Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-08-10
Brilliant and Imposing Cere-
mony in st. Peters.
GREAT CROWD PRESENT
THE POPE GREATLY FATIaUED BY
FUNCTION.
In an Interview the Ponti6 Complained
Of the Great Noise in the
Church.


The ceremony OF the coronation Of Pope
Plus x took place today in the basllica of
st. Peters, in the presence Of the princes
and high dignitaries of the church, diplo-
mats and Roman mobiles, and with all the
solemnity and splendor associated with
this the most magnificent rite in the Roman
Catholic Church.
AS Cardinal Macchi. the dean Of the
cardinal deacons. placed the triple crown
on the head of the venerable pontiff, the
throng of 10000 persons gathered within
the cathedral burst into unrestrained accla-
nations, the choir into hymn of triumph,
and the bells Of Rome rang out joyful
peal.
1t is fifty seven years since the Romans
and Europe assisted at such function in
ST. Peters. The great basilica. popularity
supposed never to have been quite full,
was overlooking with humanity. The papal
throne. a bewildering mixture Of gold, red
and silver. was erected in front of the high
altar. AS. contrary to custom. on these
ceremonious occasions, there were no gal
leries the basilica bore moro of it's normal
aspect. On the altar, which was dressed
in white, stood the famous silver gilt can
dlesticks and magnificent crucihx All
cathedral was divided into sections by
wooden barriers, which, to a certain extent,
kept the vast crowd in order.
Heavy Fog in the Morning.
In the early hours. after sunrise. thick
fog hung over Rome, and one bank of the
Tiber could not be seen from the other.
while from the st. Angelo bridge one
seemed to look into a fathomless abyss In
stead of into the river. The effect was
especially magnificent on entering the pi-
azza at st. Peters. At times Michael An
gelo's great dome disappeared completely
from view, while at others 1t appeared
through the flowing golden mist. AS the
morning wore on the fog disappeared
and the sun shone with all its southern in
tensity, until 1t became unbearably hot,
and the stones, columns and statues seemed
to radiate the heat on the thousands walt
ing to enter the church.
At am. the ringing of bells announced
the imminent opening of the doors. and a
cOmmotion at once began among the crowd.
But ten minutes had to elapse before the
doors opened, and each seemed a century
to the waiting crowd. which for hours had
been standing before the closed portals.
The police and Italian soldiers had a diff
ficult task to maintain order. as the crush
ing and fatigue had begun to tell on the
patience of the people.
When the doors were opened the thrush
was terrific. many who started from the
bottom of the steps outside being lifted on
their feet and carried into the cathedral.
IL ASSSOt
thousands of people rushing, crushing. and
squeezing amid screams. protests, gesticu-
lations and cries for help.
Many Women tainted.
But once in the whirlpool there was no
escape, and the compactness of the crowd
proved to be the safety Of those caught in
it. Women tainted in comparatively large
number. and even men were overcome by
the heat, but no serious accidents were re-
ported Fortunately there were very few
children present. After their entrance. the
people had further long hours of waiting,
and 1t is computed that the majority were
on their feet all together ten hours, five
before the ceremony and another five hours
while 1t lasted. .+
Those who had received special invita-
TONS including the high ecclesiastics, who
were not participating in the procession,
the diplomats and the Roman aristocrary
had a reserved entrance through the
sacristy of ST. Peters. Prince Massimo
arrived, accompanied by his daughter-in-
law. Princess Beatrice. the daughter OF Don
Carlos and they were given prominent
seats Duke Robert Of Parma was the only
other member of royal family to attend.
Among the ariStocracy there was a great
mixture Of those Roman MOBILES VINO re-
main faithful to the papacy and those ad-
herring to the Quirinal. Sir Thomas Es-
monde, representing the Irish parliament
airy party, was received by two Knights OF
the Cape and Sword. one. F. McNutt, an
American, and conducted to the diplomatic
Enclosure.
Inside the Vatican palace there was no
less movement and hustle as the papal pro-
cession, composed Of about 800 persons,
all of whom had gathered early In the apos-
tolic palace was formed.
Pope Was Self Composed.
The pope seemed to be the only Tranquil
one among them all. He arose unusually
early and took q stroll In the Vatican gar
den. Then he allowed himself to be dressed
by the cardinals. He evinced no nervous
ness, and even said jokingly to the master
Of ceremonies. who the other day suggested
that he should use the plural form in speak
morning, but we may be d1nerent on re-
turning from our coronation.
Just before entering the sedia gestatorta
he asked for his spectacles, and when the
master of ceremonies suggested that his
holiness would look better without them, he
said: IT have no desire to appear what
am not" And, in fact, he wore them dur
ing the entire ceremony.
The procession was long time In getting
under way, but afterward, as 1t moved
through the magnificent halls and corridors
of the Vatican. it recalled former days,
when all was color and picturesqueness
within the palace.
The center figure in the long cortege was
Plus X. borne in the sedia gestatoria. His
heavy white robes and the red and gold
inter were worn without an effort making
a vivid contrast to those memorable occa-
sions on which Pope Leo XIII wore them.
for Leo seemed always unable to support
their weight. Over the pontiffs head a
canopy was held by eight men, while the
historic feather fans with peacock tips gave
a touch Of barbaric splendor to western
eyes.
Noble Guard With Drawn Swords.
Surrounding Pope Plus were the Noble
Guard in new red uniforms and cleaning
helmets and carrying drawn swords, while
in front marched the cardinals, a gorgeous
bit of color. with many handsome faces
among them, the cardinal-bishops in their
capes, the cardinal-priests wearing chasu-
bles the cardinal-deacons in their del
mates. Another figure which evoked muir
murs of admiration and craning of necks
was the chaplain, In his crimson cape
proudly bearing the cushion on which re-
posed the famous triple crown so soon to
rest on the head Of Plus. He was accom-
panied by the pontihcal jeweler and by a
special guard composed of Swiss, and was
followed by the choir Of the Sistine Chapel
In white, which sang as 1t went along.
Before leaving the Vatican the pope went
to the Sistine Chapel to worship before the
sacrament exposed therein and then passed
through the Sala Regia and the Constantine
Staircase into the portico Of the basilfca.