The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-10
POPE IS CROWNED
Plus n PROCLAIMED HEAD OF THE
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
Great Ba.iIica of st. Peters Filled for
Hours with n ThrOng of Re-
joicinS Humanity.
SEVENTY THOUSAND GATHER
PONTIFF THE MOST COLLECTED
PERSON IN VAST AssEMBLAGE.
Jokes with the Master Of Ceremonies
Before the Impressive Exercises
Are Commenced.
GRANDEUR OF THE SCENE
FATIGUE OF THE OCCASION ALMOST
TOO MUCH FOR HIS HOLINESS.
He Shows Signs of Exhaustion at the
Clese-Says it Is His Most Tre-
mendOus Experience.
Before the Impressive Exercises
Are Commenced.
GRANDEUR OF THE SCENE
FATIGUE OF THE OCCASION ALMOST
TOO MUCH FOR HIS HOLINESS.
He Shows Signs of Exhaustion Mt the
CIese-says it Is His Most Tre-
mendOus Experience.

ROME, Aug. 9-The ceremony of the
coronation of Pope Plus x took place to-
day in the basilica of st. Peters in the
presence of the princes and high digni-
taries of the church, diplomats and Roman
mobiles, and with all the solemnity and
splendor associated with this the most
ma gnificent rite in the Roman Catholic
Church.
AS Cardinal Macchi, the dean of the car
dinal-deacons, placed the triple crown on
the head of the venerable Pontiff the thron0
of 10000 persons gathered within the
thedral burst into unrestrained acclama-
tions, the choir intoned a hymn Of triumph
and the bells of Rome rang out a joyful
peal.
1t is fifty-seven years since the Romans
and Europe assisted at such a function
as was held in st. Peters to-day. The
great basilica, popularity supposed never to
have been quite full, was overflowing with
humanity. The rapal throne, bewildering
mixture of gold, red and silver, was erect
ed in front of the high altar. AS, contrary
to custom on these cerenonious occasions,
there were no galleries, the basilica bore
more of it's normal aspect. On the altar
which was dressed in white, stood the fa-
nous Slver-gilt candlesticks and mag
nificent crucifix. All the available stand
ing space within the cathedral was divided
into sections by wooden barriers, which to
a certain extent kept the vast crowd In
order
I AS the morning wore on the sun shone
| with all its southern intensity until it be-
came unbearably hot. and the stones col
! umnS and statues seemed to radiate the
heat on the thousands waiting to enter the
church. At a. m. the ringing of bells an
| nounced the imminent opening of the doors
and a commotion at once began among the
crowd. But ten minutes had to elapse be-
| fore the doors were opened and each seemed
4 century to the waiting crowd which for
| hours already had been standing before
the closed portals. The police and Italian
soldiers had difficult task to maintain or
| der as the crushing and fatigue had begun
| to tell on the patience of the people.
RUSH TO GET IN.
When the doors were opened the thrush
| was terrific; many who started from the
| bottom of the steps outside were lifted off
| their feet and carried into the cathedral. 1t
| was a great human torrent let loose, thou
sands Of people rushing, crushing and
| squeezing amid screams, protests, gesticu-
| lation and cries for help. But once in the
| whirlpool there was no escape, and the
| compactness of the crowd proved to be the
| safety of those caught in it. Women tainted
| in comparatively large numbers and even
| men were overcome by the heat, but no Sc
rious accidents were reported Fortunately,
| there were very few children present. After
| their entrance the people had further long
hours of waiting, and it is computed that
| the majority were on their feet altogether
| ten hours, five before the ceremony and an
| other five while it lasted.
| Those who received special invitations, in
Guiding the high ecclesiastics, who were
| not participating in the procession, the
| diplomats and the Roman aristocracy, had
| a reserved entrance through the sacristy of
| St. Peters. Prince Massimo arrived, ac-
| companied by his daughter-in-law, Princess
Beatrice the daughter of Don Carlos, and
| they were given prominent seats. Duke
| Robert of Parma was the only other men,
| ber of a royal family to attend. Among the
| aristocracy there was a great mixture of
| those Roman mobiles who remain faithful to
| the Papacy and those adhering to the Quiri-
nal Sir Thomas Esmonde. representing
the Irish parliamentary party. was received
by two Knights of the Cape an and Sword.
| ed to the diplomatic inclosure.
PONTIFF IN GOOD HUMOR
Inside the Vatican palace there was no
less movement and hustle as the papal pro-
cession, composed of about 500 persons. all
of whom had gathered early in the apostle
lie palace, was formed. The Pope seemed
to be the only tranquil one among them all.
He rose unusually early and took stroll in
the Vatican garden. Then he allowed him.
self to be dressed by the cardinals. He
| evinced no nervousness and even said jok-
ingly to the master of ceremonies, who the
other day suggested that he should use the
plural form in speaking of himself. 1--WE
feel very well this morning. but we may be
different on returning from our coronation"
Just before entering the sedia gestatoria he
asked for his spectacles and when the mas
ter of ceremonies discretely hinted that His
| Holiness would look better without them
he said: Il have desire to appear what
| / am not" and, in fact. he wore them dur
| ing the entire ceremony.
| The procession was a long time in getting
| under way, but afterwards as il moved
| through the magnificent halls and corridors
of the Vatican it recalled former days when
all was color and picturesqueness within the
palace The central figure in the long pro-
| cesson Plus X. His heavy white robes
and red and gold mitre were worn without
| an effort, making vivid contrast TO those
| memorable occasions which Pope Leo
| XIII wore them. for Leo seemed always un-
able to support their weight. Over the
| Pontiff's head a canopy held by eight
/ men, while the historic ostrich-feather fans
with peacock tips gave touch of barbaric
splendor to Western eyes
| Surrounding Pope Plus were the Noble
Guard in new red uniforms and cleaning
| helmets and carrying drawn swords while
! i'm front marched the cardinals, n gorgeous
bit of color with many handsome faces
| among them. the cardinal bishops in their
| capes the cardinal priests, wearing chaus-
ables and the cardinal deacons i'm their
| delmatics. Another figure which evoked
| murmers of admiration and craning OF
necks was the chaplain in his crimson
! (CONTINUED ON AGE Z, col. 81