The Indianapolis journal., 1903-07-26
Funeral Ceremonies Were the Most
Impressive Ever Seen at the
Italian Capital.
FISHERMAN'S RING HIDDEN
PROBABLY SECRETED SOMEWHERE
ABOUT THE VATICAN.
How 1t Disappeared Before and Was
Returned to Leo-Diplomats Re-
ceived by Cardinals.

ROME, July 25.-The body of Pope Leo
was inferred in St Peters tonight. The
strokes of the hammer, which resounded
through the immense dome of the cathedral,
announced to the earnest gathering in the
nave that Leo XIII had been laid to rest
AT sundown the most important and most
solemn of all the obsequies took place. The
front doors of the basilica were closed,
and the vast church, except for a row of
lights at the shrine of st. Peter, the can
had quietly and with the utmost reverence
gathered there. appeared deserted. About
one thousand persons had received invita-
tions to attend the ceremonies The car
dinals who met earlier in the Vatican. en-
tered the chapel choir, waiting there for the
arrival of the procession, Cardinal Oreglia,
the camerlengo, holding the keys of COM
mand.
Cardinal Rampolla, as archpriest of the
basihca. was waiting outside the gates in
violet robes, surrounded by the chapter
of the cathedral. which was led by Mgr
Capelli. who conducted the service. Drs.
Lapponi and Mazzoni directed the work of
removal of the bier, which was executed by
eight sediari in brilliant robe costume. At
first they tried to raise the bier, but finding
it too heavy they slowly slid it on to
low car with noiseless wheels.
Then, TO the strains of the 'Miserere."
which walled through the lofty church. and
preceded by glittering cross held aloft,
the procession, carrying candles and torch
es. sloT.. left the chapel and went up the
church, passing the bronze statute and
beyond the shrine of st. Peter Those
gathered fell to their knees.
st. Peters is peculiarly fitted to be the
background of such a scene. The cold
whiteness of her vast pillars showed up
the bright uniforms of the guards the violet
robes of the clergy and the bier, while the
flickering light of the candles made the
funeral procession the only visible object
and rendered the obscurity beyond and be-
hind it more noticeable.
ENTERED HEAD FIRST.
After slow progress around the church.
the sad cortege arrived at the chapel choir.
the bier being so carried that the dead Pooe
entered head first, according to the GER
emonial, the chapel from semi-obscurity
flashing into the brilliancy of the suddenly
turned on electric lights Here all those
who had invitations were stopped, remain
double line of Swiss guards in their peculiar
yellow, red and black uniforms and armed
with halberts and serpentine swords. With
in the chapel was Count Camille Pecci, a
nephew of the late Pope. wearing the red
uniform of a general of the castle guard
In the chapel the music changed to notes
of joy and triumph ard I'm Paradiasum"
rang out with telling effect. From the out
side the five oells of st. Peters rang their
accustomed salute to the coming night
mingled harmoniously with the music of
the choir.
The scene in the chapel was most re-
markably effective. The bier bearing the
body was received by Cardinal OreaIia IT
was placed H. the center backed by an
altar with beautiful image of the Ma
donna, before which were burning four
immense candles in silver STATS Around
the two sides of the chapel. I'm the choir
seats, we're thirty-six cardinals all wear
ing violet robes except Cardinals Gotti and
Pierotti, who wore the white nantes of
their orders: Cardinal Martineili as an
Augustnian. and Cardinal Wives Tuto in
Franciscan ,own. In the middle of the
right side Of the chapel. among the car