van | nutelli hurried again to his bedside, and
 was followed shortly aftcrward by what
 is called in Vatican phraseology, the Pa | pal secret family" and the noble fam | fly" besides the personal family in-
 cluding the late Pope's nephews, Comtes | Ludovico, Ricardo and Camille. and also
 all the cardinals at the Vatican. who af- | rewards retired to the adjoining library
 after they had been allowed to kiss the | Pontln's hand and pass along, present. | ing another of those pictures which will | live in the memory of all those participat- | ing in it.
 The aged Pontiff was lying prone and
 unconscious. propped up to assist him in l breathing, one hand laid on the red silk | ooverlet, the. heavy pontifical ring being | in danger of falling from the shrunken finger, while the other hand clutched his | rosary and crucifix. Though he was en- l tirely unconscious. gleams of intelligence | seemed to flicker across the worn face and | the shadow of smile fell on the pallid | lips when his nephews passed and rev. | hand No word was spoken. The
 only sound which broke the silence of
 the death room was the rattle of the arms
 of the Noble Guard. who were stationed
 at every door of the pontiff's private | apartments, it being their privilege and
 right under the circumstances to take possession of the apartments and guard
 the body of the Pope.
 The Final Scene.
 The final scene in the death chamber
 was profoundly impressive The Pope s ! death having been expected since noon.
 his death bed was surrounded by practi- cally all the members of the sacred col | ege now in Rome and the whole papal
 court. while the pontiff's nephews re-
 mained in the papal library until they
 received word from the soldiers when | they announced his let expiring breath
 was approaching. They then moved
 silently into the death chamoer some | standing, some kneeing, all awaiting the | moment of dissolution. In the ante ! chamber. had assembled the high eccle- | siasts, members of the diplomatic corps
 and representatives of the papa arsto- cracy. awaiting the announcement that l they had come. Profound silence reigned | in the Pope's room. broken only by the 1 doctors rising to render their expiring | patient more comfortable. by the sobs | of the ever-faithful valet, Pic Centra, or | the murmured prayers O Mgr Pif-
 ferl. the paDal confessor, himself A years of age. who had to he assisted
 to the bed Softly he recited the pray
 CTS for the dying, the pont!nff at one
 moment appearing to folio" them as | though conscious of what was trarspiring. but he could not speak. Then the dyins | Pope murmured something tc himself in
 which those being around him being the words Father" and "MOtheI.'
 | Pulse Grows Weaker
 Dr Lapponi almost constantly had his
 fingers on the Pope's pulse, felt 1t grow gradually weaker and weaker, and at the
 same time the pontinffs extremitics be- | gan to get cold, his lips becaBle blue his
 eyes sank more deeply into the head, his | breathing became even more difficult. and
 there were strange rattlings in his throat
 Finally the Pope was asked to bless
 his nephews and all the others present.
 He attempted to raise himself and the
 extreme cancellation of his person, cov-
 cred with a fine night shirt. was rendered
 more pronounced by the surroundings.