The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1903-07-22

splendid piazza of st. Peters and the
window of the room commanding
view of the tall obelisk and playing
fountains, with Rome stretching of
beyond the Tiber Across the middle
of the room hang heavy draperies part
ly concealing the bed on which lay the
silent form of the dead pontiff. By the
of candles and from above looked
down the picture of the Madonna
with the Infant Christ in her arms.
Leos desk was closed but some oi
the books on religious topics which
he kept near him remained on it.
The body lay exactly as it was at the
moment of the pope's expiring breath
A white veil was thrown over the deaG
mans face, while awaiting the solemn
entrance of the camerlengo, who was
to officially pronounce the pontiff act
ually dead
The gruesome details of the embalm
ing will not be performed until after
the lapse of "a hours. Then the body
will be robed in full pontifical vest
ments for the imposing funeral cere
monies.
The great piazza of ST. Peters was
soon a scene of wild confusion. AS
word of the popes death became
known, although the public had day
after day expected the tidings, the
shock of the actual event was none the
less profound. Everywhere people
stopped to bless themselves and tc
whisper prayers, while here and there
were seen women on their knees be
fore the street shrnes Offering pray
ers for the soul that had just taken its
flight.
Within the massive colonnade front
ing st. Peters great crowds surged tc
the very doors CT the Vatican, even
struggling to gain access to the cor
ridors leading to the death chamber
Across the entrance to the colonnade
hung the massive chains, which are
usually down to permit the free cir
culation Of visitors.
These ponderous iron barriers were
row looped across the entrance and
behind them stood strong detachments
of Swiss Guards with fixed bayonet5
presenting a solid wall of iron and
steel against further intrusion.
Still further back the groups of jour
nalists and other anxious watchers
were likewise thrown into wild con
fusion. They had been pushed back
to the neighboring cafes and shops
lining the adjacent streets where they
viewed the Vatican entrance from a
distance.
Their first intimation of the catas
trophe was seeing a bicyclist dash
from the Vatican entrance, mount his
machine and shoot away like an ar
row. This was quickly recognized as
the signal that the death of the pope
had occurred.
Immediately the crowds dashed into
the piazza, shouting for the few avail
able cabs and elbowing and struggling
to get forward towards the front tC
ascertain the details.
Soon the whole square was in tn
multi, but the government troops hur
ried from the neighboring barracks
where they had been held in reserve
and restored order. They flanked the
esplanade and took possession of every
artery of the Borgo district. leading to
the Vatican.
For the time being all traffic was
suspended and the whole region from
the frowning walls of St. Angelo cas-.
tie to the door of st. Peters were with
in the firm grip of the Vatican author
tiles and the government troops.
In the down town portion of the city
the most perfect order prevailed Out
ward evidences of mourning soon be
gan to appear along the Corso. Many
OF the shops were closed and funeral
emblems hung upon the buildings