The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-07-27

tluderS and brought tranquility out OF the
confusion Immediately following Pope
Leo's death.
His Death Announced.
Scarcely a soul passed UP the marble
staircase, and the court yard of San
Damaso was deserted except for the
heavy black carriages of the cardinals
ana their coachmen. who were awaiting
their master. 1t was the hour of the
siesta. Nothing could have been more
peaceful.
At twenty minutes past 4 a man dashed
madly across St. Peters square. then
quite empty A second later another fol-
lowed on a bicycle. Within a few sec
oEds, as if by magic. newspaper men.
gendarmes and messengers, running.
driving and gesticulating, dashed to and
from the portals of the vatican.
Like IL wireless message there flashed
around the words. He is dead" Rub
bling the afternoon sleep from their eyes.
bareheaded men and women, many carry
ing babies, emerged from the darkened
houses and cafes and beseged the door
of tn vatican. Transformation was com
Pete. The quick movement AID tense
leeing Of the rapidly gathering crowd
50 permeated where few moments be-
fore there had been no sign OF life.
The French ambassadors carriage
drove furiousiy from the vatican and
drew up at a nearby telegraph office.
Without waiting for the horses to stop.
the ambassador jumped out and notified
his government of the pope's death
There soon followed the cardinals, who.
with set face, drove slowly homewards
All Was Over.
Behind the shutters of Pope Leo's room,
which still remain closed, all was over
The heavy bronze doors We're swung to.
and entrance to the vatican was only
ootainable by knocking at little wicket
which was closely kept within by the
papal guard, and without by the Italian
police. The latter had been slightly rein
forced, but had no difficulty in controll-
ing the crowds who were allowed to re-
rshin In th@ st.a2a ve<e sat as they were
accustomed 10 dr before death, but not
IT, enter the Va. aa itself.
On the steps OF St. Peters sat a Rroup
OF young Roman princes discussing the
situation. Nearby was gathered almost
every type of peasant and working worn-
Ell who make Rome so picturesque a
few entered the basilica Itself and there
offered up prayers for Pope Leos soul.
Among the suppicants were many
monks, who with hands uplifted prayed
long and earnestly at the gates OF the
dimly lighted shrjnes.
Pope Lco's last day on earth was full of
physical anguish, and this was heighten-
ed by feeting moments of consciousness.
which permitted him fully to recognize
the slow approach of his end The COM
pete coma of last night was broken by
periods of lucidity. When the doctors as
sombed In the sick room for the morning
conference the aged sufferer recognized
them and mournfuIy said their task
would soon be over.
Toward noon the pontiff had a distinct
sinking spell, during which his heart al
most ceased to beat The cardinals and
Pope Leo's relatives were hastily sum-
moned and word spread through the
vatican that death had actually occurred
Words of Benediction.
Despite the immInence of danger. the
pope again rallied Even while the car
dinals stood about the bedside expecting
the advent OF death. the sufferer opened
his eyes and his lips moved with words of
DenedictiOn. He recognized and spoke to
Cardinal Oreglia and. still thinking of
the church he loved well, contided its
interests to the dean of the sacred coll
lege. The cardinals. prelates and the
dying mans relatives kneeled beside the
bed nnd kissed his hand. For two hours
the pope fingered in state of semi
consciousness
At PAS o'clock the doctors detected the
a approach OF the final agony. Some slight
signs of consciousness remained and the
dying pontiff muttered some inaudible
words Gradually his power of speech and
tad nd ho cOyYIS ,aJt bar
see nor speak. Thus the chill of death
gradually overspread him until at
o clock the struggle ended and he passed
INTO the endless sleep of eternity.
All the newspapers. including those ia
vorable to the present institutions, pub
Iish long eulogistic articles about the de-
funct.
The only discordant note is struck by
the socialist organ, Avanti, which says:
I'VE socialists, without disdain, but
with Indifference, pass before this corpse
and await the new enemy
The government has renewed the most
orders, Premier Zanardeli at
tending to the work personally. to insure
order about the vatican, but it cannot
and will not take participation directly
IN the mourning.
kilograms of Coincidence.
Immediately following the death of the
pope caole dispatches and kilograms were
dispatched to all parts of the world, ad-
visng the sovereigns rulers and foreign
governments of the death. Before night
fell many kilograms of coincidence reach
I'd the vatican, coming from emperors,
Kings, political rulers and high church
lignitaries abroad The vatican officials
are deluged with these messages.
The death of the pope brings about a
change in all the adminlstra-
i've departments of the church and con-
,iderably influences questions of church
,clicy. The change within the vatican
.hects ractically all the officials from
the highest to the lowest. Cardinal
Rampolla retired from the post of sec
-etary OF state, where he exercised a
strong influence, owing to the physical
nfirmities of Leo. Other high officials
ire similarly affected.
The chief International questions which
nay be affected by the death of the pope
Ire those connected with the suppression
u religious orders in France. the change
If the clergy in the new Spanish Amer
can possessions, the selections of the
successor of the late Cardinal Vaughan
Ind attendant questions connected with