Gilpin observer., 1903-07-23

uiCdtA was t-.hCn CAaNliy at iOui iiiii'
utes past 4. approached lighted
candle to his mouth three times. ac-
cording to the trr ditional ceremonial.
and afterward declared the pope to
be no more. ! then went to inform
Cardinal Oreglia. the dean of the sa-
cred college. who Immediately as
sumed full power and gave orders that
the vatican be cleared of all curious
persons having nc right to b. therein
Contempora aeously the cardiLsl in
structed Mon.ignor Righi. master OF
ceremonies. to send the Swiss guards
from the Clementine hall TO close al!
the entrances TO the vatican and dis
miss all persons from the death cham
ber. the body being entrusted to the
franciscan penitentiaries.'
Leo confdcs Church to Oreelia.
In the meantime events Of momen'
tous Importance to Catholic christen
dom were occurring. The death CT
Pope Leo meant the passing of the
supreme power into the hands OF the
sacred college of cardinals as its TEN
porary custodian during the interreg-
mum. The perfect administrative ma
chinery OF the church provided
against the slightest interruption OF
the governing authority. AS the senior
member of the sacred college Cardinal
Oreglia. to whom the pope solemnly
confided the interests of the church.
has now become the exponent of the
cardinals until Pope Leo's successor
has been elected. This has brought
~
ing personality of the hour.
The cardinal is the exact antithesis
of Pope Leo. having none of the late
pontiff's sympathetic and benevolent
characteristics. He comes from no
BILE Piedmontese stock and his nobility
is shown in his naughty and austere
! bearing. He is not popular among his
/ colleagues or the Romans and his
| brusque manner has earned him the
| title of THE Piedmont Bear" He is
/ tall and robust and his seventy-fouT
years are shown by the whlteness OF
his hair. His face has the tawney
hue of old parchment and is deeply
lined Despite his austerity, the car
I dinals learning and piety are univer-
sally recognized. This is the man
who fer the time being. is practically
| pope. It was he who issued the or
| ders to clear the vatican of intruders
Immediately following Pope Leo's
death.
The death occurred at 4 time when
all was singularly calm about the vat.
lean. as people had been so long ex-
pecting the final summons that their
] cpnGibfliffae oh lal
At 4:20 q man dashed madly across
st. Peters square. then quite empty.
A second later another followed on a
bicycle. Within few seconds. as II
by magic. newspaper men, gendarmes
and messengers, running, driving and
gesticulating. dashed TO and from the
portals of the vatican.
Like a wireless message the-e
flashed around the words. He is
dead"
Funeral Arrangements.
Only the most general funeral ar.
rangements have thus far been made
as the shock of the pope's death for
the moment occupies all attention
Cardinal Oreglia. together with the
members OF the sacred college. will
determine the details of the elaborate
funeral ceremonies. In the case OF
Plus IX. his personal friends among
the Roman aristocracy were permitted
to see the embalmed body before II
was removed to St. Peters. where the
general public had a like privilege
II is expected that similar plans will,
be carried nut in the present case
On the evening of the eighth day the
corpse will he enclosed in two coffins
the inner one of cypress and the other
OF lead. which will be deposited with
In stone sarcophagus. 1t will not be
Immediately committed to its final
resting place. but will be deposited
high over the door near the choir of a
chapel in st. Peters. where is may be
viewed by all visitors.
Interest <centers in concIave.
The greatest interest is now cen
tered in the work of the holy conclave
which is to select the successor t.
Leo Mi. Speculations. prophesies
and predictions come from every di
rection in favor of the various candi
dates. The comparatively long Illness
of the pope has the effect of narrow
ing the chances of some who entered
the contest with what was thought tc
be the brightest prospects, while II
has brought forward the prominence
of others. who ut first were hardl,
considered. The result is that the,
are all now on about the same level
II is said that there has never been 9
conclave in which there are so many
candidates who have a fair chance O
winning. Such situation might leat
to struggle of much longer duration
than that of 1878. when Leo was elect
ed. That conclave lasted scarcel,
three days. The contest would be pro