The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-07-23
SORROW FOR DEAD PONTIFF
Whole World Mourns the Demise of Pope
Leo the Thirteenth.
Moments of Fleeing Consciousness Shortly Pre-
coded the Souls Transition From Earth
to Eternity and the End Was
Peaceful and Serene

ROME, July 20.-FOr days great
crowds have congregated on the pi-
azza of st. Peters, lingering far into
the night, anxiously watching the
lights in the windows OF the Vatican
and wondering how much faith to
put in the bulletins issued by the
physicians. Before five o'clock this
afternoon all Rome knew that Pope
Leo XIII was dead. Though the
death of the Pope has been expected
momentarily for days, the sorrow felt
at the death of the grand old man
was none the less keen. All Rome,
irrespective of policies or religion,
mourns. All the press and private
kilograms and cablegrams were de-
layed until the papal legations and
heads of governments had been Off
cially notified that Pope Leo was
dead. Either tonight or tomorrow
morning Monsignor Oreglia, Cardinal
Camerlengo and the present head of
the church will convene the cardinals
and inform them of Pope Leo's last
wishes respecting his funeral and the
assembling of the conclave. Just be-
fore he entered the last agony, His
Holiness, who had lain for hours in a
state of coma, seemed to revive, his
mind cleared and he confided to Car
dinal Oreglia some important plans
for the good of the church which his
death prevented him from carrying
out, but which he hoped his successor
would complete These things, too,
Cardinal Oreglia will disclose to the
cardinals. 1t is stated on excellent
authority that if the present plans of
the cardinals can be carried out the
conclave will be able to proclaim a
new Pope on August 2.
THE FINAL SCENES.
ROME, July 20.-The Pope died
shortly after o'clock this afternoon.
His last moments were comparatively
peaceful and painless and were pre-
ceded by period of insensibility.
Around the bedside at the final mo-
ment were the cardinals, the relatives
and the members of the papal court.
Before lapsing into Inconsistencies
the dying pontiff feebly moved his
lips, his last articulate words being
those used in bestowing benedic-
ton.
Gradually the shadow of death
spread over the pontiff, his extremi-
ties became cold, his features assumed
the fixed rigidity of death and DR..
Lapponi noted his last futtering
heartbeats, which gradually became
slower and slower until they finally
stopped.
The news of the Pope's death spread
rapidly throughout Rome and caused
Almost profound sensation. The whole
city is in mourning.
Shortly before noon the Pope was
siezed with sinking spell For a
few moments it was believed that a
catastrophe was about to occur. So
near death was the pontiff that Car
dinal Vannuttelli, the guard peniten-
tiary, began at his bedside to recite
the prayers for the dying, and adj
ministered absolution in articulo
mortis. The Pope, however, once
again demonstrated Lis marvellous
vitality by rallying from the appar-
emily fatal seizure; but only to re-
lapse immed atelYinto state of semi
consciousness.
Although the pontiff continued in
general condition of lethargy he
had fieeting spells when his reason
reasserted itself. During one of these
conscious periods he murmured ben
edictions and solemnly confided the
interests of the church to Cardinal