The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-07-21
HIS WAS NO EASY DEATH
Yet He Died Whispering Bsnedictions
Today the College Of Cardinals
Meet to Make Official
Announcement of
His Death.
CBy the Associated Press.)


Rome, July 20.-Pope Leo XIII Is dead.
The last flicker of life expired at four
minutes past four o'clock this afternoon
andAhe Pontiff now lies at rest.
The period of over two weeks that Pope
Leo passed in the shadow of death was no
less wonderful than his life. His splendid
battle aaginst disease was watched the
world over with sympathetic admiration
and ended only after a series of tremen-
dous efforts to conquer the weakness OF
his aged frame by the marvellous viii pow
er of hi smind. The pleuro-pneumonia,
with which His Holiness has been suffer-
ing was nearly responsible for his death
as that inevitable decay of tissue which
ensues upon ninety three year of life. The
teted steel which had bent so often before
human .4s was bound to break at last
Tonight the emaciated and hfeless frame
which held so brave a spirit hes on the
bed in the Vatican beside which almost
all the world has prayed The red da-
mask coverlet rests lightly over the body,
teh cardinals scarlet cape is about the
shoulders, while on his head has been
placed the papal hood of velvet, bordered
with ermine. white silk handkerchief
is bound about his chin and in the hands
which have blessed so many thousands has
been placed a crucifix. So Pope Leo will
remain until tomorrow, watched by uni
formed officers of ,ne Noble Guard and
rough clad Franciscan potentiaries, who
will keep a ceaseless vigil until the bur
ial occurs.
Tomorrow the Sacred College of Cardi-
mails viii assemble for the impressive cere-
mony. officially pronodncing Pope Leo
dead. After this func ion has been per
formed the body vii. be taken to the
small throne room adjoining the death
chamber, where = will be embalmed The
funeral ceremonies will extend over nine
days, the remains being removed to the
cathedral of st. Peters where they will
lie in state The ultimate resting place
of the dead oPntlff WIZ be in the magnifi-
cent Basilica of ST. John the laterna.
Pope Leo's final moments were marked
by that same sere 1ity and devotion and,
when he was conscious, that calm intelli-
gence which is associated with his twenty
five years Pontificate His was no easy
death. An hour before he died, turning
to DR.. Lapponi and his devout valet, Pho
Centra, he murmured: 1.-The pain | suffer
is most terrible" Yet, his parting words
we're not of the physical anguish that he
suffered. but were whispered benedctions
upon the cardinals and his nephews, who
knelt at the bedside. and the last look of
his almost sightless eyes was towards the
great ivory crucifix hanging in the death
chamber. Practically all the cardinals in
Rome, kneeling at the bedside, watched
the passage of his soul.
Earlier in the day Cardinal Serafino
VannuteIli had impressively pronounced
the absolution in articuio mortis.
The condition of His Holiness varied
from agony to coma. Wishing to relieve
him, DIR. Mazzoni suggested that morphine
should be administered, but DIR. Lapponi
did not agree, fearing chat the end might
be quickered.
OF this supreme moment DR.. J4apponi
gives an impressive description. He said:
l''Death occurred through exhaL stion,
although in the last two hours Pope Leo
made a supreme effort to gather all his
energies. He succeeded in recognizing