Evening journal., 1903-07-21
NINE DAYS FOR
POPE'S FUNERAL
Continued From First Pagc).

OF MS soul. Earlier IN the day Cardinal
serafino Vannutelli had impressively
pronounced the absolution in articulo
mortis.
The last conscious act OF the pom.
tiff was to turn his eyes toward the
great crucifx on the wall, after which
he suffered from paroxysm of chok.
ing, during which he passed away
Then the silence of the awe-stricken
assemblage was broken by the sono-
rous, solemn voice of Cardinal Sera-
fino Vanutelli. the grand penitentiary,
intoning the requiem aeternam (rest
eternaD.
This was the signal for an outburst
OF tears and sound OF weeping. which
kneeling prelates and others kissing
the dead hand-that hand which had
dispersed so many benefits, charities
and bened.ctions
After the death the doctors waited
some minutes. Then they applied the
usual death tests. Finding that his
holiness had passed away they noti-
fed Cardinal Oreglia the cardinal
camerlengo of the Holy See.
Oreglia was conducted to the papal
apartment by tho head chamberlain
the apostolic notary and the physi-
clans. On arriving at the bed cham
Der Cardinal Oreglia knocked three
times on the door. and. receiving no
response, he entered and approached
the corpse. Taking a small silver NAL
let he lightly struck the dead popes
forehead thrice, and thrice called him
by name.
There being no answer, the cardi-
nal removed from the pope's finger
the "anulO piscatorio," or fishermans
ring. the sign Of papal authority, and
then formally declared Pope Leo XIII
dead. From the moment he removed
the ring Cardinal Oreglia became the
executive officer of the Holy See and
the depostary OF its temporal power.
The condition of his holiness varied
from agony TO coma Wishing to re-
lieye him. DR.. Mazzoni suggested that
morphine should be administered, but
DR.. Lapponi did not agree, fearing that
the end might be quickened.
The Supreme Moment.
OF this supreme moment DR.. Lapponi
gives an impressive description. He
said:
Death occurred through exhaustion.
although in the last two hours Pope
Leo made a supreme effort to gather
together all his energies. He succeeded
in recognizing those about him by
the sound Of their voices, as his sight
was almost entirely lost. Still. he
made a marvellous display Of his en-
ergy, and even his death was really
/ grand II was resigned calm ard Sc
rene. Very few examples can be given
of q man Of such advanced age after
so exhaustive an Illness showing such
supreme courage in dying. The pom
tin's last breath was taken exactly at
four minutes past | approached a
lighted candle to his mouth three
times, according to the traditional GER
emonial, and afterward declared the
pope to be no more. l then went to in
form Cardinal Oreglia, the dean Of the
sacred college, who Immediately as
sumed fun power and gave orders that
the Vatican be cleared of all curious
persons having no right to be therein.
Contemporaneously the cardinal in
structed Monsignor Righi. master of
ceremonies, to send the Swiss Guards
from the Clementine Hall to close all
the entrances to the Vatican and dis
miss all persons from the death cham
Der, the body being entrusted to the
Franciscan penitentiaries.
Meantime. events of momentous i'm
portance to Catholic Christendom were
: occurring. The death Of Pope Lee
meant the passing OF the supreme
power into the hands Of the sacred
college OF cardinals as It's temporary
custodian during the interregnum.
The perfect administrative machinery
Of the church provided against the
81 slightest interruption of the governing
D authority. AS the senior member ol
/. the sacred college, Cardinal Oreglia, tC
/, whom the pope solemnly contided the
interests Of the church, has now be-
1 come the exponent Of the cardinals
until Pope Leo's successor has beer
elected. This has brought forth Car
dinal Oreglia as the striking personal
ity OF the hour.
{ The cardinal Is the exact antithesi
d of Pope Leo, having none of the lat
y pontlns sympathetic and benevolen
e characteristics. He comes from a nobl'
Il Piedmontese stock, and his nobility i
% shown in his naughty and austere bear
ing. He is not popular among his col
a leagues or the Romans, and his brusqu
4 manner has earned him the title o
Z "The Piedmont Bear" He IS tall an
ic robust. and his "A years are shown b.
is the whiteness OF his hair. His face ha
n the tawny hue of old parchment, and
4 deeply lined. Despite his austerity, tn
IS cardinals learning and piety are uni
le versally recognized.
:. This is the man who for the tim
- being is practically pope. 1t was h
~ who issued the orders to clear the Va'
Of lean from intruders and, brought trar
ouillity out of the confusion imm'
diately following Pope Leo's death.
The greatest interest Is now Gel
tered in the work of the holy col
es clave. which is TO select the successc
a of Leo XIII. Speculation, prophecie